What is spinning?

Spinning is a creative journey. The fibre of choice is separated carefully into tiny bunches and overlapped and twisted to form a long line.

The Wheel then takes this line into itself, in a spiral action,  and stores it on the bobbin until enough is made to ply it with the matching additional bobbin.

You have the power in your fingers to turn basic fibre into any number of interesting and colourful combinations and effects, like: Core yarn, Boucle yarn, Beehive yarn, Lumpy yarn, blended fibre yarn, double spun yarn, etc.

 
All these have a basic requirement of LENGTH and STRENGTH.

Is my fibre suitable?

To be comfortable spinnable, any fibre must be at least as long as your thumb, from tip to knuckle, say – 50mm. Any shorter will require Carding, which is a laborious process vital to de-tangling the fibres in preparation for spinning a superior product. Blending may also be necessary.

Fibre 50mm or longer is ideal for direct spinning. It should be tangle free.

Be mindful of skin level tangles and matting.

Fibre should NOT be washed, because that starts a felting process, which cannot be reversed. It is best to have the fibre straight from the animal, just as the fibre hits the floor.

Filmed and produced by Jacinta Scadden

What is a “strong” fibre?

When sheep are away growing their fibre, there could be a circumstance that makes the sheep turn to surviving rather that fibre production. Events such as drought, little water, little food, lambing, etc show up as a weakness in the fibre.

Sometimes visible, the break can also be heard when you pull on the fibre. The fibre will not be spinnable. Pet fibre may have the same kind of weakness if the pet has been ill for some time.
 

Will My Fibre Be Blended?

If your fibre is too short to be spun by itself, then yes, it will be blended. If your fibre is too smooth and will not stick by itself, then yes, it will be blended.

How Long Does It Take?

Time to produce the first yarn varies with the fibre used. If the fibre needs carding first, then that adds at least one hour to the overall production time.

Usually, it takes 2.5 hours to fill a bobbin. It takes 2 full bobbins to make a skein. A minimum of 6 hours will produce the first balls of yarn. The number of bobbins will be determined by the quantity of fibre to be spun.

If you have a definite deadline, please make it known when you place your order. Time frames can be altered or adjusted accordingly.

What Can Be Made?

All the kinds of things that can be made with woollen yarn, can also be made with your Pet yarn. Hats, Scarves, blankets, jackets sweaters, picture frames, drawstring bags, gauntlets… We have even fashioned a bracelet! Small quantities can be made into crocheted roses. The resulting yarn always dictates the project. (You need more yarn for a blanket than you do for a scarf, for example). We work in consultation with you, so that the item designed and made will be mindful of your purpose.
 
All Handmade things are done with loving care and attention. Each order is done on a case by case basis, so time and costs are very subjective. For making the yarn, the absolute minimum cost for any order is $130. Please call for a more detailed quote.

What Is The Costing?

The cost is very subjective! It depends on quantity of fibre, whether carding is necessary, number and size of bobbins, the presentation process and postage/delivery.
 
Breaking it down:  
  • Carding is $35 per hour.
  • Spinning is $65 PER BOBBIN
  • Presentation is $180 per kilo, and involves plying, skeining, washing, drying, balling and packaging.

MINIMUM ORDER is $200 and a DEPOSIT is required $100.

How Does Blending Help?

In sheep wool, the cellular structure includes 2 types of cells:

Cortical cells are curved in shape, allowing the fibre to be stretchy and elastic. Cuticle cells, are on the outside of each fibre taking the form of spines, which hook onto other fibres as they pass by – therefore matting and tangling the fibres, and containing them to form one long line.
 
In other fibres, like most dog and cat fur as well as human hair, this is not the case. The fibres are usually various lengths and have no cuticle or cortical cells, having instead a smooth outer texture, which allows plenty of ‘slip’ and the fibres slide past each other instead, without gripping. This yarn will have no structural integrity.
 
Blending in a bit of wool fibre with the desired fibre and spinning the two together will overcome this problem. The wool fibre traps the other fibre within its spin. As the fibres are passing each other, the non sheep fibre will be contained in the (cuticle) hooks.
 
A familiar example of this would be the famous possum/merino blend from New Zealand. Both fibres are of similar fibre diameter and the very short possum fibres are trapped by the merino ones, giving a lovely, even pale grey colour in the extremely warm finished product.

Never be apart from your favourite furry friend again!

Unique Handspun Yarn From An Experienced Spinner in Melbourne’s South East

Finding a suitable way to commemorate the special bond that occurs between a family and its beloved pet is not an easy task. By creating soft and luxurious handspun yarn from your pet’s own fur, Spinning Pets Yarn in Melbourne offers you a unique way to pay tribute to your much loved furry friend.
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