I got my drop spindle and the alpaca kit. The spindle is great (blogger won't let me upload pics today). I tried to start but when I opened the bag of the roving it has alot of particles in it, straw, dirt etc... The kit said it came ready to spin, but I don't know if that's true, there is no smell to the fiber (thank God) and I'm a bit put off by the stuff in it, but can get past that. I watched some videos on youtube and thought I got the gist. As I pull the fiber apart for the drafting part I get little tufts of hair no longer than 2". I grab a bunch and did the pulling thing and it all comes apart, I took small bits and tried to spin it but it kept breaking apart. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? The yarn didn't come in a long batt like this video (guess that's the word for it) so what do I do?
Thanks once again for any help.
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8 comments:
Is it just lose fiber? Usually, people sell top (or roving as some call it) which is the long rope-ish type prepared fiber.
When I first started spinning, I just tied some yarn onto the spindle just to get the hang of the whole spinning thing.
Do you have any other fiber around that has a longer staple length to it? Learning on shirt fiber like that can drive you mad.
Oh, and "ready to spin" shouldn't have particles and foreign matter. Clean is the word.
Thanks Dave, I've seen enough of your prespinning fiber to know that this stuff's not what I'd seen you working on, but since this is my "virgin" attempt I thought well maybe it just me. Damn it!! I'm going to go onto Alpaca Direct and get some rope stuff, I was begining to think that it was beyond me after 3 hours of trying. I'll email the supplier and tell them I'm really not happy with it.
Yeah, what Dave said. Learning to spin is a lot easier with good fiber. I'll send you another package. ;~)
Oh good luck. I have spindle still unused so no help from this quarter, but I'm with you in spirit!
It is not you-the right fiber (called top or roving) will get you spinning on your spindle in no time. Get some pics up and that will help with the advice, too!
Lynn - That is so sweet of you, thank you but don't worry no need to send me another pkg. I ordered some really great looking stuff from Etsy, so it will be here sometime next week. Don't worry I get frustrated but I rarely throw in the towel without a good fight :)
I took spinning classes from a very old school spinner and weaver who preferred to spin "in the grease" it was wool, sheared straight from the sheep. It smelled like a barn yard. My cat loved it.
Then she let us spin with clean roving, which is wool that has been cleaned, and the fibers carded, and processed into the long strips. Pencil roving is very easy to spin, but drafting the wider roving is possible for beginners too.
Good luck, don't give up! I have never spun alpaca, so I'm not sure if it is difficult to spin or not.
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