I started spinning 3 years ago, just before the pandemic, because I had been fascinated by the spindle in Sleeping Beauty when I was five. I am not a knitter, but last month I knitted my first hat, just to show myself I could. I spin and weave because they give me JOY. I do it for no other reason. How long it takes or if I finish is less important to me than the joy and peace I feel when I spin or weave. I'll never win any contest, but it's not why I started this.
Love the podcast! With over 1,000 sheep breeds worldwide, I've comes to terms with the fact that I will never get to spin them all. I have tons of WIPs. I start a project and then a squirrel runs by and Zoom! my attention disrupted and I go running off on another idea. Creative minds are a blessing and a curse! I prefer to knit garments which is quite a time commitment. Where I get stuck on the yarn diet fail isn't just the ever changing new yarn blends and beautiful dyed colors, but wanting to support both local yarn shops and Indie dyers. They can't sustain a business without sales. We can buy yarn a lot faster than we can knit it! So for me, I try and be reasonable about my personal expectations and not get too down on myself for not finishing everything. 'Cause we need all our crafting to stay sane. LOL
From 1 fellow weirdo to another, yes, we LOVE the earthy smell of these fiber animals! I think as tactile people, we do rely on all of our senses being involved in the pleasure of working in this particular medium! As an art teacher, I can relate!
I am a finisher not because I would not love to start many more but finances really make the decision for me . I love your you tube channel because it is so relatable to what I call the home crafter, knowledgeable but also just in love with the craft . I will be watching your new project and since you mentioned lopi I am hooked, . Thank you for all of your time and look forward to next year . Peaceful year to you and yours
I too love the smell of the wool!!!! I also am a bee keeper and that smell is divine... as far as sticking to a limited amount of projects.. you made me laugh out loud.. I too feel like I don't accomplish all that much for the amount of time that I put into this craft but I keep telling myself that it is ok because it is cheaper than therapy and keeps all the balance in my world. Thank you for the breed study.
I am thrilled to see you burst into videos again, Lisa. So interesting to see the breeds of sheep and how you create their yarn! I have many ufos and I'm trying to finish them, but like you, it's hard to resist starting a new one. Curiosity is the spice of life! I also finished twists and turns shawl way after the end, but it was a Christmas present for my daughter in law. I teased her throughout the knitting process with tiny sneak peeks (photos) which really motivated me to finish it! Knitting for others helps me to complete, but this means I don't have a lot of my creations in my house! Love and best wishes to you.
I do keep a Needlework journal and most days I'll set little goals. Like , today I will knit the men's vest up to the armpit. Or I will complete two inches on my sock. Little things like that.
I am a process knitter. I laughed when you talked about your WIPs because it was like you were going through my stash. When my husband exclaims, “oh you finished,” I should take that as a sign. So happy to see you back. Missed your videos and humor 😊
Hi, I really enjoyed this podcast. Love breed studies. I was thinking about what you asked those of us who finish projects. So I thought to myself, my will is written, the house is in the kids name, I've cleaned out drawers and things are pretty much in order. EXCEPT for the sweater I'm now working on. If I dropped dead tomorrow it would be left unfinished and someone will have to deal with it! Yup, this is a problem, not the unfinished sweater but the OCD. I so wish I could be another way but I am who I am. Some of us put our heads down, grit our teeth and FINISH! Others, whom I envy, cast on....and on...and on....Oh how I wish that were me! I have straight hair, anyone want to trade me their curly?
I’m a process maker, for sure. In addition to spinning, knitting, and crocheting, I quilt, cross-stitch, make bobbin lace, and started weaving. My way of controlling the chaos is to have one project for each craft going at one time. I have to intentionally put aside a project before starting another. What is put aside has to have a plan for donating,etc. This is mostly for the sake of space!
I control my desire for the new by having a fixed number of project bags (15). I generally have 5 big, 5 medium and 5 small things on the go at any 1 time. If I want to start something new and I don’t have a bag for it I make myself finish or frog something. This worked well in 2022 and I was able to finish 1-2 things a month.
