Progress, Not Perfection:
My Spinning Journey this week...
If you’d told me a few months ago that spinning would become one of my favourite obsessions, I’m not sure I’d have believed you. But here I am, utterly hooked, with four skeins of handspun yarn to my name and a steadily growing love for the craft. Today, I want to share my spinning journey with you—not as a story of perfection, but one of progress, learning, and plenty of tangled fibre along the way.
From First Spin to Obsession
My first attempts at spinning were, let’s say, “character-building.” Over-twisted fibre, uneven drafting, and the heartbreak of snipping out sections that were just too tangled to save—it was all part of the process. But even in those early moments, I felt the magic of creating yarn from scratch. Each spin has taught me something new, and the results, while not flawless, have been really satisfying.
The journey so far has produced four skeins of yarn, each one a testament to progress. With every spin, there’s been less waste and more yarn to show for my efforts. Looking at them together, I can see the evolution of my technique and the growing confidence in my hands.
I love how each skein tells their own story of improvement!
Lessons from the e-Spinner
Learning to spin has been a humbling reminder that every craft starts with a learning curve. It’s not hard; it’s new. (Thank you, GG Made It, for those wise words!) Drafting on a spinner feels like rubbing my tummy while patting my head: coordinating hand placement, wheel speed, and tension is a juggling act that has tested my patience more than once. But small tweaks to my technique and sharing videos with fibre friends for critique have been game-changers. It’s the kind of learning you only get by doing, failing, and trying again.
Going Full Spinning Geek
Speaking of learning, I’ve fully leaned into my inner spinning geek. Not only am I obsessed with spinning, but I’ve also set up a spreadsheet to track my finished skeins. (Yes, I’m that person now!) I’m recording all the important details: yarn weight, finished length, fibre type, and even the amount of wastage. It’s oddly satisfying to see the data grow alongside my skills.
And just when I thought I couldn’t get any more “official,” I went ahead and ordered labels with my logo on them. Each skein will have its own little tag, complete with all its vital statistics. I can’t wait to proudly display my handspun with a touch of nerdy flair. Who needs store-bought when you can have personalised, geek-certified yarn?
Obsessed? Maybe Just a Little
If I’m honest, spinning has taken over a lot of my crafting time lately. My knitting needles have been sitting in the corner, giving me the side-eye as I reach for fibre instead of yarn. But I’ve discovered that spinning has its own rhythm, its own rewards, and a special kind of meditative quality.
There’s something incredibly satisfying about holding a finished skein of yarn and knowing that every inch of it passed through your hands. I’m already planning my next spins and dreaming of the ultimate goal to spin for a West Knits mystery-knit-a-long!
Looking Ahead
As I continue to spin, I have one big goal in mind: tackling the fibre box I got from Yarn Tings at Christmas. It’s packed with gorgeous colours and textures in mini art batts. Spinning through it is my ambitious aim for January. Will I finish the whole box? Probably not. But working through it is going to be an adventure I’m really looking forward to, and it feels like the perfect way to continue building on the progress I’ve made so far.
Spinning has reminded me that progress doesn’t mean perfection—it means showing up, trying, and appreciating the journey. And honestly, isn’t that what crafting is all about?
Join the Journey!
If you’re curious to see my spinning in action, I’d love for you to join me on YouTube, where I’m sharing my spinning progress, tips, and maybe even a few bloopers. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss an update!
What about you? Have you ever tried spinning or thought about picking it up? Or maybe you’ve been diving into a new craft yourself—let me know in the comments! Let’s celebrate progress together, one skein (or stitch) at a time.
And if you’re enjoying my weekly musings make sure you’re subscribed here on Substack too so you always get my Monday catch-ups.
Until next time,
Happy Crafting!
Beautiful skeins! I too picked up spinning because it’s just amazing to be a beginner at something and experience the learning curve. I haven’t made it a very regular habit yet but I have 1 skein completed - drop spindled and chain plied into a sport ish weight. Your post is very inspiring!
I’m loving watching your progress. I won’t spin my own yarn but I’ve become really invested in the art of hand crafting. I mostly crochet and do counted cross stitch. It’s so much fun