Tuesday 27 November 2012

Spinning

Today I had my first spinning lesson. 

I was pants at it.

I have tried once before and given up, but that was only being shown by a friend, not proper lessons.  I think this course is 3 weeks and I get 1 1/2 hours once a week.  Today what I learnt is that I am rubbish...

Bente, my teacher, says I am getting the hang of it, but what she meant was that I can work the treadle more or less now though she didn't mention that the number of times the drive belt fell off the wheel had increased steadily to every couple of minutes!

This is the wheel I am using...

Spinning wheel

...and I get to take it home to practise on for the rest of the week.  And I DO need a rest after the practice.  I can't tell you how tiring it is to be so rubbish at learning something!

This is the 'yarn' I spun this morning...

my yarn

...oh, yes, on my way to stardom...

And this evening when I had another little try, I was even worse.  Mind you, I was very tired... and I have a sore throat... and I'm feeling very sorry for myself... and, did I mention I am rubbish at it?

So, if I had to depend on my spinning skills to create yarn and garments for my family, they would all have died from hypothermia from walking around naked by now...  Thank goodness for Marks & Spencer!

Tomorrow I will have another go - try to practise for at least an hour in the morning - and maybe I will make some more of that string stuff.  I guess I can only get better...

11 comments:

Annie said...

They say practise makes perfect and you WILL get there :-) Come on now...positive thinking girl :-)
Hugs,
A x

Beth said...

Hi, I wandered over from Frugal Queen's blog. I just wanted to encourage you about the spinning; I think everyone is horrible at it when they first get started. It took me months before I made anything remotely useful.

Usually I recommend that new spinners practice for 10-15 minutes a day. And if the spinning wheel/spindle starts looking like fireplace kindling, it's time to take a break for the day! Good luck!

Beth said...

Hi, I wandered over from Frugal Queen's blog. I just wanted to encourage you about the spinning; I think everyone is horrible at it when they first get started. It took me months before I made anything remotely useful.

Usually I recommend that new spinners practice for 10-15 minutes a day. And if the spinning wheel/spindle starts looking like fireplace kindling, it's time to take a break for the day! Good luck!

Elizabethd said...

It's a skill that you only learn from much pratice, so I'm told. You are veery brave!

tales from a handmade home said...

Good for you learning a new skill, it does take time and I'm sure you'll get better at it...........it's great you've retained your sense of humour........the only way is up, or a direct order line to M@S woollies department.

Marigold Jam said...

If I can do it - and I can - anayone can do it! It takes practice and it depends too on the fleece you are using and the length of the staple too long and it's hard to draw it out and too short and it breaks too easily. Do persevere it is really therapeutic once you get the hang of it as you just sit treadling away with all your attention on the yarn between your fingers and none left for other bothersome things. You CAN di ut if you persevere! Hope you will feel better and not develop a cold that wouldn't help you to feel positive!

Debra in France said...

Penny, you will be great at it. You can turn your hand to anything. Anyway, multi-textured yarn is very fasionable these days!

moleymakes said...

Oh how wonderful. Spinning is on my ever growing crafty "to do list".

There is a knack to spinning so I'm told. Like everything, practice is what's key. It does eventually click so I'm told. Just think of all that gorgeous handspun that you can knit from :)

Babajeza said...

Hahah! You made me laugh. Don't give up, you will master it! Have a nice day, Regula

Annie Cholewa said...

I think spinning is one of those things, it doesn't come gradually, it's tough, and then all of a sudden you get it. I don't know if it helps but I was advised to start with a drop spindle and get a feel for the fibre that way. Don't give up, think how chuffed you'll be when you first knit with your own yarn!

quilterliz said...

G'day Penny. Oh my, you are braver than I am. You will master it, dear Penny and be a champion at it in no time. Like everything, practise makes perfect. Sounds good anyway, doesn't it? Good on you for having go at it. Take care. Liz...