Hello! Here is what I've done in 2022 that has helped me organize my crafting. I usually write a list of all the projects that I planned for including gifts and stash dives. I consult the list every month to remind myself of what I would like to accomplish. Some get done and others projects don't but I am more able to see my progress. You are absolutely correct in writing down what you have completed. I would also add that writing down what WIPs and planned projects (stashed yarn +pattern combo) might help give you an idea of what you already have. I update that portion of my journal every season. As for the alure of the new, I will do my basic research for yarn/pattern and put it in my Ravelry favorites page. This is usually enough to keep me from being impulsive and buying things right away. I know the information is kept close if I feel the need to revisit them. Now for the most important part. Don't be too strict with yourself with yarn diets or specific goals. Crafting is ment to be fun! I had 23 project planned out for 2022 on my list and completed 10 of them. I also finished 13 more projects that came along through the year. My original goal was for 10 projects total including 5 from the list. Revision were made along the way too. Goals can change So far this has been my best crafting year! I will continue to monitor my making this way in 2023. I am very excited to follow along your winter breed study and see what you will make next! Wishing you the best for 2023 :)
I am a project knitter, I use to have quite a number of things on the go. I found that I was being overwhelmed by having so many things started and nothing done. So I just started going through an either finishing or frogging The projects. I think the thing that gets me through the project is knowing when I finish it I get to start something new. I get excited about what I’m going to start next and that keeps me motivated. Plus it feels good knowing it is done there’s a real satisfaction in clearing things up. I really think it helps with the creative process and then you only work on projects you’re really passionate about. I am really enjoying the sheep breed and your blanket will turn out gorgeous. Looking forward to it
Hi Lisa! I really like the "Finish it February" idea that Rox Rocks podcast does every year. Sort and create 3 piles. Finish, frog and not sure yet. No plans just do the sorting. Hit the high spots for either to frog or finish something that is really quick. Get some wins!!! I was starting to many things and I have gotten better about it. I use favorites in ravelry to control myself and I just maybe do a swatch for something but only out of a stash dive for a project. The bright shiny new thing is really hard to ignore i know. PS I LOVE the sheepy smell too. Very much enjoy the breed study. I have spun 4 oz of black welch mountain and like the yarn very much. It wasn't the easiest to spin for me though on my wheel as it was a short staple.
I am a sock and hat finisher (small projects that I can carry with me) and at the same time I cannot help but start multiple new projects like crocheted blankets and knitted sweaters and shawls and then get a little bored or don't have time to sit with a large project that requires my full attention without distraction so always have a shelf full of half finished items. I'm glad I am not alone in this. When you add in my last two years of fleece and alpaca blanket collection for processing and spinning...my family think I have hoarding issues 🤣
And another comment: I always have several knitting projects on the go because I need simpler things for knitting group, and so forth. But when I become paralyzed and unable to decide what to work on, and want to keep them all moving forward, I assign a day of the week to each.
Hi! I love your podcast, Lisa. Regarding knitting - I usually have one big project, and one little project going, and I don’t have any other unfinished projects. I like to start something and finish ASAP it so I can wear or gift it right away. I have spun a number of braids on my wheel and on spindles, but right now I have a huge quantity of red wool I bought at my LYS to practice different techniques on. The owner did not know what it is, other than 100% wool - thus I’m not worried about ruining it. ;) I have beautiful some more braids waiting in the wings - and a new Ashford e-spinner to help with plying when the time comes, as my antique 1800’s wheel has a tiny bobbin and plying has been a challenge with her.
I’m realizing I’m a spinner who knits and weaves. I find so much joy and tranquility in processing fiber and spinning. But lately I’ve been really wanting to use my lovely handspun yarn. So I have made it a goal to have only 3 to 4 fiber projects in the works at one time. I’d like to finish a project in 1 to 2 months depending on the size and then I can cast on or weave another with the aim to have all projects done by the end of December 2023. I’ll evaluate my progress every 3 months and adjust if necessary. I’m keeping tract of these in a journal.
Although I do have 3 pair of socks and a cardigan for myself on needles I am and will complete a raglan button down cardigan for the hubby. Also started the process of spinning 2 lbs of Targhee for dying for future socks and slippers, I also have 3 lbs of shetland waiting to be spun up. This upcoming entire year is taken. But am so very grateful you are back, I just love the way you study and sample different breed of sheep, very enjoyable. Tip: Just pretend and make yourself feel very guilty about purchasing anything new until you completed a few things, very hard yes Indeed!
