Fiber, a drop spindle, and a whole lot of therapy!
“Touch the spindle. Touch it I say!”
Every time I think of spinning yarn, a picture of Sleeping Beauty, engulfed in a evil greenish haze, reaching out toward the sharpened spindle of a spinning wheel, comes into my head. Followed shortly by images of Rumplestiltskin spinning straw into gold in exchange for the new queen’s first born child.
Needless to say, my childhood was filled with unhappy and even scary images of spindles, spinning wheels, and spinning yarn in general.
So when I decided to learn how to spin yarn from natural fibers, (the next logical progression for an obsessive knitter), I decided to start with a drop spindle. Not only is it easier to use, but you can make your own, and no scary mythical creatures will come to your door, looking for an opportunity.
That being said, a while ago i ordered a drop spindle and some fiber on eBay.
Today, it CAME! Along with the drop spindle and beautifully hand-dyed wool (from sheep, people) I also received some black alpaca (kinda like a llama),
and 120g of angora
(from bunnies!!!). If I am successful in my spinning endeavors, I plan to raise angora rabbits for the fur, as well as for their manure. (Bunny poo is the most fantastic fertilizer you’ll ever find.) So we’ll see how it goes! Ooooh I’m so excited!
wool, fiber, drop spindle, spinning, Sleeping Beauty
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