Spinning Class
A few weeks ago we had a Beginning Spinning Class at our farm. Instructor Sherry Watkins came from Tennessee to teach us how to spin alpaca fiber into yarn.
Sherry brought Schacht Spinning Wheels, both the Matchless and the adorable Ladybug (which has a tiny ladybug on it – in a different place on each wheel) for us to try out.
Sherry also showed everyone how to skirt a fleece. (Skirting is what you do to a fleece to prepare it for processing. It involves removing vegetable matter and debris, and taking out parts that don’t match the rest of the fleece based on the length of fiber, color, and handle.)
My friend Lori, who blogs at Just Pure Lovely, was a natural. She brought her own wheel that she recently purchased and looked as though she was BORN TO SPIN! If she were not so lovely and sweet, I would have been jealous. (ok, maybe I was a little)
The majority of students in the class really took to spinning and picked it up during the class. Sherry bragged that we did a really good job and got further than most classes.
My friend Maxine and I still needed some help. I kept making the same error every time. Maxine (right) is a master knitter. I really have her to thank for awakening me to the fiber side of my alpaca life. (She developed our alpaca scarf that looks like an alpaca and the knitting kits to make them. That really got me rolling in the fiber-y direction.) Maxine and I found spinning to be a challenge.
By the end of the day, we had created yarn. Some of the ladies had really incredible looking yarn! I was impressed.
Anne did a super job and created a beautiful yarn.
Lori’s yarn was gorgeous! She is a natural. I look forward to bartering alpaca fleece for her amazing photography skills again soon.
Stephanie and RoseAnne also made nice yarn and really got the hang of it. Everyone had a good time at the Spinning Class. Sherry was a great teacher and gave us lots of good information along the way. Most of the students left the class ready to go spin more. I believe that most of them have gotten wheels to keep spinning.
We have alpaca fiber available for spinning in a variety of colors. Contact me for more information at katy (at) alpacafarmgirl.com.
June 18th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Looks like an incredible class. I’ve played around with a drop spindle, but not a big wheel like these. How fun!
TexasReds last blog post..BabyJack’s Quilt
June 19th, 2009 at 10:16 am
You have the keep spinning and you will start to get the “yarn” you want soon when
you do you will not be able to get the big
yarn you are getting now. lol I don’t know
why that is. I Know You can get it.
Did you buy a Wheel? what kind? Good luck
Call when You need Help.
Mary