Hi Lisa, I am a finisher or a project knitter!! I absolutely love the sense of accomplishment from starting to finishing and wearing my knitted items. I Love The Saltwater Books!!💗 I was gifted the first Book by a Ravelry Friend in Hubley Nova Scotia!! They are awesome books!! I knit a pair of Tibbs Eve Vamps and use them as my Spinning Socks to keep my feet warm and my wheels clean!!! Looking forward to the next Breed next week!! 🌞
Lisa! So lovely to hear from you again. I adore your videos, I find them soothing and informative. For me, I find that there's something that draws me to a project, be it a new technique or an interesting lace pattern. And once I've learned it, I don't want to finish the project. And if I'm doing the project just for the finished object i get frustrated/bored. The best successes of finishing projects I've had are one that combines hobbies. My recent FO is a hooded cowl that I spun the yarn for. The yarn was a gorgeous copper/verdigris mix and it was exciting to see it knit up and pleasing to see the cowl grow. Casting on is new joy, I think. And hard to resist the alure.
💖So good to see you again so soon. Ok. So I'm not the only one, phew! I was worried. I have tons of projects and crafts started. I was once told that it's the artist trying to get out. Yeah that. I took an advanced weaving class in November. Life changing. I'm not a knitter but I am a weaver. It's all about the looms. I bought a peg loom and its helping to clear up the stash issue. The finished rugs sell very well. I love spinning too and because of you I have lots of lovely PORTABLE spindles. Little but perfect Snyder gliders. I also just added a beautiful white maple supported spindle to the flock (pending the mastering part...not yet). No one else in my guild uses a supported spindle! Yikes! I love wood things too. Your method of washing fleeces is working very well for me. Only 10 to go...LOL. Yes please, on sharing your breed studies. (I have several Jacobs). From one wool sniffer to another...I do love their Earthy scents. BTW when you are ready, I would love to send you some samples of my own Icelandic roving. I'd like to hear your opinion on them. I have "silver" and black. One is very soft and the other is "silky and strong". LOTS and LOTS of roving. Happy New Year.
Hello. I was pleased to see you back. What you share is so informative and inspiring, thank you. I'm working on spinning up Llama fiber. I just really enjoy working with Llama and Alpaca fiber more than sheep's wool. The smell of Llama fiber is just so nice. I often see podcasters nose diving into their sheepy goodness, but my preference is Llama, it has a comforting smell . The colours are beautiful, a dream to spin up and exceptionally satisfying. I like to spin for a project in mind and my intent is to spin up all the fiber, then knit up my project. But.... I find an even more enticing fleece, so spin that up, but then get annoyed with myself because i need to work on one project before jumping onto the next, this is a challenge for me.
I am both a process maker and an project maker. I love having a few projects on the go, but too many make me feel uneasy. I try to spin a ball of 50 gram before moving onto a different fiber. If I am spinning for a sweater I spin a ball for the sweater, then spin one of my breed study Fibers. I need about 40 grams for one of my blanket squares. I look longingly at a braid I just bought, but I stop myself from starting it, as I know I feel better if I finish something first. Same with knitting. I usually have a sock, mit or shawl on the go and a sweater, but I stop myself from casting on a second sweater before casting on the next. And I avoid knit alongs!
Watching this while I am spinning some Gotland on one of the four IST crafts Turkish spindles I bought since watching your video on your favourite spindles. I have two other Turkish spindles, but I always grab Ian's. So glad you pointed me in his direction. I love Black awelsh Mountain wool. One of my favourite breeds. I started a breed study blanket during lockdown. After 22 breeds I taught myself to spin on spindles with your help. Now on breed 57! I am for a 99 square blanket. It is a multi year project and I love it!
I have started watching your winter breed study from the beginning, Lisa, and am just loving it. I'm a process knitter and love everything about working with yarn and due to my chronic illness I am a sloooow knitter/crocheter but I am also a project completer. I don't have a generous yarn budget so I knit mostly small projects (socks, shawls, hats etc) and knit mostly for others, both of which makes it easier to get things done, I find. With my spinning and EPP, I take FOREVER and have too many WIPs because I just grind to a halt!
