Love this! Im just starting my spinning journey as my boyfriend bought me an Ashford Kiwi 3 wheel and started a fiber content youtube channel. Big 2025 year for me!

I’m so happy to find your community, I got my first spinning wheel for Christmas and can’t wait to learn more

I learned so much on this episode Rebecca, and really loved your explanations and overall vibe! Thanks so much for this lovely episode takeover, I hope we see more of you in the future (for those of us not in the Wool Circle). ☺

Do you have a video on overtwisting?

Is there a pattern available gorgeous this game and is it possible for a beginner to weave this?

I’ve just got my first wheel, I’m so grateful that these episodes are available still

Combo drafting seems like a viable solution when you’ve got two different dye baths and they don’t quite match, but you don’t want to break out the blending board, drum carder, hand cards or combs to blend them. I’ve got a really lovely undyed merino/silk/camel/baby alpaca blend sitting in my stash. It’s several braids and one of them has slightly darker fibres in it. I think using this method might be the way to go. The staple lengths will match. The colour change will be more subtle.

Your Jingle is my favorite sweater. I keep wanting to spin for the yoke but it's so intimidating. That's my some day project. To mark the back of my sweaters I just tie a scrap of yarn around one of the ribbing stitches and leave the ends about 1/2" that way I can see it but it's not noticeable. It's quick and easy!

Lovely to meet you❤ thank you Rebecca for sharing your projects

I could listen to Rebcca all day. Love your perspective and observations. Thank you for your service to our Canadians up north.❤

For anyone who's curious, my understanding is that the Welsh double L is a sound similar to "cl", so "lleyn" is like "cleyn". It's better to hear someone say it though, phonetics over text is difficult. Loved the show!

Great show. Thank you. Could I ask what is “hauser" yarn

This is such a helpful video - so glad I found your channel!

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Bravo on your taking over for a session. It is lovely to see you and all the beautiful things that you are working on these days.

Thanks so much!

Fun to see you here (and my friend Robbin with her gorgeous BFL/Gotland cardi)

Glad the microphone issue finally resolved! Very interesting to listen to, once there was coherent sound!!

The motivators for me to do the bigger spins is that I can control the yarn much better than just buying a yarn for my projects. I can pick the fiber, the color, type of prep, the twist…. I also have started dyeing my own colors and spinning for my projects that I want a specific color. The process still feels really long, however at each stage I get excited to get to the new stage! Currently, I have the colors spun and finished for a color work cowl.

I've only done one larger spin but it was such a sense of accomplishment when I finished it! I did a little bit until I needed a break and then went back to it when I felt energized by it again. It takes longer but I want to make sure I'm enjoying it all the way through

Two things inspire me to do a big spin, 1) color combos 2) fiber blends I want to try I become immersed in the prep process or dyeing and this causes me to want to see the finished yarn. If I start to feel like the spin is dragging I do a quick spin of something else to give me a break and to see something through to completion. My bigger spins tend to be my experiments to see what if and so far I’ve been pretty happy with my results.

I have not done a large spin yet but I have bought the fiber for 2 sweater spins plus lots to practice. I haven’t dove in yet as I’m still working on a system for labeling and measuring. Also as a new spinner, I have only knitted 2 items in hand spun so I’m trying to get a better feel for what I like/prefer while I’m knitting. Once I’ve knitted up my samples though, I’m diving in!

Hi Rachel! Your fully handspun sweaters are VERY inspiring when it comes to large spins! I don’t know that I’ve seen anyone that knits as many as you and I just love to see them all! My largest so far has been a 600g 3-ply combo spin. I love garments so want to do larger spins for that reason and because I think it is a huge challenge to spin that much yardage (somewhat) consistently to use in one project so it will be something to feel so proud of! So far, what keeps me going is to start swatching and knitting my project part way through, say after the first big plied bobbin is done. That gives me much needed motivation to keep going! I’m still a beginner, so looking forward to my next, even bigger, spin where I spin for a sweater. So far I’m working on two large handspun shawls but next will be an even bigger spin and a sweater 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I have a few big spins planned in my head, but since I don’t have a lot of time to spin and knit, I lose interest during the project easily and want to start something else. That's why I have so many WIPs 😂. But I really do plan to start a cardigan spin soon. Fingers 🤞.

I'm still a baby beginner spinner. What I've noticed for longer spins for me is that color keeps me motivated. I've spun for 4 large shawls and knit them to completion (one is my current spin, spinning for an Inclinations Shawl). I've processed, dyed and measured out a pound + of beautiful cormo. I've spun 2 bobbins (so far) but I've gotten sort of bored with the same color. I need to stay motivated, though! I only have 5 bobbins and two are full.

