My grandfather used to shear his sheep with the same type of scissors in the late eighties here in Lithuania. And then the grandma would spin it and mom would dye the yarn with natural dyes and knit sweaters for us. I used to hate the course wool clothing. Other kids in school would wear something cool from the shop, but we were too poor, especially during economical blockade (that was after Lithuania declared independence from Soviet Union). Funny, how things turn around. Now such hand made clothing is considered a luxury. And I am learning to knit. Maybe some day I will spin too, like my grandmother did. :)
I was a shepherd at Albion Hills Farm school in Canada during the 1970’s. Edna Blackburn was the school head. We taught spinning, weaving and natural dyeing. I’ve sheared many a sheep and spun and dyed the wool. Then made a sweater or wove a tablecloth. Also did linen, rabbit, alpaca etc. what a great time!
You spin when the children are asleep! My ancestors were from Shetland Islands and women did carry their wheels to a friend's house when the men were ashore. The men would fetch the women and frequently have a dance party or Ceilidh.
Such a joy to view this film. We have just 26 sheep, but I keep busy skirting fleece, picking and washing and carding. Then the magic of spinning. My weavers guild tries to encourage the young to learn with us, keep the craft going, for all time.
I'm of Irish descent, living in the Midwestern USA...and watching this as I spin wool on my linen wheel, identical to those the women are using in this documentary. And the intense sense of connection I felt in that moment was incredible: :) I'm only 30, myself, and I had to learn to spin on a wheel from the internet, but I love it, and I love it still more knowing that generations of my female ancestors did the precise same thing in the precise same way. I recently crocheted myself a sweater from wool I spun with my own hands, and the sense of accomplishment is/was wonderful.
i really enjoyed this. I just got my first spinning wheel today, and Although I’m Australian, Im am of Irish decent. Mad me feel very humble and proud watching this.
Spinning is making a come back! As a spinner myself i enjoy it so much. The physical act of knitting and crochet is such a blessing for relieving stress and worry. Give it a go ladies cause once you get the hang of it you will love it to. :)
I agree! I am 41 and just learned to spin, and purchased a fiber flock of sheep (been a knitter for years). Living the dream and feeling blessed! So peaceful!
I also agree, 41 and learnt to spin after being gifted an alpaca fleece. It is very addictive! And I will get a spinning wheel from a friend of my mom who inherited it from an aunt. I am so happy, can't wait to see it for real!
It's really hard work, but the moment I put on the socks, I feel really expensive and I think about the whole process, from the original wool to the finished product, so touched!
There is nothing better than taking a raw fleece, scouring it, then spinning it and dyeing, or dyeing then spinning it. When you have finished crocheting or knitting an item with it, the sense of accomplishment is extraordinary. It can't be beat! To think it hasn't changed by much all these years later. Wonderful!
I spin too, but after 5 or 6 years still only a novice. Nothing like a blue faced Leicester for me , or a merino. Have recently spun yak and alpacca. Lovely.
I live in Russia. I taught myself to spin, I really like it. Your film is amazing, it's so interesting to look at the history of this craft. Thank you.
I have watched several yarn spinning videos...this was the first time someone explained what was happening as it happened...now it makes sense what they are doing. THANKS! Knowledge is power! :-)
Please notice if applying oil it is best using lanolin, the natural material earlier washed out your wool. Lanolin reacting with natural body moist turns to soap, keeping the cloth clean without washing. Traditional fishermen never washed their woollen underwear, simply impossible in high sea conditions.
@@pietmondrianstudent6984 How many seamiles did you make as Fisher? There is ever-changing conditions at sea. Not everyone were at high sea, most fishing were along the coast. Therfore you didn't necessarily sail out in harsh weather. Anyway, Lanolin still converts to soap, which is a highly valuable feature, no other fat/oil gives you.
Old Mrs. Carr looks like she would be the ultimate mother and gran. She just gives off a loving feel about her. Look at those rosie cheeks from being outside most of her time, just lovely. 13 CHILDREN!?! It is no wonder they would make all of their clothing! What a wonderful life! God bless them all.
