Any yarn spinners out there?

**madhen** · 02-21-2006, 07:23 PM

Just wondering. I have spun small amounts on a drop spindle, and I learned how to spin on a wheel (but can't afford one). I just started raising cashmere goats last year, so I am getting a good supply of cashmere fiber, but it is really hard to spin (very short and slippery). I recently started collecting fiber from my Chow, and I'm really looking forward to getting enough of it to spin it and maybe make a scarf or some mittens with it. He is a red Chow, but his fiber is variegated with reds and blacks - very pretty!

**homesteadmamma** · 02-21-2006, 07:33 PM

I haven't yet. I do have a spinning wheel though and would like to try it one of these days. I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

**sunshine** · 02-21-2006, 07:59 PM

I have a drop spindle- and a kindly neighbor who raises sheep and llamas. I raise angora rabbits.

**madhen** · 02-21-2006, 08:27 PM

I met a lady at the yarn store who has angora rabbits. She showed me some of their fleece. Really nice stuff! She says she shears them twice a year. Angora fiber is about four times as long as cashmere!! I do have one goat who is an angora/cashmere cross. She has longer fibers, but still sheds naturally, like a cashmere.

**sunshine** · 02-21-2006, 10:08 PM

I don't shear my rabbits- I just brush them daily and then spin the fibers from brushing.

**madhen** · 02-21-2006, 11:52 PM

I am trying to figure out an easier way to harvest the cashmere from my goats. They are all very tame, so they let me pull tufts of cashmere out as they shed, but it is still slow going! I'm thinking about trying one of those shedding brushes they sell for dogs. Works well on my Chow! :-)

**madhen** · 02-21-2006, 11:54 PM

How many rabbits do you have? I thought about rabbits, but don't like the idea of keeping them all in separate hutches and having all that extra maintenance. Also, lots of predators in this area, so outside hutches are just asking for trouble! :-(

**sunshine** · 02-22-2006, 10:53 AM

We have lots of predators too, so my hutches are in the barn.

We currently have 2 bucks and 5 does, soon I'll breed the does and we'll have lots of little ones to sell, eat and some to keep for rebreeding later.

**babetteq** · 02-23-2006, 05:28 PM

I spin, and much to my partners frustration she's always finding bags of dog hair. the shepard is only good for making the soles on slippers, but our husky/retrieverx & our cocker spaniel makes lovely, lovely yarn. And WARM!

it does take a bit to get the stink out of the cocker though. I'm thinking of feeding him soap.

babs

(okay, that was a joke... noone go call the spca now....)

**madhen** · 02-23-2006, 05:44 PM

I *have* noticed that my Chow's fur isn't nearly as soft as the cashmere from my goats. I'm thinking about blending his fur with a grey roving, just to get a more uniform colour and to soften it up a bit.

**babetteq** · 02-25-2006, 09:32 AM

re; spinning wheel.....

I can't afford one either, but I've been spinning on one for 1.5 years now. I put an add in the paper asking if anyone had one for borrow or rent. I've been borrowing. Poeple have them in their basements, attics etc... Take a look at them before you start, some of the old ones are great, some are so cantankerous it makes you want to murder.

babs

**madhen** · 02-25-2006, 10:55 AM

I learned how to spin on a portable one, that folds up so you can take it with you! The instructor told me it was the most temperamental one of the bunch (learned with four other students). So I figure it is like learning to drive a standard, then getting an automatic later! :-)

**babetteq** · 02-25-2006, 12:38 PM

So I figure it is like learning to drive a standard, then getting an automatic later! :-)

yes, the one I learned on was about 2 million years old in someones attic ("My g, g, g, g, grandmother brought it over fromthe old country"). It took a bit just to get it to work and I never could do fine yarns on it, a somewhat bulky worsted weight was about as good as it got..... I'm borrowing a different (and very modern) wheel now while I save up for my wheel, and I'm spinning cashmere *thread*. It's amazing the difference!!!

... spindle spinning has it's charms too... a keep my spindle around (although it needs some fixing... I stepped on it !!!) mostly because I like to think that even if i don't get a wheel for a while or end up wheel-less then I can still spin.

babs

**madhen** · 02-25-2006, 12:43 PM

I actually like the drop-spindle better - more control right now, until I get better at the wheel. But I find it impossible to spin cashmere on it. I hate to do it, but I think I'm going to have to blend my cashmere with a longer fiber (maybe angora) just to get a twist that actually holds! A friend of mine raises alpaca and angora sheep. I've been thinking about buying some fiber from her to experiment with.

**babetteq** · 02-25-2006, 01:13 PM

I love spinning alpaca. Slow down on your wheel. At first just "draft, spin, stop, draft" specially if you're using a fibre you're not familiar with. I'm no expert, I've only been doing it for a year and a half, but that's what worked for me.

Cashmere I could never do on a drop spindle. I just don't have the control but I think if you used a much lighter whorl it wouldn't be so hard.... the weight of the whorl breaks the fine, short threads. Maybe try using a CD with a couple of pennies (that you're not saving for the emergency fund) glued to the bottom. Too light and your spindle is flying everywhere instead of nicely twisting the yarn.

alpaca is so nice to work with. Mohair I find so slippery and light that I tend to break it (I'm probably just impatient and going to fast). I havne't played with angora yet... I've got an ounce to try.

babs