Fibre Sources
Man has been weaving fibres for very many thousands of years and there can be very few moultings, clippings or combings that someone hasn't woven into something!. This subsection discusses briefly the main sources of fibre, not just for commercial spinners and weavers but also for the huge number of hobby spinners. As Rowena Edlin-White and Dee Duke say in their Insatiable Spinner booklet:
It is surprising how soon after becoming a Beginner Spinner you change into an Insatiable Spinner. You want to try out any fleece you can get your hands on and Agricultural Shows are irresistible - you really must have that prize-winning Cotswold fleece, and so it is added to a growing pile of other fleece in the shed. Similarly you will begin to be beguiled by such exotic sounding fibres as alpaca, cashmere and mohair on suppliers' lists. And if you are a farmer or pet owner you will undoubtedly begin to cast an enquiring eye over the pet goat or Fido's combings. It's very tempting to gather in any and every possibly spinnable fibre and then wonder what you're going to do with it.
Worry not! We have all been in this position, fibre is addictive, help is at hand; instead of feeling guilty the next time you're confronted with that fleece or fibre you really must have, this book * will tell you exactly what to do with it - before the rest of the family does.
* The Insatiable Spinner. Soon to be available in our online shop.
Click on the thumbnails for large images and notes.