Longer/more ambitious spins- one way that has really helped me is to sign up for Tour de Fleece- I usually join a couple of informal teams (like the one here) and commit to spinning every day. Amazing how it adds up -I have done three sweater spins that way. Another fun project was to sign up for Longway Homestead’s breed of the month club-I did all the spinning and am now planning to weave a blanket. Probably won’t do many more big spinning projects- but never say never!

I like to do big spins to really experience the different types of yarns I can create and the variety of different qualities they each can have. I’ve been doing my big spins from the raw . So what I’ll do is wash the fleece and then maybe let it sit for a bit while I organize my thoughts and do some sampling. It helps me decide things like -what fibers do I want to combine together? or do I plan to over dye? From here I organize what I plan to use by weighing and sorting. Then slowly starts to pick through the fibers. once all that’s done, I takes some time to figure out exactly how I want to spin it. It is a long process, a slow process, but it allows me to get into the nuance of each of the different types of wools. For this reason I love these bigger spins.

Long spins - for me it has to be something I can do in different locations, in short sessions, so I tend to spin the wool as it wants to be spun, as I find it's easier to get a consistent spin over time. They are done on spindles, as I carry them around, as for this time of my life, that's the only way I get anything done. I have one ongoing right now since Dec 2022 - I'm spinning Kingdom Fleeces and Fiberworks 2022 Advent calendar, on supported spindles. I'm carrying it around in my purse, I'm about halfway done. I like that it will be a big projet that will represent 2-3 years of "lost" time, as I'm typically spinninng on it while waiting.

Woohoo! Another podcast episode~! Long spins because I want to and often bite off more than I can chew. 😅 but really the largest spin is my current project. I suddenly had the idea that I wanted to weave a blanket with my handspun. I had all these awesome colors in a similar batt form and it’s the colors that are keeping me motivated. Getting into processing fleece has also opened up doors to larger quantity spins. Love being able to switch it up between bobbins with these projects. ☺️ your dyed samples are gorgeous!! Can’t wait to see how your project knits up. Hope you enjoy your sabbatical! ❤️

For longer spins, I don't think I'd be able to get through it if it was just a single color--it needs to have multiple colors to keep me interested. Also, it has to be a fiber blend/sheep breed that I enjoy spinning.

Wool n Spinning prompt My original treatise on this prompt was off topic (and not posted), so here I am trying again. :) Before I even pull out fiber and sit down at the wheel, I think about what I want the end result to be. Often, this stage will occur while I'm fleece shopping - this Corriedale lamb fleece really wants to be a pullover! Sometimes, it happens during scouring, while I'm waiting for the hot water and soap to do its thing. Often, this pondering / dreaming will happen while I'm moving the scoured locks around on the drying rack - I'm not only checking for dryness, but also for texture, color, length, etc. - and sorting the locks by quality. This often is enough to get me into a longer spin. The strategy for "surviving" a long spin for me is pretty simple: ALWAYS use a control card and take notes, and don't spend too long at a time spinning on the Big Project. Usually I will spin a full bobbin of the project, then spin a "snack" of something completely different, then another of the big project, etc. That keeps it new and interesting for me & I am more likely to finish in a reasonable amount of time. I do a lot of different crafts, so switching up a spinning session on the everlasting sweater spin with a couple of hours of making quilt blocks is a good breather / refresher for me. Finding my "Why" is a bit more challenging for me. I'm not terribly introspective, but what has occurred to me is that I enjoy a creative challenge and like the endorphin hit of a well-finished project. My favorite projects have been when I've learned something - a new skill, a new technique - and made something useful that works. That's really why I do this: to learn. And I've learned a tremendous amount of things from being a part of this community for all these years! Thank you, Rachel, Rebecca, and all the community members - you all have enriched my life beyond measure.

I am used to large spins because I am primarily a garment knitter and started with adult jerseys when I began spinning. These days the biggest motivator for me is to dye in the fibre and then blend on the drum carder. It gives me such joy to spin fibre with so much life in it I don't really struggle to get to the end.

With those bigger, longer spins, I dig-in by having a plan, but keeping it flexible. If it was too rigid, I’d probably not finish, after encountering hiccups and needing to pivot. Keeping flexible, mentally, and in my physical making allows me to feel free and curious for those big projects and to keep dreaming them into fruition. What keeps me motivated to continue going is my own curiosity. I purposely allow myself time to test and play. I’ll try blending 10 grams of different colours, or different breeds, to see if it would add anything to the project. I’ll test out colour blends through my blending board, hand cards, or plying, to see if it is still the yarn I’ve envisioned, or if it could be improved upon. It keeps the fun just as big as the project. Why I do big projects if often motivated by me falling in love with a pattern or idea, and wanting to see it through the journey. I love the process, and a big project allows me more space to enjoy that creative process, the curiosity and testing, and the grace to learn without constraints. Big projects are akin to novels, vs short storied small projects. There are way more plot twists, discoveries, excitement, crash-and-burn-moments, and thrills along the way! When they’re finished, you’ve earned the resolution and closure. Go big ,with no regrets! :D

I have not done a long term large project, yet. I hope to. I would love to make a hand spun and hand knit sweater. What is holding me back? Fear of waste. My spinning is not that consistent and I would hate to spend all that time, money, fiber, etc and end up with something that I would not wear. I know, I know time spent at the wheel is never wasted, we are always learning and improving, the sheep keep growing fiber, etc. I need to take the plunge and just try!

