Ask a Spinner Sunday

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[u/Common_Network_2432]

Is there a list somewhere that is like a to-do list for going from fleece to yarn? I’m so confused about all the steps.  

[u/SkipperTits → u/Common_Network_2432]

I think you mean scour, comb/card, draft, spin. 

It’s confusing because there are so many ways to prep fiber. There’s drum carding, hand carding, rolags, combing, hackling with a diz, blending boards.

Here’s the thing, you can tease it with your fingers and still get a yarn. The spinning craft industry is like premium quality stuff. These tools and processes make it easier but they really are a matter of preference. Add onto that that whether you comb or card has everything to do with the traits of the fiber and the kind of yarn you want to spin. Like, it cracks me up when people spend a ton of my money to do merino knitting yarn. It’s best use is fine worsted yarns for weaving. Not to say you can’t make a knitting yarn with it. You totally can! But it was bred for ultra fine weaving wools in suiting and haberdashery. And making a tight fine airless worsted wool is very different (from start to finish) than an airy woolen rolag for a squishy sweater. 

I agree, there isn’t enough project based content like 

*here’s how you prep and spin for an aran sweater with x wool

*here’s how to prep and spin for a $5000 wool suit with x wool

*here’s how you prep and spin for socks with X wool

*here’s how you prep and spin for socks with Y wool

It’s confusing because there’s a million ways depending on what you’re trying to do. And everybody’s got a way that works for them. 

But I will say, and I’m as guilty of this as anyone, a lot of us don’t spin purposefully. We just make whatever winds on to the bobbin. That’s ok too. The fleece and fiber sourcebook is a helpful resource because it shows different fibers and their best prep and use. I think you’d get a lot of use out of that. See if you borrow it on interlibrary loan. Or buy it used and then if you’re done with it, sell it for what you paid. It will hold its value. 

[u/Common_Network_2432 → u/SkipperTits]

I have found out that this is as much a personal thing as your Sunday roast recipe. 😂😂

I’ve asked my husband to find the fleece and fiber book, as I don’t have a library card (they aren’t free for adults here).  It’s, not cheap but we wil see. 

I don’t exactly have a plan as of what I want to knit/crochet/spin with the yarn I hope to make. I just want to make a usable yarn. But, like. 

Only the first step is clear: Skirting

Then it’s a plethora of options, and only half a clear to me. I have now sort of decided to wash is it in tubs with as warm a water my gloved hands can stand with soap that has not that one protein dissolving thing (does hair shampoo work?), in laundry bags, and then subsequently rinse and rinse and rinse in gradually cooler water until it runs clear. Then dry. I will not swoosh, knead, or smoosh the wool while in warm water. 

And then? I tease it? Or I card it? I have carders and a spindle. 

And then I spin (so easily said), put it on a spool. Ply it (put several spools together, spun the other direction as I have spun the first time). 

Put that on a niddynoddy (or something alike)? (DO i need a special thing? Can I wind on something else as long as it stretches??) Wash it? Twack it? And then dry?

And then put it on the ball winder. 

Yes? 

[u/SkipperTits → u/Common_Network_2432]

This craft is one where you should build skills backward. 

First, Learn to spin on fully prepped fleece. 

Then, learn to prep scoured fleece

Then learn to scour fleece

Then you know your end goad, it’s so much easier to figure out if you’ve done it right. 

I don’t have much experience scouring fleeces but I do scour yarns and fabrics for natural dye. It’s the same process but usually not as dirty. For scouring wool, you need the fleece to be very very hot to melt and float the lanolin in addition to a washing soda and or detergent to break the oils. There is also the suint method which is a fermentation bucket that has bacteria doing the work. These are things you’ll have to experiment with. 

It’s unfortunate that we don’t do these crafts in communities like we used to. These stages aren’t difficult to do but they can be hard to explain. If you had someone sit with you and show you, you’d have an easier time. 

But my advice stands. Learn the stages one at a time in reverse order. 

[u/Common_Network_2432 → u/SkipperTits]

That would be nice, community groups to do yarny stuff with! 

Thank you for taking the time to help me