you spin me right round

Instead of our usual knit afternoon at The Knitch, a little group gathered at Jane‘s house for a Sit & Spin. Everyone who could brought wheels and roving, and those of us that didn’t have a wheel I got to watch and try my hand at it. The party was hosted by Jane (below, far right), who has a lovely house and an even lovelier porch, perfect for spinning and confounding the neighbors.

Speaking of neighbors, her neighbor across the street (below, in the stripey shirt) saw us spinning and marched right over to introduce herself. Bearing her OWN SOCK KNITTING IN PROGRESS! Jane had a knitter RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET and never knew. Not only THAT, she also dyes yarn and supplies it to a local yarn shop! She brought over some of her beautifully colored yarn for us to ogle.

I will not reveal her name nor the name of her yarn here, because IT’S A SECRET! Seriously. It’s her secret knitter identity. By an agreement with the yarn store and stuff. It’s like she’s a yarn dying superhero! Also, she had no idea there was a “knitting culture”* here in atlanta, and OH BOY, did we fill her in! Her husband and 3 daughters may never see her again.

*HA!

It was pretty much demanded that I participate in the spinning festivities, and really, no one had to twist my arm that hard. Sandy presented me with a drop spindle** and some natural wool roving and showed me how to do it. I was a spinning virgin, so she was very gentle and patient with me. Jane got some pictures of this elegant learning process over here.

**I only dropped it twice. OK, three times. Maybe four.

Everyone agreed that I did pretty darned well for my first time:

Sandy is letting me borrow the spindle for practice. It’s pretty good, huh? Kind of slubby, but you know…first time and all.

Then they decided I was ready for the big leagues. If we were in an adult shop, it would be time to head to the back. Behind the curtain. Where the serious equipment is – you know, the stuff made out of vulcanized rubber that plugs into the wall.***

***I am only guessing at this, of course

Jen lent me her wheel and some hideously dyed roving she received as part of a roving club that apparently likes to horrify it’s recipients by combining bright teal and highlighter pink with pumpkin orange and brown. Seriously…what-a the hell? Anyway, whoa. The wheel is tricky. It likes to spin the opposite way at first just for fun. And it goes FAST! But I have a wee little skien to show for my efforts.

It’s half over-spun and half under-spun but it is my first try and I like it and I will keep it forever and pet it and love it and call it George!  (edited to add: Janice got some pictures of this momentous occasion here.  Thanks, Janice!)

And now I have a nice floofy pile of roving to play with at home for practice. (cleeeek on it to see the deeeetails)

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