I wanted to share some of the cool things I picked up at the Shepherds Harvest Fiber Festival. I haven't been motivated to use the weavette yet since I'm just getting over being sick but I couldn't resist spinning some new yarn.
I spent hours wandering around the fiber festival looking for romney wool because I had read that it was the best fiber for new spinners but out of all the vendors only one person was selling it and unfortunately it's not roving :( I bought it anyway but have yet to try it out. I'm thinking I need to prep it a bit before using it because there are bits of hay throughout the fiber. Once I figure out what to do I'll probably attempt to color it.
I hunted forever and finally found a niddy noddy. I learned the hard way that this tool is pretty necessary. I wrapped my spun fiber around a book and then couldn't get it off. With the niddy noddy I know just how much yarn I'm wrapping and won't have trouble removing it.
I also found a small weaving square. I really really really wanted it and after many failed online searches I am happy to have found it at the festival. Now I just have to figure out how to use it. Should be simple.
One of my best finds didn't come from the fiber festival but I wanted to share it anyway. I was browsing at the Yarnery on Grand and found some polwarth wool top. I'd not read anything about polwarth but the label on the fiber said it was a long fiber which is best for new spinners so I bought it. I'm soooooo happy that I did because, so far, it is the best fiber I have spun with. I tried the Merino Wool after having such a great experience with the BFL but the Merino made me want to give up on spinning. It was horrible. I'm sure the wool is awesome for someone but it wasn't for me. I later read that the Merino fibers are too short for new spinners and often lead to failure. Now that I have the polwarth I am back to my spinning addiction :) NOTE TO TERESA: this is the one I mentioned sending you if you'd like to try it.
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I spent hours wandering around the fiber festival looking for romney wool because I had read that it was the best fiber for new spinners but out of all the vendors only one person was selling it and unfortunately it's not roving :( I bought it anyway but have yet to try it out. I'm thinking I need to prep it a bit before using it because there are bits of hay throughout the fiber. Once I figure out what to do I'll probably attempt to color it.
I hunted forever and finally found a niddy noddy. I learned the hard way that this tool is pretty necessary. I wrapped my spun fiber around a book and then couldn't get it off. With the niddy noddy I know just how much yarn I'm wrapping and won't have trouble removing it.
I also found a small weaving square. I really really really wanted it and after many failed online searches I am happy to have found it at the festival. Now I just have to figure out how to use it. Should be simple.
One of my best finds didn't come from the fiber festival but I wanted to share it anyway. I was browsing at the Yarnery on Grand and found some polwarth wool top. I'd not read anything about polwarth but the label on the fiber said it was a long fiber which is best for new spinners so I bought it. I'm soooooo happy that I did because, so far, it is the best fiber I have spun with. I tried the Merino Wool after having such a great experience with the BFL but the Merino made me want to give up on spinning. It was horrible. I'm sure the wool is awesome for someone but it wasn't for me. I later read that the Merino fibers are too short for new spinners and often lead to failure. Now that I have the polwarth I am back to my spinning addiction :) NOTE TO TERESA: this is the one I mentioned sending you if you'd like to try it.
If anyone is interested in learning to spin and feel like I do, that the wheel is way too expensive to begin with, I suggest picking up the book "respect the spindle." I took a short spinning class but I found the book to be a much better teacher.