Are there any other spinners here? My first *small* batch!

[PaintedHooves]

I have a local spinner friend that dyes and sells fibers for yarn spinning and I was always curious about the process.  She convinced me to get a spindle and give it a try, and oh my goodness is it fun!  I just finished my first test batch of yarn last night, and even though it is far from perfect, I love it!!

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Is there anyone else who enjoys the art of yarn spinning?

[Diamond]

I have a friend who does and has invited our girls over to give it a try.

[PaintedHooves]

It really is super easy, and the results are pretty rewarding when you get to use the yarn you've just made   I'm sure they'll enjoy it if they do give it a shot

[Quill]

How pretty! It looks great for a first try. Do you have a project in mind?

I'm totally itching to get more into spinning. I'm primarily a knitter, but I love the idea of prepping, dyeing, and spinning my own yarn, then making something with it. I've took a lesson and have even bought fiber (some delicious white alpaca from a local farm, some lemon yellow merino/bamboo blend, and more), but I still don't have a spinning wheel. I've picked which I'm going to get, just no monies. I've got a couple of spindles, but I don't using them. I found using a spinning wheel a lot more fun.

[PaintedHooves]

I have a baby on the way, and though a blanket is way too ambitious for a beginner I'm thinking maybe a hat and a set of booties or mittens? My baby is due in November so at least he/she will get to use them  
I don't mind using the spindle so much because it lets me learn how thin my fibers need to be before I twist them so that I can get some consistency down.  I imagine it'll get old pretty quickly, but I think it'll be neat if I can stick with it. 
Best of luck with your wheel, those are expensive!

[Eviecorn]

Very nice!  I love the idea of it.

[kaoskat]

I've never done it but it really sounds interesting!

[PaintedHooves]

It's so super easy!  You guys should try!

[Kiwi]

That looks really neat! I've never tried it (or really thought about it), but it looks neat.

[Amsel]

Omg, how lovely!

I'm mostly a knitter... I've thought about getting into spinning because it looks fun, but I don't know if I have time for another hobby. ;p

[Talismarr]

I don't knit, but a friend of mine has recently gotten into spinning! She has even found a spinning group and a small shop that sells wool and stuff. She doesn't have a wheel, just a spindle, but has spun some of her own yarn and knitted a pair of socks! I think it's pretty neat, but not something I would get into myself for the reason that Amsel stated, I don't have time for another hobby!

[SharaLynn]

Oh my gosh... That is gorgeous! I crochet a lot when it's cold out, and would love to have some yarn like that to crochet with. I might have to try it! Where do you get the unspun stuff though? Did you dye it yourself too?

[PaintedHooves]

I have a friend who gets giant bags of raw wool and she treats and dyes it herself.

Here's her Etsy link:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SunsetFibers

Eventually mine will be a little more consistent than this first batch.  It takes a little bit to get used to thinning the fibers consistently 

[himmie]

I have never personally done it but have many friends that do. (I am kind of allergic to wool.)
We would always give our raw wool to friends that could use it. I have a scarf and small blanket that are made from my own (now passed) black sheep, llama and angora rabbit.
The owner of the llama farm near us does spinning classes at her farm. She is allergic to rabbits but would always want the fiber from our angoras, even if she was sneezing and tearing the entire time! Haha.

[PaintedHooves]

That is so neat himmie!  I love taking my crafting one step further and bringing it back to the real basics, but I can't imagine seeing where it truly came from.  That scarf and your blanket must be very special to you!
I think it might be just a little too much for me if I sheared the sheep, cleaned the wool, dyed it, spun it, and crocheted /knitted the final product though!