This month we’d like to introduce you to Asha Pollem, one of the new instructors for our all-new hand-spinning class at Tierra Wools. Asha has been spinning straw (raw fiber) into gold (knit-able and weave-able yarns) for almost 20 years. Sheep's fleece is her absolute favorite, and she's taken more than one fleece from a sheep or alpaca and ended with a finished garment. Asha is proficient with a wide variety of wheels and spindles and has even repaired a couple of antique spinning wheels so they could have a useful life again. We sat down with Asha to find out how she got into spinning and what makes her crafting heart beat.
Fast Facts about Asha:
Number of spinning wheels owned: Currently 4 treadle and 3 electric. And there's another coming in the mail any day now. Don't ask how many I've had over time because there's no way I can remember.
Asha spinning with her Electric Eel Wheel 6.0 from Dreaming Robots. “The electric wheels help save my bad knee!” she says.
Number of raw fleeces waiting to be spun: Just one currently, a beautiful silver Alpaca. I don't like to let them pile up too much, but I bet you I'll buy another when I go to the Taos Wool Festival.
Favorite type of sheep wool for spinning: How to choose? Probably Blue Faced Leicester, but I also have enjoyed the Churro I've processed from raw fleece. The only drawback of Churro is that it's a little too coarse for some types of clothing, and clothing is what I like to make most.
Favorite non-spinning crafting technique: Currently it's sewing. I also knit, crochet and weave.
Dream spinning or crafting adventure/destination: England, Scotland and the Shetland Isles
Tell us about your first experience with spinning – what drew you to the craft?
I first used a drop spindle when I was young enough that I don't actually remember the exact details. It feels like there was never a time I didn't understand how string was made. I was very interested in how items, especially fiber items, were made from scratch. I think I must have first read about spinning in my parent's "Firefox" books. It was a series put out decades ago to save the knowledge about "from scratch" living and making all the items needed for day to day life. I didn’t get heavily into spinning until I was in my early 30s, though - maybe 15+ years ago. I had been playing with a drop spindle again because I had become a knitting fanatic and wanted to make my own yarn. Then one day I decided that I was going to buy a wheel, and so when we made our annual pilgrimage to the Taos Wool Festival I did just that. Haven't stopped since!
Asha’s Spanish Peacock spindle with spun cashmere/eri silk mix
You own many wheels and spindles – which is your favorite style and why?
That first wheel [I owned] was an Ashford Kiwi, and I still think it’s an excellent beginner wheel. My favorite all-around wheel now is the Ashford Joy. I like it so much I have owned 3 different ones! The first two got passed on to new homes. Majacraft (the Rose or the Susie) are also great wheels if you can afford them. Most recently I have been using support spindles a lot. I think the best I've tried are The Spanish Peacock (they have an independent website) and the Etsy sellers Stephan Wilmette and Silly Salmon. I have messed up my right knee over the years, so now I can only tradle with the left, which makes for some interesting configurations when I use my antique flax wheel or my Canadian Production Wheel.
Tell us about a favorite project that you took all the way from fleece to garment.
Asha’s bird’s eye shawl made with hand-combed and spun Churro Wool
I just love this particular shawl I wove in a bird's eye pattern from hand-combed and spun Churro wool.
What’s something you wish you’d known as a new spinner or what piece of advice would you give to new spinners?
[Spinning] is a process craft rather than a product craft. You really have to love the doing of it at least as much as you want the finished product. Also, it's ok to come at [spinning] from either direction - have a project in mind and spin the right yarn, or spin a yarn you like and let the yarn tell you what it wants to be.
What’s the next big hand-spinning or crafting challenge that you’re thinking of taking on?
Asha says, “This is the yarn for the coat I want to weave then tailor.”
I have spun 2 fleeces worth of wool which I plan to weave and then make into a tailored coat... someday...
How can people find you on social media?
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram @craftyravenadornment where I tutor in all things fiber and create custom clothing and costumes. My email is amusedasha@yahoo.com and I’m available on Facebook Messenger as Asha Pollem.
Asha and her co-teacher Janet Dominguez will be offering one more session of their all-new hand-spinning class September 14 and 15. Head over to our classes page to sign up!