Books, Magazines, Classes
I’ve always been a big reader. Fiction and nonfiction, both. I’ve learned a lit from books and magazines over the years.
I have a giant collection of books. Every room in my house has at least one bookshelf – even some of the hallways. Check out this photo of the shelves where I keep most of my spinning, knitting and weaving books.
This photo is from June. Since then I’ve added at least 10 more books and of course every issue of Ply is there. All of them are important to me. That is all stored knowledge there.
When I first started spinning I bought a spindle and some fiber and a book. I had learned several other crafts from books so why not spinning? Well, a couple of months went by and I just wasn’t getting it. It must have been the tool so I bought a spinning wheel. Heh. A few more months went by and I was making yarn but it wasn’t the yarn I wanted. So finally I took a few lessons and magical things started to happen! My yarn was transforming.
The secret was someone sitting by me who could watch me and help me make tiny changes to my hands and feet and posture. Tiny things that I couldn’t get from a book. These were the days way before Craftsy but I would even say that a live, in person teacher is better than a video.
My point today is this. If you have the opportunity, take a class.
I still take classes when I can and I still buy the books and I have a crazy number of Craftsy classes in my account. But nothing beats sitting next to someone who can give advice to you personally. Sometimes it comes down to a class or more fiber. Well, You always have your knowledge. That’s what my Grammy used to say.
Most of the writers in the Ply issues also teach spinning. If they can make you say aha when you are reading their words on the printed page, imagine what would happen if you were in the same room with them!
Drool worthy collection of books there:-) I’m just starting to collect books on spinning and weaving to add to my quilting& knitting collection. I agree classes are amazing. Sometimes the big ” Aha” moments come up during group conversations in classes.
I can still remember the a-ha moment I had when my 11 year old and I took a class with you. I had been spinning for years but once you sat down at my wheel, made a few adjustments on her and on my technique, my spinning was changed forever. Of course, my daughter had no bad habits to unlearn and loved learning how to spin for a specific yarn from you.
I just returned from a knitting retreat where I had offered to teach drop spindling, even though I am still a beginner. I remember the frustration of not being able to do it, watching the videos, reading the books and not making yarn. I sat down one on one with women who had owned their spindles a long time but were unable to use them. It was a treat for me to see it work for them, I hope that you, Beth, get that same joy from teaching!
Is your daughter still spinning?
I do get that same joy from teaching. I love it so much.
I am extremely jealous of your enormous book and fiber shelves. WANT!! 🙂