Fiber Arts Friday – Fortitude
Hand-dyed Alpacafarmgirl yarn knitted by Janet Metzger
Practice. Practice. Practice.
Whether it’s learning to play an instrument, speak a new language, or learn a fiber art skill – it takes the p-word. This can be a challenge.
Yes, the fiber/yarn/supplies are fabulous. You love them. You’re dying to learn a new skill. You can’t wait to create that special project…
But what happens when you don’t pick it up easily or quickly? Or you get frustrated? What do you do? How do you handle your “stuckness”?
Those who know me know that I struggle with learning to spin. Knitting is fun, but can also occasionally make you want to pull your hair out. How do you fiber artists do it? Leave a comment and tell us your tips for pushing through the pain?
Then share your fiber-related blog posts with us on Fiber Arts Friday!
Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival!
To participate:
- Add the permalink to a specific blog post that features something Fiber Art related, rather than your general blog address and not your Etsy store. (Please DO put a link in your blog post that takes us to your store though.)
- Link back to Fiber Arts Friday from your post so that your readers can come and see everyone else’s projects! Use the button or a text link to http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com.
- Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what helps us all connect!
November 6th, 2009 at 12:56 am
I definitely go through phases with my spinning where I have to “just put it down” for whatever length of time. Sometimes walking away from the frustration and letting it cool down is just the thing! By the time you are ready to return to it, the “brain” that was getting in the way of things is out of the way, and the “body,” with its newfound muscle memory, can just work through the problem.
We used this method when I was learning to drive stick. My dad wouldn’t let me work at it for more than say half an hour at a time. We’d “hit a wall” where it just wouldn’t get any easier/better because we were both tired and frustrated! But sure enough, the next day I’d be more proficient than when we stopped the day before.
That didn’t mean it wasn’t frustrating! But the pleasure of succeeding in the end is a good goal to help work through some of the slow period. Especially with spinning! I mean, in the end you get yarn!! Yarn!
Emily´s last blog ..wonderful wool
November 6th, 2009 at 4:47 am
I am the opposite of you when it comes to spinning and knitting. I’ve been struggling with the knitting but the spinning has ended up being pure pleasure for me. Don’t get frustrated though, you’ve only had your wheel for a short time. I have one friend who says she spins in secret because she doesn’t want anyone to see her mistakes yet she knits phenomenally. I say we are all too hard on ourselves and we just need to have fun. That is why everything I knit will forever be a one of a kind item (I can’t follow patterns). So look on the bright side…you didn’t do it wrong, you just made it unique.
November 6th, 2009 at 6:01 am
I like that “pushing through the pain” and how do you handle your “stuckness”! LOL
I often am a frustrated knitter. I mostly crochet, but I do find knitting relaxing…if it’s an easy pattern. If I have to concentrate on a pattern, it’s not so relaxing. I often set things aside and pick it up some other time. The problem with that is too many projects on the needles. Then I want to start another project, but have to finish the others first!
LazyTcrochet´s last blog ..What’s New…’tis the Season!
November 6th, 2009 at 7:41 am
You should try a spindle. I started with that before I got my wheel, and it is much easier to regulate the twist. Not that my first yarn is great, but I think it is better than I would have done first on the wheel.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Don’t be too hard on yourself – just keep practicing! You also might want to try some spindle spinning. It slows the process down some from the wheel, and you can get a good feel for drafting and developing twist before it gets “sucked up” by the wheel.
Taking a little break and going back to it is also good – I’ve found that it can really help to put something in “time out” for a while.
Kate´s last blog ..Not-Quite-Perfect Giveaway
November 6th, 2009 at 8:25 am
I don’t spin, but I’ve been enchanted with it and would love to start. But I do tend to get a bit frustrated with my current knitting projects from time to time. My solution: cast on something new! I love to knit hats, they are my solution to just about every knitting problem. Reliable, quick, rewarding, and fun!
Kelly´s last blog ..Pink? for me?
November 6th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Trial and error, perseverance, determination and dedication, obsessive and a little crazy! All of these are the characteristics of a Great Fiber Artist. You obviously posses each this is why you go forward. Spinning is not the easiest skill to pick up. You have to work, cuss, throw away, take a break and jump right back in. If you learned how to ride a bike then you can spin. Don’t expect too much from yourself instead, expect it from the yarn..place the blame on it and try to correct it’s evil ways!
MaLinda´s last blog ..Cria Fleece Is No Good..I Don’t Think So!
November 6th, 2009 at 8:35 am
If you get frustrated with a knitting project, just set it aside until you feel the urge to go at it again. When I’m frustrated, I just make stupid mistakes which makes me even more frustrated!
November 6th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I’m a frustrated knitter-I don’t read patterns real well and so don’t try too many hard ones. I have a friend who talks me through my sticky spots-just a phone call away-she’s an angel. As for your spinning-take classes from different teachers if you can-glean a little knowledge from each one and soon you’ll be on your way. And for the fun of it, watch every single you-tube video on the subject-some are good, some not so much, and some are pretty funny. Spin on…..
November 7th, 2009 at 8:15 am
I had exactly the same problem, I swore and bitched all over twitter when I first got my wheel. I drove everyone crackers, eventually someone took pity and spent an afternoon showing me what to do.
It clicked when I bought a different wheel and I went full steam ahead.
That was July, I’m now spinning sock weight on a regular whorl and I know I can spin cobweb weight on a Majacraft Rose with a lace whorl (yes, I have that wheel on order!).
If you’re aiming to something in particular, put a pic of your goal somewhere to give you inspiration. Talk to other crafters to keep you enthusiastic. Watch videos. Anything that keeps you passionate about it.
When you want to turn your wheel to kindling; walk away and do something else
Puddytat purr´s last blog ..My first attempt
November 7th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Thanks everyone for your comments. It helps to know that other people have gone through the same thing, and continue to do so as they learn new skills.
MaLinda – I loved this: “You have to work, cuss, throw away, take a break and jump right back in”. That’s exactly what I do. Except it’s hard to keep jumping back in with all I have on my plate. But I’m trying!
And I’ve gotten so much better with the wheel that I can’t see trying a spindle at this point. The thought is always in the back of my mind, “300 lbs. of fleece in the barn…”. So production is a really high priority for me.
December 14th, 2009 at 6:50 am
The thing about a beginner is that they’re eager. This is both good and bad. It’s good because they’ll put full effort into things and learn as much as they can, it’s bad because their eagerness makes them impatient! Many’s the beginner who didn’t get dramatic results in the first month and gave up because of it.