tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post9141591392468691398..comments2024-02-23T03:26:11.779+00:00Comments on Growing Things and Making Things: What's the point of knooking?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619866897155085499noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post-26899469097248882562012-07-05T22:39:44.950+01:002012-07-05T22:39:44.950+01:00Hi Nicola :-)
That's interesting to hear about...Hi Nicola :-)<br />That's interesting to hear about spinning with the lanolin still in, I'll have to try that when I eventually get back to spinning. I'm afraid there's not much on the woolly theme recently, but I hope you enjoy my other blog posts.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16619866897155085499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post-75946561502954727082012-07-05T22:27:47.354+01:002012-07-05T22:27:47.354+01:00I bought a whole Jacob fleece (good for spinning),...I bought a whole Jacob fleece (good for spinning), a cheap drop spindle, and a bag of the expensive combed washed etc fleece. I found I get much better with the cheap whole fleece (which was about £8 for the whole thing) than with the washed stuff- the lanolin in the fleece makes it easier to spin. Plus, I doubt that I will ever run out because I tend to spin very sporadically...<br /><br />I realiee this post was a while ago, so as I keep reading I might find out more about your wool adventures :)NicolaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01542310810409358114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post-83360086685341318972011-04-26T18:22:09.055+01:002011-04-26T18:22:09.055+01:00I've been thinking about using old jumpers for...I've been thinking about using old jumpers for socks since Louisa suggested it, and even identified a candidate jumper, but like you, Townmouse, haven't put this into practice yet. The main problem is, I'm a bit scared of socks!<br /><br />I should probably make clear that I'm not seriously considering getting "A sheep." I've been following a discussion elsewhere about how unsuitable this is for sheep, which are flock animals and shouldn't be kept alone. I'm not really considering keeping several sheep, either, as we don't have the space and don't want to make the kind of commitment necessary to keep livestock.<br /><br />On the other hand, surrounded by sheep farms as we are, I probably will look into getting a raw fleece and learning how to scour, card and spin it into yarn. It would be hugely satisfying to see the process through from beginning to end, even if the finished jumper is a bit rubbish!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16619866897155085499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post-8216317924681368652011-04-25T16:46:00.771+01:002011-04-25T16:46:00.771+01:00I've been down exactly this road - basically b...I've been down exactly this road - basically by knitting wool into a jumper you destroy half its value, which is strange as farmers can hardly give away their fleeces. That said, it's getting harder to find 100% wool jumpers so it is one way of getting your hands on a really top quality jumper (well, if you're a better knitter than I am). My current solution, not yet put into practice, is to turn all my old moth-eaten jumpers into socks because finding good socks can be hard. It's that or, as you say, a sheep. I'll be interested to see how you get on...townmousehttp://cityexile.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post-2825611156273474202011-04-14T21:00:07.057+01:002011-04-14T21:00:07.057+01:00Well, I'm a process crafter. I am not particul...Well, I'm a process crafter. I am not particularly interested in the stuff I've made once I've made it - I'd give away the socks off my feet (if I could knit socks). I have literally taken blankets off beds and handed them over to the admirer.<br />What I do like about fibre crafts - more so crocheting than knitting, I find - is that you can use up every last scrap of yarn. So I might buy an expensive sock yarn every now and again, but every last inch of it is used, even if it's for something nonsensical like an egg cozy for the boiled eggs I never eat. <br /><br />I understand the appeal of creating your own wool. If I had space for a sheep, I'd be sorely tempted :-)The Gingerbread Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11060553716262145464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post-82947609793619456252011-04-13T22:44:26.316+01:002011-04-13T22:44:26.316+01:00Ooh, there's quite a lot on ebay, isn't th...Ooh, there's quite a lot on ebay, isn't there? That could get dangerous.<br /><br />I do like the idea of processing the wool from start to finish, so I'm quite keen to learn spinning. I'm not actually serious about keeping my own sheep - there are plenty round here already - but I have considered plant fibres...Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16619866897155085499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post-27115538727813839052011-04-13T17:39:12.560+01:002011-04-13T17:39:12.560+01:00I hit that "how much?!!" wall a couple o...I hit that "how much?!!" wall a couple of years ago - and only buy really really nice yarn for very small projects (I have a couple of lovely snood/neck warmers from beautifully dyed organic wool, since I knew they'd take no more than 100g). I read recently that someone spent £50 on yarn for a scarf - it was a lovely scarf but I wouldn't spend £50 on a coat let alone a scarf!<br /><br />I try to get cheap yarn from people destashing on eBay and I also pick up a surprising amount in charity shops -- but it's hard to get enough for a full garment from those place, usually just the odd ball or two. I also frog old jumpers if the yarn is still in good condition.<br /><br />I'd advocate spinning though - as you say, it's twice the entertainment ;) I got some cheap combed tops from eBay but if there was a sheep farm next door to me, I think I'd be very tempted to see what I could pick up from - would be awesome to know I'd made something from complete start to finish :)louisa @ TheReallyGoodLifehttp://www.thereallygoodlife.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post-34756613151484568652011-04-13T14:41:58.308+01:002011-04-13T14:41:58.308+01:00I might well do that, Catherine. It would be silly...I might well do that, Catherine. It would be silly not to, considering the nearest sheep farm is just next door!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16619866897155085499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388623297510187244.post-17596089030486713842011-04-13T14:25:19.180+01:002011-04-13T14:25:19.180+01:00It may be worth approaching your nearest sheep far...It may be worth approaching your nearest sheep farm, on the off chance that if you cut out several of the middle persons you could get wool for next to nothing ... though then you have the additional processes to go through - cleaning, dying, etc.<br /><br />Maybe angora rabbits?Catherinenoreply@blogger.com