Learning to Spin

I finally succumbed to the lure of spinning and signed up for a drop spindle class taught by my friend Dawn and hosted by our local yarn shop, Serial Knitters.  I knew it would be addictive.  And I also knew that I didn’t really need another hobby.

So much for willpower.  Dawn only teaches the class 3-4 times a year, and I had already put it off for two years.  And she is an excellent spinning teacher.  About halfway through the four hour lesson, I was absolutely hooked.  More fiber please!  I had made one mini-skein and was itching to keep going and make another.

At the end of class I knew two additional things:

1. I needed a stash of spinning fiber.
2. My muscles were going to be very sore the next day.

My muscles were indeed very sore the next day.  I felt like I had been hit by a bus.  Apparently, there are muscles in the body that are not used for knitting or crochet.  Who knew?

I had left the shop with the humble beginnings of a fiber stash, and once my muscles were somewhat recovered I started to spin again.  Understanding that I’m still totally addicted, I tried to pace myself this time so as not to repeat the episode of spinning muscle exhaustion.  For weeks I was mostly successful.

Until I got near the end of the fiber supply, that is.  With the end in sight, and no tedious duties to distract me, I spun on.

Then I couldn’t stop until it was plied.  Many hours later, I had this.

And another bundle of sore muscles.  But it was so worth it.  Look at it – I made that!  (I won’t tell you about running around the house while I waved it triumphantly in the face of every family member present.)

The next day I washed it and hung it to dry overnight.

I’m even more proud of it now that it’s evened out a bit.  It actually looks like yarn.  I might even knit with it.