But just because my cats can't behave doesn't mean you can't take up hand spinning. I still secretly love hand spinning the best, it's just so much slower than wheel spinning. But it's a much better place to start in my opinion. Firstly, it's a much less expensive place to start so if you don't love it it's not a big deal. Secondly, learning the wheel is sooooo easy if you know how to hand spin first. I learned to spin on a top whirl hand spindle. I think Corriedale sheep wool roving is a good starting fiber to learn on, it's a bit coarse but not too coarse, has a long staple length and is pretty inexpensive. Dyeing is a lot of fun too, you can even dye 100% undyed wool yarn or roving with Kool Aid which is an inexpensive and safe starting place. If you use acid based dyes, you'll need a stock pot dedicated to dyeing only so you don't slowly poison yourself and your family. A yarn bowl keeps you from getting too tangled if you're plying.
1. Start Spinning by Maggie Casey: Amazon $14.93
2. Top Whorl Maple Spindle: The Knit Store $6.49
3. Louet Corriedale Spinning Fiber, Warm Wine: Paradise Fibers $3.20/oz
4. Yarn Bowl in Iron Red: The Mud Place $32.00
5. Winco 8 Quart Aluminum Stock Pot: Elite Restaurant Equipment $16.94
6. Dharma Acid Dye, Fire Engine Red: Dhama Trading Company $6.40/two oz