Scouring a fleece

I am currently in the process of scouring an Icelandic raw fleece.

I tried to skirt it as best I can - I just ripped off the stuff that had like, black gluey buildup and turds.

There is a lot of grass and crap on it, but I am hoping I will wash most of that out.

It is hard work, and one thing that I don't think has been mentioned quite enough in all the instructions about scouring fleeces and washing fleeces and blah blah blah, is the smell.

Good lord. Barnyard+animal turd+wet wool is a really unholy combination. Sure, my hands are going to be soft, but at the expense of my olfactory sensibilities. I am not kidding, it stinks. Bad.

But I didn't realize until today that it was a white fleece (long story), which makes me excited. For the dyeing.

Spinning with a wheel

First wheelspun singles, originally uploaded by siobhanmc.

So I finally got a spinning wheel, after what seems like years of pining after one.

It's a Kromski Symphony (and I bought it from the woolery, and was really pleased with the service and speed).

I put it together Wednesday night, but because of social commitments, I didn't have a chance to play around with it until last night. Which is the only thing I did.

I was a little concerned that the wheel wasn't going to suit me, since I didn't have a chance to try out different wheels (well, okay, let's be honest, I did have a chance, but I am not the kind of person who looks at my knitting/spinning hobbies as the kind of thing I really want a physical commitment to - I mean, I very rarely buy from my LYS, I don't attend knitting groups, it's just not my bag. Everything that I've done with knitting has been on my own and with help from the great internet, and I figured that I would just adjust to whatever the foibles of my particular wheel).

Which I did. The Kromski has a dead spot at the top of the wheel, when both footmen are in line at the top of a treadle, and I don't know (since this is the first time ever I have ever even touched a real working spinning wheel) if this is typical, but it can get a wee bit annoying. Nothing too bad, but just a little vexing.

I was also concerned about some comments regarding the Symphony being a right-handed wheel only. Since I began with spindle spinning, I feel more comfortable drafting with my right hand (right? That's the one that pulls the fiber out of the wad from my left hand that is holding it) - I don't find it difficult - I just have to remember not to crank my fiber all the way over to the left, and hold it more comfortably in front of me.

I am very proud of my singles - they're thin and lovely and I think they totally don't look like they are beginner singles.