Learn to spin wool

Today I attended a “Fleece sale” sponsored by what appears to be an amazing group of spinners in the area. There were probably a dozen or so wheels set up for sale. I hovered within earshot as a couple potential customers got the full explanation and sales pitch and I am now officially disappointed with the “kit” wheel I have in my basement. By examing some of the wheels, however, I think I have a MUCH better idea how the kit should be assembled so I think I’ll try just for practice. I talked to one of the sellers who was fantastic (Sandy’s Royal Angoras) who knew about raising Angora rabbits, the different kinds of fibres created by the different breeds, not to mention the wide variety of beautiful yarn she had for sale. There were huge clouds of wool in every color, heaped on tables. There were books about knitting, weaving and of course spinning and there were also “luxury” fibres in much smaller bags. And lot’s and lot’s of people. It’s all a bit daunting but I know that the next step is to clear some Saturday and attend the Spinner’s Flock meeting. They’ve got a beginner’s circle that meets before the general meeting and that’s the the place for me.

For more on the Fleece Sale itself:
http://www.chelseastandard.com/stories/091505/loc_20050915006.shtml

For the Spinner’s Flock website:
http://spinnersflock.org/

For Sandy’s Royal Angoras (who was such a helpful conversationalist):
http://members.aol.com/sra7742203/

I put the big box of spinning wheel parts on the dining room table today and through process of elimination, creativity and many squinty looks at the faded Polaroid photo that accompanied the kit, I more or less dry-fit assembled the spinning wheel. Except that it appears that the spindle is missing as well as whatever magical hardware that attaches the foot pedal to the wheel. I think. I’m going to have to show this to someone, someone experienced with the ways of both wood working and spinning wheels.

Did I mention before that this is most definitely a “castle wheel?” It will be a very nice size though as far as I can tell, it does not allow many adjustments for tension, etc. (Like I would know what to do with that stuff anyway, eh?) I am pretty darned excited though. This seems/feels like progress of a sort.

This weekend at a local “Heritage Days” festival I talked at length to the lady behind the spinning wheel. I found out there’s a monthly “Spinner’s Guild” in a nearby town. She said that she herself had only just learned to use the spinning wheel A COUPLE HOURS EARLIER. Wow. Until then, she used the drop spindle. I learned that the whole purpose of the wheel is to provide the twist for the fibre (and then, ideally to reel in the completed yarn.) The spinner also said that what she would do normally is to take this single ply yarn, ball it and somehow twist it together with another length of yarn that twists the other direction (????) OK so that part was beyond me but it was very encouraging to see someone spinning who was actually having to work at it. The spinners I’ve seen previously pulled fabulous yarn, even thickness, effortlessly and I just KNOW if ain’t that simple.

This goal just took a giant step closer to getting done.

I’ve already got a spinning wheel… sort of. I got a big box in he basement that I found in my parents’ basement that has in it a kit for a nice, compact spinning wheel. No directions for its assembly but there is a polaroid showing what it could look like.

So I would have to MAKE the wheel first.

And then of course come the Angora rabbits (yet another item on 43Things) And the grooming. And the separating of fibres in different qualities.

Then comes spinning. I saw a woman spinning Angora wool (hair? fur?) at a Rabbit Breeder’s meet a week ago and it looked like a very nice and peaceful activity. I’ve heard tell that vegetable fibres like cattail and milkweed can also be spun.

And then of course, I’d have to learn how to do something with the yarn. Everyone says Angora yarn is too warm for a sweater but don’t you wear a sweater to be warm? Can something really be too good at doing what it’s supposed to do? Maybe I’ll build a loom and make an angora blanket. And then MORE angora blankets. And then I’ll give them out as gifts. And I’ll become famous for my angora blankets. And everyone all around the world will love me and …

Ah, then again, maybe I should just start by taking another look at what’s in that box in the basement.