Spinning help?
Do I only have one spinner on my friends list? I'd post this to the comm but I don't want to sound like a n00b...
Okay, so I'm looking into spinning fibers into yarns and threads. I'm actually getting ready to start trying...but I have a few questions.
First, what kind of fibers can I use for working on my skills? Can I use fiberfill? Cotton batting? Or do I have to go with 'natural' fibers? If so...where the f*ck do I get them? I haven't seen a single sheep around here, nor any alpaca or blah blah blah. I don't want to have to order online. What can I spin and where can I find it? For practice.
Secondly, what the hell? I see all this spun and dyed fiber and it looks like chunky umbilical cords. What would someone DO with yarn that fat? Why do people do that? It doesn't seem very useful to me. Why aren't they spinning something more useful? Then they dye it? What's the point? So they can show off colorful umbilical balls and say 'I made that!'? Am I just being too picky here? When I work with yarn or thread I expect an almost universal texture unless I'm going for a strange look...why would I make something that isn't uniform on purpose? Then DYE IT? I'm not seeing them make anything out of their umbilical balls. What are they doing with them?
Edit: I've now seen what they're doing with them and it has absolutely no appeal to me whatsoever. Perhaps I'm just not 'hip' enough. I just want to spin wool yarns for cloth diapers (that don't have to be 'hip') and mostly threads for embroidery purposes.
Okay, so once I find out where to get fiber to spin, I'm making a drop spindle and embarking on my new quest. I know that I should expect to make yarn first, but I'd like to get to thread at some point so that I can start making specialized embroidery flosses. Does ANYONE spin thread anymore, or is it all about chunky umbilical cords now?
Help?
This post has been made public so you can link your pals.
Okay, so I'm looking into spinning fibers into yarns and threads. I'm actually getting ready to start trying...but I have a few questions.
First, what kind of fibers can I use for working on my skills? Can I use fiberfill? Cotton batting? Or do I have to go with 'natural' fibers? If so...where the f*ck do I get them? I haven't seen a single sheep around here, nor any alpaca or blah blah blah. I don't want to have to order online. What can I spin and where can I find it? For practice.
Secondly, what the hell? I see all this spun and dyed fiber and it looks like chunky umbilical cords. What would someone DO with yarn that fat? Why do people do that? It doesn't seem very useful to me. Why aren't they spinning something more useful? Then they dye it? What's the point? So they can show off colorful umbilical balls and say 'I made that!'? Am I just being too picky here? When I work with yarn or thread I expect an almost universal texture unless I'm going for a strange look...why would I make something that isn't uniform on purpose? Then DYE IT? I'm not seeing them make anything out of their umbilical balls. What are they doing with them?
Edit: I've now seen what they're doing with them and it has absolutely no appeal to me whatsoever. Perhaps I'm just not 'hip' enough. I just want to spin wool yarns for cloth diapers (that don't have to be 'hip') and mostly threads for embroidery purposes.
Okay, so once I find out where to get fiber to spin, I'm making a drop spindle and embarking on my new quest. I know that I should expect to make yarn first, but I'd like to get to thread at some point so that I can start making specialized embroidery flosses. Does ANYONE spin thread anymore, or is it all about chunky umbilical cords now?
Help?
This post has been made public so you can link your pals.