Spinning Tuesdays: Wrapping up 10 Weeks of Breed Spinning

This is my last week of spinning from Deb Robson's Must Spin list. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with such  a wide variety of fibers and am glad I jumped out of my BFL spinning box.

If you haven't yet picked up a copy of Deb's book, The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, do it, no spinner who has the tiniest bit of curiosity about the variety of sheep breeds and other spinning fibers should spin without it.

My last spin is Wensleydale, a long curly sheep breed.

Wensleydale, the sheep breed most like my curly hair

My Wensleydale came from The Spinning Loft (brown) and Spirit Trail Fiberworks (white). The brown was unwashed and the white came to me clean. The brown Wensleydale was barely dirty and a quick wash in a little Power Scour left the locks happy and clean.

I combed the locks with a long slow motion. Any flicking of my wrist or trying to comb quickly would have encouraged the locks to fold back on themselves and eventually just pull off of the combs.

I've spun a commercial Wensleydale top and the difference between that and hand prepping is enormous. The commercial top I've spun felt prickly and wiry even before I spun it. This hand prepped Wensleydale is soft and silky. I spun it worsted, it doesn't need much twist and I kept my hands farther apart than I would for my regular spin. The locks barely teased open would spin easily into a super textured art yarn.

I'm thinking about Wensleydale mittens for the winter

The yarn is softer than I thought it would be, with a wonderful weighty hand. I don't think I could wear it on my neck, but I would happily wear mittens, a shawl, or a cardigan knit out of it.

Two fun facts about Wensleydale from The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook:

The Wensleydale breed can be traced to a single sheep.
How long is this longwool? Staple length is 7-12 inches.

 

My version of popping a bottle of champagne to celebrate my breed spinning with all of you is a final giveaway!

Fabulous fiber book!

A  copy of Deb Robson's new book, The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, retail $35.  Thank you to Storey Publishing for the donation.

38 rare and endangered sheep

A copy of Deb Robson's DVD set, Handspinning Rare Wools, retail $34.95. Thank you to Interweave Press for the donation.

Spinning Loft fiber sampler

And a raw fiber, Fleece and Fiber Soucebook sampler from The Spinning Loft, similar to the one I'm spinning over these 10 weeks. Big thanks to Beth for providing the sampler.

Retail $85

The usual rules apply. Leave a comment before midnight on Friday July 1,2011. A comment will be chosen at random to answer a skill testing question. If he or she answers correctly they will win our prize package.

This summer I'm taking workshops with Jacey Boggs and Deb Menz. I am a lucky and excited spinner. What fun is everyone else getting up to over the summer?

 

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