spinning wool

wayoutwest · spinning wool

anyone know anything abour spinning wool?

I did it years ago with assistance, and I'm thinking of bring my spining wheel back over from england in the spring and giving it another go. I'd appreciate any advice or pointers, please. I have the wheel, some odd wooden shaped things that go with it, and access to wool straight from the sheep.

quarryman

Blowin knows a couple who keep alpaccas and spin their own wool for knitting. Give him a shout.

dolmen

Spinning and weaving is something on my 'To Do' list, but I've never come accross equipment that suited my pocket, as Yet.

Smile

blowin

[quote="quarryman"]Blowin knows a couple .../quote]
I have invited them to join the forum but they can't get online at the mo' . Hopefully sometime soon .

MeliMelo

hello,

Spinning is also something that is on my "to do" list along with natural dyeing ! With my boyfriend we sheered 2 sheeps last year and I still have to work the fleeces...
The Organic center in Rossinver, co Leitrim, has a huge range of very interesting courses, you can find a course called "Spinning for beginners" that could be a start ? Check them out on www.theorganiccentre.ie .
Good luck !

Mel

Camile

And it only took us 1h30 per sheep !

but the end result was not bad at all ..

this year we will have to shear our ewe .. wich should be simpler because she's very tame !

wayoutwest

organic centre looks good,if a bit pricey, thanks for that.

brilliant photos Camile Very Happy

MeliMelo

They are a bit pricey (that can be an idea for a present ...) but I think this is worth it. I made a course last november and I really wasn't disappointed, and you get fresh coffee and tea upon arrival with freshly baked scones and croissants !! And a delicious seasonal vegetarian lunch all included in the price !!! So I think it makes up for it, there should be an organic center in every county !!

tringle

They also have a centre in co clare, but its in east clare wayout west, the same place that I gave you the number before for the organic gardening course.

jon

My OH has spun wool in the past and may well do again next year with our own wool. I have a notion to try some felt making. It looks much easier. Is felt any good for anything other than hats?
Jon.

wayoutwest

Would you please consider a barter for a days lesson? can't think what off hand, but have a few considerables.

felt...
bags, cushions, pencil cases, mittens, patchwork throws, small felt animals for children, pencil toppers, purses and wallets, waistcoats, covers for keeping red wine warm when drinking it on the beach (very important not to let ones standards slip...), book covers (sewn with contrasting threads, to cover date diaries and writing diaries, peg bags, egg holding belts (to make collecting the eggs a load easier), table mats, stuffed animal doorstops with a flat rock in the bottom...

altogether a whole heap of christmas presents!

can keep going if you want! Embarassed

blowin

wayoutwest

err... that was a list of ideas!

I don't have any home made felt - haven't picked up the wool yet! Laughing

I have made nearly all of those things though, at different times.
will run up more egg belts in march and give you a shout then. Wink

wayland

I like the idea of a waist coat. Very Happy

. Hard wearing is it?

wayoutwest

it depends - warm enough when worn around the house, but if you go wandering through the brambles it will get ruined. I like felt stuff that's patchworked and layered, with contrasting pockets and stitching and so on. I've only made small bits of felt though, so one tends to get quite good at patchworking....