Just as I'm getting ready to give away my spindle you have to be all encouraging! I thought I was over the urge to spin, but your yarn and your insights make me think maybe I'll let the thing sit a little longer in my craft closet and maybe this spring I'll take it out for a whorl. One problem is that I got started by a well-meaning, but in-her-own-world expert spinner who can successfully spin the uncombed not to mention uncarded plant dyed fleece she handed me with my spindle. That, too is languishing in fiber limbo. I'll continue to follow your progress and let you know if I muster the courage to try, try again.

I'm inspired by the beautiful yarn you spun and your stick-to-it positive attitude. As with all crafts, there is no quick answer -- it's practice and experimentation that makes a good craftswoman.

Your skeins are looking beautiful- I love the colors! That Tahiti is gorgeous!

I love the pink-and-orange yarn you spun up! I received a spindle two Christmases ago, but haven't yet built up the gumption to just give it a twirl.

I think learning to spin is like learning to ride a bike... you try and try for a while and then suddenly you just can. I learned the park and draft thing at MS&W and did that for a while, and then, without really even realizing how I did it, I suddent started being able to spin and draft at the same time. Something in that ol' neurological system just clicked and there it was.

But I don't think it matters how you do it as long as you enjoy it and you get a product you love. I really think it's mostly about the wonderful tactile and visual feelings that it generates and not really so much about technique.

I think that's how spinning is - it's like a lightning bolt for some people. it's a sudden moment when it all clicks together. Park and Draft is a god method and I still use it when spinning cotton - it works well.
Your skeins look fabulous. 195 yards will make a luscious pair of mittens. If you need a pattern for that I have one that I mail out with my singles yarns.

Julia,
I'm having a huge skein crush on your luxurious singles. They really make the best of your gorgeous roving. If I saw those skeins in a store, I'd have to pick them up and admire them. As you said, they are reminiscent of Manos, and you know I love things from Uruguay. ;)
It's funny, I was thinking about what you said, the other day, about finally feeling like you want to spin and can actually do it. My first go around with spinning was the same way. I got the basic technique but I didn't really feel a connection with spinning. Then, when you took it up, and I tried it again, things just seemed to come together. I really liked spinning better after I gave it some time to sink in.

That's looking great!! I have a really hard time spinning soft, even bulky singles. My hands seem to itch to spin more like a sport or fingering... I like bulky, now if I could just get my hands to.

Spinning is amazing when one arrives at the point where it happens, and starts becoming almost instinctive. I have to confess that I have not been able to spin much at all on a drop spindle, but I have bonded quite well with my Ashford Joy.

Keep up the good work - your singles are beautiful.

Wow. De-lish. Making me think I may have time to do this...oh, yeah. I don't. So, will continue to live vicarious through you!

I have just started learning to spin on the drop spindle too. I have a top and a bottom worl and have found the bottom one to spin a lot better. I too was doing the spin/park/draft routine and then recently have found that I can spin and draft at the same time without having to park. I don't know if it is because of the bottom spindle or if it is because I started using a different roving. I just got easier for me and I think it is just one of those things that with practice just kind of comes together. Sometimes I get a little overboard and I get it too thin and then have to park it, set fingers before the thin spot, load the spin, and then respin wool over the thin spot. It seems to work well.

I haven't been trying to spin anything balanced. I have read and heard that it is okay to add spin to it. Spin the yarn, then add some spin to it, then load the yarn onto the spindle. When the yarn gets plied together it will balance. I haven't yet done plying so I don't know if this is true.

My little mini - goals include trying to draft/spin at the same time and trying to get a yarn that is of the same consistency (so far this isn't really happening.) Just thought I would share my little journey with you. Thanks for sharing yours.

Your spun yarn looks really good. :)

Thanks for this post Julia! I've been thinking about spinning A LOT lately, as you can probably guess, but haven't been spinning much since the first few days with the new wheel. Unfortunately I'm in the middle of a project and all my spare time is going to the knitting, but I found someone (I think) who I can take a lesson or two from and that will surely help.

I know exactly how you feel about wanting to be alone to spin. For me, this figuring it out and and waiting for that aha moment is very much a singular activity. Where knitting seems to lend itself to a group, spinning, I feel like, SHOULD be a more solitary activity. This calming, meditative environment everyone brags about shouts alone time. Sure, you can meditate at a retreat with lots of people, but I bet the best meditative work you do is alone. Same thing goes for spinning.

Thank you again. I can feel your progress, as well as see it.

It's gorgeous stuff. No need to justify here - I have no clue about spinning. Just admiration for spinners.

Yummy colors!