Keeping Up With 10 Minutes a Day

Carole's 10 Minutes A Day has been a great jumping off point, but like many spinners who joined the ranks, I've been able to spin a little more than a mere 10 minutes. The spinning wheel has been moved to the living room as it's much cooler on the first floor than in my fiber studio on the second. The boys like it better as they can stay close while keeping watch out the front window and the back door.  They do their best to warn me of impending danger and keep me safe. 

There are many spinning groups on Ravelry with unlimited information about technique, wheels, spindles, fleece, supplies, etc.  It's been a good resource and I peruse the spinning boards more than any of the others. In the10 Mintues a Day Group Hillary asked if anyone had suggestions on how to keep fiber off your clothes and from spreading around the room. Let me tell you, fiber has a way of spreading around a room very quickly. Plus, the little bits of fluff that love to attach themselves to your clothes are very hard to remove. This is the bane of many a spinner.When first learning to spin I had a way of spreading fluff from one corner of my room to the other.  As a way to keep it in check I put a paper bag next to my chair. With a little more experience the fiber love isn't spread quiet as far, but it's nice to have a place for it to go and stay contained.

The problem of fluff covered clothes was solved by a simple, useful, lovely gift (how many days did I go to work with a thin layer of colored fluff all over my pants?). Katherine (Ravelry link), a blogfree Stitch 'n Bitch grrl, made a spinning apron and I've found it the perfect thing to throw over my legs while at the wheel.  It ties at the waist, but most often ends up laying in my lap, protecting my clothing from the fiber and the fiber from the buttons, bows and fabric of my clothes.

Even with spinning everyday it's taken a few weeks to spin three bobbins of the beautiful orange superwash.  The third bobbin, now on the wheel, should be finished up today with plying to happen this weekend.  Doesn't it look delish!?

Comments

[Kathy]

The orange is gorgeous!

[Carole]

I think that spinning apron is a wonderful idea. And I wish my orange was all spun up but I'm not quite there yet.

[DebbieB]

Yum - where's my spoon?

[Norma]

Love that spinning apron!

[Wool Winder]

Not only is the orange beautiful, it matches your rug too. The apron is a good idea.

[beverly]

The spinning apron is fantastic!!

[jackie]

Such a pretty colour! And having the wheel in a main part of the house really does help to make spinning daily easier.

[CindyCindy]

What beautiful roving and singles. My goodness, it's so bright and cheerful. Your apron is lovely and a really good idea. I am such a slob that I actually wear an apron when I cook sometimes. I'm so glad the "boys" are there to protect you from gangs of roaming squirrels and bunnies and other dogs. I know I worry what would happen if Grover weren't here to protect us from the same horrible marauders;-)

[Chris]

Huh, never even occurred to me about the fiber everywhere business!

[Kim]

That orange is absolutely scrumptious!!!

[Sarah HB]

Those colors are so you!

[Anne]

Hot color for hot weather! A perfect choice.

I'm so glad you have the boys to keep you company. I smiled to myself just thinking about your afternoon spin-ins with them.

[Cathy-Cate]

Mmm, gorgeous orangeousness!~

Having only spun once -- recently -- fluff migration is yet another thing I would not have thought about. The apron's a great idea! The apron is protecting you and so are the boys.

All is well.

[Vicki]

Love that orange... can't wait to see the finished product!!

[Abby Franquemont]

Wow... I completely forgot there were people who might consider it POSSIBLE to not have the house completely covered in fluff.

At least my fluff mess is all top-quality.

[Rosa]

It is very yummy! That apron is a great idea. I think that time and experience minimizes the flyaways. I found that spinning 10-min-a-day turns into much longer. Its like exercise, you say you will only do 20 minutes and you end up doing 40. Once you started, you don't want to stop. I can't wait to see that orange fiber plied up.

[Heather Joins The Round]

Very beautiful!

[Hillary]

Your spinning apron is really sweet and clever. Thanks for sharing it. I also love that orange fiber. It's a gorgeous shade.

