First Adventures in Drop Spindle Spinning.
Keeley Richardson
Founder and Chief Fiber Officer
Learning something new is good for the brain and good for the soul. I am always looking to extend my knowledge of the fiber world and learning how to spin yarn has been on my “to-do” list for some time.
I already had my equipment – I bought a drop spindle and wool roving at Fiber Fusion two years ago when I was on a self imposed yarn buying ban due to my overflowing yarn stash. Roving doesn’t count as yarn….? When I found the spindle and roving in a closet a couple of months ago it spurred me in to action and after an online search, a class was finally booked. I was delighted when a couple of my fabulous knitting gals Jennifer (@pineconesandwool), and Janell joined me for a drop spindle class at Quintessential Knits in Duvall.
On arrival at Quintessential Knits I discovered that the spindle I had bought two years ago was in fact one of the instructor Barbara’s own designs, and I had bought it from her at Fiber Fusion – a sure sign that this class was meant to be!
Our wonderful instructor, Barbara Seeler, learned to knit when she was five years old and has had a lifelong love affair with fiber. She began to spin yarn thirty years ago and has traveled across the continent taking workshops and refining her skills. We soon realized that a class with instructor Barbara Seeger is more than just a fiber class. It’s also a history and culture class. Barbara is a true fiber expert and we learned fascinating facts such as, humans were using flax fibers 34,000 years ago in the Caucasus Mountains and there is evidence that these fibers had been dyed and spun. It was a delight to know that we really were learning an ancient art. We were also given well-being advice in the form of hand stretching exercises and how to avoid sore muscles from spinning – good posture is everything.
Our group got down to the business of spinning straight away. Barbara demonstrated the technique and we were off. The three of us are experienced knitters but this spinning technique was new to all of us. It was enriching to go back to the basics of a different fiber craft and with Barbara’s careful guidance we found we were soon producing something resembling yarn, albeit rather rustic yarn. We worked with two different types of fiber; an alpaca and a merino, and it was a useful process to find out the difference between the two in terms of fiber length, and also how it felt to work with. By the end of the session with Barbara’s encouraging words, we found we were taking the “drop” out of the drop spindle process.
It was so rewarding to feel the natural fiber running through our fingers and turning in to something we knitters can work with. It’s easy to see how this ancient technique can become a form of meditation. It requires concentration, patience and an understanding of what the fibers will do for you with the right level of coaxing and shaping. I plan to find more quiet moments to pick up my drop spindle and roving and one day proudly wear something I have spun and knitted – true satisfaction!
Barbara is a regular at Fiber Fusion Northwest which takes place June 1st-2nd, at The Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe. This year she is co-instructing three classes spinning classes with Karen Chabinsky. At the time of publishing there are still a few spaces available in their classes.
You can also take a spinning class at Quintessential Knits. Full details are on their website, or you contact the store to enquire about private group lessons. Enjoy a new adventure!
