Jacob, the continuing story of a fleece.......

A lot has happened since I last wrote.... Jacob is now ready to knit or crochet with and is complete!
I have really enjoyed using something so natural and in its organic form to work with. The shades of the fleece are beautiful, browns and creamy whites, the texture, soft and bubbly, the spinning has been a dream!
My spinning has also become finer! This is a welcome change, as I can now use my fibres and fleeces to their optimum yardage.... all in all Jacob has given me the experience required to move on, create more and spin like mad!

a full bobbin

 

my young apprentice





The spinning goes on... and on..... and on....... I make two bobbins of yarn and spin these together. The labour is long winded, and at the moment quite slow, but I am making a hand made product. Time and love and care goes in to everything, although a machine can make it quick and fast....... there is nothing that compares to wearing a hand spun item of clothing.. this, I can assure you.

Spinning has many myths... one being that it is difficult. Pah!.... not on my watch!.. My 10yr old son can do it and do it well..... I think he enjoys the wheel going faster and faster.... and faster.. more than the actual yarn making, this I conclude is 'boys with toys', and I smile at his fun.

Niddy Noddy! (yes.. how cool is that name.... love it!), a final wash and drip dry..
Jacob is nearly there.

 

 

 

 

All spun and ready to use. This is an Aran weight yarn, suitable for a lovely thick jumper, or coat or jacket. The colours are naturally stripey. Part of the surprise will be seeing how the colours knit up.

 

This is just one skein of yarn, I still have a bag full of Jacob's fleece. I will spin and treat it all and see how much my fleece will make. Who knows what I will create from it.. but knit with it I shall. It is my first and so stays with me.

 

As you can see, hand spun yarn has many stages from fleece to skein and then to garnment. How satisfying and delicious to make something from its own natural state. A product that is totally original, even spinning the next skein will be slightly differnet, as the colours merge in other ways.

 

How splendid is the randomness and freedom of spinning a fleece........ the first of mine, of many, I'm sure.