The Poultry Keeper

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

my daughter came home with 4 fleeces yesterday they had sheared the sheep and where going to dump them as they are worth very little unless they are treated ,well i have 4 fleeces in the car nowhere else to put them ,the children sat in the sun on the driveway picking out the dirty bits ,now what Question

,i would like to do them myself as i would like to learn and i can get loads of wool if i ask around ,can anybody help as we have a guest coming up next week and we have to go and get him in the car Very Happy

,does anyone on here spin,
suz

Heather · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:53 am Post subject:

I don't know Suz , but perhaps you can try here http://mrsl.forumsplace.com/ as there are people who on there who at least own spinning wheels

I know *how* to do it in theory - but have never tried!

Great site btw - I was pointed to it from the Eglu forum - it has chickeny stuff on it as well Very Happy

HTH

Heather

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

thanks for that ,i think i'm just going to have bite the bullet and see if i can buy a spinning wheel and a video on spinning ,
i've always wanted to learn ,but just haven't had time ,still i have to use the wool somehow and i've got a list of people that want hats for christmas from the children .
i have to get the car cleared somehow ,it used to be clean ,now it's got straw hay and 2 bags of wool in it ,
will the oh ever forgive me Pray

suz

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Our town's centennial celebration is going on this weekend....big doin's down at the city park and all along Main Street. (This is why I am not around so much...I am sitting in a booth for the humane society). But I did get a chance to walk around a bit yesterday and watched one lady spinning the wool, while another was working it on a loom! Wow!

Yeah, like I have the time to even consider it.... Sad

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

i've been meaning to do it for years ,but it will have to go out of the car ,we've got to get the peats in as well ,he really will never forgive me ,last time we took the car out there a wire came out and shorted out the battery ,tractor next year ,this is turning into a wish list ,i'll wait till he goes out and order a spinning video ,he's still waiting for his jumper i started 3 years ago but the children have all had jumpers ,have to something on the wet howling nights Whistle

,maybe this year he'll get one Shocked

.have a nice day deb.
suz

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:41 am Post subject:

I have spun with a drop spindle - never used a spinning wheel, but have watched! lol! All you need for a spindle is a stick and a weight on the bottom - have seen it as basic as a potato stuck onto the stick. The wool is best carded (?) - combed - before spinning as this removes the rubbish and gets all the fibres in the same direction so then you can tease out the resultant 'rowers' - Shetland word maybe, not sure of spelling, into a length to be spun. Try this to make it a little clearer - perhaps!

http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/ManitobaCrafts/storyofwool/crafts/teasingcarding.html

The following page is on spinning with a drop spindle.

surrey bird · Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 61 Location: SURREY

When you have got the hang you can come and groom my huskies for me, I've heard it is spinning stuff, also heard you mix it with wool, anything to get out of that job!!!

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

i think it will be a time yet ,husky hairs great isn'y it ,only if you come round to mine and groom my goats ,i knew someone who groomed their old english sheep dog and made jumpers out of it ,
suz

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

I just bought a spinning wheel off ebay. I was really lucky and got this one for £20 because the people who were selling it spelled it wrong! However, it is a great place to pick one up because they can get posted out. You can also pick up good books on spinning off ebay. Having said that - I haven't had a go yet, but have watched someone else do it.

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Oooo, you will have to let us know how you fair with it! Very Happy

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

We only moved here three weeks ago to a cottage in the middle of nowhere (it's great!) Our landlady is a farmer who has sheep so I can have the fleeces. I also bought some carders and drop spindles off ebay as well. My 8 year old son has got the hang of making it go round at a steady pace, so I will get him spinning once I get some wool. He has an advantage as he is a drummer.

fluffly_fifer · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 411 Location: Fife, Scotland

I got a spinning wheel as a pressie (though not had time to use it yet). Though there is a shop in Edinburgh called Helios Fountain in the Grassmarket that used to run courses.
I'd recommend a book called "The Spinner's Encyclopedia" which does cover hand spindles too.
Author is Enid Anderson & ISBN is 0 7153 8794 4 . Hope this helps.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

thank
i've still got the wool sitting on norths cage in the front room ,
must get round to getting a spinning wheel ,it carn't be still sitting there when visitors come round next year
suz