By Lili Pintea-Reed
While it may very well be easier to learn on well prepared roving, the new spinner should not think that that is their fiber limitation. Fiber can be prepared with many simple household items.
To start, first wash the fleece per any of the fiber book directions. Paula Simmon's has many nice ones you can buy or get on loan from the library. Or you can check out http://members.aol.com/PinteaReed/books.... for some ideas. In any case, get the fleeces washed to make these methods easier. However, if you just bought a fleece and just have to spin some NOW, they will work in the grease fleece.
With some long stapled open fleeces you can separate individual locks and tease them apart in your hands. Make a nice pile of teased fleece and spin in the cloud, which is a spinning term for teased but uncarded fiber.
If the fleece is a bit more clumped, you can take a household comb and comb the fibers. You will produce a nice pile of combed locks on which to practice worsted spinning. If the fleece is a bit more tangled a household hair brush works just fine. This is just hair after all. Brush it in the same manner you would work a snarl out of your own hair, stroking from the outer part of the tangle to the center. One doesn't have to make this process mysterious.
Over time you can move up to using a dog comb which is a bit more sturdy, and a pet grooming brush if you wish. Then save up your money for a pair of medium or fine carders for more delicate fleeces and fibers.
In a pinch, you can use an old peasant method of carding fiber without hand cards. Tease and open several locks of fleece. Then grab a chunk. Place both hands on it, and then clasping it tightly, pull it apart. You'll notice fibers beginning to line up. Place the somewhat straightened mass in the same grip and pull again. The fibers should appear to be lining up in a more orderly fashion. Repeat until you get bored, or the fiber looks spinable to you.
Go To Page: 1 2
