Wool on the charkha

[altivo]

The charkha is of course designed to spin cotton and other very short, slippery fibers. However, people say it will spin anything. Having gotten the hang of spinning cotton thread with mine, I decided to try some wool. Well, actually, I used some sliver that is a blend of equal parts merino, alpaca, and silk noil. That stuff has been a bear to draft evenly when using a regular wheel, so I thought I was probably setting myself too difficult a task to start with. However, I have lots and lots of it, so no harm in trying.

Actually it didn't take long to get it going. Loosening and fluffing the sliver without attenuation, as suggested by Elaine Benfatto, helped a lot. Soon I had it working with a point of contact spinning technique, and making consistent very fine singles, Quite possibly, these two spindles are the finest wool thread I've ever spun. I have wound them off onto weaving bobbins, and will now put them on the lazy kate and ply them on a regular wheel. The result is going to be lace weight, I'm sure.

Of course, instead of experimenting I should be in production mode to spin up a huge pile of wool from my own sheep. I've had little success this year getting other spinners to buy the fleeces, but chances are someone would take finished yarn. Or if not, everyone on my Christmas list gets a scarf and hat this year. ;p

I have quite a stash of other things to try on the charkha now, including some natural green cotton, and a 50-50 blend of wool and cotton. There's also a sack of golden retriever fluff here somewhere...

Comments

[heavens-steed.livejournal.com]

This has little to do with spinning or weaving, but I love you. :) *squeezes the plushie*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*blushes and giggles* Aww, I love you too. You know I do. *hugs you close*

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Golden retriever fluff??

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The undercoat of a golden retriever, yes. We've had three goldens over the years, definitely the sweetest, most loveable dogs I've ever known. They have a double coat. The long guard hairs are no good for spinning, but the downy undercoat makes a soft, fuzzy yarn similar to rabbit angora. They shed copious amounts of it in the spring, especially after bathing, so I have a sackful saved up for when I get around to spinning it.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Is that a common thing to do? What sort of thing is it good for?
You'll have to excuse the questions but curiosity and all.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Some dog hair is quite usable as yarn for hats, mittens, or scarves. It can also be well suited to ornamental additions, such as edge trimming. The hair from certain cats, like the Persians, can also be used.

As far as being practical, well, wool is much cheaper and easier to care for. But people are sentimental about their pets, too, and some like to have things like that. By mixing the fluff from a longer haired dog with regular wool, it is possible to make a good quality sweater. Dog wool by itself doesn't wear or clean very well, though.

Besides, if you get caught in the rain you smell like a wet dog and when you come indoors you have an almost irresistible urge to shake. ;p

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Do... some people... not have the urge to shake? ;)

(Golden retriever sweater sounds awesome, even if it's mongrel fluff.)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

A golden retriever sweater would be very fuzzy and extremely warm. Like a fursuit, in fact.

The trouble with using 100% dog fur for garments is that it doesn't hold up well. It tends to develop holes quickly. That's why people who take this seriously mix it with a durable wool like Merino.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

That kind of puts a crimp on its widespread use as a material for clothes.