Lynn C. wrote: "For most people, Romney is the easiest thing to spin when you are starting out. If you can card it yourself, even better. Everyone should learn how to use hand cards,..."
This is so interesting to me... as a fairly new handspinner, it seems to me that what Lynn C. wrote above is very true. It wasn't until I was preparing my own wool to spin that I really was able to get the hang of it... as Holly alluded to, there are many "myths" and so much depends on the combination of almost infinite variables when dealing with natural fibers. There are almost no"hard and fast" truisms that can be made, only general guidelines, since every fiber is different. I think the more you experiment and learn to rely on your own experience, the better. It's difficult at first, because we SO want to end up with a finished product we like.... but the more we can give in to the "process" and not focus too much on the product at first, the better. Let the fibers themselves "tell" you what they are and what they "want". Play with them! I first had success with lovely raw Romney lamb fleeces. I bought them at our state fair from a 4-H breeder I knew. I felt them and looked at them and just fell in love with the softness and handle. She pre-sold them to me two years in a row, and both years they ended up winning the highest fiber awards! They spun like a dream, and I felt the joy and exhilaration of actually spinning REAL yarn for the first time! My point in telling you this is to trust your instincts -- buy and work with what you like. Holly gave some very good guidelines to follow regarding staple length, etc. Do learn to wash/card your own fiber and approach with lovely, playful "beginner's mind". I'm right there with you, learning and loving every minute! Margot Grim Grim's Faerytale Farm Woodinville, WA >From: Lynn & Terry Chapin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: fibernet@imagicomm.com >To: fibernet@imagicomm.com >Subject: wool easy for beginning spinner >Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:05:44 -0800 > >Wow, I'm amazed you would say that! I've been spinning 35 years, and >have taught many people. NOBODY has an easy time spinning Merino as a >beginner! You must be one of those people whose style just suits short >staple wool, or else you are putting in lots and lots of twist. > >For most people, Romney is the easiest thing to spin when you are >starting out. If you can card it yourself, even better. Everyone >should learn how to use hand cards, and the wool will not be manhandled >so much. If you don't want to card, try to get some roving from New >Zealand. The wool is softer than a lot of the Romney grown in the US, >and the roving is better prepared, with the length of the fiber intact. >Often, roving produced here (in the US) ends up with the staple torn up >so much you lose the advantage of the longer wool. > >Good luck, what wheel did you buy? >Lynn C >Seattle To stop mail temporarily mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: set nomail To restore send: set mail
