Thank you for this! Especially the caution at the end. I’ve been radicalised through UA-cam from a acrylic crocheter to a natural dyes non-superwash knitter and now I have my first spindle. It’s extremely dangerous and I’d advise fellow crafters not to watch fiber vlogs without supervision. ;)
I'm about to jump down the rabbit hole. Already watching fiber vlogs unsupervised and looking for stores in my area where I can buy the necessary items. I'm a bit scared but excited.
Just after graduating High School I went to an introduction to "spinning" class. I started spinning in 1972 on a drop spindle using my poodle dogs' clippings. The carders were my hair brushes for my poodle. My first wheel was an Ashford traditional. It came to me in parts and unfinished. I sanded it down, stained it, and assembled it all by myself. We have been pals ever since. I even taught my granddaughter how to spin on my Buddy and with my original drop spindle. While living on the Navajo reservation I learned how to spin with a Navajo spindle and used that yarn to weave a small Navajo type rug. You never know where your spinning will take you. Enjoy life.
@@katherineravenheart9590husky wool is actually a fairly popular spinning/yarn niche in the crafting market! They shed so much and have such soft fur fibers, it actually makes beautiful yarn!
The rabbit hole is deep and you fall in so fast! Very shortly after I got my first spindle and a tiny handful of wool to start practicing with, three alpaca fleeces fell into my possession which sparked a whole other interest in fiber prep I didn’t know I needed. And now I’m working to convince my in-laws that the animals they want living on their land shouldn’t be horses and cows but sheep and alpacas. Also trying to figure out if there’s any way I can quit my job and just become a herder and crafter as a profession. 😂
I started with a crochet hook and my sheepdog's fur. I'd brush a handful of fur off the dog, hook the end of the handful, twiddle the hook a few times around, draft, wrap, and repeat. That first bit of string 20 years ago became a pair of fingerless gloves that I still have and use. Life interfered, and I didn't really spin again until I got sick in 2015 and left a retail job. I built my first wheel from scrap wood, a bicycle wheel drive wheel, lawnmower wheel whorl, a rope spool, and a piece of copper pipe. I was given an alpaca fleece to play with, and went back to the hook and twiddle for a while, made a whorl from a chunk of firewood, figured out the drop without dropping it, and hello rabbit hole!! I found a CPW in June, and I now have at least 1000 yards of Targhee, a few hundred yards of merino/silk blend, and 5 churro fleeces to scour, because I learned to shear my neighbor's sheep this year.
I’ve been spindle spinning for about a year and finally ordered an e-spinner. I’m grateful that you mentioned the physicality of operating a treadle. I went with an e-spinner because I have a chronic hamstring issue and did not want that to suck the joy out of my spinning. You don’t find many people discussing injuries or disabilities when it comes to choosing a spinning wheel. 💗
Yes, my right leg is impaired and I found treadling my Ashford Traditional was really aggravating it. I bought an e-spinner and I just love it! It’s very compact and sits at the end of my breakfast bar.
If you're ordering a brand-new wheel, you might be able to order a left-handed wheel. Seems like most wheels today come with double treadles. You don't have to use both treadles at the same time (I don't).
this... i just fell in love with spinning on a drop spindle, but i'm prone to tendinitis, and it's super evident after only about two weeks of spinning that i'm going to need to figure out some different way of drafting and then winding spun yarn into the spindle, and soon, or every tendon in my wrists is going to be SOL. (even with thumb spica wrist braces on!) so an e-spinner is on my list, as much as it would be cool to get something manual.
This is hilarious about the merino! I ordered a simple Etsy drop spindle beginners kit. I loved it and decided to order some lovely merino roving I had seen. It came yesterday, and immediately I was like “Wait. This is hard! Why won’t it pull into nice strands like the other stuff?” The roving is gorgeous so I will wait until my spinning improves, but I definitely have to agree with you.
I found a pair of carders made all the difference opening roving up into really floofy rolags to spin from. It's easier to thicken from floof than draw out thinner from something thick. The full process is: Sheep Raw fleece - cruddy Scoured fleece - cleaner Combed locks Drum-carded batt Dized into the rolls above Combed into rolags Spun into single strand wool Plied into multi-ply wool Knitted, woven, crocheted into something useful Worn out Felted into something else... Not all steps are followed religiously, but it'll give you an idea.
My first spindle was a Turkish spindle that I got from Ashford and the first wool I spun was merino and alpaca, because I liked the colour. I had a choice between Merino and corriedale, but the corriedale was more expensive, and I wanted to work with merino, so that's what decided it for me. I like the Turkish spindle because it makes a centre pull ball that I can then ply from. My spinning wheel was found second hand, and dates from the 1960s. I don't remember what it originally cost, but it was measured in pounds, shillings and pence, which makes it pre 1963/4 I think. I also got a top whorl spindle, simply because I wanted the tigers eye stone whorl and I use chopsticks as spindle sticks. They're very smooth, so I use a bit of tape to stop my hitches slipping. First yarns are 'art yarns', lumpy, bumpy, thick and thin, but often still usable. Keep a sample of these first yarns so you can see how well you are progressing.
I really like how you emphasize that one doesn‘t need to spent much money and respect that some people justify can’t. Btw I failed spinning with a spindle but it’s quite easy for me to use a spinning wheel although it‘s been expensive to get one. Sadly wheels aren’t easily accessible here, especially used ones.
I started learning to spin this summer, using a support spindle I made out of a paintbrush handle and clay discs (fired in my pottery class), and spun in a crappy clay bowl I made. My first fibre was natural flax (made 2 skeins). Also got some ram wool fibre from a local farm, and already have a skein. So excited to try plying with it!
I really struggled with top whorl drop spindles, and still do haha. I switched to a wheel that I bought new and things got much easier. It made more sense for me to draft horizontally as opposed to vertically for reasons unknown to me. I have fallen down the spindle rabbit hole again and have fallen in love with cross arm Turkish style spindles. Great info! People should create with the tools and fibers that interest them!! 😀
I love the way you speak; it sounds very soft and mindful, perfect for a beginner in spinning. I hope that one day I can learn to spin and be reminded of your kind guidance in making yarn
I had been spinning for several years before encountering BFL. I'm in love with this fiber, drafts like a dream and makes the most gorgeous yarn. The sheep are cute too.
My spinning journey had been a bit circuitous... I started by taking a spinning workshop in 2017 at NY sheep and wool. I liked it but was not ready to commit to the price tag of a new wheel. I bought a spindle and some fiber (merino... though we were also cautioned against it at the time). The spindle lay mostly unused until 2020 when I had a sort of epiphany related to the drafting. After watching some UA-cam videos including yours, I realized I needed a fiber with a longer staple length. I went out the next day to my LYS and bought a braid of BFL and I have never looked back! I now have 2 more spindles and an EEW 6.0 which I love. I'm working on spinning some alpaca and I have 2 bags of sheep fleece waiting for me to scour... so I agree, the rabbit hole is very deep indeed. Thanks for making all these videos, it has been incredibly helpful in progressing my spinning confidence and consistency!
