I started spinning wool on a spinning wheel 20 years ago. I knew 3 spinners- the person who was spinning at a Heifer International Festival in Rutland MA who I didn’t previously know but whom I went up to and asked who could teach me, my teacher who was the person she directed me to, and me. There were so many exciting things to learn.
Both my individual spinning world and the international spinning world have expanded rapidly since then. But I still have so many new experiences with it and there are more skills to learn. It is all so much fun. It is a good hobby also in that when spinners meet for the first time there is a bond of kindred spirits because the rest of the world doesn’t understand us and we don’t care. 🙂
This fall gave me three new opportunities. As part of our fiber business, Eagle Lake Fibers, we were able to teach a five week hands on class covering all the steps that it takes to create yarn from sheep to shawl. We taught 8 eager learners at the adult education program called Assabet After Dark at Assabet Valley Regional Technical School in Marlborough MA. We have been asked to present it again next fall and will also do a two week workshop in April that focuses only on carding and combing. Some of our students this fall told us they will take that also and it will be fun to see them again.
Part of the fun is getting the chance to comb fiber on scary tools. Only this minute did I realize I can see half of my cat on the floor.
Then here at Auntie Zaza’s Fiberworks in North Easton three women asked if they could be taught the drop spindle. I have always preferred the spinning wheel to the drop spindle so teaching it at Assabet and in North Easton prompted me to tighten up those skills. I find myself kind of attached to my little drop spindle now. Who knew that could happen?
Another more unusual request came to the yarn shop this time in the form of a woman wanting her dear departed husky’s fur spun. I had never spun much dog but figured at this point I can figure out how to spin anything. Those skills were tested because the fibers were about an inch and a half long and full of guard hairs. Huskys, like many dogs and the more primitive sheep are dual coated with soft short warm fur against their skin and outer guard hairs that are longer, coarse and wiry to keep the rain, snow and cold away from their skin.
I washed it so no, it no longer smelled like a wet dog, and was able to keep at the spinning of it because I loved a dog, a sheltie, for 15 years.
Spirit our sweet sheltie and Growlbert our alpha cat whose motto seemed to be that what Growlbert wants Growlbert gets. They both came with those names which was good because we tend to be abysmal at naming our pets. They both lived to ripe old ages but not long enough for me.
After it was spun she asked if I would take it, and a skein someone else spun a few years ago (who wisely spun only the longer fibers) and knit something that she could wear over her shoulders. Having something made from his fur was very meaningful for her. I find that the veil between this world and the next seems thinner the older I grow and although our dog died 8 years ago I still feel her presence with me. As I do my grandparents. I don’t have an explanation of how I feel this but I just know I do and that is comfort enough.
Husky scarf and detail of paw pattern.
So, after 20 years the opportunities to have new fresh spinning experiences keep finding me. There is never a lack of spinning and spinning related things to do. I am so fortunate to have a passion in my life which gives me so much enjoyment. This picture of my fiber room that I took today belies my statements that I don’t like clutter or the chaos of too many things in my house. You won’t find either in most of the rooms. Except here. Chaos is just so much fun here. 
woolgatheringwithbetsy 