Homespun Challenge

r ranson wrote:I also got kicked out of Instagram for not having an account.  

Would you be willing to start a new thread with your handcrafted spindles and other textile tools?  I suspect I'm not the only one tempted by such beautiful items.

Oh wow, I'm so flattered by these responses !

Yes, of course I'd be delighted to start hawking my wares on the forum. I wasn't sure it would be acceptable but now I know, thank you 🤠

And I do have a webspace ready, but have little to know idea of how to build a site on it 🙄

Spindle spinning can be very efficient.  Think about it as a knitting machine compared to two pointy sticks.  While staying at the machine, it knits more per time spent.  but the machine needs dedicated space and time.  You can't walk to the mailbox while using a knitting machine.  But two pointy sticks can happen anywhere.

When I compare wheel spinning to spindle spinning, I can get equal amounts done in a day.  

If I'm doing single ply sock yarn on a low whorl spindle, I can spin enough for a sock in under two hours.  

There are some really good books on how to improve spindle efficiency.    
Respect the Spindle.
(and another one I'll try to find)

Tony Hedgewolf wrote:

r ranson wrote:I also got kicked out of Instagram for not having an account.  

Would you be willing to start a new thread with your handcrafted spindles and other textile tools?  I suspect I'm not the only one tempted by such beautiful items.

Oh wow, I'm so flattered by these responses !

Yes, of course I'd be delighted to start hawking my wares on the forum. I wasn't sure it would be acceptable but now I know, thank you 🤠

And I do have a webspace ready, but have little to know idea of how to build a site on it 🙄

Here's a good forum to start a thread: https://permies.com/f/336/textiletools. It's a forum here dedicated to textile tools! And yes, we're kind of a special place on the internet. We encourage people to promote their stuff in a non-spammy way. We want to support fellow homesteaders and permies. It's so much better if we can buy the things we need/want from each other, rather than big corporations! Here's a thread all about advertising on permies: https://permies.com/wiki/27826/advertising-permies

I sadly don't know enough about website creation to know how to create a sales website. We do have a digital market here on permies, which you can sell physical items on. It is a bit harder to sell physical items on the digital marker than digital items (there's no easy way to add in shipping prices for different countries. You can see an example of a physical item sold on permies through the digial market here: https://permies.com/t/fairy-grove-chicken).

But, you can totally make a thread on permies with your stuff. You could even post prices next to items and direct people to PM you, or post paypal links for purchasing. We've got lots of options here!

r ranson wrote:

If I'm doing single ply sock yarn on a low whorl spindle, I can spin enough for a sock in under two hours.  

That's brilliant.

So you don't ply for socks?

inspiration http://schmidling.com/fiber.htm

 

Here is a wool beret I made for a friend. It is not handspun but my handspun right now is too grumpy for your contest. I need to improve my spinning skills before making something like this.

😂 I said my handspun was "lumpy" not "grumpy"

Josie Grenier wrote:😂 I said my handspun was "lumpy" not "grumpy"

LOL! I did wonder about that, but your beret is lovely!! I'd wear it, in a heartbeat!

So this thread came up again in the dailyish. I totally forgot about it. For a few years I didn't post anything here ... but that doesn't mean I didn't make anything.
As soon as the sweater I'm knitting now will be finished, I'll post it here (if I don't forget ;-) )

As promised here's the sweater I knitted (and a headband too). Not 'homespun' by myself, but it's all 'local' Dutch wool.


And the backside:

r ranson wrote:Spindle spinning can be very efficient.  Think about it as a knitting machine compared to two pointy sticks.  While staying at the machine, it knits more per time spent.  but the machine needs dedicated space and time.  You can't walk to the mailbox while using a knitting machine.  But two pointy sticks can happen anywhere.

When I compare wheel spinning to spindle spinning, I can get equal amounts done in a day.  

If I'm doing single ply sock yarn on a low whorl spindle, I can spin enough for a sock in under two hours.  

There are some really good books on how to improve spindle efficiency.    
Respect the Spindle.
(and another one I'll try to find)

I've been curious about fibre arts for a looong time, and the learning curve is steep hehe. I've had a spindle for spinning for some time and like it very much, but what baffles me is: how to make two-ply yarn once the wool has been spun? Preferrably in some low-tech method since I don't have any additional gadgets (yet?).
Thanks in advance!

Nina Surya wrote:...
I've been curious about fibre arts for a looong time, and the learning curve is steep hehe. I've had a spindle for spinning for some time and like it very much, but what baffles me is: how to make two-ply yarn once the wool has been spun? Preferrably in some low-tech method since I don't have any additional gadgets (yet?).
Thanks in advance!

Hi Nina. I made a two-ply yarn using the one drop spindle I own. Each time the spindle had plenty of spun single yarn on it, I turned that into a ball. The way I do that: sitting I hold the spindle horizontally between my knees, not too tight, so it can turn, but doesn't fall down (sturdy trousers recommended).
With two of such balls of yarn (in a box or basket on the floor) you can use the spindle to ply them together.

Thank you Inge, for your very helpful answer to my question! I didn't know one could make two-ply yarn like that and it never occurred to me to try - happy days ahead :D

Heb een fijne dag (en week!),
Nina