There was six children in my family, made a lot of our own clothes and hand-me-downs. We weren't poor but there was always someone to play with. I taught myself to knit without looking at what I was knitting at the age of 12
@@humblehombre9904 I know right, I taught myself to knit from a craft book and over time I got really good at it. Not many have the patience to sit and do it these days
I just can’t wait to card my sack of wool! And now to know how to naturally dye it is really something - what a beautiful video ! The only thing missing was a Connemara pony ! THANKYOU for posting I am very grateful to have enjoyed it.
A truly beautiful video/Documentary. Full of inspiration & knowledge to us would be Drop Spindlers or Wheel Spinners. Love to All these People in Ireland. From England xx
Beautiful love my knitted jerseys, unfortunately I’m crap at knitting and crochet but spent 30 years as a woolhandler and have bought many black or speckled fleeces home and had them spun and my dear ole mother knitted them up for me 💗
This is hands down my favorite spinning video. I have watched it multiple times, and go back to it often for peaceful motivation, and spinning viewing. Does anyone know of any others as lovely as this one?
The Irish are so gifted people not only in crafts but also intellectually. That's why they expalin all this so well. Wonder why the British capitalists could't stand them.
Hopefully this plain important craft gains new life. I spend most of my time outdoors or in unheated places. Most of my life I've been wearing at least one layer of wool from top to toe. It has tremendous qualities which few people seems to recognise. At sea, sailing or fishing, in the mountains hiking or climbing, always feeling comfortable is a pleasure which no synthetic material assures you. My son was wearing only wool, except necessary layer of cotton diaper. Even cold water light wringed woollen diaper works perfect. Urine is simply neutralised by Lanolin. We spent hours together outside, he could play as he liked in wet sand always being warm & comfortable. I'm convinced this ever present physical comfort, never mind the weather, had a significant positive influence on his mentality. Sleeping with several layers of woollen blankets gives a better comfort than my sleeping bags, made of finest Down quality available..
@@getin3949 Doesn't count much in ordinary people's lives & essential necessities. Only a minor elite had access to extremely expensive silk. Afterall only wool could be produced in our hemisphere.
i learned alot from this video but i wont be usesing it but definitely know more about wool spinning and is very intresting ty for the wonderfull video
With the big spinning wheel, back in the day it is said that the spinster could walk up to 30 miles a day. Depending on the skill level and the amount of wool they got from the sheep
I was watching your you tube I am from australia I use to be a farmers wife I was concerned that you could make it easier for yourselves with shearing meaning 1. races fences 2. shearing platforms in a shed with electricity then you could have a 3. electric shearing piece instead of the shearing clippers 4. A shearing platforms enable you to shear on wood to keep wool off the ground 5. have a wool shed employee to grab the fleece off the platform when the shearer has finished shearing the sheep 6. Then have a wool table to help the employee to sort and skirt the wool at waist height 7. Then have wool bale containers with wool bags set up ready for different wool classes And a wool press And Mrs spinning lady could have her own wool table to sort her wool fleece at waist height and do her spinning inside it’s very cold where you live I am not trying to tell you how to shear sheep but you can do it a lot easier it is a very hard job Hope you don’t mind kind regards Donna
Several guesses, but my chief guess would be that lanolin being much rarer than vegetable oil or paraffin simply had more value being used as a skin moisturizer/cosmetic base than it did as being what is essentially being a flux for wool fibers in a garment. Not dissimilar from how beeswax was harvested because it's highly prized for other endeavors.
@@maxdecphoenix yes, but the lanolin is naturally present in the unwashed wool. You don't have to add it.... I card and spin our own wool, and find it is easier to card and spin if the fleece is not fully scoured (the operation that removes the lanolin). Spinning "in the grease" and the washing the finished yarn is also very good for your hands!
@@Handmade_at_Harcles i didn't say it needed to be added... Where could you even infer i said it needed to be added? I said it was likely removed because it was probably more valuable as a cosmetics base at that time. And you even corroborate my assumption by claiming you personally enjoy the cosmetic benefits. That was exactly my point: It was pleasing on the skin, and there were rich people who were willing to pay a lot of money to get it to shepherds who would rather have a pile of money than soft hands.