[Cheryl S.]

Juicy!

[Manise]

Yummy orange color and lovely singles! Finally doing the 10 min a day spinning thing. Always wind up spinning for longer which is a plus!

[Lucia]

Beautiful spinning... and this for a woman who claims not to like orange.

Strangely, I don't have the bits-o-fluff problem, at least most of the time. Maybe I just don't notice it among the ambient cat hair.

[Marcia Cooke]

So, I'm guessing the orange will be 3-ply....for socks? Great color, especially against the color of your rocks. My friend Shelley made a great spinning apron out of leather and tapestry, with pockets in it for scissors, orifice hook, oil bottle, etc. I keep thinking I should, but with a long-haired and sheddy cat, I've got tons of lint rollers around at all times! They work, too.

[Beth S.]

Oh, that COLOR... it makes my heart sing! :-)

[Kat]

I am not usually an orange person, but the variegations are absolutely beautiful. I tend not to notice fiber fluff in amongst the cat hair.

[Cookie]

What a wonderful idea.

[Katherine]

Aw, thanks! I'm glad you like it. I like the orange, too. Very cool!

[Doris]

Beautiful! I'm glad the boys are there to protect you. I have a 30 pound cock-a-poo who is very much my protector. He is, in actuality, scared to death but would never let on, in his quest to be sure that I am safe from real and perceived dangers (like the squirrels that come in our yard...they are very likely to attack!)

[Tan]

I have not been able to stick with it,but have hopes to improve

[Laurie]

Your apron is more stylish than my dishcloth. And that orange looks beautiful! It will be a wonderful yarn.

[TopHat]

Ooh. Someday, I will get a spinning wheel!

[deb]

That 10 minutes group has been a great inspiration for me. There have been a couple of days where I did only have about 10 min. I did think of other things I had to do I just sat down at the wheel or picked up the spindle. Of course most days I'm sitting a bit longer, and loving it:)

[Stephanie]

How brilliant! As a new spinner...I'm covered in fluff constantly. (as is the floor and any small children wandering near me at the time) I am going to have to make an apron because.....gasp...I don't own a single one!!!

I love the orange. It certainly is delish. I can't wait to see what the yarn looks like when it's plied!

[marie in florida]

delish like florida oranges warm and fresh off the tree!

[Judy]

Beautiful, it is certainly working for me.

[kathleen]

oooohhh....loooove that color!!

[Birdsong]

Slow and steady, as they say... what do you plan to make with this lovely orange?

[Pat K]

Lovely orange pumpkin yarn. I need to get into this ten minutes a day habit. Of course, some days I would be happy to be able to knit for ten minutes...The apron is an excellent idea.

[Cathy in Va.]

Wow, a custom-made spinning apron; brilliant. Sure beats a mangy old towel. :)

[Julie]

That orange is gorgeous! The bag and the apron are great ideas; I've left to go shopping after spinning many times only to find fiber all over me! I'll have to find somthing to lay over my lap (I DO NOT sew). I imagine just a nice piece of fabric would do the trick.

[Wendy]

Mommy want...

[Teyani]

I keep meaning to make myself a spinning apron - yours is so sweet.
and that orange yarn.. be still my heart.

[Kim]

Ten minutes a day? I like it! The apron? I like it! The orange singles? OH, BABY!!!!!

[Romi]

OMG. I LOVE that color!

[Terry]

Looks like the more-than-ten minutes - a - day really helps! I think I'll try that. Hope fully for this newbie spinner it'll get me to spinning lacey yarn in no time! How did you prep your roving - looks like maybe you pulled it through a ditz? Wonderful color too!

[Jewel]

I really love that orange. I really need to get back to my spinning!

[Sylvia]

I had hoped to spin 10 minutes a day, but instead I have been gazing longingly at my wheel for at least ten minutes a day as I do everything else! Argh.

Your grist has come a long way, Margene. Wow!