Saturday 19 February 2011

The Guild

I have just had the most wonderful night out last night. Where would you go on your first solo trip out at night since the birth of your child 2 and a half years ago? Well, if you are me, and were given a spinning wheel for Christmas, it is logical to go to the local Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, isn't it?!

What a friendly bunch of people, and a wonderful source of knowledge too. Some were spinners of 30 years plus, others had specialities in hedgerow dying, or felting. There was a wonderful jacket that someone had wet felted for themselves, and they had a challenge the other month to spin milk protein fibre. I learned how to card the wool, ply the wool, and look at the improvement in my spinning, the brown and white yarn on the left is prior to the meeting, and the cream on the right of the bobbin is what I did under the watchful eye of a guild member. I can see this being a wonderful source of inspiration, and am looking forward to the lots more practice with my own wheel and wool, as well as more meetings in the future.

8 comments:

  1. That's great, lovely to have a friendly place to go and meet like-minded people! I bet you are itching to get practising on the spinning wheel now!

    Thanks so much for your comments on my blog. After I wrote it, I wondered if I'd been blathering on a bit, but it's something I feel very passionate about. The idea of approaching the farm shop is a really good one, they are very friendly there and have often stocked non-food items in the past, so I will get a few things together and ask them. They can only say no can't they! xxxxx

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  2. Wow - i am so impressed with your spinning - what a wonderful world of crafting people are out there. xxx

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  3. How great is that! So nice to be able to have a group of lovely clever crafts people out there that you can meet with and learn from, lucky you!

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  4. For what it's worth I think the spinning on both ends of the spool looks fab! You need a bit a variation in life ;-)
    It's great that you've found such a lovely group to spend 'grown up' time with especially as it's doing something you love.

    I aquired a large Peg Loom last night. Can't wait to get my teeth into it but I'm thinking now that maybe I need to get into spinning so that I can create my own yarns to use on the loom ;-)

    xx

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  5. Fabulous, so pleased it's a great bunch of people - you will learn so much from them if it's anything like my experience has been, so much knowledge out there. So, so pleased for you.

    Your yarn looks lovely, all of it but yes you can see the progress already, you must feel so inspired.

    Talie's next then with the spinning ;-) - just been to your blog too.

    So happy for you Claire xxx

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  6. Lovely Claire, so great to tap into such a wealth of experience! I had my first go on my wheel yesterday (with small hands 'helping' me lol), and so far have some not too bad twisty stuff on my bobbin! Looking forward to watching and learning from you :) xx

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  7. Lovely to see your spinning. It all looks fabulous. It is good to spin with variety! Make sure you keep the spun yarn from that first bobbin somewhere safe. You will always fondly remember it. It must have been a wonderful time going along to the guild meet with all the vast array of skills and experience there amongst the members. I can't manage going along just yet with my little ones to think of to.
    Hooray for spinning!

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  8. Oh I am jealous! Sounds like a great night out and a wonderful group to become involved with!

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Pull up a chair, have a cuppa and some cake, and if you feel like it, leave a comment.
xx