@@maxdecphoenix I know YOU didn't say it needed to be added, I simply said that you don't have to add lanolin (unlike the kerosene or veg oil :) I don't think the average shepherd would have the time (or even skill) to extract pure lanolin. It is not as easy as some people make out :)
@@Handmade_at_Harcles the shepherds don't have to extract it themselves... they sell the dirty wool to someone who extracts the lanolin professionally. That wool then get treated with cheaper fluxes and sold to weavers company.
@t Sad that you feel it unnecessary to acknowledge the filmmakers, David and Sally Shaw-Smith who devoted their lives to making the Hands documentaries, or ask their permission to post these copyrighted films.
Fair play most of it is what it is, a budget less paul. But how much would a supreme cost? 4 grand? No one gigs les oauls now anyway. They sit on the corner of the living room and the buyer thinks it's an investment. Back when the giddon cost slightly less than decent ibanez they weren't that good anyway. Having owned a smoke grey fade standard back in the 80s I would never buy another. But I might buy a wall hanger fake say the Marc bolan Ltd edition just as a ornament. But I go on stage with ibanez electric or if acoustic then it's my hand built from a local guy. Epiphone to me are a waste if money having had a masterbilt. If they stopped dipping them in 3mm of plastic coating they might be average.
I had to laugh when I saw this. I went to the credit union to deposit money and their computers were down. The young girl looked at me with a dumb founded look on her face. I said, "Just write me a receipt for now like they used to and when the computers are back up you have a copy of my transaction." She still had no clue. I then told her I grew up without computers and a hand written receipt worked rather well. I am now a 64 year old woman and still laugh when I think of this young girl. This was only about 2 years ago, 2017.
It's true! And here we are over-run with men who know how to raise sheep, cattle, and hogs complete with the knowledge of when to change pasture, which pasture is best for which animals, and what to do for foot rot, bloat, mastitis, and the various porcine ailments. Not to mention the men lined up to do the shearing for wool and the killing, butchering, and curing of the animals raised for food. "These days most women ..." What a laugh!
@@getin3949 You were talking to the wrong person. Cashiers, tellers, etc. don't set policy and rules. You should have demanded to see the Director and the Board so you could tell them all about running a financial institution and how to handle transactions!
man need new pr guy (public relations) this guy make sound like the people do this just waiting to die. in stead try sell as hip new thing to younger generation what do with this. make sound cool. he talk hard time, be alone, die out art. when should say guy try home stead could cut clothes out. or if out doors person how nice be have string made your self( tie up tents, dry racks). or say with new circle peg looms. you make hat, scarfs, sweaters, gloves, socks, hockey sacks, baskets only thing need some kinda string make right here. know skill just read directions
So no one else is going to mention the sheep packed into the trunk of the car?? 😂 I died.
My grandfather used to shear his sheep with the same type of scissors in the late eighties here in Lithuania. And then the grandma would spin it and mom would dye the yarn with natural dyes and knit sweaters for us. I used to hate the course wool clothing. Other kids in school would wear something cool from the shop, but we were too poor, especially during economical blockade (that was after Lithuania declared independence from Soviet Union). Funny, how things turn around. Now such hand made clothing is considered a luxury. And I am learning to knit. Maybe some day I will spin too, like my grandmother did. :)
❤❤❤❤ don’t you just love it?! ❤
this is some insane information quality for a documentary. good pace, good explanations, long cuts that let you follow the subject matter
I was a shepherd at Albion Hills Farm school in Canada during the 1970’s. Edna Blackburn was the school head. We taught spinning, weaving and natural dyeing. I’ve sheared many a sheep and spun and dyed the wool. Then made a sweater or wove a tablecloth. Also did linen, rabbit, alpaca etc. what a great time!
I would love to see, feel, smell your working hands.💝 you read like a true man.🙏🕯😘
I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary.
You spin when the children are asleep! My ancestors were from Shetland Islands and women did carry their wheels to a friend's house when the men were ashore. The men would fetch the women and frequently have a dance party or Ceilidh.
Great to see people come back in great numbers to spinning , Knitting and Crochet and weaving, and rug making.❤❤
Such a joy to view this film. We have just 26 sheep, but I keep busy skirting fleece, picking and washing and carding. Then the magic of spinning. My weavers guild tries to encourage the young to learn with us, keep the craft going, for all time.
