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| Mitzi’s Fiber Journey |
Three years ago after much prompting and
prodding from llama friends tired of wiping my drool off their wheels. Susie
Smithers allowed me to experiment with two spinning wheels one was a beautiful
Ashford wheel (that intimidated me) and the other was a nice simple Louet wheel
(which I use today). I purchased my wheel and set out on my fiber journey.
For many
months, I spun what I like to affectionately call “Santa beards” needless to
say it wasn’t the prettiest or most usable yarn. “Santa beards” are yarn
singles that are usually pencil thick filled with thick, thin, huge, un-spun,
and over spun sections. The girls all used to say relax Mitzi; this is supposed
to be fun. Spinning is so relaxing. Yet every time I sat to spin I tensed up and
had a horrible time. I quit a hundred times. I thought about seeing if someone
would buy my wheel.
I sat
with the “fiber mavens” at llama shows and meetings trying to pick up hints
and tips. It seemed as though everyone who tried to teach me did something
different. Finally something clicked in my brain, I began to spin consistently
and evenly. AND THIN!!!!! No more pencil thick singles. I couldn’t believe it.
I had actually learned to spin. It was truly a miracle from God. I could
actually begin to find spinning relaxing.
I began
to go to spin-ins and the more I spun the more I learned. I began taking lessons
from a wonderful teacher Billie Bannerman. She showed me so many things about
tension and proper arm movements. Billie exposed me to spinning all sorts of
fibers. We did silk, dog, cotton, and flax. Each lesson was not only a spinning
lesson but also a history lesson and a life lesson.
I got
all excited about making an entry in the fiber show at the Ohio State Fair. I
didn’t get my skein to my satisfaction so I didn’t enter that. I did enter
three fiber samples from our boys. I was so excited because my llama Daneyko won
a fourth place ribbon for the sample and Judy’s llama Gabriel won a fifth. I
also learned valuable lessons about fiber sample and fleece preparations for
showing.
I am
still learning every time I spin. I am finding it more and more fun and relaxing
the more I do it. I am learning more advanced knitting skills. I hope to one day
bring home a blue ribbon for one of my skeins or projects. Wouldn’t that make
my teachers proud!!
I
can’t believe that I can say this but…
I
AM SPINNER!
And I am turning into a
“FIBER MAVEN”!