Spinning Yarn

Many years ago I found myself with time to explore the art of hand spinning. It is a subject which takes you back to a world of slower pace. For this reason I think it is time to introduce the idea of the benefits of hand spinning to our world again. Some of us find ourselves rushing from one activity to the next without being mindful that minutes and yes hours of our lives are lost to frenzy. My thought is that anxiety can be reduced when doing a simple task like this. Of course in the very beginning there is some worry about how to get started.

To settle your mind and change your state of being there is nothing better than the gentle repetitive movements of the hands and thread formation found in the craft of hand spinning. Look to the new day and refresh your thoughts by just being in the moment creating the simple thread which later becomes the basis for that new hat or scarf. Yes, it is very easy and represents my desire to return to the days of yore. My thought is to share with you how this simple product of washed wool becomes a basic of our culture to create useful clothing and decorative fabrics.

The yarn product then can be used in numerous ways. If you have a loom you can use this handspun yarn for weft. People to weave scarves, ponchos and wall hangings using homespun yarn. It is quite lovely and textured giving richness to the finished project. More likely if you don't have a loom you may decide to take your finished yarn and knit or crochet with it. The long threads on a loom are called warp. You never would want to use a textured yarn for the warp on a loom since it would tangle and ruin your project. So remember the weft is what you add on the horizontal when weaving a project.

The natural colors of wool can be very satisfying of course. In the beginning I suggest you just explore the natural colors available from sheep or llama. If you learn about these first then later adding color will be just a layered advancement to your understanding of yarn creation. There are many ways to dye yarn and combine colors for added hue and intrigue.

Notice in the video they have a segment called rollogs. These are little swirls of airy combed or carded wool. Of course this wool has already been washed and is completely dry At this juncture you could combine different shades of natural colors into your rollogs to create a swirl of subtle colors in your yarns. The creation of yarn can be an artistic endeavor in itself.

If you find yourself with some time on your hands and an interest in discovering the many ways to use yarn then proceed on a journey which may open new avenues of joy and creativity for your family. My time as a new mom left me home with many hours between children's naps and housework. I needed a creative way to express my unique gifts. Later I discovered that giving handmade gifts was very meaningful for me. Please visit the video which I included and notice the many steps all spoken so well without a word. A picture is worth a thousand words as they say. You may be wondering what exactly is a rollog? Find out by watching the video above.