Blame my Aunt. She listened for two seconds about my Laundress Impression last Thanksgiving and decided she needed to impart some inter-generational wisdom: take up the spindle (...as have thy mothers before thee...). It would give me another period skill to share at reenactments, she said, plus it was hipper than washing long-johns. And it's a more portable than a washtub.
Since then I've come to appreciate the hypnotic, meditative "groove" one can find while spinning. Once you get going, the thread seems to almost make itself - you get into the rythmn of swiftly-drafting wool, winding on to the spindle, humming little old tunes to go along with your 10,000 year old hobby. It's a great conversation starter, and demands less concentration than hand-sewing or knitting. I admit, I'm a total geek reject for bringing it to parties, but somehow I find it's easier to talk to people when I'm doing something with my hands. Don't ask me why.
If any of you are interested in giving it a try, leave a comment and I'll point out some resources you might use to get started!
Since then I've come to appreciate the hypnotic, meditative "groove" one can find while spinning. Once you get going, the thread seems to almost make itself - you get into the rythmn of swiftly-drafting wool, winding on to the spindle, humming little old tunes to go along with your 10,000 year old hobby. It's a great conversation starter, and demands less concentration than hand-sewing or knitting. I admit, I'm a total geek reject for bringing it to parties, but somehow I find it's easier to talk to people when I'm doing something with my hands. Don't ask me why.
If any of you are interested in giving it a try, leave a comment and I'll point out some resources you might use to get started!
I think that it is so wonderful that you are spinning. I can see how it would end up being totally meditative as that's what draws me into sewing and specifically hand quilting; it's the rhythm which one developes as their hands are moving. The question is, what do plan to do with all that hand spun fiber?
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