sutton094

An Evening With Cashmere Bring the Champagne! Come and hear all about cashmere goats from breeder Valerie Byrne. Valerie and her herd live in Castro Valley, not too far from us. She will tell us what it takes to raise these delightful creatures, and bring fiber samples and photos of her cuties. As Pam said at the last Monday Spinning, "It only takes a handful of cashmere fiber to keep you amused all evening at the spinning wheel!" A little bit does go a long way. If you have never tried spinning cashmere, its not terribly difficult, but like everything, takes just a bit of practice. Spin it fairly fine and woolen, to give loft and softness. Use a short two-handed draw with a draft area of about 1 inch. Most pure cashmere will need no carding, just fluff up a handful and hold it very lightly as you spin. Work with loose tension, the tug should be just enough to allow the yarn to wind on the bobbin. As the twist runs up the yarn towards the fluff in your hand, let it go clear u...