Hand Combing Shetland fleece for the first time

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#fibreprep #spinningpodcast

[@marywalton6900]

I love the way your head works….I am now retired so my dreams of what I can do and make have got even more crazy!

[@carolinegray7510]

I felt as though I was there with you. Such fun carefully treading thru the "how to approach " process. I'm looking forward to more visits with you as you work through that wool. 😊

[@YarnNYarns]

Thank you so much for watching Caroline and for also taking the time to leave such a kind comment. I’m so glad to know you enjoyed the video 🥰🧡

[@therepublicofme]

A basket full of clouds ❤️

[@YarnNYarns]

Yes exactly like little fluffy clouds 😃

[@theknittinglife2965]

This was pretty cool. Definitely a slow project. It’s pretty amazing when you think how far away from a sweater or a pair of socks people were pre-Industrial Revolution were when they first sheared their sheep! The work!!! I’ve also never legit laid eyes on a bag of fleece before so instantly I thought: “yes sir, yes sir three bags full.” ;)

[@YarnNYarns]

Yes exactly I often think of that myself when I’m working with these raw materials, how much time and effort those folks would have had to put in to just making cloth for themselves and their families to keep them going throughout the year and the different seasons

[@mairead5891]

What stunning yarn you made! It will be the most beautiful jumper, won't it? And that gorgeous grey will set off an orange perfectly, won't it!

[@YarnNYarns]

Ooh now you are so right. Orange and grey absolute perfection 👌😃🧡

[@enjoyingthejourneycanceras2355]

Oh Angela You have really come full circle. I am amazed at all you are capable of !

[@YarnNYarns]

Thank you so much 🥰

[@hisalone7166]

Hi Ang! So lovely! You look “sun kissed” from the beach. We’ll be going in November to our favorite Cape in the whole world! I’m so looking forward to your reporting on the fleece! Blessings! Beverly

[@YarnNYarns]

Oh I hope you have a wonderful trip when the time comes Beverley, so nice to have something like that to look forward to isn’t it 😃🧡

[@lisaml7411]

Beautiful fleece you’re working through! I have a tip for a diz…. A needle sizer is hand.y when you can’t find your diz or a button. Just grab a crochet hook and pull some wool through it. Works great! 🙂

[@thehowells228]

I am looking forward to seeing your progress as you work your way through the Shetland fleece …… keep going!!

[@YarnNYarns]

Thank you so much for the kind encouragement. I’m so happy to know you enjoyed it, I will definitely keep you updated with my progress. 🧡

[@marywalton6900]

The finished mini skein is so fab -well done!

[@YarnNYarns]

Thank you so much for all of the great suggestions Mary. I hope you get to spend many hours in your retirement doing all of the things you love 😃🧡🧶

[@thehowells228]

Thank you Angela … I so enjoyed this!

[@beverleylawton6899]

Thank you for a great vlog 🙏Wow what a lovely Shetland fleece! You’ve inspired me …I have a Shetland fleece I bought in the spring, all washed and stored… I’ve got a bit held up as I wasn’t really enjoying flicking the short Dorset fleece I started… It was lovely watching you prep the fleece and then spin it… The yarn looks gorgeous. I look forward to seeing it progress😊

[@YarnNYarns]

Oh that’s a shame about the Dorset fleece maybe you could set yourself a goal of working on it a small piece at a time and get it done slowly over time rather than trying to work your way through it all if you’re not enjoying ploughing through it all at once

[@michellebrown6394]

Oh how I just loved this episode!! What a great project to start this fall and moving towards winter. Oh an your pictures of the fire combing spinning and just playing with fiber as they would of back in the day and some still do. Is amazing I would love to chat with you to get that relaxed kind of feeling and vibe that you will have. I can see it now right along with you!! You are doing such a showcase and a wonderful job with your Shetland fleece.

[@YarnNYarns]

I’m hoping I can translate that relaxing vision in to real life, if I can I think this will be lovely project to keep me company through the darker, colder nights of Autumn and winter. Thank you so much for your kind words, I’m so glad you enjoyed the video

[@michellebrown6394]

@@YarnNYarns your so welcome.

[@dianalimbach4584]

Thank you for this video. I've been stalling on using my combs🙂

[@YarnNYarns]

It was my pleasure to share Diana. I hope you have fun with your combs 🥰

[@jennywren2395]

Buttons for a diz are great, it's all I use. Some thoughts, put your locks on butt first when loading the combs and lift the combed fibre up so it is not packed down on the tines to make dizzing off easier and smoother, experts will say 2 passes or 4 if you want to keep your tip/butt orientation consistent throughout the entire process but I lose track every time. What I love is your, "give it a go" attitude as we never get anywhere unless we do. I have always called it my "in the deep end" attitude, same thing. Great job Ange, I have Shetland fleece envy, pretty sure we can't buy them here in NZ.

[@YarnNYarns]

Thank you so much for all of your advice Jenny, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I will definitely keep diving in at the deep end …my favourite way to learn 😃

[@helenjessop5402]

Thanks for sharing your new adventure into hand combing. I love how you approach it with such a sense of fun and experimentation. Do show us more of your progress with this project.