I had a chance to try Black Welsh Mountain a few years ago, when I purchased 4oz. of raw BWM fleece from The Spinning Loft. I found it really interesting to work with! Mine was completely black, including tips, with no lighter hairs anywhere. There was some kemp that tended to fall out everywhere, but was pretty brittle so I couldn't just pull the hairs out. Overall the fiber was very lofty and didn't seem to want to hold together the way most wools do--the locks would just pull apart very easily with the gentlest tug. Nevertheless, I was able to spin a cohesive yarn that held together just fine. Most of it was blended up with some black merino and alpaca for a project, and I think the BWM contributed a nice crispness and loft to the yarn
I have so many partially done "projects", i finish very few things...... and that goes from hobby to hobby, between knitting and rug hooking and hand needlework, etc! I finally bought a spindle from Vermont Spindle Co, a 0.65 oz rim weighted dark maple.... it came with top, so i am eager to give that a try. I am looking forward to your breed study continuing, and a video from you weekly! But then I am tempted to get the box of fiber samples and then ignore the fact that i really want to make a handspun hat, would be the very first actually finished handspun item i have made! See.... i have no control over wanting to start new things! Seriously, tho, i look forward to your sheep study and your willingness to share it with us.
Welcome back and Happy New Year! I have a number of Ian's turkish drop spindles (love them) and Carl of Woodland Handcrafts supported spindles (love these too). I do finish projects although there might be a couple that hibernate ... but sometimes I get a case of "start-i-tis" lol, where I want to cast on everything! There are too many things in my craft room with quilting, beading, spinning, knitting, etc that I really need to pace myself. Let's just think of ourselves as butterflies that flutter from flower to flower! BTW, the Saltwater Classics and Saltwater Socks were under my Christmas tree this year. I already have the Saltwater Mittens and spun yarn to knit my sister the Spring Ice Mittens. Love the books and stories inside. Enjoy!
I'm looking forward to following along the breed study. I'm mostly a finisher. It's a way to declutter the brain and focus. I'm a sweater knitter - I spend a lot of time (often weeks) thinking about a project (and shopping the stash and swatching) before casting on - or not. That's all part of what makes it interesting - the fantasy knitting part. I also pick patterns to learn something from. My current focus is making garments that fit really well and I'm trying different shoulder constructions. So use yarn you love, pick patterns you'll wear, and resist the eye candy. Also: When in doubt, rip it out.
Lisa You always make me laugh. Yes I am a fellow weirdo 😂. I am trying to think of tips for you. But honestly I feel it comes to don’t stress about it. Knit what makes you happy. If a projects sits for years. The yarn wants to be something else. Don’t be afraid to rip it out. I can see your spindle collection makes you happy. Enjoy the happiness of your fiber world. I am a project knitter. With 3 projects going at once. Lol. KAL’s are fun and inspiring. I love a good goal. However I am still on clue 4 of my Twist and Turns. It will get done in 23!
I am currently spinning on some Candian Wool from Sheepisly Me and I have about 9 to set the twist on. I also want to turn on my Traditional Spinning Wheel, but I need to buy a new double-wheel drive band in case it breaks and some bigger Nibby Knobby and some combs before I spin up my 10 pounds of Leicester Longwool and 2 pounds of Gotland Wool. If you talk about the Jacob Sheep please invite one of the RU-vid Doctors to talk about Tay Sache disease as there is a disease similar to it in the Jacob Sheep.
I’m not a spinner but I’m knitting a shawl in black Welsh mountain, in the uk Armescote manor have a conservation flock. It’s knitting up beautifully and it truly is the blackest natural black.
I also spin with my left hand and draft with my right hand. As a right-handed person, I find it easier to draft with my dominant hand. I do the same on my spinning wheel: draft with my right hand. Good to see you active again! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.
Oh, I am glad I am not alone in that! In videos of old timers spinning woolen in their wheel I noticed the fiber held in the right hand. No right way to do it. Thanks for coming back and watching!
Hi lisa I'm super excited that you are concentrating on my two most local breeds at the outset of your breed study! I love spinning black Welsh mountain and also Hill Radnor; a local shepherd with a flock of both these conservation breeds has gifted me some fleeces and they open out for skirting like bear pelts! Just so beautiful. I have spun the black Welsh mountain from batts I made on my drum carder but the staples of the Radnor are so long I just flicked them and spin straight from the locks, worsted. They work well when knitted together in colourwork and I also made some humongous mukluk slippers with the black Welsh mountain then felted them down in the washing machine and that worked beautifully. I Hope you continue to post videos of what you're up to because you're right! We love the smell of wool and it's a bit weird but at least we all have each other!😂😂
Oh my gosh! I am so envious of your fleeces. I loved the BWM and I am knitting up my square with the Hill Radnor this afternoon. It’s lovely. I imagine both breeds being perfect for jumpers, esp color work. It’s real “wooly wool” that makes my heart sing. Thanks for tuning in. See you soon!
