Transcript for
Episode 71: Fiber Has Two Jobs
You’re listening to The Sheepspot Podcast, a show for handspinners about making yarn we love.
Hello there, my darling Sheepspotters! Welcome to episode 71 of The Sheepspot Podcast.
I’m Sasha, from sheepspot.com, where we are laser-focused on helping you make yarns you love, with beautiful fibers and top-notch instruction.
Today I’ve got a short but really important episode for you. I’m going to talk about a small mindset shift that can really change your spinning life. It has to do with how you think about the fiber you’re spinning.
It happens fairly often that students tell me that they’re struggling with their spinning, and also tell me that they have lots of beautiful fiber in their stash that they’re afraid to use because they don’t want to “waste” it or “ruin” it. They don’t want to spend a lot of money on what they think of as “practice” fiber, and often, what they’re spinning is actually holding them back because it’s just not great fiber.
So today I’m telling you what I tell them: fiber can have one of two jobs, but usually not both. Some fiber’s job is to become, in your hands, beautiful yarn and then beautiful projects. And other fiber’s job is to educate those hands. I really want to encourage you to think of some of the fiber in your stash as your best and most important spinning teacher.
It’s crucial that, when you’re buying fiber, that you consciously shop for both kinds of fiber: the fiber that makes visions of gorgeous sweaters, cozy cowls, and warm mittens dance in your head, and the fiber that’s going to make you the kind of experienced and versatile spinner who can spin for those sweaters, and cowls, and mittens. The second kind of fiber is so important to your development as a spinner that it deserves to be a good percentage of your stash.
You should take at least as much, if not more, care in selecting the second kind of fiber as you spend in finding the first kind. You should love this fiber. But you need to love it not for the product it will become, but for what it will teach you as you spin it. This part of your stash should be varied, so it can teach you lots of things, and so you can choose the right fiber for the technique you’re going to learn.
I recommend that you always have a good supply of high-quality, easy-to-spin wools on hand. The breeds I love for newer spinners include Corriedale, the Down breeds (Episode 44) and Down-like wools like Cheviot, and the grippier fine wools like Polwarth, Targhee, and Rambouillet (Episode 9). Have some blends in your stash as well--wool with silk, wool with down fibers like yak or camel--to give your hands new experiences.
Also, it’s a good idea to have a variety of preparations, so have some combed top, some carded roving, some smooth batts and some batts with more texture.
If your budget is limited (and whose isn’t?), buy undyed fiber from sources you trust; it usually costs much less than hand-dyed braids. You want easy-to-spin, uncompacted, clean fiber so that you can focus on technique instead of fighting with what you’re spinning. And you want to use the right fiber for the job: in general this means combed fiber for worsted techniques and carded fiber for woolen ones. (Episode 4)
Finally, it’s a good idea to remind yourself frequently that trying new techniques, sampling (Episode 15; Episode 59), and swatching are essential parts of spinning, not the boring bits that you rush through to get to the real stuff, and certainly not a “waste” of fiber.
To recap, in this episode I’ve talked, first, about the two jobs fiber can do for you as a spinner: some fiber’s job is to become a yarn and then a project you love. And some fiber’s job is to teach you how to be a better spinner. You need to have both kinds in your stash.
Second, when you’re shopping for this kind of fiber, focus on fibers that like to hang out with their friends as they’re being spun. I prefer medium-stapled crimpy wools, but have some interesting blends as well to give yourself new challenges.
Third, have (or have the tools to create) a variety of different preparations, too.
And, finally, give yourself permission to use your fiber to learn new things, sample, and swatch. Remember that not every ounce needs to become a finished object.
Well, that’s it for me this week. Thank you so much for listening, my friend. I’ll see you next time. In the meantime, go spin something!