Happy Monday!
I can’t remember if I mentioned this, but a few months ago I treated myself to a hand spinning course, which just started this weekend. This was something I had wanted to try for a while and I was just so excited to start!
During our first 3 hours, we got to learn how to work the double treadle spinning wheels, how to recognise good sheep fleece, how to prepare the fleece (from pulling out locks to combing them) and of course, we got a taste of spinning. I have to say that it was as hard as I imagined it would. I got the wheel spinning quite well when I was not thinking about it but it was a bit hard to draft the right quantity of fibre from my fleece while making sure to move the wheel in the same direction. Our teacher, Janet Day from My spin on Things, was so knowledgeable and helpful during the class though. Watching her, you would think spinning was the easiest thing on earth! Although my spinning was not perfect (read very very chunky and uneven!) I did manage to spin quite a lot during the class.
The great thing about the class was that we got to bring the wheels home with us to practice and I’m loving it! I’ve been spinning more and I can’t wait for next week’s lesson, when we get to ply our yarn. I’ll share my progress here with you, and maybe by the end of the course (in about 5 weeks) I will be able to have a beautiful even yarn like Janet (on the left picture).
Have you tried something that had been on your bucket list for a while? Did it match your expectations?
Emma's Craft Projects 
Sounds interesting Emma! A something a bit different
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Yes it was really good I can’t wait to go back on Saturday!
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What a fun class! I’ve always wanted to try spinning, but heard it was hard. Can’t wait to hear more!
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It is definitely quite hard but with a good teacher it’s not impossible, we were all spinning within the first three hours!
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It’s always great to try something new. It’s so great you’re enjoying it.
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Yes it was really cool, especially because I had been wanting to try for a while.
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That is so cool that you’re getting to try this!
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Yes it was so fun and everyone was also super lovely ☺️ and I love that we got to go home with the spinning wheel!
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That is cool that you get he materials to practice with
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Spinning gets easier the more you do it. Are you going to try using Alpaca fiber next?
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I think that Janet might bring alpaca to one of the classes in June. I do have a friend who owns 3 alpacas though and she said she would give me free fleece 😊 I’m pretty excited about that but I want to learn well first, I don’t want to waste alpaca fleece
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That sounds so fun and really cool that you got to take the looms home! I’ve never tried it but it definitely looks like something I’d love
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I think you would love it! and Janet our tutor said that now that she is experienced, she can actually read at the same time as she spins.
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That looks like fun! It’s great that you got to take the wheels home, because I’m sure it’s one of those things where you get better with practice.
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You definitely get better with practice! I’ve only been doing it since Saturday but I can already see a difference, which is crazy!
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oh no, you fell down the rabbit hole… before you know it you’ll be having a whole collection of spinning wheel and will look for 2nd hand loom 😁😁😁
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oh my goodness that’s totally me! I’m already looking for spinning wheels online and in second hand shops!
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hahaha, good luck! i know somone who carries around some roving and when she sees randomly spinning wheel in 2nd hand shop, she can first test it before buying 😁
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that’s such a good idea!
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It looks like you had a lot of fun. My sister has a spinning wheel, and says once you know what you’re doing, it becomes like a meditation…
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I am still in a stage where I need to focus on what I do but I can totally see how it would be like meditation once I get a bit more in the swing of things.
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It does look like fun, be difficult. I have never thought about even giving it a try. 🙂 I just buy and pet the yarns.
I am teaching myself tunisian crochet, and have a stunning book (and of course youtube) but I am still working at it. Normal crochet just seems so much faster still. But I will carry on until I have mastered it. It does not mean I will do it all the time yet.
Have fun with the spinning, I look forward to your posts.
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After the second week it is definitely getting easier and I can see progress, which I love! Tunisian crochet is fun but I do prefer normal crochet I think. I actually like having a more drapy fabric, and Tunisian crochet is a bit too stiff for me (although it would be great for a rug).
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I am glad to hear the spinning is getting easier.
🙂 The tunisian crochet is not however. I also prefer normal crochet. It may be nice for cushion covers or such, but I find it fiddly and odd, I will keep trying, but for now, it is slow progress.
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I got to try that with one of my host grandmas when I was a 4-H exchange in Norway, long, long ago! It was hard, but mesmerizing too. My host grandma was amazing!
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How amazing is it to watch people spin? Seriously, Janet was so great to watch, she made it look so easy but it definitely wasn’t! I do think practice makes perfect though and I could feel myself getting better, which is a great feeling!
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oooh, i’m quite jealous! i went to a drop spindle class (which I loved) and we did get to have a very quick go on the spinning wheel, just spinning 2 strands of cheap yarn to get used to the movement. It was sooooo hard!
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That would actually be quite a good idea to get used to the movement. We did learn to ply yarn this week and it was amazing 😄 I think I’d really like to try drop spindles too, it would probably be cheaper than a spinning wheel 😅
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I do want to try spinning, it looks awesome! Plus how amazing would it be to make something out of yarn you spun yourself!
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It was so much fun Hannah, if you get the chance I would totally recommend it! The only ‘issue’ is that a spinning wheel is very expensive but I’m currently on the hunt for a second hand one, fingers crossed I find one I like!
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I shall keep them crossed for you!
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