This Saturday (18th) we had our monthly spinning workshop at Knitwise and all went well even if there was some misbehaving from one of the wheels! Amanda and Anne arrived and spun like rumpelstiltskins and produced at least two skeins of yarn each. 

It's always interesting to see how some people take to spinning, it has no relation to age or previous ability, knitters or not.  Having said that, I was teaching in the Forest of Bowland and a student who was on a work placement with no history of anything crafty in her family sat down at the wheel and was able to spin immediately, I've never seen that before or since.  I resisted the urge to trip her up as she left!

It was lovely to meet Anne and Amanda, as it is with all our workshop ladies, there's never a dull moment, an awkward silence or a bad atmosphere because we all love what we do, whether it be knitting, crochet, felting or spinning, a passion for textiles gives us a common ground.

While we're talking about spinning, here is Christina who learnt to spin at a Lazykate workshop at Knit-Wise and comes to the Knit'n'natter on a Tuesday.  This is her first completed garment in her own handspun yarn.  The fibre is alpaca which Christine loved spinning and wants more.  (what's not to like about alpaca though?).  Sadly for Christine, but lucky for someone else, she gave this away as a gift!  I can't believe the generosity - if this was my first handspun garment, it would have been framed and up on the wall for all to see!

We'll be keeping an eye out on London Fashion week to see if there are any interesting knitwear designs that we need to discuss, it you see anything you think we might like, let us know and we can share it with all and sundry!

Back to knitting next blog - see you then