Starting with combed top is a clutch tip. My first spin was with a Finnsheep batt and I got pretty frustrated (and the yarn was not good lol), but now for my third spin I'm using a finnsheep combed top and it's SO much smoother and more fun.
Oh you’re not joking about how deep the rabbit hole is!!!!!! Also, this “hobby” (aka addiction) is BULKY (compare a pound of paper to a pound of wool fleece). Storage can take over your house. I have converted a small bedroom as my craft room, however, my drum carder is in another room and my e-spinner sits at the end of my breakfast bar so I can get a few spins in whenever 🤣🤣 The advantage of wool though is that it’s not heavy, so I have put lots of simple shelves high up in my craft room. As long as the boxes are well labeled (with date and wool sample showing) you can easily see at a glance what you have. I don’t store anything in plastic because of sweating and not being able to “breath”. I like cardboard boxes 🤷♀️ (touch wood, I don’t have a moth problem). Another great storage option are those cube wall units. If you get the inners with a finger hole then you can pass the end of your yarn through the hole and you can instantly see what’s in the container.
Excellent advice all around. I wish I had watched a video like this when I first started spinning. It would have saved me so much heartache. I'm nowhere as skilled as you, but I totally agree with you regarding spinning merino. I began spinning on a spindle but now spin on a Lendrum. Even now, every once in a while, I invest in a new spindle that catches my fancy. I'm kind of partial to turkish spindles. I'm thinking of investing in the latest iteration of the nano, but I haven't made up my mind. Spinning on a wheel is so very meditative, I don't know if an electric spinner would be as satisfying.
To put in my 2 cents worth... I used to think like you about the e-spinner, thinking it would not be as meditative. I ha e found the opposite to be true. I can sit in my zen position and spin for hours on end with the e-spinner. The treadle wheel requires certain posture, position, and constant leg work. Not a bad thing g at all, just a comparison. They are both meditative and peaceful
Thank you so much for making this and your other videos! Your videos were invaluable for getting me out of the paralysis of uncertainty when I inherited a huge amount of fiber with zero experience. I still barely know anything, but by following your accessible tutorials and taking comfort in your inviting and encouraging enthusiasm for spinning I have been able to push forward into this amazing craft. Thanks so much for your genuine curiosity and sharing your wisdom!
Who has coordinating accessories and craft supplies? Well, when everything you own is purple.... :) I tried a wheel about twenty years ago and its owner said I did better than expected for a beginner but am kind of mystified by drop spindles... good thing I haven't quite started on spinning yet, though I've got bags of bunny fluff to try to incorporate when I do! (I know it's on the short side, was figuring I'd have to blend it with something longer for strength). I will be watching more of your videos to see if I might figure out drop spindles since I really don't have room for a wheel right now anyway!
You’re amazing. I’m “spinning curious” and I’m glad I came across your video. So much information and you had me laughing the whole time. 😊 you would make an amazing teacher!
My sister in laws mother gifted me a wheel! She never used it so I don’t know yet how it will work. My dad fixed it up and got her rolling… I hope I can make it work because the inspiration is flowing!
I weigh my yarn and bag it with weight, wool type and any other notes (like where I got it) before I spin. When I wind it off on a swift, I count the number of times. That's how I keep my wool yarn consistent. (I lost my yarn gauge in the move from TX to GA.)
I’ve made some really good spindle shafts out of some cheap paintbrushes. The brush parts fell off so I sanded off the glue. Used the pencil sharpener to tidy up the edge the glue was on. Works great with polymer clay whorls .my favorite beginner I think is cheviot mostly because it’s nice and fluffy but has a nice feel for drafting .. but I would say if people don’t mind some a little on the coarse side Navajo churro wool was pretty amazing and it comes in some fun natural colors.(I’m a little partial since there are some cute local flocks ).
I just received my first spinning wheel, after spinning on spindles for 4 years. I haven't assembled it yet, waiting for my husband to finish my craft room. I bought Ashford kiwi 3. Thans for all the videos that has helped me to spin better yarn.
Oh boy. I have to say this channel has led me to dive DEEP into spinning and weaving. I have managed to get the hang of a basic top whorl drop spindle, while exclusively breastfeeding a three month old and caring for my 3 year old, in just a few weeks. My husband and I purchased our first floor loom this weekend and it needs a bit of work, but was only $200 and less than an hour away! I have feelers out for a spinning wheel, but am saving up for a Kiwi3. I love your content and cannot wait for Vlogmas this year! You have converted me!
This was awesome to watch, it made me happy to remember how I started out. I was given a ball of purple dyed wool, some hand cards, and a drop spindle. I don’t even know what breed the wool was, but it was very stiff. I carded it into rolags and struggled long hours learning to spin after just one lesson. I’ve been spinning everything I can get my hands on ever since! That was almost 15 years ago. I will have to say I really enjoy spinning blends I make on my drum carder the most. I like to use Shetland, Romney, Cheviot, Corriedale, BFL, Huacaya Alpaca (sooooo soft!), and Merino. But my absolute favorite wool is PolyPay to use for blending or just spinning alone by itself. To me it’s almost a luxury fiber, and anytime I use it, I know I scoured it and processed it myself. Now I’m experimenting more with different types of wool blended with silk or cellulose fiber for lace-weight yarns on my spinning wheel.
HAHAHA SO TRUE!!! I started spinning in APRIL and im already dreaming of sheep. "oh maybe just like four, or ten..." i don't even own a spinning wheel, or carders or anything.. so theres no way for me to even process that fiber lol :D
I rented my wheel for a few weeks from a local area shop before I purchased it. When I did buy it the shop deducted my rental fees from the cost if the wheel.
I've been spinning for 10 years now, and I learned by doing a 2 day course with a teacher who taught us how to card the fleece and spin. I used Jacob wool, which I still love, but my current favourite is alpaca, which I can spin very fine on my Ashford Kiwi. If I spin merino, I prefer to do it on my drop spindle!
This is going to be a very good resource for everyone who asks me where to begin with spinning! Even if the video was a bit rushed at the end... I'm guessing it was to get it just short of the 20 minutes mark.
So I just decided like 3 days ago that I need to start spinning. I'm in my mid-late 30s and I'm on a journey of discovery if you will and this feels like a very fluid next step so here I am. And this was incredibly helpful and concise. Thank you so so very much sis!
