The desire to make things yourself, when at all possible, is a deep, deep rabbit hole. LOL.
Many years ago I would have considered knitting to be the point where I would be “making something myself.”
Then I learned that I could buy roving and fibre, and spin my own yarn for knitting. (This is some 2-ply Jacob fibre that I spun into sock weight yarn.)
And just recently I decided that wasn’t enough of a do-it-yourself project for me and I have begun experimenting with raw fleeces – which need to be washed and then carded or combed.
Playing with textures and beautiful fibres has become a bit of an addiction.
After much research, I recently purchased a set of wool combs. I decided to go with a set of extra fine combs from Valkyrie. They are going to be good for medium and fine fibres and because they are two-pitch, I can use them on long and shorter staple lengths.
I have a carder (the kind with a crank). And was recently gifted a set of hand carders. But I love worsted wool. Smooth worsted wool. Which you can only truly get with combing. I spent quite a bit of time going over tutorials and youtube videos and knew I had to give combing a try.
I’m hooked.
The combing results in fibre that is so soft. And so lovely. Like a little fluffy kitten. (Too much?)
Over the last week or so I transformed some raw Blue Faced Leicester fleece into the fluffiest clouds of fibre I have ever experienced. I can’t wait to spin with this.
I worry raising my own sheep might not be that far off in my future plans. 🙂
How far do you go with “making things yourself?”
not quite that far, but I sew anything I can!
Oh, wow, this is such a cool post! I love to sew/make most of my gifts, make my own bread (though I’ve been so bad about buying bread ever since Little Miss C. was born) and making jam with my mom.
Thanks so much, Michelle! mmmmmmm… I hope to make some jam this summer!
Maybe you need to start introducing a few sheepdogs into your basset herd? Lol!
Oh – I can’t just teach the bassets to herd? 🙂 LOL!