Anyone spin/knit?

[jim_w]

I've been assigned a new task today: I'm making her indoors a spindle, so she can spin wool.

It occured to me that she might like to browse around some forums - she always tut-tuts at me for my addiction to bcuk and BB

soooo... I'm wondering whether anyone spins or knits, and whether you know of any websites/forums to do with that sort of thing.

 

[baggins]

Jim_w.
Just had a chat with her indoors, she has a spinning wheel and used to do alot. She does't know any forums but did say that there should be some local clubs and societies that might be helpful .
If you want any further advice don't hesitate to pm me and i''ll pass it on to swmbo.
good luck!

 

[Toddy]

I've been assigned a new task today: I'm making her indoors a spindle, so she can spin wool.

It occured to me that she might like to browse around some forums - she always tut-tuts at me for my addiction to bcuk and BB

soooo... I'm wondering whether anyone spins or knits, and whether you know of any websites/forums to do with that sort of thing.

I do, the link below is for the spinners, weavers,dyers guild and there is now an on-line guild too. Link on the site.
Best wishes,
Toddy

http://www.wsd.org.uk/

 

[logstacker]

I knit rabbit purse nets.

 

[jim_w]

Ooooh that looks useful. Seems like a real-world group is the best bet - I'll point her to that website. Cheers!

 

[match]

If you're making a hand-spindle, this is easy - you just need a disc of wood/plastic/metal (even a few old CD's will do) - drilled perfectly centrally, then a straight bar put through, with a small nick or a hook in the top.

If you're making a spinning wheel, then this is a more elaborate task!

For more information on hand spinning, have a look at http://www.joyofhandpsinning.com which has a lot of information, including good videos on how to card, spin etc.

 

[BorderReiver]

If you're making a hand-spindle, this is easy - you just need a disc of wood/plastic/metal (even a few old CD's will do) - drilled perfectly centrally, then a straight bar put through, with a small nick or a hook in the top.

If you're making a spinning wheel, then this is a more elaborate task!

For more information on hand spinning, have a look at http://www.joyofhandpsinning.com which has a lot of information, including good videos on how to card, spin etc.

Oops,dead link. http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/

Slight spolling mostake in original

 

[Ed]

I learnt knit from a young age, and now also spin and weave. My late grandmother and uncle are/were the ones for the wheel.... I use a drop spindle, gathering woolfleece scraps off the barbed wire fences...... just carved a drop spindle for cordage making Karen is also working on a project cataloging natural dyes...... got about 200+ so far

Any questions you have, please feel free to ask and I'll help as much as I can

Its addictive by the way


Ed

 

[jim_w]

Cheers guys! No doubt I'll have questions from Becky to pass on soon enough. Thanks for the info so far.

 

[BorderReiver]

I learnt knit from a young age, and now also spin and weave. My late grandmother and uncle are/were the ones for the wheel.... I use a drop spindle, gathering woolfleece scraps off the barbed wire fences...... just carved a drop spindle for cordage making Karen is also working on a project cataloging natural dyes...... got about 200+ so far

Any questions you have, please feel free to ask and I'll help as much as I can

Its addictive by the way


Ed

Can you use a drop spindle with nettles?

If so,some details would be appreciated

 

[Toddy]

Yes, but it's a, "first catch your nettles" scenario. They need an awful lot of preparation......best advice.......buy your missus some flax!
http://www.winghamwoolwork.co.uk/
supply all kinds of fibres, are utterly reliable and helpful too.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[BorderReiver]

Yes, but it's a, "first catch your nettles" scenario. They need an awful lot of preparation......best advice.......buy your missus some flax!
http://www.winghamwoolwork.co.uk/
supply all kinds of fibres, are utterly reliable and helpful too.

Cheers,
Toddy

Not me missus,me.

I used to have a wheel and a 3 foot loom years ago.Always used raw sheep fleece though.

I've never tried vegetable fibres.Got a fair bit of stripped nettle fibre which I was going to do by hand but being lazy I thought that a drop spindle might be quicker.

 

[Toddy]

Not me missus,me.

I used to have a wheel and a 3 foot loom years ago.Always used raw sheep fleece though.

I've never tried vegetable fibres.Got a fair bit of stripped nettle fibre which I was going to do by hand but being lazy I thought that a drop spindle might be quicker.

Brilliant! Okay then, it spins like flax, that is you need to spin it damp to get the fibres to move enough to take the twist evenly. If the fibre bundle is quite small then you can just mist/spray it before you start, if it's bigger or going to take longer than the drying out will, then a small bowl of water that you dip your fingers into will be enough.
There's a lot of mince talked about drawing fibres through your mouth to moisten them....the retting process leaves the fibres full of bacteria....it's a really bad idea. Women who spin this way end up with their mouths surrounded with cold sore like infections Just nasty.
It helps a great deal if the fibres are spread out in fine drift layers and then gently folded around a distaff and cross wrapped with a ribbon or lace. The distaff can be as simple as a newspaper cone stuck on top of a garden cane, or a bullrush (reedmace) split into four at the top end and tied into a cage with the fibres either inside or spread around it. Eric Methven, http://www.countrycrafts.co.uk will make spindles and distaffs to order, if you want proper ones.
Cheers,
Toddy

 

[BorderReiver]

Cheers Toddy,very helpfull.