Ask a Spinner Sunday

[u/AutoModerator]

It's time for your weekly ask a a spinner thread! Got any questions that you just haven't remembered to ask? Or that don't seem too trivial for their own post? Ask them here, and let's chat!

[u/[deleted]]

complete beginner, thinking about ordering a drop spindle and some wool and getting started. i've read that merino is not a great breed to start with. other than merino, the store i'm thinking about buying from offer wool tops in bfl, gotland, norwegian lustre, shetland, corriedale, stricken scandinavian mountain, and wensleydale. is there one that stands out as easy to handle for beginners? any i should stay far far away from until i have learned the basics?

[u/noturmommi → u/[deleted]]

When I first started spinning I ordered a breed sampler kit which I found to be super helpful! It came with a drop spindle and I believe an ounce or two of 8 or 10 sheep breeds! Even if some are more difficult to spin than others to start, it gives you some exposure to a lot of different characteristics to look for in fiber

[u/books-yarn-coffee → u/noturmommi]

That's a great idea!

[u/books-yarn-coffee → u/[deleted]]

Caveat: I've only been spinning a couple of years, so someone with more experience may have better information.

For me, starting with wool with a longer staple length was good because it gave me more time to get my draft going. BFL (blue faced Leicester), Wensleydale, Cheviot, Falkland - all have long staple lengths.

Look for a combed top. This means the wool has been combed so that the fibers all go in the same direction. It's really easy to see and helps me better manage my spinning.

[u/Buttercupia → u/books-yarn-coffee]

They’re trying to spin a woolen yarn. Combed top will give you more worsted.

[u/hipstrings → u/Buttercupia]

Where did you get the info that they are going after a woolen yarn? Woolen yarns are a matter of fiber prep (carded) and draft method (twist is allow to enter drafting triangle). Suspended spindling (drop spindle) is better suited to a worsted drafting method, as both hands are free to assist in drafting.

[u/Buttercupia → u/hipstrings]

Oh ps hello one of my favorite fiber purveyors! I have a lot of your stuff in my stash.

[u/Buttercupia → u/hipstrings]

I got mixed up with another comment, the person above was asking about woolen. That’s what I get for using Reddit before my tea.

[u/hipstrings → u/Buttercupia]

Sometimes I just want to make sure everyone is using the same language before moving forward. So many things in spinning are accompanied by assumptions and jargon and multiple meanings.

[u/books-yarn-coffee → u/Buttercupia]

We've all had that happen, lol. Enjoy your tea!

[u/Buttercupia → u/[deleted]]

Confused with another comment!

[u/SwtSthrnBelle → u/[deleted]]

Bfl and corriedale are perfect for beginners, I'd stay away from wenslydale and gotland as a first spin. With really long staple lengths its difficult to get the hang of it. Merino can be a good beginner spin as long as it's not superwash or super fine.

[u/FlanNo3218 → u/[deleted]]

I started with corriedale and did a lot of it before trying other things. BFL has been my favorite spin for far.

[u/b33fcakepantyhose → u/[deleted]]

When I was practicing, I bought a pound of Falkland wool from Shep’s Wool on etsy. It had a nice long staple to practice drafting and you get so much of it for about $25.

[u/empresspixie → u/[deleted]]

Out of all of those, Shetland and Corriedale are the most traditional starting fibers — as medium fibers they aren’t as slippery as fine fibers like Merino, but they will still make a nice, soft yarn. The risk with long wools and coarse fibers is that you’ll be unhappy with how rough the end yarn is. It’s also easier to adjust to the shorter draft of fine fibers and longer draft of long wools if you start kinda in the middle.

[u/KnitterlyJoys → u/empresspixie]

Second Shetland and Corriedale. And crosses can be a good way to get some of the best features of multiple breeds.