Hand Spinning: Crafting Sustainability with Local Wool

[@Dicyroller]

Becca, Thank you verry much for what your have presented to us so far. I have very much enjoyed what you have you have you have offered. I think it is intresting how you show us what you are what you are doing. I know that when your viewers comment that gets views up.

[@bybeccalewis]

Thank you so much! I'm so happy you are enjoying the content and Yes I think you are right about viewer comments so thank you for taking the time to leave a comment here.

[@Bean_Box_Knitting]

Loving your videos, it's lovely company whilst spin. ❤ Its great to hear more about the Welsh mountain sheep. Ive just spun my first 100g of BFL, having started spinning in September last year. Really noticed the lustre compared to the more matt fluff of Shetland sheep. I'm managing to take some scrappy notes sometimes, which are really helpful when I actually do. I'd love to hear more about your journal, it looks fun and way more enjoyable (= more likely to be used!) than my regular lined paper. 😊 No advice re business things as haven't done it, but cheering you on, wherever you go. You're already doing wonderful things. ❤

[@bybeccalewis]

Thank you for taking the time to comment, It is so nice to connect with other fibre artist. My fibre art journal idea is a work in progress but I think I will film a longer bit of video for the next episode of my "show" . happy new year and keep spinning Becca

[@evaruzicka2328]

Dear Becca, Happy New Year. Good question. Follow your heart, don’t over-analyse. Quality, not quantity. The trick is to do the hill of beans. Take a pile of beans, rice, even scrap yarn or some sand/rocks/sticks from your beach walks. Divide the hill into the time you are actually sleeping, eating, day to day stuff that keeps the body going, time with friends, family, time with volunteer projects, time spinning, time to think about new projects/current projects, time taken to produce content, etc. Now take a second hill of beans and divide into what you would like to be spending time on. Compare the two. Photograph it. Mull on it. How do you rearrange the piles so they start to look similar and you know you’ll likely be happy or reasonably content for now? Me? A largely self-taught knitter, spinner, dyer, rigid heddle weaver who really appreciates that this is not work, just joy, and if I could not do it or felt it was work, then all the joy would be drained out. It helped me through a PhD and an incredibly stressful almost 20 years in Australian local government. Don’t want to get to that point. So little time, so much fibre to play with. And I really appreciate the time and effort to make content but seriously, don’t get sucked into the vortex of content production; you’ll burn out and we’ll never see you’re beloved Wales, which, incidentally is so much like parts of my island home, Tasmania. Thank you for what you have posted.

[@bybeccalewis]

Thank you so much for the great idea, I have never come across the hill of beans method before. I love it. It is very kind of you to give your advice I really appreciate it. You are right there is so little time and so much fibre to play with. I am feeling overwhelmed just thinking about what it would mean to take this whole content creation thing seriously. Which I think gives me my answer. It was really helpful to think out loud. You have piqued my interest in the landscape of Tasmania, which I now realise I have no idea about. what a lovely distraction.

[@plutoisaplanet19]

I'm a new subscriber, I'm learning to spin, I've enjoyed your videos. And I have enjoyed them because it's clear that you enjoy making them! I wouldn't want you to start dreading making them or it being not fun for you. Maybe there's a way for you to focus on making videos without it taking over? Putting some limits on it, or something. Maybe only doing some social media platforms and not any others. Queued posts will help - if you have a burst of creativity but want to space it out for the audience. P. S. I'll remain a subscriber whether you increase your frequency/length/whatever or not! Just along for whatever you want to share with us.

[@kimmiemamatomany6226]

Thank you, Becca. Thankful for you sharing. Need more time and explanation of your jumper journal. Your fiber spin looks amazing and perfect to me. Great job, super inspiring! Will pray for wisdom for you about what is weighing on your heart and mind. Asking God to give you direction and to bring you increase in whatever you put your hand to. Start with prayer!

[@bybeccalewis]

You are so welcome! , yes prayer is a good place to start and thank you for your kind words . I will do a longer segment on my journal in an up coming video.

[@leoniecochrane3108]

Hi Becca, Happy New Year. I am loving your videos and will be happy if you keep going the way you are or really happy if you expand. I don't have any $ to support you.😪 I haven't been able to join anyone's patron channel even though their are some I would love to support. Kate from the last homely house, started off small and over the years has expanded so much that she employes family members to help her. She also has a shop full of goodies connected to the You tube channels. Why don't you contact her to ask her advice. She is like you very friendly and warm and has a great way of explaining things. Good luck making the right decision for you. Leonie 💗

[@bybeccalewis]

Happy New Year, Leonie! Please, don't feel obligated to spend any money to support my channel. Watching my videos and leaving a lovely comment is absolutely perfect. Thank you so much! I adore Kate and enjoy following all the creative adventures she embarks on. Brilliant idea! Thank you again.

