Spinning Class

No, not that kind of spinning.  I'm not energetic enough to sit on an exercise bike, pedaling to a video.  Give me a real bike and a real hill any any day!

I wanted to do a post on how my spinning class at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts went.  I know some of you were interested.  Forgive me if my posts are somewhat random, in terms of being one thing, then another the next day.  I just keep going through my photos and noticing how much catching up I have to do!

Here I am on the first night of class.  Can you say, "Giddy?!"  I have wanted to learn to spin for SOOOOO long!  I thought it was a great deal.  We got four nights of instruction (one night a week for four weeks), and we got to take home a spinning wheel for the month to use and practice with.  Awesome.

Much to my surprise, there was a bag for each of us when we showed up the first night.  This is a large shopping bag with handles, and it's full of unspun yarn.  Ours for taking the class!  (Incidentally, the cost of my class was $75.  Don't you think that's a great deal for all of this?!  I sure did!)

Here is Holly, holding one of the "batts" (I don't know what you call them) of unspun yarn that was in the bag.  There were three of these in there, plus some smaller ones as well.

Here was my wheel....and the view from my vantage point.  Our teacher's name was Susan.  I really liked her.  She has a Master's degree in English and was very funny.  I enjoyed her stories.  She sort of had a "free-associating" way of teaching...but it all came together at some point in the class!  LOL.

Here is what I had spun by the end of the class on the first night.  I was really proud of myself.  I think I did okay on this!  I filled two bobbins full of my yarn.  It's not perfect....some areas are thicker than others.  But it's all mine!  Susan joked with us that the more "mistakes" we made, the more valuable our yarn was.  Some people really like "handspun" yarn, and you know it's "handspun" if it's not perfect.  So, every time I noticed an area that I made too thick or too thin, I just went, "Kah-ching!"  LOL!  The second night, we learned how to ply it.  I haven't taken a photo yet, but after that, we wound it into a hank.  I think I'd really like to try hand dyeing it next!

Here was some already-dyed roving that was in our bags.  This was fun to spin, to play with the colors.  But the quality of the roving was very different than the white.  It was very difficult to draft (pull out of the "batt" and prepare for the wheel).  From that perspective, I didn't like working with it.  I haven't spun it all.  I'd like to finish it sometime.

Here is what I did spin of it and how it ended up looking after spinning.  Pretty cool, I think!

This stuff here was a dream to spin.  I think it was Bluefaced Leicester.  It just came off the batt like butter.  I could have spun this stuff all day.  As a matter of fact, I did spin it for hours at one sitting.  I haven't spun all of this yet, either.  But I will definitely finish it.  I thought I had a photo of it spun, but I guess not.  I'll have to show you some other time.

Here's a funny story....

Our teacher was telling us that one time she was demonstrating spinning at some event.  Someone stopped and talked to her, saying that he/she figured it must take an immense amount of concentration to spin.  Susan corrected them and said something like this, "Not really.  It's very relaxing.  If you were to hook a spinner up to an EEG, you'd basically see a flat line."  (This is what I mean about her sense of humor.  I loved it.)

Well, as I was spinning this last, wonderful wool, I found it so relaxing.  I was spinning and spinning.  I felt something on the outside of my mouth and chin.  I put my hand up there and realized I was drooling!!!  Did you hear me???  DROOLING!  OMG.  I just started laughing.  I remembered Susan's comment and thought, "Yep.  Totally flatlining!!!"

So, the long and short of it is that I really enjoyed spinning.  Now, I really, really want a wheel.  The Michigan Fiber Festival is coming up.  I know they have them there, and I'm going to look for one.  I did some consulting in July, and I'm going to siphon off a bit of that money to go get one.  (I may have mentioned it before, but when I do some consulting, I siphon off a bit to buy myself something special and save the rest.  That way, I feel like there was something "in it" for me to do the consulting, and I don't just piss away the extra money I earn.)

'Cause y'all know I don't have enough to do and need another hobby!!!

This Friday, I'm making a day trip to Chicago for Stitches Midwest with my friend, Jane.  CAN.  NOT.  WAIT.  We're taking a bus, chartered by Your Local Yarn Shop.  So nice!  Don't have to drive, park, etc.  I am really looking forward to it.  I hear it's pretty overwhelming.  It will be like Market for fabric, I bet!

Until next time,

Comments

[Allie]

Oh my gosh I almost wet my pants about the drooling....hahahahahahaha. I can totally relate. Spinning looks like fun, Stephanie! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and good for you for siphoning off some of the money as a reward.

[terriaw]

I can't believe you admitted you were drooling! I can see that happening but I don't think I would have the nerve to admit it to anyone.

Looks like a wonderful class, especially with that beautiful rose colors wool. I've always wanted to try spinning... both kinds. Need to add this to my list.

[Maggie Robinson]

Hi Stephanie..Our interests certsinly do expand don't they <3
It's a good thing! Keeps the brain alert..
I can only imagine how much fun you had..
Good for you drools and all:)
We have a Fleece Festival here in Woodstock Ont. in October!!!! Just sayin'
Looking forward to more pictures.. You have the best blog:)Feels like I was there.
BTW Your Etsy parcel will be in the mail on Tues. We had a holiday on Mon. and everything was closed.

[Maggie Szafranski]

LOL! In the emergency department we would call that a postive Q sign....mouth open and tongue hanging out!!! Our friend is interested in spinning the shedded wool from their bison, she would totally love to take a class like that!!!

[Thimbleanna]

Oh. My. Gosh. You're a girl after my own heart. It looks like great fun -- drooling and all. I've often wondered about spinning but your comment hit the nail on the head ... I don't need another hobby! Not to mention more tools! I've always wanted to go to Stitches too -- I hope you have a fantastic time!!!

[Deb]

You definitely look excited in that top photo! Looks like fun, too! At Farmer's Market this past Saturday the booth beside us had a very small bundle of wool from their sheep for sale--certainly looks like your bag was stuffed with huge batts compared to the ones I saw. I hope you're able to find your wheel at the festival and have a good time on Friday, too, in Chicago! Enjoyed the post.

[Ivy]

Too funny! Yes, by the title, I thought you were talking about bicycle spinning. Don't worry--the one with yarn looks like a lot more fun :)

[carolld]

Too funny. I can just see your drooling! I should take up spinning. Maybe it would help me with my stress. Looked like a fun class and will be great for you since you are such a good knitter! Can't wait to see what you do with the yarn. Nice post.

[Maureen]

LOL!! about the drool! I so needed a good laugh- work this week has been, let's say...interesting!

Spinning is done...now you can zumba with me on Tuesday :) You will sweat more at Zumba than spinning but I don’t think you will drool! :)

[Doris]

My MIL has a spinning wheel that sits on her hearth, I believe it was her mother's or grandmother's. Most likely I'll end up inheriting it, as I doubt my husband's brother or any of the five granbdchildren will want it. I guess I'll have to learn to spin (assuming it still functions!)! There is a place in Cedar Falls that teaches classes, and I know several ladies in that area that do it regularly.

[Donna]

This looks like so much fun! I have watched it being done but never tried it. I love the color you did on the spool.
Hugs,
Donna

[Susan]

Ian'tit amazing to see that stuff turn into yarn which you can knit/crochet or whatever. Such a pretty colour. You do really enter another zone/meditation.
Have fun.

[Deb]

This is my kind of spinning! How fun - I can see how it would be relaxing.

[jenclair]

This is something I've wanted to try for a long time! Such a cool transformation from fluff to yarn...