I am a spindle spinner … BFL is so lovely and a joy to spin. I did spin a Merino/Tussah blend top early on and it went very well - I think because the silk added some length to the staple. It drafted like butter which was key as a beginner because I had been so frustrated with the drafting process. I taught myself to spin during the pandemic with no hands-on help, so that was a turning point for me.
I started spinning with some sort of itchy wool that I practiced with at my local fiber arts fair and then when i decided to commit to spinning, I ordered BFL to spin with and I was like “ohhh. This is so much nicer” very soft and helped with my practice drafting out the fiber.
I started with merino, but loved BFL and Targgee. ETA~ and before you know it, you're putting a bid on 60 acres for your sheep and alpaca.... TRUTH at least a dream 🤣😂🤣
I've watch many videos to help me launch my new spinning education and yours are just the best. Your clarity and enthusiasm are a joy. This video was one of the most helpful yet. Thank you!
I agree with you about Merino not necessarily the easiest for beginners. I learned on Romney and still really enjoy it. Your three favorites were not readily accessible in my area when I was a beginner, but I enjoy spinning all three. My favorite breed to spin is probably not the best for a beginner either, but I love Targhee, with Corriedale a close second.
I started with Merino and wish I had started with Corriedale! I ordered Corriedale and bamboo and love this blend. I use @ 10% bamboo with the wool, it has been so easy to spin on my drop spindle.
The best rabbit hole! Fiber crafts are life 💖 I love love love BFL! One of the easier wools to spin. I learned to crochet and my yarn stash grew. I started spinning (fiber stash grew) with a drop spindle- to learn how spinning works and to learn to draft without the extra of treddles and tension. I progressed to a wheel, and now I have a loom 😆 I'm trying to plan where weaving yarn is going to go!
Omg i literally just ordered my first drop spindle a couple days ago with Corriedale and Blueface Leichester wool! Feeling very lucky now that i randomly chose the best wools for a beginner! 😅
I started spinning on a spindle with no whorl and raw qiviut. The juxtaposition between having a dinky little dowel with a hook screwed into one end and probably the most expensive fiber ever (a silk/qiviut blend is much cheaper than pure qiviut) cracks me up looking back on it. I mostly spin merino now because it's easy to find. I've spun eri silk as well as a polwarth/tussah silk blend, and they both spin like a dream. Angora is an absolute delight to spin. Probably the first time i worked up some yarn and made a swatch that actually feels like fur. I'm trying to get used to cellulose fibers. Flax gives me trouble but hemp is easier. I'd like to invest in an e-spinner when i have the funds for it
The knowledge and connectedness of everything that affects our lives like clothing, food ,celebrations, education and community is why i say i’m everything curious. I appreciate your spirit as do many others and Implore you to take care of yourself and do everything you can to stay healthy and happy!
I just came home from my 2nd of 3 spinning wheel spinning classes, thinking I need to buy a wheel this summer. I don't want to lose what I've learned, and I feel if I binge watch your videos, I'll learn a lot! 😊
I always enjoyed Romney when I first started spinning back in 2002 or so. Since then, of course, like any other spinner I have gone on to a number of other breeds: Jacob, Colonial (also known as ...dang, forgot the name). As you said, too many to name. I also started on a Canadian Production. Wheel, the worst one in the world to start on! However, I’m still at it and enjoying carding and spinning my own blends.
I am just learning to spin now, and while I did consider the idea of getting a spinning wheel, I realised that I very much enjoy being able to pick up my spindle and take it anywhere. I'm therefore just going to up my spindle game instead, and have treated myself to a fancy new medieval style spindle. I definitely agree with the BLF and the scales. I've plied for the first time and a weighed out 2, 20 gram pieces of the BLF so I could see how consistently I could spin. It's certainly not perfect up close. But for my very first attempt at plying two singles, I'm so proud of how it looks!
Hi Eve!!! Loved this episode. I don't care to spin Merino at all. For beginners, my favorite is BFL combed top or rolags. Rolags are much easier to draft than combed top and I always start students on rolags. Anything from alpaca to locally grown heritage wool, to mixed fiber rolags have all been quite successful for newbs.
Hi Evie, I hope you're OK xx ❣️ I love my Drop Spindles and my Nano. I've just added 2 New Spindles to my Collection. Ohhh the Spinning Rabbit Hole is very deep as you said. Happy Spinning Fibre Friend 🐑🫂 Take care and stay safe Lots of love Jen xxxx ❤️🐑❤️🐑🎆
@ Evie, Thankyou so much for the Heart Reply ❤️ Sending Heart back to you ❤️🫂 Hope you have a Great weekend Happy Spinning Fibre Friend 🐑 Love and hugs Jen xxxx ❤️🫂🎆🐑
I've recently gotten back into spinning after several years hiatus. I love your videos and I love your matching earrings and spindle! 😂 Thanks so much for all the great content. It's been helping me get back into the swing of things. P.S. The first fiber I spun and still my favorite is BFL.
My first wool was Shropshire wool from the 4H project sheep my best friend and I had. I learned to spin first with a homemade spindle, then my parents got me an Ashford Classic wheel. As far as fiber processing goes, I learned to card rolags with hand cards , so I almost had to learn all over again with commercial batts.
My first wool when I got my first spindle was corriedale and I still love using it. It wasn't as frustrating as merino can be, so I wasn't frustrated. Frustration is the enemy to new hobbies.
It’s all good advice, so I am just popping in to second the joys of spinning BFL and Corriedale. I usually find them as roving rather then top but still such fun fibres to spin 😆
I have this huge wheel contraption in my attic looks like the one in the back but mine is way bjgger and would love to learn what it is and do this. Only tool I have besides sog brushes. Lol. I love crochet and would love to make my own yarn. Thank you for sharing
Great video! I'm really looking forward to the day when I have the space and money to get started! Your passion for fiber and spinning is very inspiring :)
I'm a very beginner. I do have a bottom whorl spindle that I've tried, a little, but am also going to be looking at a used Joy 2 this weekend. I'm so glad I found your channel it has been so clear and helpful. Also, your laugh is infectious and an awesome way to start my Monday!
I started with Corriedale and borrowed a wheel from a shop aftern I did a spinning course. Then immediately bought my own wheel as a birthday present from my family. 🤣 I can't use a spindle although I like the idea of it being so portable.
I only started spinning this year and i am so glad I saw your breed recommendations before I started. On your advice I started with Corriedale, and I loved it. Thanks for all the help and giggles you have provided.
I just got a drop spindle from The Woolery, just a plain simple large one and it came with a bag of combed wool to get started. I am really enjoying it and I am getting better with it all the time. I am getting more comfortable and consistent.
