A skein of my 2 ply handspinning. This is my normal handspinning - I can't spin bigger than lace weight yarn any more without real effort. Intended to be woven up one day. Spun from Cheviot wool, which is about my favorite to work with.
@knittingknots Beautiful! I spin lace weight, too. Otherwise my yarn is lumpy and uneven. But somehow I can produce even lace weight yarn. I like BFL, but I've never tried spinning with Cheviot. I spin with a drop spindle, not coordinated enough to use a spinning wheel.
@Hortense I have a bunch of drop spindles, and they are relaxing to use. I particularly like a top whorl type
@knittingknots That's what I use -- top whorl drop spindles. I get a lot of fun out of making my own with found materials. I scored a huge bundle of 1/4" dowels at a yard sale a few years ago, and I make the whorls out of things like toy wheels, wood coasters, whatever flat roundish kind of thing looks likely. It make it more fun, somehow.
@Hortense That's how our foremothers long ago did it, mostly. I made my very first drop spindle out of a Cool Whip lid and a swizzle stick that had a hook on it! LOL. Does make it fun!
@knittingknots That's great! I made my first drop spindle out of a straight bit of a fallen branch and a cd. I felt so proud! And it worked, which amazed me. I also love washing the dirty wool and combing it. In small amounts, because I live in an apartment. Another rabbit hole I dove into and loved.
@Hortense I will spin in the grease by drop spindle if the wool is clean enough. I have cards, but if you have good locks, sometimes all you need is a dogbrush. I even have a good carding machine. But nowadays, I mostly buy prepared, cleaned wool.
@knittingknots Me, too. I tried cards, tried a carding machine. I mostly prefer a cat comb. I wound up selling my carding machine because it was such a drag to use it. My cat didn't mind sharing her comb.
@Hortense LOL. I saved mine in case I want to do some color blending someday down the line. Never have, but I'm prepared!