I'm of Irish descent, living in the Midwestern USA...and watching this as I spin wool on my linen wheel, identical to those the women are using in this documentary.
And the intense sense of connection I felt in that moment was incredible: :)
I'm only 30, myself, and I had to learn to spin on a wheel from the internet, but I love it, and I love it still more knowing that generations of my female ancestors did the precise same thing in the precise same way.
I recently crocheted myself a sweater from wool I spun with my own hands, and the sense of accomplishment is/was wonderful.
i really enjoyed this. I just got my first spinning wheel today, and Although I’m Australian, Im am of Irish decent. Mad me feel very humble and proud watching this.
I’ve been spinning for 38 years and won’t ever give it up. Thank you for the beautiful video
wonderful. my granmother alice had a spinning wheel and a loom. knitted me socks and sweaters. fond memories.
I’m a modern day spinner and I am a member of the Peachtree Spinners Guild. We have over 60 members and we get together every month to spin and craft
Spinning is making a come back! As a spinner myself i enjoy it so much. The physical act of knitting and crochet is such a blessing for relieving stress and worry. Give it a go ladies cause once you get the hang of it you will love it to. :)
I agree! I am 41 and just learned to spin, and purchased a fiber flock of sheep (been a knitter for years). Living the dream and feeling blessed! So peaceful!
What sheep breed make good fleece for spinning sweaters and socks
I also agree, 41 and learnt to spin after being gifted an alpaca fleece. It is very addictive! And I will get a spinning wheel from a friend of my mom who inherited it from an aunt. I am so happy, can't wait to see it for real!
I am a spinner too!
I want to learn to spin, but I am a great knitter. I can knit without looking at what I am working on
It's really hard work, but the moment I put on the socks, I feel really expensive and I think about the whole process, from the original wool to the finished product, so touched!
There is nothing better than taking a raw fleece, scouring it, then spinning it and dyeing, or dyeing then spinning it. When you have finished crocheting or knitting an item with it, the sense of accomplishment is extraordinary. It can't be beat! To think it hasn't changed by much all these years later. Wonderful!
I spin too, but after 5 or 6 years still only a novice. Nothing like a blue faced Leicester for me , or a merino. Have recently spun yak and alpacca. Lovely.
Fascinating watching him shear with old fashioned clippers!
These episodes of Hands, are a treasure trove of knowledge. I'm so glad this popped up in my feed! I'm hooked.
I live in Russia. I taught myself to spin, I really like it. Your film is amazing, it's so interesting to look at the history of this craft. Thank you.
Another wonderful documentary, showing us the skills of beautiful craft making, Quite enchanting to see.
I have watched several yarn spinning videos...this was the first time someone explained what was happening as it happened...now it makes sense what they are doing. THANKS! Knowledge is power! :-)
Please notice if applying oil it is best using lanolin, the natural material earlier washed out your wool. Lanolin reacting with natural body moist turns to soap, keeping the cloth clean without washing.
Traditional fishermen never washed their woollen underwear, simply impossible in high sea conditions.
@@pietmondrianstudent6984 How many seamiles did you make as Fisher?
There is ever-changing conditions at sea.
Not everyone were at high sea, most fishing were along the coast. Therfore you didn't necessarily sail out in harsh weather.
Anyway, Lanolin still converts to soap, which is a highly valuable feature, no other fat/oil gives you.
I have NEVER seen someone spin a leader like that but I WANNA TRY IT.
Me too!!!!
Old Mrs. Carr looks like she would be the ultimate mother and gran. She just gives off a loving feel about her. Look at those rosie cheeks from being outside most of her time, just lovely. 13 CHILDREN!?! It is no wonder they would make all of their clothing! What a wonderful life! God bless them all.
There was six children in my family, made a lot of our own clothes and hand-me-downs. We weren't poor but there was always someone to play with. I taught myself to knit without looking at what I was knitting at the age of 12
@@susannasharrock9253 just imagine if people today had that drive. I can’t imagine knitting, even if being taught. That’s wonderful.