Too cute -- Love the hair and I have been admiring your earrings and how cool you made those!! I am into so many rabbit holes -- spinning, weaving, quilting, etc. etc. But can't imagine being happier than deep diving into these various rabbit holes.
So far I have only done support spinning, starting in January 2024. This technique is very approachable. My first fiber was corriedale and I love it. I have done a butch of merrino and it is not hard. I have tried some Icelandic and this is the first I have struggled with.
😅rabbit hole indeed! I am still very early in my spinning journey and your videos have been so helpful and encouraging. I started with a drop spindle and cormo then some corriedale. Merino is very challenging as a newbie; I was not ready for it the first time I tried it and found that wool very frustrating.
I started with a spindle based on price and practice, fell in love with it then was able to get a wheel and haven’t held back. I have 3 beautiful spindles and my spinning wheel 🧶
100% agreed about merino not being beginner-friendly! I started spinning with Corriedale, and it went fairly well (given it was my first time using a drop spindle)... And then, I wanted to ply my first skein with a contrast color. I ended choosing a merino fiber, and it was a LOT harder!!
I started to learn to spin with alpaca on a wheel/e spinner, because of some kind of allergy to wool. I have however discovered I can work with merino superwash, and I now have a tour de fleece spinbox with different wools and fibers and so far none have given my problems 😁 I haven't spun everything yet, but my wool favorites to spin are Corriedale and BFL
I love everything fabric related, ive built my own spindles and spun my own yarn, learned to knit and crochet and I love sewing with my grandma's hand-crank singer antique machine, I just love everything about that stuff, I've also build my own version of a spinning wheel that was used in greece called "τσικρίκι" it's a very interesting invention and honestly was very easy to build and use XD
This is a great video, wish I had had it when I started in December (discovering you allowed me to figure out smooth spindle spinning!) I got myself a sample box with a top whorl spindle and lots of different breeds of sheep top, which was terrific for learning about all the different properties of wool. Merino was definitely the worst for me out of that box, it essentially all felted in my hands and it’s sitting somewhere to be combed out and respun later …
I agree with you on merino - I tried it second, and found it super frustrating. Corriedale was great, it felt like it had more traction and long (?) staple length.
Thank you for such a great video! You are so easy to follow, and your joy and wit are such a delight. Thanks for sharing your expertise and love for the fiber arts!🖤
This video came across my thread, and provided me a great introduction into your awesomeness! This video was thorough, clear, and inspiring. I literally laughed out loud, when you warned about "the rabbit hole." 😂 Looking forward to viewing more of your videos.
As I have got my hands on a bag of free peltwool, and being a spinning virgin I am bringing your videos to learn what I can befor I start. My family have a ooooold spinning whel that I hope my hubby will help me fix. His hobby is wood working 😁 lucky me. Perhaps he even can teach me to make my own spindles. How heavy are the most comon spindles? It would be nice to have an aprox weight to aim for. And how do the weight of the spindle affect the yarn you can make? Do one use light spindle to thin yarn and a heavy spindle for thick yarn? Or do the weight affect the amount of twist??? Does the weight of the spindle matter? Different types of wood have different weight so I was thinking the choice of wood would affect the weight of the spindle. Do you have experience with Norwegian peltwool?
Loveeee. :)) Thank you for this!! I hope to one day have matching earrings and spindles. 😂 I'll sit the earrings beside me while I learn to spin. 😂🤣 Also, your hair is on point this video!! 🤗🤗🤗 Thank you for having such an open and accepting community here!! 🥰
I love your videos!! You dive right in, explain in detail. I think Blue Face Leicester was one of my first. I must add..the rabbit hole is deep, spinning can lead to weaving..but's it's so wonderful & fun!! Thank you!!
I started spinning on a drop spindle using Southdown wool. It continues to be a favorite of mine. I really don't like spinning Merino b/c it's so slippery. Cormo is another favorite wool to spin.
Me too! I started in June- jumped right In and got a small heard of southdowns! My daughter loves to knit and was interested in the whole process. It’s been so fun
Thank you, Jillian Eve, i felt there was almost zero on the espinner tho i do think u may have reviewed one in an earlier episode. I think I’ve entered the deep cavern despite saying for years that I would never spin!!!!! .
Thank you SO MUCH for giving your opinion of what your recommended fiber to learn to spin with. There are so many different opinions of this subject. I tried learning with Merino and I had so much trouble. I did buy some BFL rovings and will try them tonight.
Great video! When I took Motherofpurl's spinning course from the crafter box she supplied Corridale. That was much easier than the colorful thing I bought to start! My first spindle was a 3d printed Turkish spindle. My husband's hobby is 3d printers so it worked well to decide if I wanted to invest in this new hobby.
the rabbit hole really is deep... i started with sewing tutorials in 2016 and two sewing machines, several crochet hooks, four knitting looms and uncountable yarn skeins later here i am planning my spinning journey.
Thank you for this! I have wanted to get into spinning for such a long time, so this is very informative. I will have to see if there are any groups near me that can offer resources to start with (so I don’t end up in my usual craft rabbit hole of buying tools and never using them again).
I'd love to put in a good word for Marsh Romney and Shetland as beginner's fleeces. I've found they don't matt as much as BFL. English Longwool breeds (i.e. Masham, Teesdale) are also very forgiving, though the staple length can be awkward.
Ooo definitely gonna come back to this. Was thinking of spinning new yarn as a way to recycle scraps (dunno if there’d be enough, maybe I’d add them to some roving for extra color?)
The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/jillianeve08221
Thank you for this! Especially the caution at the end. I’ve been radicalised through UA-cam from a acrylic crocheter to a natural dyes non-superwash knitter and now I have my first spindle. It’s extremely dangerous and I’d advise fellow crafters not to watch fiber vlogs without supervision. ;)
I'll supervise! 😁🧶🤣💜
haha it escalates so quickly
I'm about to jump down the rabbit hole. Already watching fiber vlogs unsupervised and looking for stores in my area where I can buy the necessary items. I'm a bit scared but excited.
Yes! I need responsible supervision at fibre festivals and yarn stores. I have no control when it comes to the pretties!
I think matching earings, pendants and spindle whorls!
Just after graduating High School I went to an introduction to "spinning" class. I started spinning in 1972 on a drop spindle using my poodle dogs' clippings. The carders were my hair brushes for my poodle. My first wheel was an Ashford traditional. It came to me in parts and unfinished. I sanded it down, stained it, and assembled it all by myself. We have been pals ever since. I even taught my granddaughter how to spin on my Buddy and with my original drop spindle.
While living on the Navajo reservation I learned how to spin with a Navajo spindle and used that yarn to weave a small Navajo type rug.
You never know where your spinning will take you. Enjoy life.
How lovely to teach your grandchild where you learnt spinning so long ago.
