Home Page
   Articles
       links
About Us    
Traders        
Recipes            
Latest Articles
Buying prepared wool ready for spinning

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Make Your Own/DIY
Author 
 Message
madcat



Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 13 1:53 pm    Post subject: Buying prepared wool ready for spinning Reply with quote
    

I'm after some coloured wool to spin on a hand spindle,where might I buy some. Who do you recommend?
I'm on a budget so basic inexpensive is the area I'm looking at?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 13 2:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

don't go for something too challenging, fleeces vary hugely in quality, so pick something that feels nice and that you'll enjoy spinning.

mochyn



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 13 2:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If you want something you can spin straight out of the bag I'd go for Wolrd of Wool: they have a good range of tops. They have a lovely Blue Faced Leicester in white, oatmeal and (I thnk) grey.

madcat



Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 13 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What about the Wingham wool site, I fancy trying a selection including Herdwick. I have my eye on the book about British sheep too.

mochyn



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 13 9:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Personally I wouldn't go for Herdwick unless I wanted to make a carpet

madcat



Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 13 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It's a bit of sentiment, Boris is so Herdwick like and comes from round there and resembles a sheep and still has his Cumbrian accent. To be honest I don't really fancy soft and fluffy at the moment.

toggle



Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro
PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 13 11:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

madcat wrote:
It's a bit of sentiment, Boris is so Herdwick like and comes from round there and resembles a sheep and still has his Cumbrian accent. To be honest I don't really fancy soft and fluffy at the moment.


there's a difference between not soft and something you could use to scour pots with though. I bought some herdwick once and ended up giving the bag to my son for a science project of the protect the egg dropped off the roof sort ofthing.

Finsky



Joined: 10 Sep 2011
Posts: 847
Location: Notts.
PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 13 5:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Herdwick's roughness vary a lot. I like the texture and the look of the wool but only use for things like bags and baskets.
I made some knitted and felted slippers....BUT....after while they started to fell apart.
In past I've always bought it from World of wool..and its been ok..the amount of kemp vary a bit.
This year I got whole fleece and I sorted the most useable bits for knitting and I got only very small amount of 'almost kemp free' wool that would be alright for something like mittens or welly socks...actually quite nice and not scratchy at all!!
Here is some more ideas what to look for... https://www.worldofwool.co.uk/products/7/natural_wool_tops_and_fleeces.htm
What you were going to spin and use the wool for?

gil
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 13 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I'd knit with Herdwick yarn - indeed, I have a jumper I made with some. I don't think I'd want to spin with it, though.

For easy, beginner spinning, I would recommend Texel, Ryeland, Romney, Lleyn. Or BFL as 'tops'.

madcat



Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester
PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 13 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I was going to buy 100 g of dark and 100g of light to try and also an few bits of other attractive looking tops to try. The stuff that came with the drop spindle kit have a long staple but I don't know what it is. It didn't say.
I was given a small veg bag full of Alpaca to try which I spun on my homemade spindle but I prefer the feel of wool.
I'm hoping that by experimenting with small amounts I can get the feel for different sheep coats and find some favourites.
Thank you for your advice,as a beginner its a great help and encouragement.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Make Your Own/DIY All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1
View Latest Posts View Latest Posts

 

Archive
Powered by php-BB © 2001, 2005 php-BB Group
Style by marsjupiter.com, released under GNU (GNU/GPL) license.
Copyright © 2004 marsjupiter.com