Jan 25, 2012

Question of the Day

Do you think spinning is the new knitting?

Over the last week, I've read a lot of wonderful blog posts about how much fun and satisfying spinning is.  I've also seen some amazing photos of stunningly gorgeous roving that is in your stashes, waiting to be spun into yarn.


http://www.etsy.com/shop/ButterflybushYarns

I'm sure you've noticed that many indie dyers offer not only hand-dyed yarns among their inventory, but many indie fiber shops also offer roving:  luscious, colorful, enticing roving (like Butterfly Bush Yarns, as seen above, and Caridad Fiber Art and Wild Hare, as seen below).

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cariadfiberart?ref=seller_info

http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildhare?ref=seller_info

When Falling Stitches wrote about her spinning bug, I mentioned how I've been noting a trend among knitters who also spin and she said that perhaps spinning is the new knitting.  I'm inclined to agree.

What makes many of you spin is your love of fiber -- plain and simple.  Pumpkin Spins wrote a lovely post about what spinning means to her and it got me thinking about why we do what we do and why we challenge ourselves to try new crafts, and then Annie Claire shared a spinning moment on her blog which made me wish I had a wheel. It reminded me, too, of how Jane, the owner of my LYS, once told me that she's practically obsessed with spinning and that her house is overcrowded with wheels.  I have to admit that I love that image.


So, perhaps I'll add spinning to my list of "things to try in 2012."  But if it becomes anything like my love of knitting, I'm going to have to find a whole new space in my house to stash my roving!
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13 comments:

  1. KeriJanuary 25, 2012 at 8:26 AM

    For me spinning seems to fall a little to the wayside. But when I do sit down at one of my two wheels, I fall in love with it all over again.
    I haven't gotten the same addition to it as I do with my knitting, but I think that's only because I spend more time knitting than spinning.
    I keep wanting to make more time for it. Just hasn't happened yet.

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  2. RuthJanuary 25, 2012 at 8:50 AM

    I have to say I got bitten deeply by the spinning bug last year and out of all the crafts I practise, it's the spinning I get the most satfisfaction from. I don't know why but it does.

    I'm really pleased that blogger has actually let me comment today - my Google account has been playing up quite a lot and I haven't been able to comment on a lot of blogs - very frustrating indeed! :)

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  3. Lisa-24-7January 25, 2012 at 9:08 AM

    I never thought I'd become a spinner. I knew I wanted to try a drop spindle, just to try, but never thought I'd get hooked. But I am. I will always be a knitter first, but spinning is very relaxing and a nice break from knitting sometimes. I think spinning is a great hobby so I do recommend it to anyone who wants to try, but don't do it if you really don't want to.

    It sure is nice to knit something with yarn you spun yourself though :)

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  4. GailJanuary 25, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    It's been a long time since I sat down at my wheel, and this post is making me want to do it! I tend to go in spurts with spinning: I'll spin regularly for a couple months, and then won't touch it for a year or two! I can't imagine doing that with knitting. I get antsy after a day if I don't have time for knitting!

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  5. Marie/Underground CrafterJanuary 25, 2012 at 10:37 AM

    I know I can't handle adding another large space craft into my home, but I have been thinking about learning to use a drop spindle. I hope to have time to take someone else's spinning class while I'm at All Things Fiber Camp :).

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  6. Emma (GirlAnachronismE)January 25, 2012 at 10:59 AM

    I have literally just started spinning as I got a learn to spin drop spindle kit for Christmas and I love it already, even though I've only spun one yarn so far. I can highly recommend it.

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  7. PumpkinJanuary 25, 2012 at 11:16 AM

    You can quickly find yourself broke by clicking around on Etsy looking at roving. I particularly love the examples you found, I might have to buy some of the rainbow one. Also, thanks for the shout out, I'm humbled : )

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  8. JulieJanuary 25, 2012 at 8:49 PM

    I've deliberately not tried spinning, because it looks so addictive and i don't have time for another hobby... but the roving looks amazing.

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  9. GerryARTJanuary 26, 2012 at 10:25 AM

    I DO NOT want to go there.
    I mean it ! ! ! !

    hugs
    Gerry

    I really, really mean it. . . . .

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  10. mikkaJanuary 26, 2012 at 1:34 PM

    Spinning is definitely on my list of things to try! Like others have said, I'm a bit hesitant to take on a new craft when I already have so many going on :) But that's not a bad problem to have!

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  11. WSJanuary 26, 2012 at 7:13 PM

    A friend actually gave me a spinning wheel to try to get me into it, but no such luck. I'm a Knitter. Not a crocheter, or a spinner. If I did try anything else, weaving looks to me to be very interesting. I did a bit of that last year and it was nice.

    I think the issue with spinning for me is that you have to spin so many 'duds' before you get it right. And then what to do with the wasted yarn? It's not like in knitting where you can just pull it all out and start again.

    And then it takes so long - how long to spin before you can produce something that can be knit into something...? You can see, I'm definitely not in the spinning camp. ;-) Still, it's people like me who keep spinners in business, so I don't think it's an issue.

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  12. autumngeishaJanuary 27, 2012 at 12:15 AM

    Those roving pictures are so tempting! I have toyed around with the idea of learning how to spin with a drop spindle. I even went so far as to buy a couple of books on the subject. Maybe in the near future.

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  13. KimFebruary 1, 2012 at 10:02 AM

    While the roving is so beautiful, I don't think spinning is something I will try. I only have so much time, money and space in my little house. I think I will be content to knit! :) Very interesting post though...
    *smiles*

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