I have some mix poodle too and have been keeping their fur as I trim them. I am looking to spin my own yarn too!
Glad I’m not the only one trying to spin dog hair! My roommates’ husky sheds so much I started keeping his shed fur to spin.
@@katherineravenheart9590husky wool is actually a fairly popular spinning/yarn niche in the crafting market! They shed so much and have such soft fur fibers, it actually makes beautiful yarn!
The rabbit hole is deep and you fall in so fast!
Very shortly after I got my first spindle and a tiny handful of wool to start practicing with, three alpaca fleeces fell into my possession which sparked a whole other interest in fiber prep I didn’t know I needed. And now I’m working to convince my in-laws that the animals they want living on their land shouldn’t be horses and cows but sheep and alpacas.
Also trying to figure out if there’s any way I can quit my job and just become a herder and crafter as a profession. 😂
I started with a crochet hook and my sheepdog's fur. I'd brush a handful of fur off the dog, hook the end of the handful, twiddle the hook a few times around, draft, wrap, and repeat. That first bit of string 20 years ago became a pair of fingerless gloves that I still have and use. Life interfered, and I didn't really spin again until I got sick in 2015 and left a retail job. I built my first wheel from scrap wood, a bicycle wheel drive wheel, lawnmower wheel whorl, a rope spool, and a piece of copper pipe. I was given an alpaca fleece to play with, and went back to the hook and twiddle for a while, made a whorl from a chunk of firewood, figured out the drop without dropping it, and hello rabbit hole!! I found a CPW in June, and I now have at least 1000 yards of Targhee, a few hundred yards of merino/silk blend, and 5 churro fleeces to scour, because I learned to shear my neighbor's sheep this year.
That's one of the coolest things I've read in a while
I’ve been spindle spinning for about a year and finally ordered an e-spinner. I’m grateful that you mentioned the physicality of operating a treadle. I went with an e-spinner because I have a chronic hamstring issue and did not want that to suck the joy out of my spinning. You don’t find many people discussing injuries or disabilities when it comes to choosing a spinning wheel. 💗
Yes, my right leg is impaired and I found treadling my Ashford Traditional was really aggravating it. I bought an e-spinner and I just love it! It’s very compact and sits at the end of my breakfast bar.
If you're ordering a brand-new wheel, you might be able to order a left-handed wheel. Seems like most wheels today come with double treadles. You don't have to use both treadles at the same time (I don't).
this... i just fell in love with spinning on a drop spindle, but i'm prone to tendinitis, and it's super evident after only about two weeks of spinning that i'm going to need to figure out some different way of drafting and then winding spun yarn into the spindle, and soon, or every tendon in my wrists is going to be SOL. (even with thumb spica wrist braces on!)
so an e-spinner is on my list, as much as it would be cool to get something manual.
"The rabbit hole is deep" ...truer words were never spoken 🙃
😆
This is hilarious about the merino! I ordered a simple Etsy drop spindle beginners kit. I loved it and decided to order some lovely merino roving I had seen. It came yesterday, and immediately I was like “Wait. This is hard! Why won’t it pull into nice strands like the other stuff?” The roving is gorgeous so I will wait until my spinning improves, but I definitely have to agree with you.
I found a pair of carders made all the difference opening roving up into really floofy rolags to spin from. It's easier to thicken from floof than draw out thinner from something thick.
The full process is:
Sheep
Raw fleece - cruddy
Scoured fleece - cleaner
Combed locks
Drum-carded batt
Dized into the rolls above
Combed into rolags
Spun into single strand wool
Plied into multi-ply wool
Knitted, woven, crocheted into something useful
Worn out
Felted into something else...
Not all steps are followed religiously, but it'll give you an idea.
My first spindle was a Turkish spindle that I got from Ashford and the first wool I spun was merino and alpaca, because I liked the colour. I had a choice between Merino and corriedale, but the corriedale was more expensive, and I wanted to work with merino, so that's what decided it for me. I like the Turkish spindle because it makes a centre pull ball that I can then ply from. My spinning wheel was found second hand, and dates from the 1960s. I don't remember what it originally cost, but it was measured in pounds, shillings and pence, which makes it pre 1963/4 I think. I also got a top whorl spindle, simply because I wanted the tigers eye stone whorl and I use chopsticks as spindle sticks. They're very smooth, so I use a bit of tape to stop my hitches slipping.
First yarns are 'art yarns', lumpy, bumpy, thick and thin, but often still usable. Keep a sample of these first yarns so you can see how well you are progressing.
I really like how you emphasize that one doesn‘t need to spent much money and respect that some people justify can’t.
Btw I failed spinning with a spindle but it’s quite easy for me to use a spinning wheel although it‘s been expensive to get one. Sadly wheels aren’t easily accessible here, especially used ones.
I started learning to spin this summer, using a support spindle I made out of a paintbrush handle and clay discs (fired in my pottery class), and spun in a crappy clay bowl I made. My first fibre was natural flax (made 2 skeins). Also got some ram wool fibre from a local farm, and already have a skein. So excited to try plying with it!
I really struggled with top whorl drop spindles, and still do haha. I switched to a wheel that I bought new and things got much easier. It made more sense for me to draft horizontally as opposed to vertically for reasons unknown to me. I have fallen down the spindle rabbit hole again and have fallen in love with cross arm Turkish style spindles. Great info! People should create with the tools and fibers that interest them!! 😀
So wonderful to think of all the new people coming to the channel and to the hobby!
I love the way you speak; it sounds very soft and mindful, perfect for a beginner in spinning. I hope that one day I can learn to spin and be reminded of your kind guidance in making yarn
I had been spinning for several years before encountering BFL. I'm in love with this fiber, drafts like a dream and makes the most gorgeous yarn. The sheep are cute too.
My spinning journey had been a bit circuitous...
I started by taking a spinning workshop in 2017 at NY sheep and wool. I liked it but was not ready to commit to the price tag of a new wheel. I bought a spindle and some fiber (merino... though we were also cautioned against it at the time). The spindle lay mostly unused until 2020 when I had a sort of epiphany related to the drafting. After watching some UA-cam videos including yours, I realized I needed a fiber with a longer staple length. I went out the next day to my LYS and bought a braid of BFL and I have never looked back! I now have 2 more spindles and an EEW 6.0 which I love. I'm working on spinning some alpaca and I have 2 bags of sheep fleece waiting for me to scour... so I agree, the rabbit hole is very deep indeed.
Thanks for making all these videos, it has been incredibly helpful in progressing my spinning confidence and consistency!
Starting with combed top is a clutch tip. My first spin was with a Finnsheep batt and I got pretty frustrated (and the yarn was not good lol), but now for my third spin I'm using a finnsheep combed top and it's SO much smoother and more fun.
