This week is Spinning and Weaving Week: seven days dedicated
to celebrating the shared heritage of spinners, weavers, dyers, and
basketweavers all over the world. Classes, demonstrations, workshops, and
“virtual” gatherings are in full swing, including Spinzilla!
The
Spinning and Weaving Group of The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) is
responsible for this spirited spinning challenge to see which team can spin the most yarn in a one-week period, and the proceeds go to a wonderful cause: the creation of a spinning mentorship
program that builds relationships between adults and young people and fosters “curiosity, creativity, and a feeling of achievement through the teaching of
needle arts.” With more than thirty teams participating (including Team
Storey Publishing!), the event should yield a mountain of beautiful results.
Storey editor, author, and Team Storey Publishing spinner Gwen Steege gives us a glimpse of the difficult decisions she faced
going into the week.
Spinzilla: It sounds like a really great idea, right? An
excuse — in fact, a demand — to spin as much and as often as you want — and
for several good causes as well! That's what I thought, too, but then I
realized I needed a strategy if I was really going for yardage. This isn't just
about casually sitting back and spinning, so here's a little visual record of
my thought process:
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| Probably not this: Still unwashed, unpicked fleece, several years old. |
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| Ladies in waiting: These bins, piled up in the basement, contain what's on my conscience every time I'm tempted by beautiful braids and sensuous fleeces at a wool festival. |
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| Runners up: Elevated to the living room under the piano, this assortment contains the most likely candidates. |
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| My final choice: A braid of roving from Polly, our favorite Romney (sadly, no longer with us). She spins like a dream! |
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