Do we have any spinners or dyers in the house?

[KatyaR]

I've been spinning for about two years off and on, and I find it's a really relaxing hobby. Unfortunately, it's also a hobby that expands into other things--like dyeing, weaving, and cleaning and carding your own fiber. :crazy:

And the fiber--yikes! There are so many incredible websites where you can buy beautifully dyed fibers of all kinds--wool, mohair, silks, blends, angora, llama, buffalo.

A great place to start is www.etsy.com. There are some great fibers there, including yarns and spinning fibers. I'm amazed at how creative people can be.

So, anybody else have this insane obsession with wool?

[wovenpaint]

1. I love alpaca!

:hi:
I'm a weaver, spinner, felter, needlefelter, knitter, crocheter, embroiderer, colorist, dyer, and on and on-textiles are my thing! Oh, and I paint also

[KatyaR]

2. Good for you!

I think it's interesting how learning how to knit, for example, can lead to an obsession with a WHOLE other line of arts and crafts.

I love it all--I just wish I had time to DO it all!

[wovenpaint]

3. Amen to that! n/t

[knitter4democracy]

4. Present!

:hi:

I'm supposed to be spinning up some lovely natural brown roving that I got at the Michigan Fiber Festival last summer. Instead, I'm hanging out here and avoiding my reading for my class. :blush:

[China_cat]

5. I'd love to learn how to spin

I have 3 Bouviers who would make lovely socks. But there are so many other things that I do that I don't know when I'd get in the spinning.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. It's something I really want to try. I have a 4 harness loom and have been

saving Samoyed hair for 20 years! I have most of it washed and combed, but no spinning wheel! I've looked at several online manufacturers and will probably get one. But I also want a large ceramic kiln!

[troubleinwinter]

7. Sorta/kinda

I do a lot of dyeing of wool. But it is dyeing of wool fabric (not yarn or spinning), then cutting it into 1/4" strips for rug-making. People who do this kind of rug-hooking are completely obssessed with dyeing... either to get the mottled effect to recreate 'antique' looking rugs or more refined graduations for shading fruits, etc. A few pictures http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=390&topic_id=362&mesg_id=380

Some people who do rug hooking do spin their own and use yarn rather than the 1/4" fabric strips.