|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 7, 2014 21:56:01 GMT
I'm not a spinner, but I was at the only store in my area that carries roving to pick up some for Fiona Duthie's upcoming surface design class online. While I was chatting with the owner, she mentioned that the felters are the only ones buying the commercial roving. The spinners have gone back to processing their own fiber before spinning. I found that fascinating. Is this a new trend? Has this been your experience?
|
|
|
Post by zed on Mar 8, 2014 12:34:35 GMT
I've always got the impression that that was the case. I only spin for fun occasionally, so just use what I've got for what I need.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 8, 2014 14:29:57 GMT
I would have thought that as well until she told me the trend at least in her store had changed. I was concerned she'd stop carrying the roving, but she assured me she will continue. :-)
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Mar 8, 2014 15:00:51 GMT
My total experience with spinning was learning how to use a drop spindle a few years ago, and that's where it ended! I neither spin nor knit. However, may I suggest the continuing economic woes in our country as a possibility for spinners abandonment of commercial roving? If you are a spinner and the price of roving has increased, might you proceed to buy your own fleeces, do the washing and carding and perhaps save some money? Do your own dyeing for the same reason? Don't know if this is Midwestern trend or nationwide. Just throwing that out as a suggestion.
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Mar 8, 2014 15:24:43 GMT
Buying your own fleece is often more expensive. However it does get you different breeds. most shops carry merino top and maybe one other breed. There is a trend in using blending boards and spinning from rollags that is big at the moment. I think it goes in fits and spurts. a local guild maybe doing a lot of classes in processing and people are busy using what they learned. Most will go back to buying top. I know when I did a group order for my guild a little while ago 99% was top and 1% was washed loos wool. Most of it was dyed too. people like to try dying but it is time consuming. Marilyn, it lucky you have enough felters in your area that se will keep selling it.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 8, 2014 16:22:48 GMT
I imagine processing your own fleece in the end would be expensive when you consider all the time and effort that goes into getting it to a useable state.
Ann I'd like to know where all these felters are. I drive 26 miles one way into the more remote farm country. The closest place that even teaches felting in another ten miles in the opposite direction from me. But like me, they are willing to travel to get to "touch" the merchandise. She sells more than merino. She carries a big variety of fleeces,batts, roving,silk, etc. I bought some yak yesterday.
I imagine like anything else, it's cyclical.
Cathy, you may interested to know she said they will send out samples for free. They keep talking about opening an online store but it hasn't happened yet.
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Mar 8, 2014 16:33:10 GMT
I would suggest putting up an add at her store to see if you can get a group together. Even if you just meet for coffee and sow each other what you have done or are doing it would be fun.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 8, 2014 16:36:21 GMT
Great idea Ann. I am going to a blog about the store at some point. I am going to email her today to thank her for her time, give her our link and perhaps mention a note for the forum at her register. :-)
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Mar 8, 2014 17:02:18 GMT
Ann, thanks for the idea of trying to form a local guild via the store Marilyn mentioned. BTW, Marilyn, is that the Fine Line in St. Charles to which you are referring? The only place remotely near me is the Vogue Fabric Store in Evanston. Tucked away in a little corner with the buttons are some beautiful one-ounce packets of merino, all different colors. I bought from them in the beginning when I started teaching myself to needle-felt, but I soon discovered it's a bit tricky with the merino tops. That was when I began purchasing other kinds of wool on-line. I could still run over and purchase a bit from them if I ran out of a particular color for wet-felting, but it's rather costly to buy those one-ounce packets. I don't believe they do enough business in roving to offer larger lots.
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Mar 8, 2014 18:09:13 GMT
Buying a fleece, washing it and carding it is a lot of work. But going from fleece to felt is actually rewarding. So I guess it depends on your philosophy. Many people out here are very "green" and want to keep everything "pure". Most of the time, I just buy roving as it is easier.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 8, 2014 19:50:45 GMT
Cathy, I was referring to The Fold in Marengo as the store. We've talked about a road trip there if we ever get decent weather. The Fine Line is about ten miles south of me. They have the classes and a limited amount of batts and only white roving of unknown origin and some books and yarns. The Fine Line has an interesting history. I used to teach papermaking there. But that's not what makes it interesting it was started by nuns who were weavers. It is a non profit organization. They have some pretty neat classes there.
Ruth I imagine that's why the trend has gone to a more green approach here.
|
|
|
Post by flicstarstudios on Mar 11, 2014 10:19:24 GMT
Slightly off topic, but I have also registered for Fiona Duthie's upcoming surface design class online, and I am super-excited about it. I have not felted since I learnt to spin ooh, 18 months ago now. As for roving to spin, I have an unwashed fleece waiting to comb and wash, but I also just pick out roving I have for felting and spin that. It's great to have options. I remember my teacher at spinning class said (when we were slaving over a raw fleece) that whenever she felt like sitting down and spinning, she'd grab a packet of dyed combed tops. That really fast-tracks you to a happy spinning place. But there is definitely pleasure to be had in working with the raw fleece, separating out the staples and seeing the magic in the washing process of going from dirty to clean. I am thankful we have the luxury of choice nowadays. You can buy processed tops/roving so easily, as well as buying raw fleece.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 11, 2014 16:01:57 GMT
That's great insight Flic especially for is non spinners. Thanks for sharing!
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Mar 12, 2014 0:21:23 GMT
Flick have you done any spinning in the greese? It can be quite enjoyable and leaves your hands nice and soft.
|
|
|
Post by carole aka craftywoman on Mar 12, 2014 8:00:57 GMT
This is really interesting, I'm not a spinner either but last year I was offered a fleece - no idea what to do with a fleece so I declined it (but it is waiting for me apparently) I have no idea how to clean it, debug it or what to do with the end result, even if I ever got as far as cleaning it. I spoke to a friend who suggested I ask and Old Baba in a village (the old Baba's are the grannies of the village, even tho' I have 3 grandchildren I don't count as I'm not old enough!!) anyway I diverse, these old Baba's are the ones with the spinning skills.
|
|