While preparing for a spinner’s guild meeting over the weekend (that I never even made it to because life has been far too busy lately) I had a flash of brilliance/madness/ambition. I decided that this year, my big goal will be to finish all of the spinning projects that I have in progress — preferably before the Hatchling makes its appearance in June.
Yes, this is utter madness.
Now, I’m clearly not going to kill myself trying to make this goal, but I think that focusing on spinning over the next few months will be a really good way for me to:
- take my mind off of how much I hate pregnancy,
- do a little something that makes me happy every day,
- get my zen relaxation on, and
- work in some gentle movement (treadling, standing while spindling) that could help my DVT-caused leg pain while I’m on a bit of an exercise hiatus.
Plus, I went on a spindle-buying-bender a couple of years ago, and every time I got a new spindle I started a new project, so things have gotten out of hand. I’d really like to turn more of my spinning visions into reality before I have a squalling newborn occupying all of my free time, and I think this will be a nice way to turn spinning into a daily habit. So without further ado, here are all of the projects I have in progress. (All links go to my Ravelry handspun project pages.)
Turkish Spindles
1 – Jenkins Aegean, 4 oz. Nunoco Batts, Summer Love — Batty Challenge, begun April 2014.
2 – Jenkins Aegean, 6 oz. BMFA Yak/Silk, RWC Tarnished Yak/Silk, begun July 2014.
3 – Subterranean Woodworks Medium, 4 oz. Nest Merino, Magrat MegaSAL, begun April 2015.
4 – Subterranean Woodworks Small, 4 oz. BeeMiceElf Merino, Merino Mind Bullets, begun July 2015.
5 – Jenkins Finch, 4 oz. Wooldancer Merino, Tropical Merino, begun November 2014.
Supported Spindles
6 – Woodland Woodworking Bead, 4 oz. June Pryce Fiber Arts Merino, WW Merino begun December 2014.
7 – TexasJeans Russian, 4 oz. Inglenook Batts, begun October 2014.
8 – TexasJeans Tibetan, 2 oz. Angora + 4 oz. Shetland, Bunny Fur, begun April 2014.
9 – hipstrings acrylic tahkli, 4 oz. cotton, begun sampling only, no project page yet.
(The two newer spindles that I haven’t even had time to try yet will play supporting roles.)
Drop Spindles
10 – Kundert drop spindle, 16 oz. Woolgathering’s Spinner’s Study of different breeds, begun May 2012.
11 – Golding Cherry, 6 oz. BMFA camel/merino/silk, begun January 2014.
12 – TexasJeans polka dot drop spindle, 4 oz. BMFA Masham, Indigo Masham, begun June 2014. (This project may have been abandoned…)
13 – Golding Tsunami, 2 oz. quiviut/alpaca + 2 oz. silk, Quiviut/Alpaca, begun October 2013.
Wheel Projects
14 – Earth & Sky Stacks, 8 oz. Gotland, begun March 2015.
15 – I Shall Spin Midnight, 8 oz. Louet merino/silk, begun October 2015.
16 – 10 oz. Loop! Batts, begun November 2013.
17 – Earthy Bubble Crepe, art yarn using a few different braids, begun June 2013.
18 – Shadyside Fiber merino/silk, begun October 2012. Honestly, I think I gave away the rest of this fiber. Will just ply up what I have here and call it a day.
What do you think, folks, can it be done? Finishing all 18 would mean I’d have to finish 3 projects a month to be done by the end of June… Yikes. How far do you think I’ll get?
Woolen Diversions 
Wow! What a project! I admit, this is one I am excited to follow along for. I love completion goals. And also, can I just say thank you for being one of those people who doesn’t like pregnancy and admits it? Because I am 12 years out now, and still shudder when I think about it. But, at least back then, there weren’t many people saying “Hey, this isn’t really all that grand.”
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Thank you for saying that. 🙂 I’m making it something of my mission to let people know ‘hey, it’s ok if you don’t love this’ because even today I’m bombarded with what a special time it is, and how it’s magical, and wonderful, etc. etc. And maybe it is that way for some people, but for the ones having a miserable time, it can feel pretty isolating so I’m making it a point to be up-front about it. Plus (on my feminist soapbox) I think women often undervalue their experiences, so I feel like it’s important to own that this is a hard thing to do, and we do it anyway.
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Well, I think if you work a little bit each day, you very well can finish your goal. Or at least clear off a lot of spindles!
Connor has gotten farther on his knitting than I have because he has been knitting a bit each day and I have felt the need to read a million articles on the internet instead. Perhaps I need to join you and make sure I’m doing just a little each day.
Also, how could anyone enjoy being pregnant? Technically, you are growing a parasite 🙂
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Too true! I still love that you taught Connor to knit, that is so fun.
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Those spindles are all so beautiful! They are pieces of art on their own! I love the colours you are spinning too. Just one question: no baby knitting??
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I know, I’m totally slacking on the baby knitting! Part of it is that I think I want to know the sex first, the rest is because I’m lazy. 🙂 I will do some soon, though.
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oh my gosh, you have so many lovely spindles! That is a lot… I guess it depends on how you use your free time! And if your baby is early or late. 😉
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Genius idea! Make it, use it! You are clear on the benefits and in many ways spinning is much more relaxing than knitting.
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I bet you can get at least half, especially if you bounce back and forth from spindle to wheel. It’s hard to get momentum though. I haven’t touched my poor wheel in a month and my spindles at all since I got the wheel last march….
I have faith in you !
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Thanks, Lisa! That’s exactly why I want to make it a goal, I spin a whole bunch when I’m actually in spinning mode, but it’s easy to lose momentum. So hopefully this will keep me motivated!
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As a total non-spinner, I have no idea if your plan is realistic, but as someone who has chronic pain, I can tell you that there is research that knitting helps! Thus, I am sure that spinning does, too. I could do some things with a baby, but once they start moving — you’re on the alert all the time!
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Go for it! What do you have to lose? If you don’t make it, no harm no foul.
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This is such a great idea, and I’m going to find all my unfinished spins right now.
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Is it bad that I feel better that I’ve had a spinning project on going for almost two years having seen your projects? Looks great though.
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