Fun to see your breed study and spinning plans. I am much like you bouncing from one project to another, but I don’t know that that is bad. I think it keeps my interest up and helps reduce mental and physical fatigue. In the end I do finish what I start, even if I have rabbit-trailed along the way. Happy New Year 🎉
Oh my, 2023 is looking better now that I have found your channel. Stitches and Starlight podcaster Tashi recommend you. I process fleece so am fascinated to learn how you work with yours. I am currently combing the huge fleece of a ram named Loco. He is a Black Welsh Mountain Leicester Longwool cross and his fleece is dark brown and long and silky. I was given some Black Welsh carded fiber at the time I got his raw fleece but I was not enamored with that. Looking at your wool, my sample was much more wirey and the staple was really short. I may try some more in the future. I am looking forward to your breed programs, even though I will not be spinning along.
Hi Lisa, I had to have a chuckle when you say you love the smell of fibre. I love the sheepy smell of fibre too. I pretty much stick to one or two projects and certainly no more than three. I don't knit sweaters so my projects are generally quick. My 1st completed project this year was yesterday but it was a cute gnome for my daughter in law. See loved it. Looking forward to seeing your very informative videos. I'm learning so much.😄
Ooo...always up for a good breed study! I have a kit I bought at Wisconsin Sheep and Wool in 2021 but have only done about 15% of it. I'm definitely a process knitter and a "flitterer." Between knitting/crochet, dyeing, and spinning, I have a lot to keep me from finishing things :-p
I am definitely a process knitter. I have something like 12 UFOs right now, and about 4 WIPs. I decided to not have any new year's resolutions exactly. I find that i tend to go through cycles of cast everything on, and having an urge to actually finish things. and then the things that are too far away from finishing never seem to get finished.
I love watching you spinning so much! Those little squares are so pretty. I used to buy the yarn and finish each project as I went along but no more....I have so many half done things that I forget what I have. This year I would like to go through each one and rip out those that no longer sing. Keeping a journal sounds like an extremely good plan too. The allure of the new: maybe we are all just chasing something ....
You’re last comment… yes I think so. Also in this fast paced internet she there is always something new to catch out eyes. Since we started taking about this here on the comments I’ve become more reflective about my projects.
I love your doggie's eyes looking at you at this point in the video. (10:27). So cute. So Soulful. My doggo is a German Shephard. We are attached at the hip, but she doesn't insist on such close quarters.
I loved this episode. I have not spun Black Welsh Mountain wool by itself, just in a blend. One of my favorite episodes of yours was the one about Romney sheep. I can't wait to see how your sweater looks all finished up. I am a finisher but I seem to get a project 80% done then procrastinate the finishing for some reason. I try to never have more than 2 knitting projects at a time. My spinning projects definitely build up more, lots of wool waiting to be spun.
I used to be a knitter where I started one thing and finished it. But then hubby took sick and I knit mainly socks and smaller things But since he passed I seem to be a “ almost finish something, then start something else knitter”. 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️ I have a sweater that needs finishing on one sleeve, a cowl to be cast off, mittens that have one mitten finished and the other one started, socks almost done. Maybe this is the year for me to be normal again. 🎉 Happy New Year. ❤
Thanks for this great video! I love the black welsh mountain blanket square. It almost has an iridescence. I’m spinning some gifted Malibrigo on spindles, some blended Shetland that I made into rolags - and am trying to practice my wheel spinning 🙄 I’m doing my first ever mystery knit-along- and I’m finding it quite manageable as it’s just the 12 days of Christmas. I don’t feel stressed at all! It’s with Nomadic Knits, “Knitmas.” I just de-stashed a lot of yarn to my daughter, who is a tapestry weaver but I am starting to build up quite the handspun stash now, so I need to figure out what I’m going to do with all of that. I think I must be a product knitter because I usually am knitting specifically for someone and generally finish my projects. Some of them languish a little bit, but I usually finish everything. I just don’t knit for the sake of knitting. Maybe that’s the difference? Right now I have a pair of socks for myself on the needles using opal six ply, and I’m knitting a shawlette from spindle-spun alpaca for myself! now that I’m done with all my holiday knitting. Sorry for the tome! I’m looking forward to your next breed study video. Thank you! I hope you are safe and well also.