Oh you’re not joking about how deep the rabbit hole is!!!!!!
Also, this “hobby” (aka addiction) is BULKY (compare a pound of paper to a pound of wool fleece).
Storage can take over your house.
I have converted a small bedroom as my craft room, however, my drum carder is in another room and my e-spinner sits at the end of my breakfast bar so I can get a few spins in whenever 🤣🤣
The advantage of wool though is that it’s not heavy, so I have put lots of simple shelves high up in my craft room. As long as the boxes are well labeled (with date and wool sample showing) you can easily see at a glance what you have.
I don’t store anything in plastic because of sweating and not being able to “breath”. I like cardboard boxes 🤷♀️ (touch wood, I don’t have a moth problem).
Another great storage option are those cube wall units. If you get the inners with a finger hole then you can pass the end of your yarn through the hole and you can instantly see what’s in the container.
Excellent advice all around. I wish I had watched a video like this when I first started spinning. It would have saved me so much heartache. I'm nowhere as skilled as you, but I totally agree with you regarding spinning merino. I began spinning on a spindle but now spin on a Lendrum. Even now, every once in a while, I invest in a new spindle that catches my fancy. I'm kind of partial to turkish spindles. I'm thinking of investing in the latest iteration of the nano, but I haven't made up my mind. Spinning on a wheel is so very meditative, I don't know if an electric spinner would be as satisfying.
To put in my 2 cents worth... I used to think like you about the e-spinner, thinking it would not be as meditative. I ha e found the opposite to be true. I can sit in my zen position and spin for hours on end with the e-spinner. The treadle wheel requires certain posture, position, and constant leg work. Not a bad thing g at all, just a comparison. They are both meditative and peaceful
Thank you so much for making this and your other videos! Your videos were invaluable for getting me out of the paralysis of uncertainty when I inherited a huge amount of fiber with zero experience.
I still barely know anything, but by following your accessible tutorials and taking comfort in your inviting and encouraging enthusiasm for spinning I have been able to push forward into this amazing craft.
Thanks so much for your genuine curiosity and sharing your wisdom!
Who has coordinating accessories and craft supplies? Well, when everything you own is purple.... :)
I tried a wheel about twenty years ago and its owner said I did better than expected for a beginner but am kind of mystified by drop spindles... good thing I haven't quite started on spinning yet, though I've got bags of bunny fluff to try to incorporate when I do! (I know it's on the short side, was figuring I'd have to blend it with something longer for strength). I will be watching more of your videos to see if I might figure out drop spindles since I really don't have room for a wheel right now anyway!
You’re amazing. I’m “spinning curious” and I’m glad I came across your video. So much information and you had me laughing the whole time. 😊 you would make an amazing teacher!
My sister in laws mother gifted me a wheel! She never used it so I don’t know yet how it will work. My dad fixed it up and got her rolling… I hope I can make it work because the inspiration is flowing!
I weigh my yarn and bag it with weight, wool type and any other notes (like where I got it) before I spin. When I wind it off on a swift, I count the number of times. That's how I keep my wool yarn consistent. (I lost my yarn gauge in the move from TX to GA.)
I’ve made some really good spindle shafts out of some cheap paintbrushes. The brush parts fell off so I sanded off the glue. Used the pencil sharpener to tidy up the edge the glue was on. Works great with polymer clay whorls .my favorite beginner I think is cheviot mostly because it’s nice and fluffy but has a nice feel for drafting .. but I would say if people don’t mind some a little on the coarse side Navajo churro wool was pretty amazing and it comes in some fun natural colors.(I’m a little partial since there are some cute local flocks ).
I just received my first spinning wheel, after spinning on spindles for 4 years. I haven't assembled it yet, waiting for my husband to finish my craft room. I bought Ashford kiwi 3. Thans for all the videos that has helped me to spin better yarn.
Oh boy. I have to say this channel has led me to dive DEEP into spinning and weaving. I have managed to get the hang of a basic top whorl drop spindle, while exclusively breastfeeding a three month old and caring for my 3 year old, in just a few weeks. My husband and I purchased our first floor loom this weekend and it needs a bit of work, but was only $200 and less than an hour away! I have feelers out for a spinning wheel, but am saving up for a Kiwi3. I love your content and cannot wait for Vlogmas this year! You have converted me!
This was awesome to watch, it made me happy to remember how I started out. I was given a ball of purple dyed wool, some hand cards, and a drop spindle. I don’t even know what breed the wool was, but it was very stiff. I carded it into rolags and struggled long hours learning to spin after just one lesson. I’ve been spinning everything I can get my hands on ever since! That was almost 15 years ago.
I will have to say I really enjoy spinning blends I make on my drum carder the most. I like to use Shetland, Romney, Cheviot, Corriedale, BFL, Huacaya Alpaca (sooooo soft!), and Merino. But my absolute favorite wool is PolyPay to use for blending or just spinning alone by itself. To me it’s almost a luxury fiber, and anytime I use it, I know I scoured it and processed it myself.
Now I’m experimenting more with different types of wool blended with silk or cellulose fiber for lace-weight yarns on my spinning wheel.
so upbeat. Your videos are fun to watch. Love the push on the history and culture aspect. Very cool.
HAHAHA SO TRUE!!! I started spinning in APRIL and im already dreaming of sheep. "oh maybe just like four, or ten..." i don't even own a spinning wheel, or carders or anything.. so theres no way for me to even process that fiber lol :D
I rented my wheel for a few weeks from a local area shop before I purchased it. When I did buy it the shop deducted my rental fees from the cost if the wheel.
I've been spinning for 10 years now, and I learned by doing a 2 day course with a teacher who taught us how to card the fleece and spin. I used Jacob wool, which I still love, but my current favourite is alpaca, which I can spin very fine on my Ashford Kiwi. If I spin merino, I prefer to do it on my drop spindle!
This is going to be a very good resource for everyone who asks me where to begin with spinning! Even if the video was a bit rushed at the end... I'm guessing it was to get it just short of the 20 minutes mark.
So I just decided like 3 days ago that I need to start spinning. I'm in my mid-late 30s and I'm on a journey of discovery if you will and this feels like a very fluid next step so here I am. And this was incredibly helpful and concise. Thank you so so very much sis!
I am a spindle spinner … BFL is so lovely and a joy to spin. I did spin a Merino/Tussah blend top early on and it went very well - I think because the silk added some length to the staple. It drafted like butter which was key as a beginner because I had been so frustrated with the drafting process. I taught myself to spin during the pandemic with no hands-on help, so that was a turning point for me.
I started spinning with some sort of itchy wool that I practiced with at my local fiber arts fair and then when i decided to commit to spinning, I ordered BFL to spin with and I was like “ohhh. This is so much nicer” very soft and helped with my practice drafting out the fiber.
