Room for Growth

Below is my first skein of handpun from my Rose. This is the kind of yarn I've been trying to spin for the past two years - namely a true sock weight, tightly spun, and I did it with ease on this wheel. I am beside myself with happiness. This wheel is fast and smooth and has the ratios I need to get enough twist without feeling like I'm running a marathon. The fiber is Spunky Eclectic superwash "Storm Clouds" picked up at SPA last year, 4oz/400yds/2ply.




I expected the new wheel to help me improve, but I wasn't allowing myself to think a simple change in equipment would make such a marked difference. You know, like when you see a gorgeous photograph and think, "Well if I had a snazzy camera I could do that." Equipment helps, but a fine camera doesn't a great photographer make. The same holds true with the wheel, and its interesting for me to see that I had indeed outgrown my old equipment, and I am simply delighted to have so much growing room ahead. This yarn is far from perfect, but its the best I've ever done towards well done sock yarn and its all I can do to wind it up and cast on right now - must focus on my goals from last post.

That said, apart from completing my big knitting projects before they turn the one year mark, I do hope to be able to do more regular spinning. Apart from those wonderful 3 months of maternity leave I had at the beginning of 2007, I really only spun once a month at my local spin group. So I've joined National Spin More Month. I like this group because you get to set your own goals.

In my head I was thinking I would commit to spinning every day of January, but looking at the month ahead I know that is an impossible goal to reach. So my target is spinning 2 times per week. I've designated Thursday as a regular spin day for me (a work day, but I get to stay home Fridays, so I can stay up late spinning if I choose) and I will squeeze at least one more day in a week as time permits. Hooray!