Spinning English Angora

Look at this beautiful basket of wool I've collected from Alfred, my english angora. It is so soft to touch. My children can't stand to not touch it. One son told me it's like air, because it is so soft. I have to agree that it is fun to play with. Harder to work with than sheep wool though. Because it if so fine, it almost flies away. When I'm working, I have to really keep track of it. Sometimes I find random bits of wool stuck to my clothes and such.

Here's what it looks like as I spin it. I'm working on a drop spindle. Robin, at Pioneer Spinster, taught me that the spindle is a great way to begin spinning. I do have alot more control over it than when I've had the chance of sitting down to a spinning wheel. Or rather, I can go slower while I work with the fiber. It's been a great way to start spinning and now as I work with a fiber that is completely new and different it is nice to take my time with it.

If you have done any spinning, and blogged about it, I invite you to post your link here.

My Angora Dream

Here he is...Alfred, my angora dream.

Many years ago, maybe ten or fifteen, I saw a picture of an English Angora. I've been interested in spinning for about that long too and had this vision of keeping English Angoras and spinning their wool.

At the time I had a house full of young children and was homeschooling them. I read about how much time is involved in caring for one of these beautiful rabbits, and knew that dream was for a different season of my life.

Evidently, that season has arrived. With the children becoming more independent and some of them beginning to leave home, we started looking. And one Saturday afternoon this ball of fluff came home with us. He's alot of work, but has a great temperament.

The other day I plucked my first real handful of wool. I've been collecting what I get just from grooming him, but this was beautiful wool that looks like I could spin it right now.