Not too long ago after spending some time (quality time!) walking through the wonderful exhibits at Visions Art Museum, I went for a stroll through the verandas at Liberty Station and noticed a light and airy shop that had yarn, beautiful yarn. I walked in and was greeted by Sara, the owner of Apricot Yarn. I told her I had just been down the walkway to VAM, she asked if I was a quilter and I said that is where I started but then I had to confess; I’m a fiber artist who can’t knit and can only crochet a chain! Then I asked Sara if she carried roving. She said “No, but maybe they would in the future.” As I was drooling over a skein of thick, rich multi-colored wool and a beautiful knitted cowl neck warmer made from it, she added… “Some people use that to do felting.” I said “I do felting!” I’m now the happy owner of that gorgeous skein and YES, it can be used for felting!
![](https://fiberdesignsbyann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/yarn-roving-apricot-yarn-300x169.jpg)
I’m remembering that my grandparent had spinning wheels and probably card brushes as well, but I never thought anything about it when I was growing up. I think my cousins have the spinning wheels now.
![](https://fiberdesignsbyann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/tillie-spinning-1963-300x294.jpg)
Anyway, it occurred to me that in my dusty dancing shoe box there was a suede brush… So I cut several, approximately, 8″ lengths of the yarn in the colors I wanted. Laying them on my design table, I raked the suede brush over the yarn. Combing one piece at a time worked best because there wasn’t a card brush or carding surface underneath. Now you may be thinking that’s a lot of work when a person could just buy roving, but I enjoyed every second of touching the yarn.
![](https://fiberdesignsbyann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/roving-from-yarn-300x169.jpg)
I must note here that, of course, this project is not for anyone with wool allergies. Also, using the proper carding brushes would be a plus because I think there would be fewer tiny fibers escaping and proper carding would have made the fibers felt together even better. I made one felted soap and love how it turned out. They make a very fast project and nice gift and if you are planning an art bazaar type sale they may be a good item for that. When I have the proper equipment I plan to make more and try some needle felting too. If you’re a yarn lover I would encourage you to check out the Apricot Yarn shop; Oh, and if you are or will be in San Diego, they have classes too!
![](https://fiberdesignsbyann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/felted-soap-from-apricot-yarn-225x300.jpg)
Oh boy, a new delight to spend $ on. There are gorgeous yarns out there which I’ve been able to pass up because I don’t knit, etc. Does the roving come in such colors or do you have to add them yourself? I’ve felted soap once at a fiber store. It was quite relaxing. How fascinating that there’s spinning in your family. Maybe you’ll have to track down that wheel.
I buy already dyed roving but I think this yarn seems to have produced more vivid colors than the roving I’ve bought (so far). I agree with you; felting soap is relaxing. I’m pretty sure the reason there were spinning wheels in the family is because that grandfather was a carpenter and I’m sure he built the wheels, spindles, etc. I have two aunts still living, I’ll have to ask it their mother actually spun.