This week I have finally found some extra time to do a little spinning on my favorite wheel. Every now and then life gets caught up enough to just spend a little time with the wheel and the needles….it’s nice when that happens.
As I was spinning up this roving, I found I really liked the variation in the colors and want to preserve them when I am plying, so I thought I would try my hand at Navaho plying again. I’ve never been very good at it, but after reading Margene’s successes and asking her about it privately, I’m going to give it a try this weekend. Thanks for your helpful tips, Margene!
Frequently I like to put some mellow music on when I am spinning …not only is it relaxing, but I find that I contemplate alot when listening and spinning when my house is otherwise quiet.
As I was spinning, I was thinking about the different kinds of fiber people I have met along my way. I have been working with fiber in a production type mode for many many years. I was a sample aran sweater knitter for Merino Wool out of NYC when my older children were babies, I was a production machine knitter for the Betsy boutiques in New England for a spell and finally landed where I am today….trying to find a balance of doing what I love for work and still keeping it a hobby that is fun. The day it ceases to be fun will be the day I stop. 🙂
On my journey, I have found that there seems to be 2 types of fiber producers …the givers and the takers. The takers will ask you lots and lots of questions about how you do things, who your suppliers are, why you do something one way as opposed to another…etc, but when you reciprocate in question, your questions are never answered…..they guard their secrets very close to themselves and rarely give for fear of competition. I have never quite understood why people do this, as I believe that each person has their own unique style that eventually shines…but I respect a person’s decision to guard if they choose.
Then there are the givers……….the above picture is some roving that I just purchased this week from CMR. (I hope Teyani doesn’t mind I snagged the picture….my roving is not here yet). I ventured over to CMR on my friend Ann’s recommendations on her website. She raved about how helpful the owners of this company are and the wonderful customer service….she is right, it’s great! The roving is nothing I would normally ever be attracted to, but I love the finished Big Yellow Taxi socks here so much that I thought I would give it a try.
Never having spun this type of roving, I wanted to be able to create the same kind of yarn so that my socks would look like these when finished, so I emailed Teyani. She gave me some great tips and sent me to her March 12 blog entry for more tips and information.
As I read it this morning, I thought to myself……ahhhhhhh…..she is a giver. Someone who shares knowledge freely…a teacher. Over the years, I have come to respect the teachers in our community, who are willing to embrace the learners. Those who teach either freely or in the classroom setting the knowledge that they have learned in their fiber experience.
Even though I still see myself very much as a learner, I always want to be willing to help another on this wonderful journey we call fiber artistry :-).
The Woolen Rabbit 
Teyani has been very helpful while I learn to spin, too. Her roving is so beautiful and while I did fine with my first bump (made a 3 ply) I can’t wait to do a better job with my new colorway, Spirit in the Sky. Your words are so true, Kim. It’s because of ‘givers’ here in blogland that I have learned so much more than I could have by just spinning alone.
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Teyani is indeed a giver and I treasure her friendship. (I treasure my friendship with you, too, by the way.) You will love spinning the CMF. I wish we lived closer, I would come over and help you with the Navajo plying.
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Ditto what the others say — Teyani is definitely a giver. And her sock hop rovings are fabulous!
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You are so talented. The sheen on that green yarn is georgous. Kim never doubt that you are one of the givers. 🙂
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I am by no means disagreeing with you, but for me it is not a matter of guarding secrets. It is more a matter of not being able to verbalize what I do and why. Sounds stupid, but for some (or at least me), teaching is beyond difficult. I always figure that you know what I know. Makes a great friend, but lousy teacher. Still, there are those who do not share for the reasons you gave and it seems so narrow-minded.
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Hahaha – We are soooo much alike! I have Teyani’s 3/12 entry bookmarked too. 🙂 One of these days I’m going to buy the Heatwave roving and I want my socks to look just like those too.
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Thankfully, I’ve met many more givers than takers and owed a huge debt to them. It would have taken me years to accumulate the knowledge on my own, and MANY pounds of wasted fiber! Teyani is one of the best sharers out there.
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Teyani “gets it” on so many levels — even though I’ve never met her in person, her fabulous company seem to embody her spirit. I would never have learned to spin if it wasn’t for all the wonderful givers. Your singles are lovely — I’m sure you’ll do a great job with plying!
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Thanks for the link. I never thought of leaving so much white in the roving. Thanks to all the “givers” we can keep learning new techniques.
Your wood moss is really enchanting me. I have ten pounds of roving set aside for spring break! It can’t come soon enough.
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Good analysis of giver/taker aspects. I think there are more givers than takers in the fiber world, but I’ve met a number of the takers and understand exactly what you mean.
I just did my first by myself experiment with navajo plying – most of it came out pretty decently but I somehow managed to reverse my spinning direction about midway, which really messed up that segment of yarn. Fortunately, the nature of that mistake makes it obvious fairly quickly, though – ahem – I’m apparently slow to notice. LOL So I have a chunk of messed up yarn in the middle of my miniskein. Other than that, I’m pleased with this effort.
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I am touched beyond words by your kindness.
It is my goal to be a “giver” and I am delighted that it comes through to you.
I will help in anyway that I can to assist you in the creation of your yarn, though I am, by far, not the most experienced of spinners or knitters.
I only know that I love what I do, and that my heart has been deeply touched by the friends I have made in blogland. there are so many, my life is blissfully full.
May your spinning be filled with joy, and your toes dancing to 60’s tunes!
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I have come across more givers than takers in Blogland. Everyone has been so helpful to me in my first efforts as a spinner. I doubt I would have even given it a try had it not been for encouraging people like you.
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Your spinning is wonderful, Kim. And I agree with your assessment of Crown Mountain Fiber. I have had nothing but positive experiences with them. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll head over there now. 🙂
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teyani is beautiful in person also 🙂
ah the takers- bad karma.
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