So, when I embarked on my spinning journey I had no idea where it would take me..or how hooked I would become!

I never thought I would say it but, I think I may have found something I love as much as, if not more, than knitting! There, I’ve said it. Spinning gives me peace, it seems to ground me, calm me and Centre me. I can spin for hours and not even notice until I look up and see the time.

Then…..when I was at one of my fibre groups with my wheel and my latest yarn, it was mentioned that it would be lovely to weave with!..and so the rabbit hole appeared! I fell down, and I’m still falling, but with such joy and happiness!

I bought a loom. It’s called a knitters loom, I think that’s purely because it folds and is, therefore, portable like my wheel. Made from the same company, Ashford, it’s a beauty to behold. I chose the 20 inch one. I decided to try some of my single spun yarn for the warp (the vertical threads) and planned to spin some more as a two ply for the weft (the horizontal one one!). It arrives with everything below, plus a bag too.

At the next group I attended I spent the whole time, with amazing support from Rachel, warping my loom. I was so proud. I was also warned that they may break as they might not be strong enough. I made the decision to carry one but be prepared to change the whole lot if they did break. It looked beautiful and only one thread broke, right at the end.

I went home and spun the yarn ready for the weft, it took quite a few hours I have to admit. I started and did about four or five passes and realised that, although they threads were holding, they were also felting together, more with each pass. I very quickly decided to stop and redo, however long it might take to do again.

Luckily I have spent a lot of time spinning since November and had some two ply that I could use immediately.

I spent Saturday afternoon at my mums ‘borrowing’ her table to reward the loom…after I spent some time removing what I’d already done. I really enjoyed it, even though it took several hours. My mum talked about my grandma who had been a weaver in the mills, long before I came along! She talked about the warp and weft, the carding room and even returning to work the day after her sone, my uncle, was born. It was so nice to spend the time chatting…felt like my grandma was right with me, and I’ve felt it since.

This is how I ended the day