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When I was growing up, my mother told me about the legend of the animals that would talk at the stroke of midnight on Christmas. I never checked what our old horses might say; it was too cold to go to the barn at midnight.
Anne Merrow2 min read
Now that I’m grown up, I wonder what my spinning tools might ask for if I got up in the middle of the night and listened closely.
Come and sit by me, friend, and hold out your hands. We’ll make lovely yarn together—I’ve missed you! While we sit here quietly, though, maybe you could listen to that little knocking noise that’s started lately. You can’t hear it during the bustle of the day, but here in the still, can you hear it? Maybe for Christmas you could shine me up a little, grease my moving parts, and settle in for a long spin. Heavenly Bresser will show you how.
Heavenly Bresser sits in front of some of the restored wheels in her collection. My, what stories they could tell! Photo from “Antique Spinning Wheel Tour with Heavenly Bresser”
Come over here and let me sit in your lap. Remember how good it feels to flick your fingers and set me in motion? Yes, it takes a little patience, but keep trying. Wipe the dust out of that beautiful bowl, pull out some of the cashmere you save for special occasions, and settle in for a little bit.
Hey! Come over and play with us! We’re quick and slow and light and heavy and so much fun! Remember where we came from—Peru and that little farm in Maine and this little ancient whorl? Put on Judith’s video, pick one of us up, and find your rhythm.
A drop spindle beckons. Photo from “The Spinning Teacher with Maggie Casey”
Mmm, there’s a nice washed fleece in that bin just waiting to be made into fluffy rolags. We can smell it! Won’t it be nice to spend a cold holiday with your hands in lovely, warm wool? Don’t worry about using us in the “right” way. You can try a bunch of methods and find what works for you.
O the windy windy from the spinny spinny doop de doo, wanna weavin or de plyin . . . My bobbin winder is Swedish, so for me he sounds a lot like the Swedish chef. (Maybe I should follow Kate Larson’s bobbin winding advice instead.)
Spin Off editor Kate Larson demonstrates how she uses a bobbin winder. Photo by Kate Larson
What will your spinning tools invite you to do this winter?
Anne Merrow is Editorial Director and a co-founder of Long Thread Media.
Originally published December 5, 2018; updated December 11, 2023.
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