I was fascinated to learn about Emma's own sheep - one of whose lamb fleece she had brought along for us to use in class - and as well as talking about the welfare aspects of keeping sheep, and the different breeds and fleeces, we learned about washing the fleeces (very heavy by all accounts!) learned to card the wool, and to spin it on a drop spindle first of all.
We met the farm's own sheep, a mixed bunch of brown and white ones who were very keen to snack on the apples we brought them. Two of the farm's residents, Melissa and Claire, had several homegrown fleeces that they spent most of the weekend carding with Emma's drum carder - despite being easier than the hand carders to use, it was still tough work!
On Sunday, we spent the morning learning to spin on spinning wheels, and trying out the range of wheels that Emma had brought. At first I found it tough to get all the actions going at the same time, but after a while I got the hang of it, and then I was off! I think it was the same for all those of us who tried it!
This was one of the best parts of the weekend - sitting around for several hours doing crafty things with a laid-back bunch of women! We chatted and crafted leisurely, enjoying the freedom of having no other pressures, plans or requirements to be anywhere else, doing anything else. It was very liberating.
Eventually time ran out, so Emma plied together two of the yarns woven on two different wheels. As we'd all been moving round trying out the different wheels, it was something of a joint effort in the end, and produced a rather pleasing, random but colourful effect.
Only one question remains - what sort of wheel should I buy?!
5 comments:
Aha, it would seem that it is true that spinning is dangerously addictive! It sounds like a lovely weekend, perhaps I'd better not indulge in such pleasures in case I too get hooked - at least I can live vicariously through the blogosphere to stave off pangs!
aren't spinning wheels just a bit too sleeping beauty?
I have two, a very simple and inexpensive Kiwi because when I started spinning I wanted to have money left to spend on fibre. No point in having a fabulous wheel and spinning rubbish on it.
And in September I went to the opposite end of the scale and bought a Majacraft suzie pro.
The obvious answer really, is don't buy one at all... try and borrow one, perhaps for a week or two after Christmas when there's a gap in the December Dervish-syndrome we are all subject to. And then when you have used it THOROUGHLY, you'll be in a better position to actually select a wheel rather than just buying one IYKWIM.
Be warned, spinning is very addictive.
n
I have two, a very simple and inexpensive Kiwi because when I started spinning I wanted to have money left to spend on fibre. No point in having a fabulous wheel and spinning rubbish on it.
And in September I went to the opposite end of the scale and bought a Majacraft suzie pro.
The obvious answer really, is don't buy one at all... try and borrow one, perhaps for a week or two after Christmas when there's a gap in the December Dervish-syndrome we are all subject to. And then when you have used it THOROUGHLY, you'll be in a better position to actually select a wheel rather than just buying one IYKWIM.
Be warned, spinning is very addictive.
n
Hi!!
I met you at the knitting course (the newly released LSF programme made me think to google and see if anyone had posted about it).
I was totally inspired by your squirrelly mittens, and am on the 2nd pair of my own - thank you!
See you in November for Round 2? :o)
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