Thank you so much for the hack on quickly winding the Turkish spindle! I just bought one from Ian (I’m in UK) and was starting to despair. Happy new year and so excited for your breed study. ❤
Carole, keep trying, you will get it. Practice that butterfly wind onto your fingers. It's a big help. It took me a couple years and a different spindle to really get going. I am now a Turkish spindle spinner with grand success. To each wool a spindle, you will need a variety of weights and sizes. Best.
I 'm glad you are going to stretch out your breed study. it will be fun to follow along at a slower pace and maybe I will be able to dig out some breed from my stash and spin along. I did a similar study when I first started spinning. I used the vivd pattern by tin can knits as my block. once it was finished I arranged them into a blanket with an i cord edge. on the back of each square I sewed a piece of twill tape that I had written what each breed was. my sampleer turned into a swatch chart that I could refer to if I wanted to buy fleece for a project. I could feel the wool and access whether it would work in whatever pattern I picked.
Lisa, Happy New Year! Loved the video! I am DEFINITELY a project starter! There's an online FaceTime group, American Patchwork & Quilting's UFO Challenge, which has helped me with finishing items since I'm a multi crafty person. For 2023, I've started 2 lists: 1) Quilting projects and 2) Knitting projects. I've participated in the group for several years, but wasn't until COVID that I managed to REALLY minimize my UFOs. Can't wait until the next breed study! Until then....hoping you have a wonderful week!
Thank you so much for these videos. I love the Black Welsh Mountain! I learned about this breed last fall. I've had trouble spinning it, since the fibers are short. Thank you for helping me by showing the long draw. So much better I am now.😄 I also have a book to share. Shades of Winter by; Ingalill Johansson// Ewa Andinsson. Oh I got my Black Welsh Mountain roving from a shop on Etsy; Rockbridge Farm. Thanks again for this wonderful study. I will definitely look forward to the next video.💕🐏🐑🧶
Hi Lisa, I usually knit fora particular project. I do not like to have many projects on the needles at the same time. I usually have a spinning project. I drop spindle or Turkish spindle the single and ply on my Hanson. Presently I am knitting a Habitation throw using all my left over sock yarn. I read the pattern incorrectly and now the throw will become a shawl😊. I also have a baby sweater on my needles. The yarns I am using are all from my stash. The Habitation project is being knit with 25 10 gram balls of sock yarn….some was from my handspun. Happy New Year see you on your next video❤
Happy 2023! What a great idea of a breed study and to make something from that specific breed. Well done. I would love to start with you but as you discussed later on in the podcast, how many projects can I have going on!!! I have several projects on the go and try to devote days at a time on each project. That's how I get through to the finish! Looking forward to the next video!
Bless you. Thanks for the video. I know it's not easy to make videos while you are primarily a teacher. (My wife is a 4th-grade teacher so I know how limited her time is.) I appreciate even your intention. Good luck in 2023 with your teaching and your hobbies.
Thank you so much, James. I hope the rest of the school year is a good one for your wife. I appreciate how much work it is to teach elementary. I am actually retired this past year!
@@SoulfulSpinning Oh! That is so cool. Good for you. Teachers are special people. Thanks for the contribution you have made to our world through your teaching. People don't tell teachers thank you often enough. Keep up the good work with your spinning. It's so relaxing and inspiring to watch.
Lisa and your husband, I like to wish you guys a happy 😊 new year. I found a person who sell wash and clean Welsh sheep 🐑 wool. Few here in Oregon are breaders.
I love the darkness of the black welsh mountain, spun a fleece a year or so ago and made some lovely hats. the only fleece in my stash at the moment that is as dark is a black wensleydale x zwarbles. Sounds like you will be spinning some interesting yarns, probably several from my favourite fleece list. I look forward to seeing the future videos.
I love the winter breed series! I have been a spinner for awhile (8yrs. With knitting close behind). I learned first on a drop spindle thus can relate to your enthusiasm of them. Each sheep breed is so different to spin and knit up. I have my favorites, but do try new fleeces through the year. So much fiber so lil time eh! I've tried a fleece/yarn diet and failed miserably 🤣 I enjoy All my fiber/yarn around me and keep wheel/knitting needles close by! I have lofty goals, but do finish most goals...what doesn't get done goes on to a New Year!! Happy New Year!!