[@Aechmay]

Happy New Year, Becca! Another lovely video of yours 😍 I enjoy so much all your content, here and over on Instagram! The hat is fabulous! As well as the bag 😍 And regarding your question... I'm not good in giving advice... but follow your heart and how you feel about it! ❤

[@bybeccalewis]

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my video. I hope you have a great new year too. 🐏

[@Dollcan]

I enjoyed watching you spin.

[@jackiebarnett3918]

Hi. I’ve just found your KZbin channel and am loving your delivery and content. I do appreciate your dilemma and sorry can’t advise you on best route but I can say that I find that if you’re open to possibilities they do present themselves 😊

[@bybeccalewis]

It is so kind of you to take the time to leave a comment . Thank you 😁🧶🐏🌸

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

Hi Becca, I hope you're OK xx ❣️❣️❣️⚘️⚘️ Happy New Year🎉🎉 I hope 2024 is filled with All Good Things and Blessings for you and Andrew 🎉🎉❣️❣️🙏🙏 Thankyou so much for sharing this video podcast . I love the fibre that you bought from the Mill, it does look so soft and the difference between the two after you'd spun it and set the twist.was quite visible.( not sure if that's the right word).🐑🐑🐑 Love the Bag, Har and Socks. Your Woven Rug looks amazing and hard wearing. About what yoy should do with regarding your business and thus channel, I'd say go with your gut instincts, because that's usually the one that's right, other than that I'm nit sure. I know you'll make the right choice in tge end. Thankyou so much fir sharing All your video podcasts, them and you are very much appreciated. Happy Spinning and Knitting Fibre Friend 🎡🎉🐑🥰 Take care and stay safe Lots of love and Big Hugs Jen xxxx ❤️❤️❤️❤️🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🐕

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

@Becca Lewis, Hi Becca, I hope you're OK and that you're having a Wonderful Weekend xx ❣️❣️❣️⚘️⚘️ Thankyou so much for sharing your video podcasts and your expertise, you're very much appreciated. Thankyou so much for the Heart ♥ Sending Heart ♥ back to you ❤️💞🎀 Happy Spinning, Knitting and Weaving Fibre Friend 🎡🎉🎉🐑🐑🥰 Take care and stay safe Lots of love and Big Hugs Jen xxxx ❤️❤️❤️💖💖🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🐕

[@kirstyhill1248]

My granny always said that if you're not sure then to do the thing for a specific amount of time with a definite end date. So if you're not sure about it, then say "I'll focus my energy on it for 3 months only" and see how you feel at the end of it 😊. Lovely to see your tests, that's one thing that helps figure out a lot about the fiber! Looks like beautiful yarn ❤

[@bybeccalewis]

Grannies are generally right about things. thank you so much for leaving a comment I really love sharing what I'm playing with in my creative practice.

[@SoulfulSpinning]

Hi Becca and Happy New Year! Is this the same fiber Katie sells over at Hilltop Cloud? It looks like lovely wool! Take care and hugs to you. 🤗 Your hat looks so cute. I love the colors!

[@bybeccalewis]

Happy new year to you too. Yes Katie uses Cambrian wool as one of here bases , the Cambrian mountains are really close to were Katie lives .

[@nesmasker]

Thank you Lisa for sharing this interesting channel

[@lunasmum6869]

Happy New Year Becca and all reading this! I think if you go on as you are at the moment it will tell you which way to go. I think your little business with wedding invitations etc. sounds lovely and I am sure things will pick up. Yes, it is more likely due to the economic climate at the moment. So, wait and see. I love watching your videos, you talk to us as though we are in the same room with you, so I would miss you if you stopped. I like the way you present your topic and, though I am an experienced spinner, knitter and weaver (8 shaft floor loom and 8 shaft table loom), there is always something new to learn and reminders of things I have forgotten now my memory has become a forgettory! I have some Cambrian fibre though I haven't had a chance to try it out yet but it looks lovely. My hip won't let me treadle at the moment so I have been spinning on my tiny EEW Nano 2. It is a lovely little electric spinner but the bobbins are so small! I love BFL (Blue Faced Leicester) which drew me to the Cambrian. I bought it, along with lots of other lovely fibre, from a lady in Wales who does lots of dyeing. I have just spun some yarn for socks from a blend of Cheviot, silk and bio nylon into a 4 ply weight. I will, as I usually do, knit the socks toe up so, if I am running out of yarn, I can adjust the ankle length. I smiled at your second sock waiting to be finished! Do you get 'second sock syndrome'? A lot do. They enjoy knitting the first one but lose heart with the second. Thankfully I have never experienced that. I'm rambling! So I will say cheerio for now!