@@humblehombre9904 I know right, I taught myself to knit from a craft book and over time I got really good at it. Not many have the patience to sit and do it these days
I just can’t wait to card my sack of wool! And now to know how to naturally dye it is really something - what a beautiful video ! The only thing missing was a Connemara pony ! THANKYOU for posting I am very grateful to have enjoyed it.
Greetings from India. What a heartwarming video! Loved it!
A truly beautiful video/Documentary.
Full of inspiration & knowledge to us would be Drop Spindlers or Wheel Spinners.
Love to All these People in Ireland.
From England xx
It will never die. It's been around in one form or another for more than 20,000 years, perhaps double that.
I love to spin and learn so much by watching! Thank you!
Beautiful love my knitted jerseys, unfortunately I’m crap at knitting and crochet but spent 30 years as a woolhandler and have bought many black or speckled fleeces home and had them spun and my dear ole mother knitted them up for me 💗
This is hands down my favorite spinning video. I have watched it multiple times, and go back to it often for peaceful motivation, and spinning viewing.
Does anyone know of any others as lovely as this one?
Thanks for uploading these. I'm learning a lot, and am so proud of my Irish heritage!
That's great. I'm glad you've enjoyed them.
The Irish are so gifted people not only in crafts but also intellectually. That's why they expalin all this so well. Wonder why the British capitalists could't stand them.
I love these videos. ❤❤❤❤
Hopefully this plain important craft gains new life. I spend most of my time outdoors or in unheated places. Most of my life I've been wearing at least one layer of wool from top to toe. It has tremendous qualities which few people seems to recognise.
At sea, sailing or fishing, in the mountains hiking or climbing, always feeling comfortable is a pleasure which no synthetic material assures you. My son was wearing only wool, except necessary layer of cotton diaper. Even cold water light wringed woollen diaper works perfect. Urine is simply neutralised by Lanolin.
We spent hours together outside, he could play as he liked in wet sand always being warm & comfortable.
I'm convinced this ever present physical comfort, never mind the weather, had a significant positive influence on his mentality.
Sleeping with several layers of woollen blankets gives a better comfort than my sleeping bags, made of finest Down quality available..
Amazing to think that at one time all cloth on earth started out just like this.
Don't forget about the silk worm.
@@getin3949 Doesn't count much in ordinary people's lives & essential necessities.
Only a minor elite had access to extremely expensive silk. Afterall only wool could be produced in our hemisphere.
thank you. wonderful
i learned alot from this video but i wont be usesing it but definitely know more about wool spinning and is very intresting ty for the wonderfull video
With the big spinning wheel, back in the day it is said that the spinster could walk up to 30 miles a day. Depending on the skill level and the amount of wool they got from the sheep
Loved it great inspiration
I really enjoyed watching this. I wonder if I'd have the patience to do this.
Arent our hands brilliant things.
Love this.
I was watching your you tube I am from australia I use to be a farmers wife
I was concerned that you could make it easier for yourselves with shearing meaning 1. races fences 2. shearing platforms in a shed with electricity then you could have a 3. electric shearing piece instead of the shearing clippers
4. A shearing platforms enable you to shear on wood to keep wool off the ground 5. have a wool shed employee to grab the fleece off the platform when the shearer has finished shearing the sheep
6. Then have a wool table to help the employee to sort and skirt the wool at waist height
7. Then have wool bale containers with wool bags set up ready for different wool classes
And a wool press
And Mrs spinning lady could have her own wool table to sort her wool fleece at waist height and do her spinning inside it’s very cold where you live I am not trying to tell you how to shear sheep but you can do it a lot easier it is a very hard job
Hope you don’t mind kind regards Donna
not far away now when we all go into another depression like the 1930s again soon
4:03 That sheep very nearly escaped!
We have Rambouillet/Merino sheep ourselves.
Sheep in the boot/trunk of a car lol
Beautiful lovely nice
I am a spinner of wool-this is my tribe of women.
Спасибо. Вспомнил бабушку❤.
It sounds like a cat purring
I buy hat make in Ireland South Ireland and is very good .
I wonder why veg oil or kerosene (paraffin oil) is used instead of lanolin? I'm sure there is a reason.
