Spinning like a boss

It's been an age since I've sat down at my spinning wheel (I've chronicled my previous efforts here and here), despite having bought a big bag of roving from the the best site in the world a few weeks ago. Things have been so crazy and busy I haven't had the energy I'd need to concentrate on the task. It was with idle boredom that I sat down at the wheel last Monday night and  - behold! - something took over my hands and I was drafting as I spun! The yarn was going onto to the wheel much finer and more even than I've ever achieved before, and for the first time it felt like I was in charge of what was happening, not the wheel. I think the key to this was that I wasn't paying an excessive amount of attention to what I was doing - I let the rhythm of the wheel and the rocking chair dictate what my hands did. I enjoyed myself so much I spun three evenings this week. The blue/yellow was what I started with. Now, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with a blue/yellow skein but meh, I'll figure something out. I then worked with two purples, which I think I'll ply together with some white.

It's far from perfect, but compare the thickness and consistency with some of my previous efforts. Much improved, in my opinion. I love it when things 'click' in your head. With some more practice I'll get even better.

I love my spinning wheel - I completely zoned out and spun for an hour at a time without noticing the time go by. It might be a bit of a controversial statement, but I'm really looking forward to being unemployed for a little while. It'll be novel to be able to devote a few good hours to a craft, rather than squeezing in a tired half hour at the end of a long day in the lab. I have no intention of remaining on the dole in perpetuity, but at this point in time, in the increasingly stressful last few months of my Masters (née PhD), I am longing for those long empty afternoons. Expect to hear about frugal activities galore - out of necessity as well as choice.

I've made massive progress on my lurid scarf, considering I only cast on about a week ago - 13 inches already.

The Giro d'Italia started yesterday! This is basically the Tour de France, but in Italy. There's an informal 'Knit-along' being discussed over at the Pro-Cycling Fans forum on Ravelry. I'll be primarily working on this scarf while catching up on the highlights in the evenings, so I may be finished it sooner rather than later, huzzah! When I tire of the feel on acrylic against my fingertip, I will retreat to my delicious socks, of which I got another inch or two done last night.

Nom! Looking forward to having another pair of handmade house socks. Hope everyone else has had a wonderfully crafty week.