New to spinning!

Are any of you spinners? I'm tempted to get a drop spindle and try it out but I dont' really have ROOM for a lot MORE craft stuff or MONEY to spend that I could be spending on YARN! Does it take a lot to get started? Is it the kind of hobby, much like knitting and crochet, that means you have boxes around your house of craft goodies you have to find room for? I think my biggest concern is that I buy a nice simple drop spindle and end up buying an ALPACA someday! You know how that goes :)

Just for some background, I live in a small house (with little ones) and I KNOW my husband would kill me if I took up scrapbooking or anything else that takes up that much room...or time :) BTW, I say all of this with indulgence toward my husband because if scrapbooking held more interest, I'd just make the room :)

Tags: spinning

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Permalink Reply by Kim McKinnon on March 9, 2010 at 3:11pm

I am new to knitting and only really got serious about learning after I took in 2 rescued alpacas and started spinning to use the fiber!! And yes - spinning is like other hobbies that take up room - I am considering turning the guest room into the fiber room (who wants anyone visiting anyway - they can sleep on the couch!). I was already a quilter and 2 1/2 years after rescuing the 2 alpacas - I have 5 alpacas (had to get more colors), 2 spinning wheels, multiple drop spindles (that I never use but they were thrown in with wheels I bought on Craigslist), 2 looms and about 30 lbs of fleece for spinning - and shearing season is coming up!

That being said - I do find it very relaxing and many people are able to contain their enthusiasm to small amounts and really enjoy the process of using a spindle. I find wheel spinning very calming and enjoy it much more than the weaving or knitting at this point so I may just give yarn for gifts and let people knit it themselves! Also - you have to get at least 2 alpacas because they are herd animals and get too sad if they are lonely.

There are directions online for making your own drop spindle from different items so can be cheap. Basic fiber is not expensive and you can get started after watching some instructional videos on YouTube. There is a woman whose makes spinning and fiber videos I really like - I think her name is Rayanne - search for spinning yak and she has a video on spinning yak fiber. Also fiber prep and other fiber topics.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Burnett on March 9, 2010 at 5:05pm

Thank you so much for a peek into your hobby! I had a mild fear that a spindle would turn into a wheel. I may just have to wait until my children are a little older so I can push them out and HAVE a spare room :) I love that you rescued alpacas and they "multiplied" :) I may just have to buy a bigger house and bite the bullet! I would love to someday make something from animal to garment. Until then, I love that there are people like you around keeping the world in handspun :)

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Permalink Reply by Kim McKinnon on March 9, 2010 at 7:20pm

I don't know about keeping the world in handspun - right now I'm just trying to spin enough to make some socks - which I also have to learn how to do! Don't be scared - some people in the weavers guild make 4-5 things a month and spin but I think they only have one hobby. I have several, and animals and work so I only actually find time to spin a couple times a month. I'm working on fitting more time into my schedule but have to unload some commitments first. Good thing I don't have kids - eh?

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Permalink Reply by Heidi McGinnis on March 10, 2010 at 6:12am

I purchased a drop spinner as well and wool to do it -- have I done it -- no time even tho I have a major amount of yarn and wool staring at me in the face -- I am a new learner as well -- anxious to sit and take time to do it -- I am excited to see what I can create