Spin challenge update

I've been spinning in earnest. Every day I've been spinning either on the wheel or spindle, but mainly with the spindle. I'm not too sure what it is about spindle spinning that makes it so satisfying. Maybe it's the act of the fibres sliding past each other with ease. Or maybe it is the meditative effects of the twirling spindle. Whatever it is I just can't get enough.

I've been spinning a braid of BFL roving from Turtlepurl. This is my second time spinning her stuff and I love it. What I don't love is plying on a spindle. I've learned from experience that spindle plying will send me into a tear-induced fit of rage. I now ply on the wheel. Much, much easier.

So here's a photo of my progress. I'm plugging along. I'm over halfway done the braid. I should be done by the end of the month.

Spinning challenge

I've fallen back in love with spindle spinning again.

I started spinning on a spindle back in May when I borrowed a friend's Bosworth. I was instantly hooked. Although I don't own a spindle of my own, I love, love, love spindle spinning. At one point I had two Bosworths (both borrowed) going at the same time. I eventually gave the spindles back to my friends when I got back into knitting at full speed. But ended up reborrowing a Bosworth two weeks ago. Glad I did because I'm pretty happy with the results. Also, I've been spinning every day this month.

The reason I love spindle spinning is that I can take it on the go. I can spin at the park, cafes, restaurants and outside my daughter's school. People are fascinated when you bring out the spindle. I will admit when I spotted a knitter spindle spinning at a knitting guild meeting I didn't have a clue what she was doing. Kids are particularly spellbound with whirling spindles. They look like toys. Cool toys that they've never seen before. When I was spinning at Ikea this morning a friend's two-year-old daughter looked at the spindle with delight. She even "helped" me spin the spindle. It was just too cute.

So this month's challenge is to spin every day, regardless if it with a spindle or spinning wheel. My hope is to spin and ply the Turtlepurl roving I've got on the Bosworth by the end of the month and start kntting socks. (See, everything relates back to socks!)