With the trended, the packet said 50grama not 100 grams

Hi Rachel, thank you for all that you do in the fiber community. What is the name of pattern that you are knitting and talked about in the background? From So. Calif I wish you happy fiber crafting.

The big spins (I've only done two, and the first was really only big for me as a newbie - 300g), is that I want the finished item - DEPERATELY. As much as I love spinning and knitting spontaneously, when it comes to the big projects I need to be able to envisage the final finished object to get me through. It's also all about breaking the spin down into it's smaller components, and enjoying those for their completed elements. Spinning the 15g samples, finishing that yarn, knitting the swatches for gauge and in the pattern required, blocking those swatches. Creating all those mini tactile finishes throughout the process means I have something tangible to squish and love on while I'm slogging away at the wheel.

When I started to spin I wanted to spin yarn to make sweaters for all my children (I have 5). First sweaters were thick and thin but the kids didn't mind! Since then I have done at least 6 sweater spins. I prepare as I go and when I had 1 bobbin finished, I would chain ply it. Then fibre prep, spin, ply repeat.

I struggle to stay motivated for big projects. I get bored spinning the same thing endlessly and will start wanting to work on little snack spins instead. I've found it helps a lot with my current big fleece spin to fill the bobbin a little ways, then wind off the singles and start again. The more the bobbin fills up, the less motivated I become because I can't see the progress I'm making as clearly. It also helps me to ply as I go. The stack of finished skeins building up is exciting to me. When I want to work on the project but don't want to spin or prep, I count yardage, WPI, or make gauge swatches. Another thing that helps me is keeping the original impetus for the project fresh. My current spin is from a very crunchy coarse wool with the goal of creating a jacket for hiking in the mountains with it. I'm in the PNW like Rachel and it gets very cold, rainy, and eventually snowy. Every time I go hiking in my current woolens I come back cold, damp, and freshly motivated to make progress. I also spend time looking at patterns before the yarn's all spun as the mental image of the final project develops in my mind. With fleeces, I work on multiple processing stages at once. If I'm flicking and spinning from the locks, I'll flick half an ounce at a time and spin it up before flicking again. Or, I might have a fleece I'm working on washing, a different one at the carder, and another that's being spun. This makes sure I can move between tasks to rest my arms and back without getting bored or stuck. I'll also incrementally work on prepping fleece for carding in the background of everything else, building up a big stack of flicked or picked locks and storing them for when I'm ready to card. I also give myself permission to set things aside and come back when I get distracted by new ideas or too frustrated with my projects. But it's important that I don't set something down for months if possible, so I maintain a clear memory of how I was spinning something. Note taking bores me, unfortunately, so I try to type things up on ravelry whenever I can. I greatly admire the consistency and beauty of yarns made by more scientific spinners, but if I write down notes on paper, I lose them.

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Rachel, I think the problem may be that Shetland wool is very “toothy”, maybe so much so that the cotton can not get dispersed. Think of traditional fair isle sweaters and steeks. The reason the steeks hold up after cutting is the toothiness or the grip of the wool to itself. Perhaps the cotton just cannot get pulled through the fleece on the carder the way it can with a bit of a smoother fiber. Thanks for your podcasts! I always enjoy them and pick up good tips, too.

This is so interesting, I found your podcast a few months ago and I don't spin as yet, but the conversations are really interesting and have gotten my mind working overtime. I love that you talk through the whole process from choosing a fleece, the cleaning and preparation to the sampling and spinning and then the picking a pattern and making. Things do not work out sometimes and I love that you talk about that, and what you are looking at doing to resolve it or make something else. Thanks. 😊

The cotton and the wool does not blend well because they are different frequencies. Wool 5000 and cotton is 110.

Hi Rachel, I just subscribed to your channel because being a very new spinner I need all the help I can get! I found you because I was searching for joining tips! I am finding this quite difficult as I seem to get a thicker lump every time I join! I will definitely be trying your method as it looks like “seamless” join which I’m eventually hoping for! Now to look back at your past videos for lots more help! Thank you.

Congratulations on 500 episodes!! This is my first year watching and I'm so inspired!