I am definitely a process knitter and spinner. I always struggle with plying or washing my handspun and weaving in the ends and blocking my knits. Don’t get me wrong I do want the end product but for some reason it is a barrier for me to actually complete my projects.
Happy to see you back on the screen. I am very goal oriented so driven to finish things. But I do have some projects that get stalled. It usually means that there is something that isn’t going well and I take a break. As far as lists of future projects go, I usually keep that in my head because it is fluid - the list, not my head😂 although some would disagree. But, I find it really valuable to make lists of what I have accomplished, whether during a day, week, whatever and not just fibre projects. Many of us accomplish so much and it can be quite surprising if you make a list after the fact. Looking forward to the breed study as I love getting my hands on weird and wonderful fluff!
I'm Inez from The Netherlands and I was just explaning to my husband, for me knitting an spinning is like doing yoga. It relexes me and I'm in a kind of trans, when I'm working with wool. I feel happy and all the stress goes away. And if I don't enjoy knitting the garment, I start a new one, because it must be fun! That makes me a process knitter I think 😁
I don't like having a lot of knitting projects on the go and love finishing things up (even finishing that last bit of toothpaste or the last of the salad-it's a big joke in my family). I have no tips and think it's more just about our internal nature. I've set no goals for the coming year, in fiber or otherwise, and am interested in taking stock in where my interests take me. For several months I've been feeling like I'm over-influenced by what I see online, as much as I love and admire all the creativity. When I learned to knit from a friend in 1988, I knit a swatch, took some measurements, and knit a vest. Then a sweater, then another and another and another. There were paper patterns and books back then, but I look back at my own DIY approach with a lot of love and want to get back to that spirit of play. So maybe my goal is not to buy any more patterns or books, but to look at my bookshelf and Rav library, or just to play around a little more. I'm so looking forward to your winter breed study. I bought several breed samples at a small festival last summer and will be playing with those until spring.
I looked at it again and the card said Shetland 🐑 🐏 sheep. Color is grays one bag is sheep name Tammy, and other grown from Tabby. Call of the Wool, by Briana MacEwan. I'm going see 👀 if I send me more wool to spinning up in yarn. I would like to study more about different breads of sheep 🐑.
It is so good to see your video Lisa... we've missed them. I have never worked with Black Welsh Mountain, but I did spin 100g each of various breeds a few years ago. The blanket is a perfect idea, I have also combined all those sample spins into a crochet blanket which is still on my bed and I love it. Sending you lots of kisses and looking forward to other videos also. Wishing you all the best in this new year. Ivana ❤
Thank you this Lisa, I really do love your videos. You manage to say almost everything I've thinking in a much more eloquent way! I'm definitely a flitter with projects. One goal I've set for myself is to finish the projects that I have but allow myself to start a new project when I've finished one. I'm also going to log my fiber journey, life/health journey this year, I'm having some memory issues so it will be nice to look back and see what I've done :)
That’s a good idea. Using another cast on as a “reward” for finishing. I am writing down all the crafty thing I’ve done at the end of the day in my journal/calendar. My memory is not what it used to be either😜 !
Hi, so glad to see you more active on RU-vid - I love your videos! I don't know if i am one type of crafter or another. I do tend to finish a lot of objects but also leave many languishing way too long which I often force my self to finish. Others I rip out after letting them sit for years. Usually sweater or weaving projects get finished because of my motivation to complete them. Some smaller projects are travel projects and will take longer than a sweater to finish. As for spinning, I have more handspun yarn in stash than I'd like, so as a resolution this year I'd like to use it more often in projects. I hope to follow along with you in the breed study using fiber collected from Longway Homestead and other sources. Happy and healthy New Year to you and your family!
Hi Lisa, loved the breed study focus. Excellent! I have a set of fibre samples however I am a seriously new spinner and I am not sure I’m ready for that. I am both a product and project knitter. I have some things I really want in my wardrobe and I have some that push me to learn and I have some that are easy to just enjoy the rhythm. To push myself to finish projects, I try to only start projects I am in love with, not just enamoured.
I spin like you, drafting and flicking with my left hand and holding my fiber in my right. It followed me from the spindle to the wheel, and only really tripped me up when I tried support spinning. Turns out I need to flick counterclockwise or my support spindle flies across the room and not back toward my hand. Not only was it an adventure in (re)learning how to spin, but also how to ply. I do it less because I have to think about it more, but I’m making progress with supported spindling all the same. Just… maybe a few degrees off center. 🤣
I do find flicking a support spindle clockwise with my right hand much more comfortable but it’s so hard being as fluid with the fiber in my left hand. So I keep going back and forth. I figure it’s good for my brain!
