Wool & Yarns
Hand Spinning raw fleece
is one of the most peaceful occupations that you can imagine!
And also very therapeutic, because the rhythm of the turn of the wheel
tends to calm the mind
and
I believe is as good as any meditation to ease the heart!
I take great pleasure in using the natural colours of fleece,
I have in the past dyed wool into a myriad of beautiful colours, I enjoyed it and the
wool was gorgeous! But I have discovered that I really prefer to use a
natural colours of the fleece as they are! and the thought that such beautiful
and subtle colours can be got from something as unprepossessing as a freshly
sheared fleece is very satisfying and amazing, because no fleece turns out the
same as you expect!
This is just my way of
working, but dying fleece is a wonderful occupation too if you are drawn to it,
particularly
if you collect the ingredients from the wild... perhaps in the future I will do
this again, but at the moment I am quite happy simply creating beautiful things
out of natural colours.
Personally
I have rarely used commercially prepared fleece, (this
is known as tops) it comes beautifully carded in long lengths or on a
cone, and it is extremely easy to spin into a nice and even yarn.
Per se I have no problem with it, but to me
personally I feel that it is the ‘process’ of taking the raw fleece, and
in a very short while producing usable and often very beautiful yarn
that is an integral part of spinning wool, or indeed any sort of yarn,
and so I do not get the same sort of satisfaction from spinning
commercially produced and prepared fleece. It is a personal thing and I
would certainly not suggest that other people should follow my example.
Using commercially prepared yarn actually opens the door to a variety of
rich colours and textures… but I prefer to rely on the
natural shades of the yarn, or as I have in the past, to dye the yarn
myself using natural ingredients such as tree bark, berries and lichen.
This produces gentle muted colours that look
as if they are part of nature, as indeed they are!
Note:
Dec 2015...I have had to amend this as people who wish to learn to spin need to be
introduced to all sorts of wool product, so at the moment I am using
both, and I have to admit that I am really enjoying experimenting with
commercially prepared 'Tops' ...quite hooked in fact!
(see Gallery of
Yarn for results!)
There are many ways to mix parts
of the fleece to give both different textures and different
shades of colour, when using a coloured fleece or blending it, the best way to
work is to pre card the raw wool using a pair of wooden carders (or a mechanical
card if Wool and Frank
you can afford one) but personally again I like to use the wooden
carders because I am working in a way that wool has always been carded for
generations. (see carding)
My way of working is to sort the
fleece out before I start,
and then decide what mixture of
shades or colours I wish to use. It is possible to change the character of
the fleece as you are spinning, but remember that a whole bobbin constitutes a
hank of wool, and you may not wish to have too much variation if you are using
the whole hank for a garment or a
(Right) Yarn inspired by Silver Birch bark
particular project. when I have enough wool
spun that I do not have a project for in mind, I offer the wool for sale, and it
always seems to be in demand these days. (if you are doing this remember to put
the weight of the wool hank and whether it is double knitting or single ply or
whatever on a little label, also washing instructions for pure new wool are
essential!)
I also sometimes offer hands spun wool fingerless mittens, scarves and socks
which are very popular with our local farmers!
Nothing can ever keep you as warm and snug as pure wool!
I am writing this page at the beginning of October, and I look forward to a winter of spinning up a mound
of wool! My fleeces are already to be processed, and it is a lovely thought that
I can spend many hours in front of a log fire, spinning wool to my hearts
content then skeining it ready for either making up into something beautiful, or
selling as it is.
Blu.
(TIP: The best way I have found to sell this sort of product is at a farmers market
that includes some craft stalls. Hand Spun Wool
is usually acceptable at local farmers markets because it is only one step away
from the raw product!
And it will cause
a great deal of interest amongst the farmer's w ives, many of whom seem eager to
learn to spin themselves.)
Jasper Through the winter I shall record and take
pictures of the products I am making and add them to this page
... also any tips that I think will help you
improve your own yarn. But without doubt the best way to learn is to keep on
going! Such a simple and ancient process,
let common sense be your guide!
Next page....

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