Back in the spring of 2008, I purchased a spinning wheel – a Kromski Symphony. I signed up for lessons back then, but was unable to complete the class because of work priorities. Those last lessons were critical for me, since I had been having problems with over-twisting. The fiber got so twisted when I spun it that it would not feed into the orifice. I tried everything, including adjusting the tension a zillion times and slowing down my treadling while speeding up my drafting. I was frustrated and I needed my teacher. I set the wheel aside for a time when I had more free time and more patience.
Fast forward 3+ years and here I am, with more time to dedicate to spinning. In addition, I have a plethora of resources; friends here who are superb spinners and are very willing to help this novice. Last week, one of those friends was here at my house and she mentioned the World Wide Spin in Public Day. That Saturday, September 17, members of the Tavern Spinners & Weavers Guild were going to gather at the Heathsville Farmer’s Market and spin. She suggested I come by.
Saturday morning, I awoke and got my spinning wheel ready – oiled it, dusted it and put on the drive band. It was too rainy to transport it, but I knew that I could learn just from observing those “fiberistas.”
Upon returning home, I gave it a spin...Grrrrr. More twisting, followed by a whole lotta shouting.
I watched YouTube videos.
I read through my spinning books.
I read posts on the Spinning groups on Ravelry.
That day and every day following that, I worked at spinning for 1+ hours a day. More twisting and shouting.
Yesterday, I listened to the Just One More Row podcast, episode 21, where they spoke of beginning spinning. They mentioned the difficulty of spinning some fibers as a beginner. It was a totally d’uh moment for me.
This morning, I pulled out a sample of some Abstract Fibers BFL that I had gotten at Rhinebeck two years ago. I drafted it and began to spin it, and it spun! It spun like real yarn! Aha! It was the practice fiber I had that was causing a big problem. My next step was to put it in a bag and place it in the back of the closet.
I feel rejuvenated and so very determined to work hard to progress to where I can make real yarn, plied and all. I know that is several weeks away, but I have cleared a major hurdle.
My wheel is set up now by the window where I can sit and spin while looking out on the river. I am a happy girl!