I started with merino, but loved BFL and Targgee. ETA~ and before you know it, you're putting a bid on 60 acres for your sheep and alpaca.... TRUTH at least a dream 🤣😂🤣
I've watch many videos to help me launch my new spinning education and yours are just the best. Your clarity and enthusiasm are a joy. This video was one of the most helpful yet. Thank you!
I think Cheviot or Corriadale would be fantastic for a beginner. Even I learned on Corriadale when I started
I agree with you about Merino not necessarily the easiest for beginners. I learned on Romney and still really enjoy it. Your three favorites were not readily accessible in my area when I was a beginner, but I enjoy spinning all three. My favorite breed to spin is probably not the best for a beginner either, but I love Targhee, with Corriedale a close second.
I started with Merino and wish I had started with Corriedale! I ordered Corriedale and bamboo and love this blend. I use @ 10% bamboo with the wool, it has been so easy to spin on my drop spindle.
The rabbit hole is VERY deep!!! But so rewarding and wonderful!
The best rabbit hole! Fiber crafts are life 💖
I love love love BFL! One of the easier wools to spin.
I learned to crochet and my yarn stash grew. I started spinning (fiber stash grew) with a drop spindle- to learn how spinning works and to learn to draft without the extra of treddles and tension. I progressed to a wheel, and now I have a loom 😆 I'm trying to plan where weaving yarn is going to go!
Just to let you know, I watch all your videos, really enjoy. Also, your hair looks beautiful, it is the prettiest that I have seen.
Omg i literally just ordered my first drop spindle a couple days ago with Corriedale and Blueface Leichester wool! Feeling very lucky now that i randomly chose the best wools for a beginner! 😅
I started spinning on a spindle with no whorl and raw qiviut. The juxtaposition between having a dinky little dowel with a hook screwed into one end and probably the most expensive fiber ever (a silk/qiviut blend is much cheaper than pure qiviut) cracks me up looking back on it. I mostly spin merino now because it's easy to find. I've spun eri silk as well as a polwarth/tussah silk blend, and they both spin like a dream. Angora is an absolute delight to spin. Probably the first time i worked up some yarn and made a swatch that actually feels like fur. I'm trying to get used to cellulose fibers. Flax gives me trouble but hemp is easier. I'd like to invest in an e-spinner when i have the funds for it
The knowledge and connectedness of everything that affects our lives like clothing, food ,celebrations, education and community is why i say i’m everything curious. I appreciate your spirit as do many others and Implore you to take care of yourself and do everything you can to stay healthy and happy!
I just came home from my 2nd of 3 spinning wheel spinning classes, thinking I need to buy a wheel this summer. I don't want to lose what I've learned, and I feel if I binge watch your videos, I'll learn a lot! 😊
I always enjoyed Romney when I first started spinning back in 2002 or so. Since then, of course, like any other spinner I have gone on to a number of other breeds: Jacob, Colonial (also known as ...dang, forgot the name). As you said, too many to name. I also started on a Canadian Production. Wheel, the worst one in the world to start on! However, I’m still at it and enjoying carding and spinning my own blends.
I am just learning to spin now, and while I did consider the idea of getting a spinning wheel, I realised that I very much enjoy being able to pick up my spindle and take it anywhere. I'm therefore just going to up my spindle game instead, and have treated myself to a fancy new medieval style spindle. I definitely agree with the BLF and the scales. I've plied for the first time and a weighed out 2, 20 gram pieces of the BLF so I could see how consistently I could spin. It's certainly not perfect up close. But for my very first attempt at plying two singles, I'm so proud of how it looks!
Hi Eve!!! Loved this episode. I don't care to spin Merino at all. For beginners, my favorite is BFL combed top or rolags. Rolags are much easier to draft than combed top and I always start students on rolags. Anything from alpaca to locally grown heritage wool, to mixed fiber rolags have all been quite successful for newbs.
Hi Evie, I hope you're OK xx ❣️
I love my Drop Spindles and my Nano.
I've just added 2 New Spindles to my Collection.
Ohhh the Spinning Rabbit Hole is very deep as you said.
Happy Spinning Fibre Friend 🐑🫂
Take care and stay safe
Lots of love Jen xxxx ❤️🐑❤️🐑🎆
@ Evie, Thankyou so much for the Heart Reply ❤️
Sending Heart back to you ❤️🫂
Hope you have a Great weekend
Happy Spinning Fibre Friend 🐑
Love and hugs Jen xxxx ❤️🫂🎆🐑
I've recently gotten back into spinning after several years hiatus. I love your videos and I love your matching earrings and spindle! 😂 Thanks so much for all the great content. It's been helping me get back into the swing of things.
P.S. The first fiber I spun and still my favorite is BFL.
Greetings from the Texas Gulf Coast. Merino is good and I started with merino, but my favorite is corriedale.
My first wool was Shropshire wool from the 4H project sheep my best friend and I had. I learned to spin first with a homemade spindle, then my parents got me an Ashford Classic wheel. As far as fiber processing goes, I learned to card rolags with hand cards , so I almost had to learn all over again with commercial batts.
My first wool when I got my first spindle was corriedale and I still love using it. It wasn't as frustrating as merino can be, so I wasn't frustrated. Frustration is the enemy to new hobbies.
It’s all good advice, so I am just popping in to second the joys of spinning BFL and Corriedale. I usually find them as roving rather then top but still such fun fibres to spin 😆
I have this huge wheel contraption in my attic looks like the one in the back but mine is way bjgger and would love to learn what it is and do this. Only tool I have besides sog brushes. Lol. I love crochet and would love to make my own yarn. Thank you for sharing
Great video! I'm really looking forward to the day when I have the space and money to get started!
Your passion for fiber and spinning is very inspiring :)
I'm also anti merino for beginners. I've also recommended some landrace sheep, especially Falkland and Finn, since they're also delightfully medium.
I'm a very beginner. I do have a bottom whorl spindle that I've tried, a little, but am also going to be looking at a used Joy 2 this weekend. I'm so glad I found your channel it has been so clear and helpful. Also, your laugh is infectious and an awesome way to start my Monday!
Happy spinning evie and much love and light with big virtual hugs xx
I started learning with Finsheep, which is landrace bred with merino and Wensleydale combed tops, which I think are also beginner friendly and soft.
I started with Corriedale and borrowed a wheel from a shop aftern I did a spinning course. Then immediately bought my own wheel as a birthday present from my family. 🤣 I can't use a spindle although I like the idea of it being so portable.
I only started spinning this year and i am so glad I saw your breed recommendations before I started. On your advice I started with Corriedale, and I loved it. Thanks for all the help and giggles you have provided.
