Zen Yarn Spinning

Zen Yarn Spinning

I decided the other day to try Zen Yarn Spinning. This is a type of spinning where you sink into the moment and just be. You. The fiber. The wheel. Peace.

It was glorious!

I used some luscious roving from Sweet Georgia club of the month (from about a year ago. I don’t remember the color name or the type of fiber, but it looks like wool blended with either silk or bamboo).

I plan on making two arm warmers with this, so I split the entire length of fiber in half lengthwise. Here they are all pretty and “crocheted” into a large chain, which allowed me to just pull from one end and unravel as I spun:

I spun 2 balls, each a single, spun in opposite directions. (1 ball was spun into an S-twist; the other was spun into a Z-twist.)

Here is one of the singles still on the bobbin:

And one of the balls, sitting all pretty and proud:

 

I normally skein my hand spun yarn, wet it and “whack” it (literally, I whack it against a table or a wall to shock the fibers into staying put), but I didn’t this time. I wanted the whole process to be very free and easy. So I wound the first skein directly into the ball you see above. The second skein, I did wind it into a skein only to measure yardage in case I decide to publish the pattern for the arm warmers. So here is the squiggly, curly mass of skein 2:

 

I have already begun the photo tutorial for making arm warmers with these, both on 1 circular needle. It’s easy once you grasp the concept of it. So I hope to get that posted for you soon.

What exactly is Zen Yarn Spinning?

•It’s the process of letting go. Of having no rules. Of feeling free.

•Just letting time, pressures, life…fade away. And you become immersed in the moment of NOW.

•Play soothing music if you like. Or not. It’s up to you. I set my iPhone to play new age music via the free Pandora radio app.

•Focus on your breathing if you like. Or your treadling. Or your fingers and how they move adeptly at pulling and separating the fiber and allowing the twist to move in.

•Clear the mind as much as possible and release any expectations of what the yarn might be.

•Allow the lumps and bumps to appear without worry. Wind them onto your bobbin. Embrace the imperfections as perfection.

•And just…be.

It’s truly an amazing experience, akin to meditation. (Which I do every morning, and it has really helped me to calm and clear my mind so I start my day out fresh and focused).

I hope you get a chance to try it and that you enjoy it. Just thinking about it makes me feel peaceful. Tranquil.

On a similar note, I’ve begun taking yoga classes and doing yoga at home and it is also incredible for clarity of mind, strength of body and spirit and peace. I’m loving it.

Have a wonderful day and see if you can take a little time to just be today. It can and will produce miracles if you continue to practice it in your life.

Namaste