The Enchanting Process of Spinning Wool with Rajiv Surendra

Spinning wool is a skill that is very dear to Rajiv, and today he shares his own personal connection to the process that he was introduced to over 20 years ago.

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★ TABLE OF CONTENTS ★
• 0:00 | Introduction
• 1:19 | Singing "The Rowan Tree"
• 2:51 | Working at Black Creek Pioneer Village
• 3:08 | Learning to Spin Wool
• 4:00 | Introduction to Cleaning Fleece
• 4:13 | Sorting and Preparing the Fleece
• 5:12 | Washing the Fleece
• 6:07 | Drying the Fleece
• 6:37 | Introduction to Spinning Wheel Components
• 7:02 | Attaching Fleece to the Spinning Wheel
• 7:25 | Process of Spinning Wool
• 8:40 | Combing the Wool with Carters
• 9:57 | Aligning Wool Fibers
• 11:00 | Creating a Rolag
• 12:04 | Achieving Evenness in Spinning
• 13:04 | Importance of Consistent Thread
• 14:04 | Romanticizing Spinning and Weaving
• 15:14 | The Preciousness of Handmade Yarn
• 16:09 | Personal Story: Spinning Yarn for a Crush
• 19:20 | The Romantic Nature of Hand-Spun Yarn
• 21:00 | Weaving and the Final Steps of Spinning
• 22:17 | Reflecting on Historical Clothing Production
• 23:15 | Plying 2 balls of thread together
• 24:07 | Quality of Woolen Clothing
• 25:02 | Plying the threads (to make 2-ply yarn)
• 27:36 | Removing Finished Yarn from the Bobbin
• 28:42 | Using a Niddy Noddy
• 30:01 | Final Reflections on the Process of Spinning Yarn
💡 TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO 💡
• Singing "Oh Rowan Tree"
• Black Creek Pioneer Village
• Spinning Wool Techniques
• Historical Significance of Wool Spinning
• Cleaning Sheep Fleece
• Sorting Fleece for Spinning
• Washing Sheep Wool
• Drying Wool Outdoors
• Components of a Spinning Wheel
• Attaching Fleece to Spinning Wheel
• Creating Woolen Thread
• Combing Wool with Carters
• Aligning Wool Fibers for Spinning
• Creating a Rolag
• Evenness in Spinning Wool
• Consistent Thread Production
• Importance of Woolen Cloth
• Romanticizing Hand-Spun Yarn
• Significance of Spinning in History
• Personal Connection to Hand-Spun Yarn
• Spinning Yarn for Loved Ones
• Dyeing Yarn with Natural Plants
• Knitting from Hand-Spun Yarn
• The Role of Lanolin in Wool
• Historical Clothing Production
• Spinning Two-Ply Yarn
• Quality of Hand-Spun Wool
• Understanding Z Twist in Yarn
• Woolen Cloth as a Precious Resource
• Techniques for Producing Strong Yarn
• Using a Niddy Noddy
• Reflecting on Handmade Clothing
• The Process of Making Fine Yarn
• Spinning Wheel Rhythm
• Emotional Connection to Hand-Spun Yarn

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🔴 *** ABOUT THIS CHANNEL ***
Welcome to my YouTube Channel! I've been immersed in the creative and domestic arts for all my life and its a real honor to be sharing my interests with you.

🔎 HASHTAGS
#sheepfleece
#Rajivsurendra
#diy

[myrradine]

Oh Rajiv, your reminiscing of your long ago summer and of your first love has me in tears. Storytelling is one of your many gifts. Love this meditative ode to spinning.

[anticapitalisthomedesign]

The way that you're singing + spinning + talking about your gay childhood crush while passing on an ancient tradition is healing my heart in a way I didn't know it needed
✨

[lisalelliott]

Ok, that’s it. I have to tell you how special it is, what you’re doing. I grew up outside of Toronto, but no longer live there, and had forgotten all about Black Creek Pioneer village. Your content, spinning, caning, making beeswax candles, Sri Lankan cooking etc, is so dear. But this one, in the quiet at the barn, your story… this one has made me cry. And I’m knitting while I’m watching. Thank-you Rajiv.