I just got a drop spindle from The Woolery, just a plain simple large one and it came with a bag of combed wool to get started. I am really enjoying it and I am getting better with it all the time. I am getting more comfortable and consistent.
Too cute -- Love the hair and I have been admiring your earrings and how cool you made those!! I am into so many rabbit holes -- spinning, weaving, quilting, etc. etc. But can't imagine being happier than deep diving into these various rabbit holes.
So far I have only done support spinning, starting in January 2024. This technique is very approachable. My first fiber was corriedale and I love it. I have done a butch of merrino and it is not hard. I have tried some Icelandic and this is the first I have struggled with.
I spin on a spindle and started within BFL then Corriedale and they are very good!
😅rabbit hole indeed! I am still very early in my spinning journey and your videos have been so helpful and encouraging. I started with a drop spindle and cormo then some corriedale. Merino is very challenging as a newbie; I was not ready for it the first time I tried it and found that wool very frustrating.
I learn so much from you. Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge!
I enjoy your videos. I don’t spin yet, but it is a goal. Thanks for the information and inspiration.
I started with a spindle based on price and practice, fell in love with it then was able to get a wheel and haven’t held back. I have 3 beautiful spindles and my spinning wheel 🧶
100% agreed about merino not being beginner-friendly! I started spinning with Corriedale, and it went fairly well (given it was my first time using a drop spindle)... And then, I wanted to ply my first skein with a contrast color. I ended choosing a merino fiber, and it was a LOT harder!!
This is a great guide! I'd love if you'd do a similar video to this but on weaving! I'm interested in picking it up but I'm not sure where to start!
I started to learn to spin with alpaca on a wheel/e spinner, because of some kind of allergy to wool. I have however discovered I can work with merino superwash, and I now have a tour de fleece spinbox with different wools and fibers and so far none have given my problems 😁 I haven't spun everything yet, but my wool favorites to spin are Corriedale and BFL
On a personal note, I love your joy! ❤😊 super informative and easy to understand, 😊 thanks
I love everything fabric related, ive built my own spindles and spun my own yarn, learned to knit and crochet and I love sewing with my grandma's hand-crank singer antique machine, I just love everything about that stuff, I've also build my own version of a spinning wheel that was used in greece called "τσικρίκι" it's a very interesting invention and honestly was very easy to build and use XD
I love vintage wheels! I was up to 10 wheels, but scaled back to only three😎
I started with corriedale and went straight to merino and rambouillet. I have never spun on anything other than the drop spindles I have made.
This is a great video, wish I had had it when I started in December (discovering you allowed me to figure out smooth spindle spinning!) I got myself a sample box with a top whorl spindle and lots of different breeds of sheep top, which was terrific for learning about all the different properties of wool. Merino was definitely the worst for me out of that box, it essentially all felted in my hands and it’s sitting somewhere to be combed out and respun later …
I agree with you on merino - I tried it second, and found it super frustrating. Corriedale was great, it felt like it had more traction and long (?) staple length.
Thank you for such a great video! You are so easy to follow, and your joy and wit are such a delight. Thanks for sharing your expertise and love for the fiber arts!🖤
Love the matching earrings and spindle!
This video came across my thread, and provided me a great introduction into your awesomeness! This video was thorough, clear, and inspiring. I literally laughed out loud, when you warned about "the rabbit hole." 😂 Looking forward to viewing more of your videos.
As I have got my hands on a bag of free peltwool, and being a spinning virgin I am bringing your videos to learn what I can befor I start. My family have a ooooold spinning whel that I hope my hubby will help me fix. His hobby is wood working 😁 lucky me. Perhaps he even can teach me to make my own spindles.
How heavy are the most comon spindles? It would be nice to have an aprox weight to aim for. And how do the weight of the spindle affect the yarn you can make? Do one use light spindle to thin yarn and a heavy spindle for thick yarn? Or do the weight affect the amount of twist??? Does the weight of the spindle matter? Different types of wood have different weight so I was thinking the choice of wood would affect the weight of the spindle.
Do you have experience with Norwegian peltwool?
Loveeee. :))
Thank you for this!!
I hope to one day have matching earrings and spindles. 😂 I'll sit the earrings beside me while I learn to spin. 😂🤣
Also, your hair is on point this video!! 🤗🤗🤗
Thank you for having such an open and accepting community here!! 🥰
I love your videos!! You dive right in, explain in detail. I think Blue Face Leicester was one of my first. I must add..the rabbit hole is deep, spinning can lead to weaving..but's it's so wonderful & fun!! Thank you!!
I started spinning on a drop spindle using Southdown wool. It continues to be a favorite of mine. I really don't like spinning Merino b/c it's so slippery. Cormo is another favorite wool to spin.
Me too! I started in June- jumped right In and got a small heard of southdowns! My daughter loves to knit and was interested in the whole process. It’s been so fun
Thank you, Jillian Eve, i felt there was almost zero on the espinner tho i do think u may have reviewed one in an earlier episode. I think I’ve entered the deep cavern despite saying for years that I would never spin!!!!! .
One day I’ll be able to save up for a wheel! Right now I use a drop spindle.
I hope you don't have to wait too long for your very own wheel. I'm learning on a drop spindle.
Thank you SO MUCH for giving your opinion of what your recommended fiber to learn to spin with. There are so many different opinions of this subject. I tried learning with Merino and I had so much trouble. I did buy some BFL rovings and will try them tonight.
Great video! When I took Motherofpurl's spinning course from the crafter box she supplied Corridale. That was much easier than the colorful thing I bought to start!
My first spindle was a 3d printed Turkish spindle. My husband's hobby is 3d printers so it worked well to decide if I wanted to invest in this new hobby.
the rabbit hole really is deep... i started with sewing tutorials in 2016 and two sewing machines, several crochet hooks, four knitting looms and uncountable yarn skeins later here i am planning my spinning journey.
I started spinning with a drop spindle and my dogs fur. She is a husky st bernard and makes the most beautiful tri colored lace weight yarn.
Thank you for this! I have wanted to get into spinning for such a long time, so this is very informative. I will have to see if there are any groups near me that can offer resources to start with (so I don’t end up in my usual craft rabbit hole of buying tools and never using them again).
I'd love to put in a good word for Marsh Romney and Shetland as beginner's fleeces. I've found they don't matt as much as BFL. English Longwool breeds (i.e. Masham, Teesdale) are also very forgiving, though the staple length can be awkward.
Ooo definitely gonna come back to this. Was thinking of spinning new yarn as a way to recycle scraps (dunno if there’d be enough, maybe I’d add them to some roving for extra color?)
Thank you for the advice on sheep breeds to try!
A very helpful, useful video. Many thanks Evie.