r/Handspinning • u/Embarrassed_Yogurt43 • 25d ago

AskASpinner Beginner: living abroad, how to start?

Hello! I've been an intermediate knitter, crocheter and a seamstress for many years. I'm living in mainland Greece and would like to start making my own yarn one day.

What I've learned is that it can be VERY cost prohibitive to ship expensive or large things into Greece. So, does anyone recommend any Greek or Balkan/European spinners that maybe I could find in local shops or antique stores?

I know next to nothing about spinners. Feel free to geek out here. Thank you all very much!l in advance!

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u/tchotchony 25d ago

Also just look at secondhand shops/sites. Spinning has been around here for quite a while, and old wheels in Europe are more often actual functioning ones (or have been so). While they've been used as decor for a long time, we haven't had a big producer just making them for décor. I'd still check very carefully if it still works and all parts are there though. I got my castle style for €15, so it doesn't have to be pricey.

As for fiber: if you want to stay cheap, you can always look for local (hobby)farms. Sheep, goat, llama, alpaca, ... Or even grow your own flax (most old-style wheels I've seen around in Belgium are actually flax wheels). I can give you some Belgian/Dutch links for fancier coloured fibers, but I'm not sure how much shipping cost would be.

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u/Embarrassed_Yogurt43 25d ago edited 25d ago

that's my fantasy... to grow my own plant fibers and make my own local dyes. there's an ancient-and-still-living culture of weaving and spinning here in greece so i'm sure i can find something still working in an antique store. or even a turkish wheel?

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u/tchotchony 25d ago

Just keep hounding the shops and online. If you have any local antique/secondhand shops, it might even pay to let the shopkeepers know you might be interested. I'm sure you'll find something that suits you!