The answer to that….no, not really, but I love it so much I just can’t help myself.
What is it? Spinning!
I have recently became a spinning addict, and while I’m still getting the hang of drafting, which causes me to have to “park” my spindle, which in turn causes the entire process to take about a million times longer than it probably should (not even slightly joking here!) I have fallen head-over-heels and madly in love with the whole process.
I had my first notion about attempting to spin my own yarn after I became a handspun yarn addict. I love the squishy, lofty softness of thick and thin handspun Merino. I was spending so much money on this luxury yarn (insert apology to husband here for spending a small fortune in one month on this lovely stuff) that I decided it might be a good idea try it myself.
After watching a lot of videos on YouTube, and reading a lot of articles on joyofhandspinning.com, in an attempt to get a basic understanding of the process, the tools needed, and some techniques, I decided it was time to give it a whorl….haha, get it? A whorl? Ok, ok, I won’t quit my day job!
Considering that spinning wheels cost an arm and a leg, and being unsure of whether or not I would be any good at this spinning thing, or would even like it, I decided that a drop spindle was the way to go.
Being an Etsy shop owner myself, I always try to purchase things from fellow Etsians, so I typed my search guidelines in the search box and, after lots of looking, decided to purchase a bottom whorl drop spindle with some practice spinning fiber from Spindle Me Right Round. Here’s what I purchased. (Click on the picture posted below to see Spindle Me Right Round’s shop listing.)
Next, it was time to hunt around for fiber. I was looking for fine Merino roving, in a small amount, in case I totally sucked at spinning. So I decided to purchase from Divinity Fibers because Linda allows you to purchase smaller amounts of her listings, so you can get whatever color you decide on in the amount you want, even though the listings are generally for 4oz rovings. Also, considering the microns of the roving and the pricing, (despite the high shipping charges from Canada to the U.S.,) her price points are really great.
I have ordered from Linda since my initial purchase, and will continue to do so because the quality of her fiber is wonderful, and she throws in little samples from time to time. Who doesn’t love free samples?!
So now that I had my drop spindle and my spinning fiber it was time to get started. Those first couple of skeins turned out very pillowy, and I didn’t get very much yardage, but once I created something with them I really liked the extra-pillowy thick and thin look. Here’s a peek at my creations, available in my Etsy shop. (You can click on the images to view the shop listing.)
And so now, I’m officially obsessed! My best friend in this world is pregnant with a little girl, and due this summer. I’ve already made her something for the baby with some more of my lovely handspun yarn!
I spun some blue as well, in case it had been a little boy–I didn’t know at the time I was spinning–so now I have three skeins of approximately 55 yards each of this lovely stuff. Now I just have to decide what to create with it!
I think it’s safe to say, this is going to be an addiction of mine for a long time to come. There is just something so rewarding about taking fiber and turning it into lofty yarn by way of the ancient method of hand spinning using a spindle. After giving your newly spun yarn a nice long bath in warm, soapy water to set the twist, and a day or two left hanging to dry, you end up with something that fills you with a sense of such accomplishment and pride because “I MADE THIS!”
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