#spin15in15 Spinner Spotlight: @siobhanscrafts

This week’s spotlight is on Siobhan, @siobhanscrafts:

Q. Favorite fiber to spin?
Siobhan: Super-wash Merino use to be my favourite fiber for spinning until I bought my first huacaya alpaca fleece! It is super soft and fluffy, cards beautifully and spins like a dream So for favourite fibre I’d definitely have to say huacaya alpaca for now…. as I’ve now ordered a black fleece too lol.

Q. Do you prefer worsted or woolen methods of spinning? 
Siobhan: I’m still fairly new to spinning, so I haven’t really been paying too much attention to which method I particularly use. I’d say I probably prefer worsted but I think as i learn more and more I will be able to use both methods and enjoy both.

Q. Who or what inspires you?
Siobhan: I’ve got to say @bakewell_hearts has influenced and inspired me greatly as she was running a 5 day competition for 5 beautiful batts she had made and of course I entered each day but wasn’t quite lucky enough to be a winner. But being the lovely lady she is, she contacted me offering me my first batt! I was quite rusty up until then spinning as I hadn’t done it properly in about a year but when this ocean batt arrived, being the fiber fanatic I am, i took back to spinning with a drop spindle. Then soon to advance to a spinning wheel, drum carder and blending board! The community on Instagram is so lovely though as @sarahelizabethsphere sent me a package with curls and locks and new fibers for me to try as merino had been my go to and only fiber, so I’d say she has inspired me to expand my horizons on which fiber I use. The whole Instagram community inspires me daily and love looking through the #spin15in15 pictures as they always amaze me. Finally of course I am inspired by @baabonnybelle as you have set up the whole #spin15in15 and I can remember you being at the Shepherd’s extravaganza and inspiring me to go and buy a whole fleece (which I have now done)

Q. Any future spinning goals?
Siobhan: Learn to spin on the wheel!! And also to use other spindles other than drop.

Q. Do you knit, weave, or gift/sell your handspun?
Siobhan: I’ve recently started listing some rolags and batts on my etsy page, which I am excited to see how that works out. I am new to knitting but I have knitted several hats/ beanies as gifts for my relatives as its cold in England!

Q. What has Instagram done for you in spinning?
Siobhan: Just four words here:
Taught me to spin

Q. Without spinning, what might your other passions be?
Siobhan: I’d most likely be were I started off, with my trusty army of sewing / embroidery machines, making free hand embroidered pictures and other various artwork like making felt vessels and nuno scarf’s. I would still be crafty but just with a different piece of machinery. I also breed and show guinea pigs but they are along side my fiber work but a pure passion of mine too.

If you haven’t seen much of Siobhan’s work, go take a look on Instagram,@siobhanscrafts

I want to thank Siobhan for taking the time to answer these fiber-minded questions and for being part of the #spin15in15 movement on Instagram.

Until next time…