Carding wool...the old fashioned way!
Beginning spinning is the “heart” of the Fiber Garden…it’s where we began. Back in April of 1994, the very first class was held at the Fiber Garden with three students from the area. I have moved twice since our first “home”…and I think we’re finally settled! I marvel at how we’ve grown since that first class.
This weekend the Fiber Garden welcomed four beginning spinners. Friday evening was a grand success as our “newbies” began with learning to handcard. There’s nothing like hand carding to get people “into the act” and experiencing the wool fibers.
After carding we explored the variety of spinning wheels and did a couple of “rounds” so everyone could get the feel of the various wheels. And then…the big moment! After a brief demonstration, the spinners were sent off to their chosen wheels to practice the mantra I teach them…”pinch – draft – release – wind on”. As a spinning teacher I liken my job at this point in the class to being one of those plate spinners I used to see on the Ed Sullivan show (I’m showing my age on that one!). Get the first “plate” spinning then run to the next plate and get it going…back to the first…jump to the third and get it going…and back and forth and back and forth until all of the plates are spinning! I’m happy to report a very successful first evening. All four of our new spinners were successfully drafting those fibers and making some lovely yarn…after only three hours! Time to break for the evening and come back refreshed on Saturday morning.
Day two...mastering the drum carder
Today we started with more spinning, plyed our two bobbins of singles, and washed and blocked our first handspun skeins…a thing of beauty!
On to the drum carder. As one spinner put it, “this is much more efficient!” After a brief lesson on using the carder, we carded a series of batts, each incorporating a bit more mohair into the wool. We learned the technique of blending fibers on the drum carder and introduced mohair into our spinning fiber repertoire.
Spinners also had the opportunity later in the day to design their own batt using wool and incorporating rainbow dyed mohair locks, nylon, angelina…whatever they chose to create as their own signature piece.
We also had fun going through all of the beautiful tops in the shop and picking out favorite colors. Tomorrow we will learn some new spinning techniques and try spinning these tops from Ashland Bay Trading…always high quality fibers and wonderful color combinations.
A couple of quick dyeing demonstrations to further stretch everyone’s thinking about “possibilities” and our day was done.
Creating colorful one-of-a-kind batts
- The peaceful art of handspinning!
