Well, having bitten the bullet and washed most of the grass and droppings out of my wool, I made it to see the spinning lady on Monday. I took my v small bag of fleece and ventured to Penybont which is just this side of Llandrindod Wells. I drove into the carpark of the Thomas Shop which looks like just the kind of place I love. Lovingly restored old building, vintage signage, outdoor trellised seating area, old tin baths adorning the walls, cats coming to greet you, a sign suggesting cake may be had… looking good so far. It’s an amazing old place which houses a living museum / shop, cafe, accommodation and upstairs, te DA! The Wool Emporium! There sitting at her spinning wheel and surrounded by multicoloured woollen articles of every description is Shirley.

Shirley didn’t smirk at how little wool I had brought but she did kindly suggest at one point that I might buy a fleece in future rather than collect the dirty and grim trimmings from the ground (my description, not hers!). She showed me and R how to tease apart the wool until it looked like a cloud and then we fed it into the carding machine which is like 2 giant round metal pronged dog grooming brushes, which you turn with a handle. When the fleece comes out of here it is in long whispy strips (or “like father xmas’s beard” if you’re trying desperately to maintain a 3 year old’s interest). Shirley then showed me the ancient art of hand spinning where you simultaneously stretch father xmas’s beard into fine strips and then twist them by keeping a handheld spindle turning and dangling by your feet. Not easy! Her yarn was thin and even. Mine was thin in places with great fat chunks in others and I couldn’t stretch the wool and keep the spindle spinning at the same time. I even accidentally started spinning R’s fringe in the yarn at one point, til she yelped (perhaps it was ta this point she lost interest?)

Shirley kindly spun about half my fleece on the spinning wheel and carded the rest of it ready for spinning. I was hoping she’d spin it all really as I was making such a hash of it but I got the vibe she wanted to carry on and finish a rug she was making so after paying her for her time and thanking her for sharing her skills, we left armed with our own spindle (£3.50!) via a drink and some choc cake in the cafe.

I did a bit more hand spinning when I got home. Mainly spinning a few inches and then going back and re-doing the bits that are uneven. There’s something quite satisfying about doing it by hand, Except for the pong. I mentioned to Shirly I might die the wool and she said “Mmm, yes, I think it could do with another wash anyway, it’s still a bit greasy”. That’s putting it mildly, it smells like 10 large and filthy dogs that have been out in the rain. No wonder she packed me off to let me finish the job!

My mum in law keeps all sorts of animals including huskies. She was most excited to learn of the hand spinning (“only £3.50 for the spindle???”) Apparently many husky owners spin their husky fleece as it’s like wool. Watch out friends and relatives, there might be some strange wonky woollen articles coming your way this xmas!