Penguin Diaries: Day 88: Wool Spinning

Thursday 7th February

Well I had a lovely day today! It was my day off, so Jayne and I went off to Stanley for the day. I managed to get in touch with the Falklands Tourist Information, who put me in touch with a lovely lady called Margo who runs a spinning group.

We pottered around Stanley in the morning, there was a ship in so it was busy, and had another great lunch in Malvina House Hotel. Lush!!! Bought even more "penguin tat" as James calls it from the gift shop, but I can't help it!!!

We went round at about 1.30pm to the little cabin that Margo has at the top of a very steep hill. The ladies there were lovely and spent ages telling us all about the wool, and how it is made. They have to send the fleece to a mill in Cornwall to get cleaned and to turn it into "top" (the stuff you can use straight away to felt, or as Jayne and I did, spin it into wool!) It then either gets dyed, or you can use it as the natural colour.

We used a white one which was natural sheep colour.

First we used the wheel to spin two bobbins full, then you have to ply them together on another wheel. It was great fun! A lot harder than it looks though!!!!!