[@bybeccalewis]

Happy New Year to you as well! Thank you for your kind words. The lady in Wales, Katie from Hill Top Cloud, she creates beautiful work and has a KZbin channel. I am truly grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from both new and experienced spinners. As a full-time caregiver, attending guild meetings or craft groups is challenging for me. Therefore, this channel has unexpectedly become my spinning community, a delightful surprise I didn't anticipate. I plan to continue with the channel, but I want to maintain the joy that creating my quirky, whimsical videos brings me. It would be great to generate a little ad income from KZbin to invest in fibre for spinning on the channel but I will not be going down the route of memberships and multi-up loads a week. On the subject of socks ," second sock syndrome ", oh for sure !. Toe up or cuff down is always the question when it come to sock knitting. I think it's time I tried toe up. thank you again, Becca

[@joolsa8346]

I’m not in your shoes, so I can’t advise you but I do wonder what your internal language consists of - are any of your discussions with yourself framed around what you “should” do? If so, whose voice do you hear in those moments? I know that I lose the joy when I “have” to do something rather than just being spontaneously in the moment. This is exacerbated, for me, if I feel that I am failing to meet someone else’s expectations - even if I am imagining what those expectations might be, having failed to discuss it with them in the first place! Balancing joy and living in the real world (where bills have to be paid) can be a challenge; maybe it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing decision right at this moment. I know, from watching other KZbinrs, that the pressure to produce content can become overwhelming but I also know that viewers can be very loyal and patiently wait (sometimes for long periods) for the next video to be posted and just enjoy it when the notification pops up. I’m wittering, so I’ll leave you to your cogitation. Happy walking and happy crafting.

[@bybeccalewis]

Thank you for your wise words. I will definitely keep making videos but I don't think I will play the " content creation " game at full throttle I have lots of other things I like to do too . 🌸🧶🐏🙏

[@joolsa8346]

@@bybeccalewis Good for you. I’ll look forward to your videos whenever you decide to post something.

[@bybeccalewis]

@joolsa8346 so kind thank you 🙏

[@jant4741]

Late to the party. Lazy Kate is easy to rig a brake. Run a yarn eyelet screw & spring -set up same as wheel’s Scotch tension. Or a yarn tied all the way around the LK. Further away from wheel, more twist will even out. I like spinning in the fold because it helps get away from ‘inch worm’ spinning (constant pinch & pull fiber with the forward hand) as am not hunched over the orifice for hours. Long draw forward hand controls the twist as the fiber hand pulls back, then in one clean sweep yarn is reeled in with one treadle under tension. Catch a rhythm, like 3 treadles pull back/one treadle feed in. Want more fiber to catch, watch the twist running up to the fiber hand, twist will grab more. Thick spot -pull it out. (supported long draw, production spinning) Happy spinning away dreary winter days! Alpaca… picky about their hay, herd health & crimp matters. There’s alpaca & there’s alpaca. I went with German angora rabbits, less of a commitment when had an itch to produce fiber. Critters tie you down, scratch vacations~ unless someone stays behind.

[@bybeccalewis]

Thank you so much for your fantastic tips and information . So grateful you have taken the time to comment on the video and share your expertise. 🧶🐏🙏

[@jant4741]

@@bybeccalewis first decade my lazy Kate was a dog food box with a few holes drilled into it to secure a garden bamboo stick cut to lengths with a diagonal loop of yarn to brake the spools. It worked perfectly! Fancy friend comes over and sees it ‘that’s your lazy Kate?’ Since then, upgraded to a Dollar Store mesh plastic container, same rig. Honestly cardboard held the bamboo better. 😂 Nothing wrong with DIY which is the ❤️ of spinning. If you get into weaving you’ll really see the ‘loom collectors’ vs the actual weavers that squeeze every capability out of a machine before looking to hunt down and buy a new loom! Love what you are doing! 👍

[@bybeccalewis]

@jant4741 oh that's my kind of solution 😂 love it .

[@carolinegray7510]

When I don't know what to do I don't do anything! Let the time pass and, for sure, the answer comes. Inevitably. Old Buddhist say....patience is bitter but the fruit is sweet. (Little side note..maybe scrapbooks get is passing out of favor)

[@bybeccalewis]

I love the saying . Side note I have been playing with a junk journal as a way of keeping my spinning and dying samples and records. Any excuse to get a bit messy 😂