I have been spinning wool and other fine fibers and handknitting items since 2001. For me, nothing else is as relaxing and satisfying as turning raw materials into a lovely finished piece of clothing - art and funtion beautifully combined.
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| Spinning Blue Faced Leicester top |
My spinning education began at the beginning - processing raw wool off a friend's sheep through every stage. Sorting, picking, carding and combing, spinning, plying, and washing; we did it all while learning about the history of spinning and demonstrating at a Renaissance Faire.
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| Processing merino wool from raw to sliver using English Combs |
A talented spinner can produce different yarns for different projects and uses; total control over the end product is our aim. I found my true love in spinning fine yarns for lace and sock knitting projects. I also began dyeing spinning fiber and finished yarns.
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| Silk and Merino Wool 3 ply yarn for mittens, dyed by me. |
In 2009, I submitted several skeins of handspun yarn to the Los Angeles County Fair. This chain-plied silk yarn won a first place and Best of Show. All the practice and hard work paid off!
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| Chain plied silk, dyed by Chasing Rainbows |
Spinning is just as satisfying on a dop spindle as on a spinning wheel. Humans have been using handspindles for approximately 20,000 years to produce the yarns for almost every type of textile. I love to try different spinning fibers and have worked with wool, silk, cotton, flax, ingeo, yak, alpaca, mohair, angora and tencel.
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| Spinning superfine merino on a drop spindle. |
- Beginning spinning (handspindle and spinning wheel)
- Spinning on an Indian Charkha (cotton)
- Chain plying
- Traditional plying
- Fiber preparation