[wvblue]

As someone who has been spinning for more than six decades, I have to tell you how much joy this video and your previous one has brought to me. There are many young spinners today, but most are working with commercially prepared fiber. I get the most enjoyment from beginning with raw fleece and seeing that you truly know how to do each step of the process, touches my soul to its very depths. Thank you.

[saragiard]

I wanted to write something eloquent. But, right now I chose to say: "Thank God You Exist." ❤️

[cynthia]

Another beautiful video ! Years ago, I was knitting a blanket for my niece who was expecting her first baby. The baby was still-born, I finished the blanket with tears and loving thoughts of them and of the heartache they were experiencing. She still cherishes that little blanket and has two more beautiful children since. So I easily identified with the thoughts and feelings that go in to making something like that.

[elleholm]

The opening sequence of the ocean looks like the beginning of a film I'd like to watch. Beautiful.

[nancytimpa]

The sound of that wheel is wonderful. If I could learn to spin I wouldn’t need blood pressure medicine😊

[gkr]

Rajiv
You are great story teller.
That blue eyed boy is so blessed to have received such an amazing gift from you.

[elainesteinke]

Beautiful story! My Grandma spun wool from a neighbour's sheep in Saskatchewan. As a little girl I visited my Grandma often and one time asked her and she let me try her spinning wheel, one minute at the most, but she was very willing to teach me to card the wool. I am likely now my Grandma's age and I still have her carders and sewing machine! Thank you for bringing back these wonderful childhood memories! Elaine

[biddydibdab]

My mother always saved rain water to wash wool that she then carded by hand and turned into cozy quilts. I still have one that she made with my Dad when they were in their late 80s.❤️💕❤️

[anaguerrero]

I want to say so much, but I am at a loss for words. I think you were born in the wrong time. You are such a beautiful, unique and mesmerizing human being. I LOVE your videos. Thank you so very much for what you do. This world needs so many more people like you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[alexandrajohnson]

this video is a modern relic, a spiritual revelation... so deeply human that I'm sure any person from any time period could find joy and peace watching this. thank you Rajiv, your videos are such a blessing and balm to my life and I so appreciate you.

[judithhuntly]

I am weeping, everything about this film was so well crafted, the sounds of the ocean, the rhythmic sound of the spinning wheel and the gentle sound of your voice telling us your love story both about the boy and the process of cleaning, carding and spinning the wool. The cinematography of the ocean and the tones of the layers of wood in the spinning scene with the golden glow coming through the window illuminating the scene, just beautiful. Oh to recieve the gift of tge hat ... priceless gift of pure love.

[champagnesupernova]

Spinning is my meditation. A tangible connection to my ancestors. The feel of the wool through my fingers, the scent of the sheep, my bare feet on the treadle. You've explained it all beautifully. I, too, first learned by watching the sheep being sheared, the fleece still raw and warm. Magical. ❤

[shelleyaw]

What a sweet and poignant story. I too think about all the moments and memories I had while I spun the wool when I use what I’ve scoured and combed and carded and spun. It does make me appreciate everything I wear. It slowed my purchasing of disposable clothing. I purchase less and use things longer and reuse and repurpose.

The sound of my wheel or my supported spindle is beautiful and calms me in ways a non spinner can’t know.

Thanks for sharing your sweet story. ❤

[moumoun]

Wow Rajiv, thank God you are still with us. What an immense loss it would have been if this world hadn't had a chance to know you.

[Knorrette]

In Belgium in the region of Verviers (Wallonia) there was a wool spinning factory that would use the water of the Vesdre river to wash the wool. The Girls who were handling the fleeces were known in the area for their soft hands because of the lanolin. The factory doesn't exist anymore but i remember my mother knitting with yarn from there. The yarn had the same name as the river: 'Vesdre'.

[ashleyanderson]

I adore this. As a knitter, I can appreciate the joy found in this quiet and meditative process. Thank you for your in depth look into these valuable, artistic endeavours!

[periwinklepixie]

I came for the wool spinning, but I stayed for the thirst trap walk out of the ocean.