Spinning yarn is delicious
October 4, 2009 by Noreen Crone-Findlay
Filed under spinning, yarn crafts
The other evening, I watched a great little video on Ruth MacGregor’s website : Spinning video
photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
A few years ago, I was given
a very dirty Shetland fleece.
I washed the fleece right after it was given to me,
and then re-washed it a few months ago.
Now, that’s effort…
washing the fleece is my
least favorite part of
the fleece to yarn progression.
The fleece has been idling away under the desk in the studio.
Watching Ms MacGregor’s video made my fingers itch to get spinning again. So, today, I got out the fleece, and my carding combs,
and started picking, fluffing, and carding.
photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyrightand carding,
Eventually, I
had a lovely spin.
And, then a zippy
quick ply.
Because it’s been months
since I did any spinning,
I had forgotten
that the preparation
for the spinning
is always 90% of the actual spinning process.
It’s so gratifying though… by the time you finally get to the spinning wheel or spindles, all the picking, fluffing and carding have created a sense of anticipation that makes the spinning exponentially more rewarding.
The spinning itself just flies by. Spinning is a remarkably timeless act that locks the spinner into a deep sense of history and connectedness. There is nothing quite like it. Extraordinary, really……
Now, I have a bobbin full of soft and somewhat nubbly, frankly imperfect yarn, and it’s just lovely. I was listening to the most wonderful book on cd the whole time, and it was a completely perfect way to spend a grey, cold autumn afternoon- contemplative, meditative and pure pleasure. Plus I end up with yarn at the end of it. It just doesn’t get any better.
“Now, I have a bobbin full of soft and somewhat nubbly, frankly imperfect yarn, and it’s just lovely.”
Ahhh…HANDspun yarn – how wonderful and so much part of the Saori way “consider the differences between machines and people”.
Can’t wait to see what it becomes next on it’s journey.
Happy Spinning & Weaving,
Terri
Can you say PATIENCE?
I love the music on that video…:-)
~ Susan
Hi Terri
I really appreciate your comment, because I was debating whether to crochet or to weave a fun and somewhat lighthearted hat . I had started out weaving it, and then, decided…. hmmm…. maybe I should crochet it, so unwove part of it and did a crocheted swatch. The crocheted swatch felt heavy to me, and I was not enchanted by it. When you quoted the phrase from Saori, I thought, ‘Yes, that’s it- the weaving has a lightness to it that speaks to me- so back to weaving it!’.
When I was spinning the yarn, I gave myself permission to just enjoy the fleece, which is neppy as can be, and makes very soft, but irregular yarn. I thought about the principles of Saori, which are all about staying in the moment and enjoying process and being open to outcomes that challenge pre-conceived notions of what is right and wrong about yarn. And, I had a marvelous time spinning this rather hopeless fleece (it was shorn by people who just wanted to get it off the sheep and was a proper mess). Why bother with it? Why not?
The hat may never see the light of day, and that’s okay too…. it’s all part of the process. I am really enjoying the challenges and also enjoying the learning curve of working with a not so good fleece. I am interested to see how it turns out. Each stage in the journey has it’s pleasures in a very Zen sort of a way
Hi Susan
Yep, I can say ‘patience’ and can BE patience, too. LOL!!!!
And, I agree, the music is lovely!
Speaking of patience, now I really do have to be patient, as I have ordered her card weaving booklet, and am going to be peering into my mailbox every day until it gets here…. whether I will be practicing patience remains to be seen!