Her Handspun Habit: My Handspinning Year in (Pre)view

Each year, as December rolls past like a freight train, I find a few moments to sit and quietly reflect on my year in handspinning. With the help of my Ravelry handspun and projects pages, I look for trends and consider how I’d like to improve upon or refocus my spinning in the coming year.

Handspinning Through 2018

Although I don’t necessarily write down goals, I do think about my spinning purpose as I enjoy time contemplating the craft that brings me such joy and fulfillment. In years past, I took pride in being a spinner who could produce pounds and pounds of yarn in a year’s time, and this was terrific hands-on learning—for a while. I gradually began to care more about quality over quantity, intention< over chance, and especially getting to put my handspun to an end use.

2018 brought me back to my beloved spindles

I don’t think I’ve ever produced less yarn than I did in 2018, yet what I spun was purposeful and helped me move forward. I conquered cotton and found time to return to my beloved spindles on a routine basis. I knitted three pairs of handspun socks this past year, including one pair from an intentionally spun spindle project. I learned how and when to just say no. I discovered that forcing myself through a feeling of spinning uncertainty can lead to whole new fiber-blend favorite.

Most important of all, I have used my handspun.

There have been years during which I’ve focused on one-off skeins and what I call “practice through poundage.”

I closed out the year by finally casting on a sweater from a long-ago batch of combo-spun yarn—something I’d promised myself I would get to in 2018—and I’m excited about spinning and knitting for our Hapalong!

What’s Up for 2019

In 2019, I’ve decided to focus on the bigger picture: larger-scale spins and their ensuing projects; spinning from a hefty stash (and getting creative with it), and using my library of patterns as much as possible.

2019 is young yet! I hope you’ll give yourself the gift of 15–30 minutes of fiber- and handspinning-related reflection to set the tone for your own year of purpose and empowerment ahead.

—Debbie

Featured Image: I find that scheduling a time in my calendar for my annual spinning introspection is the only way I’ll manage to make these few moments a reality. Photos by Deborah Held