Yes, I Do Still Have a Spinning Wheel
This picture, taken after dark, courtesy of my daughter who didn't do anything predictably today. Some days, being a mom is a blast. Other days, I know it's a good thing, but it just wears me down. And on those days, not only do I feel worn down, but I then make myself feel guilty about not giving the baby the happy attentive mom she should have and I worry that my inability to smile at her through my funk is scarring her for life. We're scaling back the nursing (read: I've gotten to the point where I can no longer take all the crazy baby behavior in this arena and I would like to have my body back) and I think that's wreaking a little bit of havoc with my hormones. And that, when combined with the grey weather, makes me a not so upbeat mommy.
Anyway, when she finally settled in for an afternoon nap, the sun was out and it was warm enough to sit out on my balcony. I had been thinking about knitting, but then I noticed these two lonely bobbins sitting on my bookcase -- I finished those up in September with the idea that the plied product would be a gift for a friend. I haven't had a chance to use my wheel since! Remembering how centered spinning always makes me feel, I grabbed my wheel and my lazy kate and those two bobbins and sat out in the sunshine for an hour and a half and plied those singles into a real live 2 ply sock yarn.
I know there is good luck and something special about this sock yarn because when I finished plying, the singles ran out at the exact same time -- that's never happened to me before, in spite of all the weighing out of fiber that I do. I'm looking forward to hanking it up on my niddy-noddy and giving it a good bath so that it can relax and I can feel the real final product -- both the colors (there's a lot of great green hiding a layer under) and the hand. Since these singles have been sitting for so long, the twist was completely dormant. It made for easy plying, but it also means that the final yarn is going to be different than what I see on my bobbin.
Working with my wheel was excellent therapy for the afternoon. It didn't chase all the weird energy away, but it did help me get a little of my mommy equillibrium back.
Anyway, when she finally settled in for an afternoon nap, the sun was out and it was warm enough to sit out on my balcony. I had been thinking about knitting, but then I noticed these two lonely bobbins sitting on my bookcase -- I finished those up in September with the idea that the plied product would be a gift for a friend. I haven't had a chance to use my wheel since! Remembering how centered spinning always makes me feel, I grabbed my wheel and my lazy kate and those two bobbins and sat out in the sunshine for an hour and a half and plied those singles into a real live 2 ply sock yarn.
I know there is good luck and something special about this sock yarn because when I finished plying, the singles ran out at the exact same time -- that's never happened to me before, in spite of all the weighing out of fiber that I do. I'm looking forward to hanking it up on my niddy-noddy and giving it a good bath so that it can relax and I can feel the real final product -- both the colors (there's a lot of great green hiding a layer under) and the hand. Since these singles have been sitting for so long, the twist was completely dormant. It made for easy plying, but it also means that the final yarn is going to be different than what I see on my bobbin. Working with my wheel was excellent therapy for the afternoon. It didn't chase all the weird energy away, but it did help me get a little of my mommy equillibrium back.
Glad you were able to enjoy your time at the wheel. It sounds like it was just what you needed.
Ah, one of these days I too will return to my wheel. I keep thinking that I'll paint the wheel in some interesting fashion and that will mesmerize Luke enough to let me spin more than three treadle's worth :)
And I'm with you on the nursing. I have a major business trip in five weeks, so I have to start thinking about adding some formula in here and there just to make sure he doesn't have a problem with it. We're still four months away from cow's milk and he's been hitting the "ice milk" (my nickname for my freezer stash) pretty hard on this most recent growth spurt...
I so remember those days! It does get easier. And the spinning really helps.
I'm interested in seeing the change, if it's noticeable, in your finished yarn. At the moment I'm plying up some Border Leicester/Merino and I'm wondering if the twist setting is going to put some bounce back in the Border Leicester. I've heard the locks (which I carded) do get some energy back.
I'm worn out most days and sometimes feel that guilt too (actually a lot of times). I used to think in the first 12 months that I only had the energy to keep them fed, clothed, changed and only the basics, that I wasn't spending enough time with the developmental stuff, etc. But it does get easier and it helps when people see them and are shocked at how fast they have caught up, how HUGE they are, and comment on how we are doing as parents (in a positive way). The hormones, guilt, and day to day struggle isn't the stuff you hear about but trust me, EVERY parent has felt it! Keep plugging along and the product will be a happy well adjusted child!
I have told my boys numerous times that my spinning has saved their lives. Sometimes there was the guilt, but lots of times there was just the "need" to spend some time at the wheel to help deal with being a mom.
Thanks for your wonderful posts.
I am just now enjoying a little fiber renaissance over at our house. There is still no spinning (hahaha!) but there's been knitting and I'm even cracking out a lace project. For me, this is unbelievable; I didn't think the desire to play with string would ever come back. I knit a little in the last ten months, out of habit, but WANTING to knit has been a whole 'nother story.
I'm with Kristi and Otis--everybody has been there. Sorry to hear that your hormones have been wacky. Don't worry too much about the funk. In our house, we used it as a valuable opportunity to let the little one bond with Daddy, and those benefits just last forever.
Call me, if you've got time. There's always stuff to discuss with a baby around.
Thank you soooo much for saying that motherhood isn't all roses...I can't tell you how much it helps me to hear that. Thank you thank you thank you.
And beautiful yarn, too.
I think guilt is an integral part of motherhood. My husband (who had a horrible mother) always says, "If you're worried about doing a good job, you're doing a good job."
The yarn looks beautiful. I'd love to spin sock yarn, but I can't come up with two ply any finer than dk weight.
Being a mom is hard! Just when you think that you have a routine down, the kid changes everything and you need time to adjust (again, and again, and again...etc.). You'll adjust.
(and then things will change again!)
I was actually wondering about your spinning the other day! As I sit here thinking about having a baby in a few months, and wondering if I'll spin again after she arrives too.
Lovely sock yarn.
I think its important for daughters to see real moms, not fakely happy ones.
Lovely yarn!
Everyone needs me time, quiet time for just getting the kinks out both physical and mental. I have already told the hubby I'm going to need quiet time even though it will be an uphill battle.
Kidlings need to see real parents, not the face society thinks parents are supposed to show them.
It's called hormone poisoning. :) It'll get better, but don't be surprised if you meet someone you don't know in the mirror along the way.
Can't believe mine's 5 now, good luck,
Lauren
My daughter's just 27, and spinning still helps me {grin}.
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