Replies to This Discussion

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on January 19, 2011 at 5:24am

I'm not a spinner. I just got into knitting, and that's overwhelming enough.  LOL!  Perhaps one day I'll try spinning.  Is that a sample of your yarn?  It's beautiful!  Do you sell the yarn you spin? 

Permalink Reply by Mary Egbert on January 19, 2011 at 5:24pm

Hi Shelley.  Yes, both pictures are my spinning.  I really love it!  I have yet to sell my yarns, but get asked all the time so I think it's time to consider it.  I have a small yarn store that wants to buy some thing   I will have to get a website or a facebook site up to put up yarns for sale.  What do you think of the name Camaj for a name for handspun yarns?

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on January 19, 2011 at 6:40pm

I think the name is nice, but give me a phoenetic spelling so I'm sure I'm pronouncing it right in my head.  Does it mean anything special? 

If you ever get a webstore up and running, please let us know.  Like I say, I'm new to knitting, but I'm already hankering to try some homespun!  And alpaca is already a favorite fiber of mine.  I have some that's so incredibly soft it makes me want to cry.  I'm saving it until I'm a better knitter. I don't want to waste it!  ;)

StudentPermalink Reply by Rhonda J. on January 19, 2011 at 6:09am

wow, is that your yummy handspun in the photo...beeeeautiful! I have dabbled in spinning some with drop spindles. A few times on a wheel which was lots of fun. I'm not really that good though since my yarn thickness isn't very consistent but I try.  And alpacas...how cool. Are they friendly? I'd love to pet one up close & personal since their hair makes such soft yarn I figure they must be soft & fluffy too. :)

Permalink Reply by Mary Egbert on January 19, 2011 at 5:26pm

Hi Rhonda.  You are sweet.  I won't touch a drop spindle so kudos to you!  I don't have that much patience.  Listen, I love the varying thickness of yarns...we just call it art yarn.  Take a look at pluckystuff website or do a search for art yarns.  The "messier" the better.  It's quite a skill and I'm not there yet.  the alpacas are cool, they are friendly, but can be a bit aloof or shy.  Yes, they are as soft on the hoof as they are sheared.

Cheers

Mary

StudentPermalink Reply by Rhonda J. on January 19, 2011 at 7:12pm

LOL, well then- I'm a master art yarn spinner cause my stuff is all kinds of thick & thin! I cannot justify the cost of a good wheel vs how much I actually dabble in yarn/fibers. And you should totally sell it. You could always open a shop easy on esty.com or artfire.com. And those alpacas sound a lot like our chickens. :)

Permalink Reply by Kristin Clapper on January 19, 2011 at 6:10am

That is amazing! It is something I have always wanted to do. My boyfriend and I were looking into raising sheep and that was going to be my job spinning the yarn haha

 

Do you sell your yarn? I'm am just now learning to knit and like Shelley said, its overwhelming enough haha- I think the hardest part for me is having the patience to do it. I am an instant gratification person and it seems to take soooo long :)

 

thanks for sharing!

Permalink Reply by Mary Egbert on January 19, 2011 at 5:28pm

I am with you about the instant gratification...When I knit its with 2 to 3 yarns and big honkin needles so I can get a scarf done in like an hour.  The spinning also is fast and it satisfyes my desire to get something done quickly.  You don't have to raise sheep to spin....it would be more financial savvy to just buy fleeces and do it that way.  No animal to take care of, no vet bills, etc. 

Cheers

Mary

Permalink Reply by Kristin Clapper on January 20, 2011 at 6:58am

yah that would be an awesome idea! I never put to much thought into the fleece! hmm.. off to do some research ;) thanks for the inspiration!

Permalink Reply by Mary Egbert on January 20, 2011 at 5:56pm

Yes, do some research.  I have bought "dirty" or "greasy" fleeces and washed them myself, picked, carded and spun.  Lot's and lot's of work and time.  But a labor of love.  Then you could buy roving and skip all those steps and just get to spinning.  It's interesting how each type of sheep has a different type of wool.  For instance, Merino is super duper soft.  Jacob is crap and spins horribly. It's really a matter of trial and error.  I absolutely love Mohair and spin it right from the curls.  It's more like hair than woo.. There is a book called Aldon Amos Big Book of Handspinning.  It is the Bible of spinning and fibers.  I got it pretty cheap off Amazon.  I also got a spinning wheel off Ebay for about $200. It is a Louet with a single treadle.  Best of luck...keep me posted in your ventures of fiber.

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on January 20, 2011 at 4:19pm

Anyone spinning yarn with some for sale, please give us the link to your site!  Once I get through some of my stash, I'm anxious to try some homespun!  I think homespun would be better from a fellow hooper!  ;)

Permalink Reply by Mary Egbert on January 20, 2011 at 5:58pm

That gave me an idea.  I should spin yarn that looks like the color is a hoop!  then you could knit something, like arm warmers, that match your hoop!  I could even put sparkly fibers in the yarn.

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