Video: Introduction to spinning with a drop spindle

Here is part one of a tutorial on how to use a drop spindle like the ones I sell on Etsy.

Drop spindles are what women used for eons to spin fiber. Often, they would spin as they walked into town during market day, tuck the spindle and fiber away in their bag while they stocked up on provisions, and then would spin some more as they walked home. For most families, that was how all yarn for all their fabric was made.

I taught myself to spin using a drop spindle and alpaca fiber. When I have a booth at an alpaca show or a farmer's market, whenever I am not talking to a customer, I am spinning with my drop spindle. My spinning wheel takes up way too much room in my car to ever leave my house, and the yarn I make on the drop spindle is so much more interesting.

Let me know if you find this informative!

maren

p.s. just in case you were wondering, no, it's not me in the video. This is something I am re-posting from YouTube.

Video: How to Card Alpaca with Hand Carders

I am actually looking to replace my hand carders, but I found this video instead. I like how she demonstrates how to make cute little roving bats out of the carded fiber, too. Enjoy!
m

Some homespun yarn pictures

Who knew that my best selling items on Etsy.com would be the lumpy homespun I make on my drop spindle? I get the lumpiness by using raw fiber and just flicking the tips with a carder (which is actually a dog brush from the pet store). This makes for an inconsistent draw, which results in lumpy, slubby yarn that is full of "character."

These were all mini-skeins of about 50 yards or less each, and I sold them for $5 a pop because I wasn't sure the yarn was strong enough to hold together.

Good news! People loved them.
Bad news! Now I'm out.

I have to decide if I want to make more. I made these as a time-killer while I sat in my Farmer's Market booth. I don't really have time to kill during the school year when I teach. We'll see.

For now, I don't have any more of these little gems.

m

White Roving and Quilt batting on the way!

I took 58 lbs. of white alapca fiber to the mill on Saturday, and I expect to get some 40 of it back as white roving. 

The rest of it, moslty 2nds that won't make nice roving, will be blended with wool and sent through a felting machine. This will be perfect for making super-warm, luxury quilt batting. It will be white, so it can be used with any quilt material and won't show through.

This should all be available in April. I'll be sure to announce when I pick it up from the mill.

Thank you to all of those who voted in our poll on Facebook and here on the blog. Your opinions really matter to me.

--m

Whipworms?

Hey, here's a question for you all:

Do any alpaca people out there have experience with whipworms? Specifically, does Panacur work to cure them? We know that Ivormec is nearly useless in controlling them.

Please comment below or email us.

Thanks!
maren

A Fiber Poll

Hi!

So, we're taking a load of alpaca fiber to a fiber mill, and I wanted to know what you all thought we should make? Here are some choices:

White Roving
Colored Roving
Bulky Yarn
Sport Yarn
Lace Yarn

What would you have us make? Comment below or email us!

m

Sold!

Three fiber boys are SOLD!

Thank you to Debbie in Eugene and Pat and Mike of Aumsville for giving our little boys loving homes!

We'll miss you fellas!
m

Hey Spinners and Knitters!


Feel like treating yourself with a little alpaca fiber to play with?


Use this coupon code at our Etsy shop and get 10% off!

OCTOBER2011


Remember, whole fleeces always ship for free!


Enjoy!