I'm feeling the same way, conflicted between knitting what I have/stashing down, and learning how to not give in to what's new and everyone else is doing. I'm really going to try to finish many of the WIPS I already have on the needles and to use my stash this year. The speed that I've accumulated yarn is much faster than what I've knit out of stash and I just can't keep it going the way it has been. I'm running out of room and feel bad for all the beauties in my stash.
I’m with you there! I have so much beautiful yarn and fiber that needs to become something rather than sitting in stash. I am getting some good ideas here on how to get a plan moving forward. Take care Shaun. It is so good hearing from you here. 💕
Hi Lisa, having a hard tech moment trying to respond to your “how do I like Icelandics?” Accidentally deleted my original comment 😂 I Love the Icelandics. Hardy, personalities, good multipurpose breed. I still love all the wool and buy a few different breed fleeces (merino and Shetlands are my other favorites). I have been watching your old videos while I spin, they are so fun and informative, thank You!! I imagine if you did have a spinners flock that Shetlands would be the natural choice, they suit you so nicely. I’m also a big fan of all of the natural colored fleeces, the subtle variety is amazing. Love from Oregon!
So interesting to see you post this. I just mapped out a less ambitious 1 per month breed study with a very similar or perhaps the same sampler kit. Will be fun to compare !🧶 Happy New Year! 🎉Cher
Loved hearing your thoughts on BWM, as one of the local to me breeds I have a fleece in my stash patiently waiting for me to get to. I love working with this breed and definitely need to do it ore often (too many sheep breeds to explore and not enough time!) Your blanket it going to be wonderful. I am definitely a start all the things crafter, they do eventually get finished but some projecys take me years rather than weeks and I'm ok with that, hehe
Happy new year Lisa, We’d just welcomed in the new year here, then I noticed your video and had to watch! I have been processing fleeces this year for a striped jumper that I had hoped to have knitted by Christmas but so far have only spun the grey Shetland and black Welsh Mountain. I’v still to spin all the white Kerry Hill then knit the whole lot so my new goal is to have it done well before the end of winter so I get good use out of it.
Happy New Year, Lisa! I also ordered Black Welsh Mountain for trial and it is one of my favourites to spin so far, alongside with Shetland and Manx Loaghtan.
Great to see your video. I started raising black welsh sheep last year near Pittsburgh. I love the breed. Thank you for sharing info on their wool! I know a few farmers with excess fleeces and trying to get my friends into using their wool.
@@SoulfulSpinning I would send you a fleece. Not sure how much shipping costs. Right now I only have my ram Dilbert's fleece and it has the ram odor. I actually like the smell. Was going to save it to make it into a blanket with other fleeces but I think it would be more helpful for the Black Welsh breed if you worked with it and could help promote the breed to keep them relevant. Otherwise I will have lots of ewe fleeces this spring. The Livestock Conservancy has their "Shave' em to Save 'em" program for rare breeds. Lots of heritage breed owners participate. Let me know if you are ok with the ram fleece (not been cleaned tho)
The breed study is fun and interesting. Did you post the pattern for the square? I picking up one project and work on it till it's done and I always have dozens to choose from:-D my gifts get finished, but as I use synthetic wash and wear yarn for gifts it isn't much fun, more of a distraction.
I think I forgot to link the pattern in the show notes, but here is the link to the blanket pattern. Thanks for watching! www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/birlinn-blanket
Today is 26 feb 2024 and I will follow along THIS YEAR:-). And,today is the day I pick up my Lendrum castle style wheel. Saw your Merino video yesterday, so I thought I’d start with breed#1 today. Thanks so much for your beautiful videos. Yours in Gratitude
Another fiber weirdo here coming to say thanks for a totally enjoyable half hour with you! I have several Black Welsh Mountain-Jacob cross fleeces that I've been working through from a local hobby flock. They all had quite a bit of kemp which had to be flicked out before going to the drum carder. I thought it was the BWM side that gave the kemp-but now thinking it may be from the Jacob side of the family. I'm finding the fiber to be lovely on it's own, spun softly, or as an addition to a more tightly spun sock yarn mix to give depth of color and strength. So glad you're back and love your breed study blanket project!
