Yes, i spin yarn. No, my wheel is not an antique and neither are the robust group of friends i’ve made here in Oregon who are part of the even more robust fiber community. My wheel i picked up used at a great price and my friends i picked up from fiber stores and a local farmer’s market, and all of them already priceless to me. Isn’t “Clementine” spiffy? She’s a Clemes & Clemes Modern Wheel. (Please forgive the repulsive state of my kitchen. It’s a tiny apartment and it’s never clean.)
I am often asked “why would you spin yarn when you could just buy it in the store?” or “why would you want to knit a hat when you could just buy one in the store?” I believe those people are missing the point. I do still buy cotton yarn and lust after other folks’ gorgeous handspun occasionally. I don’t think everyone in the world needs to make everything from scratch, but in case you too are wondering why i’m crazy enough to spend hours holding balls of fluff in my hands and treadling my foot up and down, this is why i do it:
Spinning is an ancient art that is so simple yet so complex. By carefully holding the fiber of animals or plants in one hand, rotating it using a spindle or spinning wheel, and gently tugging it forward and back, you can create yarn: something beautiful and strong that can be used to make functional and long lasting garments. What’s better than that? I am also a sailer, or was in my younger days, and spinning is a bit like sailing in that you’re grasping just a few simple elements and harnessing them to do what you want. Wind and water make you go, fluff and twist make beautiful yarn.
Ultimately, I will be raising many of the animals who will contribute the fiber that i spin. I’m thinking of raising Icelandic sheep for their fiber and their meat, pygora goats for their cashmere-like fiber and friendship, and a few fluffy rabbits from which the softest of fiber comes. To raise an animal, sheer it, wash and prepare its fiber, spin it into yarn and create a sweater to be worn for the rest of your life: now THAT’S the reason that i spin. Spinning is relaxing, rewarding, and reconnects me to a time before the hussle and bussle of this century – and i get to wear or clothe my loved ones with the fruits of my labors!
What do you think of my very first knit hat? I’m an absolute beginner knitter, and it’s kind of atrocious. At least the yarn i spun for it is warm, if a bit uneven! I think the hubs likes it, even if it is “The hat of many mistakes.” Read more about my spinning and knitting attempts and see how much nicer they’re both starting to look at An Austin Homestead. -Miranda
Are you a spinner? I know there are more of us out there than some may think… Why do YOU spin?
I’m a wannabe spinner. I knit… well… a LOT, and have a spindle and some roving from Rhinebeck last year, but I’ve been crazy busy and the knitting just won’t let me stop long enough to learn to spin (yet). I want to though, very much. We also want to have a sheep farm and are trying to figure out how to make that happen.
Yes, we *could* just buy these things, but my kids, even if something doesn’t fit right or look the way they’d expected or the colour they’d hoped for… my kids ADORE the stuff I make them. Nothing bought could make me feel that good.
I agree with the above commenter’s last sentence. I LOVE the feeling I get when someone really loves a gift from me, and I made it.
I enjoy knitting and have thought about spinning but for now I’ve decided I don’t have room for another hobby. Maybe at some point in the future. 🙂
i would love to spin, i just don’t know how to get started. where do you get a wheel? where do you get the fiber? lots of questions i need to research. i think you are amazing for spinning and then knitting that hat. it looks beautiful and i don’t see any mistakes! great job!
Kathleen: do you have a local yarn shop? Often the shopkeepers and other patrons there know a lot of other folks in the community who spin or knit and who would be happy to help you out. As far as fiber, etsy has tons of options for roving and batting (the cleaned and carded fibers you spin from.) I’m friends with the folks at Bellwether Wool co, and they have some truly gorgeous fiber to spin. I got my wheel used, and that’s a great place to start – try craigslist or other local classifieds. I suggest starting with a drop spindle. They’re inexpensive and portable, great for the beginner. You’ll be so frustrated you want to throw the thing across the room for the first few months, so get a basic spindle not a super pretty one. They’re called ‘drop’ spindles for a reason! Spinning is great fun, and even more fun when you have other friends that spin. Ask at the yarn shops and see if there are spinning groups around – i wouldn’t be the spinner i am now if it wasn’t for the spinners i made friends with here in Oregon. There really is nothing like a well timed helpful hint from a pro.
I think your hat and yarn are gorgeous! I can imagine how mesmerizing and relaxing it must be to spin. I knitted years and years ago but have so other handmade hobbies now I just haven’t been able to get back into it. I’m really looking forward to taking it up when I’m too old to vigorously farm again! I sort of feel like blogging is the new knitting and crocheting – what you do in the evenings when everyone else watches mindless television. ;p
Your hat looks great. Seriously! It is fun to see the spinning process. I am definitely attracted to it and would like to learn to spin someday. There are just so many things on the list. I am happy to be working on knitting right now. Sincerely, Emily
I love the hat. The more I spin the less I enjoy browsing yarn shops. I would much rather make my own yarn. I never thought I would be this person.
I have been a long time knitter but in the last few years have REALLY wanted to start spinning – for all the reasons you declare here. It’s the same reason I have created the rest of our life from scratch too – it just feels good and makes sense to me.
Love the hat. ❤
Spinning figures heavily in women’s mythology as well, across all cultures. As Miranda says, it is both simple and complex, earthly and spiritual, connecting us with our selves and the Ancestress. A lovely post.
January 7 was historically called Distaff Day, the first day after Epiphany when women returned to their spinning.
am a ugandan from Africa,i love spinning and we grow a lot of cotton.can you help on how i can get like yours.happy new year.
You can buy fiber online at bellwetherwoolcompany.com – i’m sure she’d ship to Uganda for you!
That hat is beautiful! I don’t see any flaws at all! Great job! I am a knitter who is learning to spin. I just think the process is amazing and fun. And while I do enjoy new advances in technology from time to time, I do love that spinning speaks of simpler times.