[@YarnNYarns]

Thank you Helen, I will be happy to share more as this project progresses 😃🥰

[@joelwilliams5634]

You have such a fun project going I wish you luck on it I’ve never started straight from a fleece but you never know what could happen now. You are definitely an enabler Ange. Lol. Stay well

[@YarnNYarns]

I hope you do get to try it some day Joel it takes time but it really is a lot of fun

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

Hi Ange, I hope you're OK xx. I adore your Shetland Fleece. Also that you show that you can prepare them and spin them with just the Basics. You're the first person that I know of here in the UK that actually uses a Drop Spindle to Spin their Fleece onto. When I saw you doing this during Vlogmas for some reason my brain didn't twig it ( gosh that's an old phrase) 🙂. Thankyou so much for sharing your vlog podcasts 💖. Take care and stay safe. Lots of love and Big Yarny Wooly Hugs Jen 🫂 xx 🫂 💖💕

[@YarnNYarns]

I’m so glad you enjoyed this one, it will definitely be a slow project for me but one that I will very much enjoy 😊

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

@@YarnNYarns Hi Ange, I love watching your video podcasts ❤ You're so warm and welcoming,. I'm so glad to have found you. Take care and stay safe. Lots of love Jen 💘 and Big Wooly 🫂 Jen 🫂 xx 🫂

[@YarnNYarns]

Aww thank you so much. I’m so glad you have been enjoying your time here 🧡

[@kayswancutt6357]

Great video Ange I have wanted to try this and you have inspired me thanks 😊

[@YarnNYarns]

Oh that’s so kind of you to say Kay 🥰 I hope you manage to try this out soon 🤞😃

[@lisahs605]

Love it!! That's an epic crimp on that fleece and having squished that adorable mini skein, I know that softness is showing in the yarn. Brilliant Xx

[@YarnNYarns]

Thank you 🥰 it is a lovely fleece to work with. I’m trying to get in the habit of working with it for 15 mins a day, either combing or spinning dependant on my mood and hopefully that way slowly but surely I will work through it 😃

[@lisahs605]

@@YarnNYarns yes that’s what I’m doing too. It’s amazing how much work there is in a single fleece! My next fleece will have to be much smaller (like a prairie dog or something) because this Ryeland is massive! 😂

[@YarnNYarns]

🤣

[@helenbrown6612]

Thank you for such a great video 😊 I have used hand carders for 20+ years and now I use combs and diz everything...it's so much easier on my wrists and I don't get blisters either 😃 I inherited a small hackle and then bought 2 plastic combs (yellow handle with teeth/tines similar to your combs) and bobs your uncle...works a charm!

[@YarnNYarns]

Thank you Helen for watching and for taking the time to leave such a kind comment. I’m so glad to know you enjoyed it 🥰

[@helenbrown6612]

@@YarnNYarns you're welcome, I wish you lived nearby! 😂 I'm N.Wales...😉

[@YarnNYarns]

So close but yet so far away. Would t it be nice if we were just down the road and then we could get together and have a lovely fibre prep/spinning day 😃

[@helenbrown6612]

@@YarnNYarns absolutely! 😂 I don't know anyone else mad enough to prep raw fleeces for handspinning 😂 we have 3 breeds of sheep on our little farm. Suffolk, Ryeland and Valais Blacknose. It's very satisfying to spin and create with my own beloved animals ❤️ I've crossed the VBN with the Suffolk and Ryeland to see what fibres that produces 😃 What is your favourite fibre to work with?

[@YarnNYarns]

Oh my goodness that makes it even more special that you are processing from your own sheep, wow!! Of the ones you have I’ve spun some ryeland which I enjoyed haven’t yet tried Suffolk or VBN. Of the breeds I’ve spun so far I’ve reqlly enjoyed shetland, Wensleydale and Manx Loaghtan. Do you have a favourite?

[@blindrootinhogs]

How far did this project get ?! I'm thinking of spindle spinning a fleece ... I'm addicted to your videos --- you have re ignited my fiber love !!!

[@YarnNYarns]

Aww thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to leave such a kind comment. I took a break from the project for a while but I’ve actually recently picked it up again and I’m making some good progress now. I’ve set myself a little goal of spinning for at least 15 minutes a day. There is still a way to go but I’ll get there 😊🧡

[@PinsandNeedles]

Go big or go home, eh?! The yarn is looking gorgeous.

[@YarnNYarns]

Yes absolutely (you might see me going home before too long though 🤣🤣)

[@lynnewilcox8169]

A shell from the beach with a hole in it makes a nice diz. I like to spin in the grease, I flick card a basket full of staples then spin them.

[@YarnNYarns]

I love the idea of a shell diz will have to keep my eye out at the beach to see if I can spot something 😃 I’ve not tried spinning in the grease yet, definitely something on my to do list 😃

[@marywalton6900]

Could you flick the whole locks -might make for less waste?

[@knitordi]

You could benefit from reviewing a wool combing video.

[@YarnNYarns]

Absolutely, have watched many since I recorded this, it’s amazing how many different ways people approach combing and being able to see what works for different folks. It’s fun for me to share my first times attempting something though and it’s nice to look back on these and see how I change and improve over time 😃 Thanks for watching and commenting

[@mountainpurl2508]

Lots of work ahead….

[@YarnNYarns]

Yes most definitely but hopefully a little at a time and it will get done eventually 🤞😃