Several guesses, but my chief guess would be that lanolin being much rarer than vegetable oil or paraffin simply had more value being used as a skin moisturizer/cosmetic base than it did as being what is essentially being a flux for wool fibers in a garment. Not dissimilar from how beeswax was harvested because it's highly prized for other endeavors.
@@maxdecphoenix yes, but the lanolin is naturally present in the unwashed wool. You don't have to add it.... I card and spin our own wool, and find it is easier to card and spin if the fleece is not fully scoured (the operation that removes the lanolin). Spinning "in the grease" and the washing the finished yarn is also very good for your hands!
@@Handmade_at_Harcles i didn't say it needed to be added... Where could you even infer i said it needed to be added? I said it was likely removed because it was probably more valuable as a cosmetics base at that time. And you even corroborate my assumption by claiming you personally enjoy the cosmetic benefits. That was exactly my point: It was pleasing on the skin, and there were rich people who were willing to pay a lot of money to get it to shepherds who would rather have a pile of money than soft hands.
@@maxdecphoenix I know YOU didn't say it needed to be added, I simply said that you don't have to add lanolin (unlike the kerosene or veg oil :) I don't think the average shepherd would have the time (or even skill) to extract pure lanolin. It is not as easy as some people make out :)
@@Handmade_at_Harcles the shepherds don't have to extract it themselves... they sell the dirty wool to someone who extracts the lanolin professionally. That wool then get treated with cheaper fluxes and sold to weavers company.
@t
Sad that you feel it unnecessary to acknowledge the filmmakers, David
and Sally Shaw-Smith who devoted their lives to making the Hands
documentaries, or ask their permission to post these copyrighted films.
I've tried to find these on their webpage for sale with no luck.
And I found their website because the poster linked to it and mentioned it.
Fair play most of it is what it is, a budget less paul. But how much would a supreme cost? 4 grand? No one gigs les oauls now anyway. They sit on the corner of the living room and the buyer thinks it's an investment. Back when the giddon cost slightly less than decent ibanez they weren't that good anyway. Having owned a smoke grey fade standard back in the 80s I would never buy another. But I might buy a wall hanger fake say the Marc bolan Ltd edition just as a ornament. But I go on stage with ibanez electric or if acoustic then it's my hand built from a local guy. Epiphone to me are a waste if money having had a masterbilt. If they stopped dipping them in 3mm of plastic coating they might be average.
Tailor Quigley, with his balding head.
Nice just steal from them and treat them like scrap and then charge everyone. Bunch of a holes u better be nice
/
Spinning wool to make clothes. These days most women couldn't even heat food if you unplugged the microwave!
I had to laugh when I saw this. I went to the credit union to deposit money and their computers were down. The young girl looked at me with a dumb founded look on her face. I said, "Just write me a receipt for now like they used to and when the computers are back up you have a copy of my transaction."
She still had no clue. I then told her I grew up without computers and a hand written receipt worked rather well. I am now a 64 year old woman and still laugh when I think of this young girl. This was only about 2 years ago, 2017.
It's true! And here we are over-run with men who know how to raise sheep, cattle, and hogs complete with the knowledge of when to change pasture, which pasture is best for which animals, and what to do for foot rot, bloat, mastitis, and the various porcine ailments. Not to mention the men lined up to do the shearing for wool and the killing, butchering, and curing of the animals raised for food. "These days most women ..." What a laugh!
@@getin3949 You were talking to the wrong person. Cashiers, tellers, etc. don't set policy and rules. You should have demanded to see the Director and the Board so you could tell them all about running a financial institution and how to handle transactions!
You obviously don't know the right type of woman :D Try finding a farmer.....
And do you spin?
And cook from raw ingredients?
man need new pr guy (public relations) this guy make sound like the people do this just waiting to die. in stead try sell as hip new thing to younger generation what do with this. make sound cool. he talk hard time, be alone, die out art. when should say guy try home stead could cut clothes out. or if out doors person how nice be have string made your self( tie up tents, dry racks). or say with new circle peg looms. you make hat, scarfs, sweaters, gloves, socks, hockey sacks, baskets only thing need some kinda string make right here. know skill just read directions