Spring Break
From sheep to sweater: student spins own wool
Katherine Timpf
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
When sophomore Sarah Hovas says she's going spinning, she isn't talking about indoor cycling but animal fibers.
Hovas said she learned how to spin wool last year, and has her own spinning wheel in her Mauck Hall.
"I like the thought of not depending on mass department stores, you can go to J Crew or Banana Republic, but ultimately…. You could have made that sweater," she said. "It's taking things back to the way they used to be, instead of this society where everything is manufactured."
Hovas said she gets sheep's wool directly from shepherds, and that she has used alpaca wool as well. She said she washes the wool, spins it, then sets it by dipping it in hot water to make yarn.
After she makes the yarn, Hovas said she either knits with it or uses it for nålebinding, a form of knitting that dates back to the Vikings. In this form, the artist uses one finger and one needle instead of two needles.
Jeanine Diebel, who taught Hovas how to spin, said the two went to a spinners' retreat together where they learned this form of knitting.
"It's something most men and women historically would have done," Diebel said, who has been spinning for 35 years.
Diebel said she was impressed that Hovas picked the skill up so quickly that she soon taught it to Diebel's 15-year-old-nephew.
Diebel said she likes the kind of people she meets at spinning retreats and other spinning func-tions.
"I think [most people] would enjoy spinning…. Both the process of doing it and being around the people," she said. "In this activity you always find someone who is kind of a soul mate, a kindred spirit."
For Hovas, it all stems back to tradition.
"People have been doing this for thousands of years," she said. "You don't need to depend on huge stores to make something you can make yourself. Most people think of grandma's sweater, all big and bulky, but there are woman skilled who can make really nice clothing."
Hovas said she learned how to spin wool last year, and has her own spinning wheel in her Mauck Hall.
"I like the thought of not depending on mass department stores, you can go to J Crew or Banana Republic, but ultimately…. You could have made that sweater," she said. "It's taking things back to the way they used to be, instead of this society where everything is manufactured."
Hovas said she gets sheep's wool directly from shepherds, and that she has used alpaca wool as well. She said she washes the wool, spins it, then sets it by dipping it in hot water to make yarn.
After she makes the yarn, Hovas said she either knits with it or uses it for nålebinding, a form of knitting that dates back to the Vikings. In this form, the artist uses one finger and one needle instead of two needles.
Jeanine Diebel, who taught Hovas how to spin, said the two went to a spinners' retreat together where they learned this form of knitting.
"It's something most men and women historically would have done," Diebel said, who has been spinning for 35 years.
Diebel said she was impressed that Hovas picked the skill up so quickly that she soon taught it to Diebel's 15-year-old-nephew.
Diebel said she likes the kind of people she meets at spinning retreats and other spinning func-tions.
"I think [most people] would enjoy spinning…. Both the process of doing it and being around the people," she said. "In this activity you always find someone who is kind of a soul mate, a kindred spirit."
For Hovas, it all stems back to tradition.
"People have been doing this for thousands of years," she said. "You don't need to depend on huge stores to make something you can make yourself. Most people think of grandma's sweater, all big and bulky, but there are woman skilled who can make really nice clothing."
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