About 35 years ago my sister taught me to spin. Firstly on a drop spindle and then on a real wheel. It was great fun and an interest that we shared. She is a naturally good spinner and a very patient teacher. We shared some lovely times together....a stall at Dingley Market to sell our spun wool and garments we had produced.....members of the local spinners group.....etc. etc.... eventually work and other interests crept in and after I got tennis elbow - from playing tennis but also from spinning too much...I gave it away.
Over the years, every time I saw a spinning wheel for sale I would have a little dream of owning a wheel again but I knew I had no time, and they are not the easiest items to dust so not really something I wanted to just sit in a corner looking pretty. That all changed in April 2012 when my Sis told me of a Tarra spinning wheel on e-bay. With her, and her son's help (I had never bought anything on e-bay before) the spinning wheel was mine. The problem was the wheel was in Victoria and I live in Tasmania. My nephew collected it, which I really appreciated his time and effort, and my Sis collected it from him and then my Mum paid for it and wouldn't let me re-pay her. On my next visit Sis got me spinning again. I was very rusty but finally got back the feel and rhythm and felt as if I knew what I was doing. We bought a large carton, packed it in safely and it flew home with me. Once I was back without my Sis I didn't feel quite so confident but bit by bit I got going again.
I joined the Hand-weavers Spinners and Dyers Guild here in Hobart. They have a lovely wool store and so I bought a multi coloured grey fleece. I also bought some processed fleece for me to practice on before starting on the grey. On one of Sis's visits to Hobart to stay with us we she taught me how to dye. We had a great time with lots of laughter - especially when the thumb in my glove had broken and I had a navy blue thumb for the next few days!!! It has been a busy year since getting my wheel home...overseas trip..renovating our new home and garden..but in between times I really enjoyed sitting spinning, knitting up a few bits and even found brushing the wool to prepare it very relaxing.
My next adventure with Sis is a trip to Harrietville to the Spinning Get Together...it will be great!!!
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| I had fun with three different lots of pre-dyed and processed wool |
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| My practice pieces and the first of my multi grey washed and drying |
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| The practice hanks became beanies for two of my grandsons |
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| Part of the grey fleece became a jumper for a grandson's birthday |
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| one of our dyed hanks...I didn't take a photo of my thumb |
