Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

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Fred-i-Bear
Johannesburg
Posts: 2,243
Website

fredbear Jul 25, 2007

I know that the next stage from roving is to spin it and you then get your wool for knitting.
Is this possible to do without a spinning wheel ???? I have a customer asking me if she can order some of a green roving I sell- so she only needs a little.

At the moment , and I want to try it, is that knitters here in SA, are knitting a project- mainly hand bags , holders for glasses/spectacles, then washing it in the washing machine at a high temp, but not letting it go thru the spin cycle.
This felts up and then they decorate whatever they have created with silk ribbon , beads you name it.

Thanks
Lynette

Bine-Teddies
Stockholm
Posts: 862

Acipenser Jul 25, 2007

I think, people use a drop spindle to spin without a wheel. I haven't done any spinning myself though, yet, so no personal experience. There are good resources on the web though.

Charlotte Des Roches Designs
Adkins, Texas
Posts: 1,543

makafelts Jul 25, 2007

Lynette,
I have a spinning wheel & drop spindles & have spun rovings into yarn many times. I have also seen where some use the thin "Pencil Roving" without spinning it & just knit with it that way for wet felting projects like you mentioned.
If I can find it, I have a picture of a purse I made from wool roving I spun & knitted & wet felted, Then decorated with needle felted flowers.
Hope this helps. It is a lot of fun to do!

Hugs &

Fred-i-Bear
Johannesburg
Posts: 2,243
Website

fredbear Jul 26, 2007

Thanks Charlotte.
I asked the Ashford spinning company if they had the drop spindles- Charlotte can you post a picture ??? I have no idea or imagination how it works,
thanks
Lynette

q.D.paToOtieS
Near Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 1,349

Lisa Jul 26, 2007

That's a gorgeous purse Charlotte! Please explain more about the drop spindle. I have plenty of roving and I can crochet. It sounds interesting...

puca bears
Posts: 1,934

puca bears Jul 26, 2007

Hiya
I used to do a lot of spinning, both wheel and drop spindle....I've been trying to find a pic of a drop spindle, but no luck.....there's bound to be info somewhere in cyberland
all I would say, is that it is slow! Basically it is a long spindle, threaded perpendicularly thru' a circular disc (if you can visualise that) . Wool is wound round the spindle, above the disc, then the end of the wool goes down and round the spindle, under the disc, then up and is "hitched" at the top of the spindle - you hang onto the free end of the wool, spin the spindle, which imparts a twist to the end of the wool, and then catch the end of the roving or rolag - it gets pulled in.....the skill is in controlling the "feed". Obviously, the spindle can only drop so far - then you stop, unhitch the wool, wind the new bit on, and start again.
Much easier to demonstrate than describe! It DOES work - I spun enough to make a sweater.... alas, my drop spindle (hand made!) got chewed up years ago by one or other puppy.
huggies
Maria

Fred-i-Bear
Johannesburg
Posts: 2,243
Website

fredbear Jul 26, 2007

mmm, I can get one from Ashford's, so going to give it a bash- between the bear making , living, gardening and dance lessons bear_rolleyes

Lynette

Charlotte Des Roches Designs
Adkins, Texas
Posts: 1,543

makafelts Jul 26, 2007

I just found a link to a site with a video on how to use a drop spindle.
http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/HowToDropspin.shtml

Hugs &

Charlotte Des Roches Designs
Adkins, Texas
Posts: 1,543

makafelts Jul 27, 2007

Another wonderful use for hand spun wool yarn from rovings is to knit or crochet sweaters etc for bears. I made a knitted sweater & shorts for this little needle felted guy.