SageHill Ranch Journal

[SteepedInSheep]

I don't have wool sheep because I'd have to learn how to shear. Then learn how to process the wool. I'd have to buy a spinning wheel and learn how to spin. Then learn how to knit, crochet or just tie it in knots. Make my family hideous things that they would have to pretend to like.......

Can't go wrong with knitting thneeds!

 

[Finnie]

I learned to knit last year. Now I’m a knitting and yarn addict. At one of my many (many, many, many ) Goodwill yarn shopping sprees I found some un spun wool roving and a drop spindle. Now I have learning to spin on my wish list.

I’m going in the opposite direction as @Baymule !

 

[SageHill]

I'd have to learn how to shear. Then learn how to process the wool. I'd have to buy a spinning wheel and learn how to spin. Then learn how to knit, crochet or

WE must be related!

 

[Ridgetop]

Now I'm wondering if I should keep the woolies incase I like messing with the wool

Are you SURE you want to shear sheep? Or pay someone to shear them? I can shear, my boys can shear, and did so for the first 30 years. We have 2 good sheep shears, all the equipment, and at least 50 blades of different sizes from rough shearing to fine for the showring. I have 3 pairs of British hand shears. My boys used to do shearing exhibitions at schools and farm days. Shearing is for young people - my back is bad, my knees are bad and I have lost some of the strength I used to have to sling around and flip 200 lb. ewes and 300 lb. rams.

I SOLD MY DORSETS AND BOUGHT WHITE DORPERS. Thank yo Graybeard for the advice! Best decision we ever made. Love those White Dorpers that shed out. Sometimes they carry a bit of "thatch" but we still have the shearing equipment so we can take care of that every couple of years.

Processed wool is less trouble to buy, easier to find than a shearer, and in the long run less expensive. If you like knitting, buy yarn. Spinning wheels are expensive and not so easy to learn to use. Our first several months of spinning in class we produced what the instructor kindly referred to as "craft yarn". LOL

Whatever you decide to do, I am sure Obi will sit with you as you spin away.

 

[SageHill]

Are you SURE you want to shear sheep? Or pay someone to shear them?

You do have a point! It's probably way too much to do (paying to have them shorn was $10/head).I have shorn but definitely need lots of practice (this body probably wouldn't like it )
With so many irons already in the fire I don't need to add another -- even though the old me says DO IT.
Not enough hours in a day. Though I have strong memories of cold snow winters when everything is pretty much done in the house. Of course -- those ingrained memories don't fit So Cal!!
Yeah - time to off load the woolies. But the thought was there yup "Prime Time" vs Youngun'

 

[purplequeenvt]

If you do decide to learn to spin, look into the Electric Eel Wheels. They are little electric (plug in or run off a battery pack) wheels. Extremely well designed and affordable. There are currently 3 models - the Nano, the Fold, and the 6.1. I have the 6.0 which is the previous model to the 6.1. My 6 is an absolute workhorse!

Customer service is the best, you are emailing the owner/creator himself and he’s quick to respond. He sells affordable replacement parts as well. I burned the motor out on my wheel a couple years ago I was able to get a new motor from him and replace it quickly by myself. He also makes 3D print documents (or whatever you need to do that) available for free for accessories.

EEW 6.1 – Dreaming Robots

www.dreamingrobots.com

He’s working on a drum carder design right now. He’s talking about maybe selling the “hardware kit” for one of the wheels that includes all the electronic components and speciality parts along with the 3D printer schematic for the plastic parts of the wheel so that people can make the wheel whatever color they want.

 

[Baymule]

And here I was picturing the big wooden spinning wheel....... I know nothing about printing out 3D but it sounds amazing.

 

[SageHill]

@purplequeenvt -- OMG I had no idea. I'll have to look. (there you go -- enabling )
LOL and carding here I was thinking the slicker brushes I have for the dogs. Worked great on the hide I tanned.
@Baymule exactly what I was thinking.

 

[purplequeenvt]

@purplequeenvt -- OMG I had no idea. I'll have to look. (there you go -- enabling )
LOL and carding here I was thinking the slicker brushes I have for the dogs. Worked great on the hide I tanned.
@Baymule exactly what I was thinking.

You can absolutely use dog brushes to start with! Processing equipment can be very expensive and I own quite a few pieces that I really wouldn’t be able to afford. I have been gifted some nice tools from other fiber arts people that were retiring, changing hobbies, or had upgraded their own equipment.

I learned to spin on a drop spindle, which I loved, but can no longer do since I can’t hold my arm over my head for than a few minutes. A decent drop spindle isn’t too expensive, but there is a certain knack to using them that some people can get frustrated by. They’re called “drop” spindles for a reason.

Traditional wooden spinning wheels are expensive. I have a wheel that goes for around $800. That was one of the kind gifts for another crafter.

The reason I love the Electric Eel Wheel is because of its accessibility. It is allowing people who are interested in learning to work with wool, but who don’t have the space for a regular wheel or the budget to afford one, access to the art. I think that’s very important.

 

[SageHill]

I've got a few friends who do have all the "old" equipment. One retired to Washington state and turned her entire garage into a fiber studio. Several spinning wheels, some looms. Each piece has a story with it -- how old, who owned it, etc. Very cool.