Episode 150 Big Spins: The Singles

In this episode Sasha dives into the essential strategies for staying motivated and consistent during your big spinning projects. Based on her own experiences, she knows how easy it is to lose focus when tackling something ambitious, so she shares her best tips to keep you spinning happily and efficiently.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Carson Demer - Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Hand Knitting.

• The Sheepspot Podcast:

  • Episode 12: Be Kind, Rewind

  • Episode 36: Bobbin Winder Review

• Instagram

  • @sheepspot

  • @sashatorrespainting

You can find the script for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

Episode Transcript

(00:58):
So, you're ready to start your big spin. You know it's going to take you at
least a couple of months.
So, how are you going to stay motivated and consistent for as long as it takes to spin this yarn?
Hello there, darling Sheepspotter. Welcome to episode 150 of the Sheepspot Podcast.

(01:19):
I'm Sasha, and my job is to help you make more yarns you love.
In today's episode, I share my best tips for spinning happily through a big project,
for spinning the most consistent yarn possible, and for staying motivated throughout
this phase of the process.

(01:41):
So let's get right into it.
Number one, get comfortable. My first tip is to get and stay physically comfortable.
This project is going to require some extended time at the wheel,
and it's worth thinking about two things that are crucial in completing a big spin.

(02:03):
Ergonomics and rest.
First, make sure that wherever you're spinning, you're able to maintain good posture.
That includes sitting on the couch spinning on your e-spinner.
It's very easy to slouch in that situation, ask me how I know.
You're going to spend a lot of time in this position, so make sure that it's

(02:25):
a good position for your body.
If you haven't yet, I highly recommend ergonomist Carson Demmer's book,
Knitting Comfortably, The Ergonomics of Hand Knitting.
Even if you're not a knitter, this book is a really great introduction to the
principles of ergonomics.
I will put a link to it in the show notes.

(02:45):
And Carson also spares, he also shares some spinning-specific ergonomic tips
in some issues of Ply Magazine, and in all cases, 10 out of 10, highly recommend.
I also really, it is also, sorry, it is also really, really important to take breaks.

(03:07):
I know that it's easy to get into a flow state while spinning and lose track
not only of time, but also of how your body is feeling.
I've had overuse injuries that cause my body.
Hmm. I've had overuse injuries myself caused by exactly this.

(03:28):
I once spun myself right into a case of tennis elbow that took months to heal. But here's the thing.
Not only do injuries suck, but also you are a less good spinner when you're tired.
When you're trying to stay consistent, not taking breaks will work against that goal.
So set a timer or figure out how much fiber you can spin in 30 minutes and then

(03:54):
chunk up your fiber into amounts that size and take a break after every chunk.
However you do it, do something that will prompt you to take breaks regularly.
Number two, stay consistent. Now let's dive into the consistency piece a bit more.
In the last episode, I talked about using some unwashed singles,

(04:17):
and it's crucial that they are unwashed, wrapped around a shipping tag to help with consistency.
You can also use a spinner's control card for this.
Just be sure to make a note of the WPI you're using for the project.
You just need something to serve as the standard to which you can compare the

(04:38):
singles as you're spinning.
I recommend that you check against your standard every time you start spinning,
so at the beginning of every spinning session and after every break.
I also try to check in at least once between breaks to ensure that I'm still
on track, particularly if I'm spinning a yarn that is not my default.

(05:01):
Number three, spin all your singles before you ply.
Now, I am a pretty undisciplined spinner in a lot of ways, but there's one thing that I always do.
I always spin all my singles before I start to ply.
I always rewind them onto storage bobbins, and this is for big projects and

(05:23):
small projects, and then I ply from the storage bobbins randomly.
This distributes any inconsistencies in the singles through the whole yarn,
and it means that your singles will be the most similar to, sorry,
it means that your skeins will be, I'm a little tired, I think.

(05:45):
It means that your skeins will be the most similar to each other that you can make them.
I find that doing all of the spinning first and then plying rather than spinning
a little and plying a little and then spinning a little and plying a little
keeps my muscle memory for spinning the singles fresh and it makes me more consistent.

(06:07):
And if there are variations of diameter or twist in my singles,
they're going to be scattered through the whole project rather than concentrated in a single skein.
Obviously, for a big spin, spinning all your singles first requires that you
have lots of cheap storage bobbins and a bobbin winder.

(06:28):
So if you have questions about why and how you should rewind your singles onto
storage bobbins, I talk about it in episode 12.
And if you haven't listened to that episode, go listen to it because this practice
of rewinding your singles onto storage bobbins.
Folks, it's a game changer. So if you haven't heard episode 12, go listen to it.

(06:53):
And if you need a bobbin winder recommendation, I review my very favorite bobbin winder in episode 36.
Now that was several years ago, but I still love this bobbin winder,
and I've actually bought another one since the time that I recommended it in episode 36.

(07:16):
Number four, know yourself. Finally, and this is emerging as a kind of theme
for this month's episode, know yourself.
Know what kind of spinner you are. Part of this means understanding what will
motivate you to keep spinning and what will trip you up.
In an earlier episode this month, I talked about how I just will not spin,

(07:42):
ply and knit an entire sweater in white or naturally colored fiber.
I know this about myself and I'm okay with it.
I also know that I will probably set aside my big spin for a time for some little
palette cleansing spins.
I don't berate myself about this. I know it's part of my process and it's not a problem.

(08:04):
So go ahead and treat yourself to a little snack spin if you want to.
Spinning is spinning, and I believe that any spinning is better than none.
Just keep going. You will get there.
Finally, I find it really useful to commit to posting pictures on Instagram,
and my Instagram handle is at sheepspot, perhaps not surprisingly,

(08:29):
when I'm starting a big spin.
And then I will post again every time I reach a milestone, like finishing the singles.
I usually post these on Wednesdays.
And I'm taking a painting course right now, and I actually started a separate
Instagram account to document my journey learning to paint.

(08:50):
So if you're interested in that, the handle for that account is Sasha Torres
Painting, and I will put a link in the show notes.
I use these posts as a way of gently holding myself accountable to my making
plans, and this works really well for me.
So if you find that your motivation is flagging, you might try this as well.

(09:13):
How do you keep yourself consistent and motivated through a big spinning project?
I would love to know, and I know that other listeners would as well.
Fortunately, there's an easy way for you to share this information and comment
on this episode in a dedicated discussion thread in the flock.
The link is in the show notes, which you will find right inside your podcast

(09:37):
app. so just open up the description, click the link, and you'll be taken right to the thread.
Darling Sheepspotter, that is it for me this week. I will be back next week
to talk about plying your big spin.
You don't want to miss it. Until then, spin something. I promise it will do you good.