Three Tips to Keep Your Spinning Mojo After the Tour de Fleece

Are you feeling a little bit of burnout after this year’s Tour de Fleece? Still have fiber to spin, but your inspiration has left the building? Here are 3 tips to help you shift gears—but not your goals—and keep your spinning mojo going.

On the last day of the Tour, Heavenly works towards her goal of spinning the remainder of a vibrant Polwarth tussah silk blended top.

Dedicate Time for Rest

It may seem counterproductive to step away from your wheel and spindle, but taking a break is often the best way to return to a regular rhythm. A couple of days of rest for your body, especially your hands and legs, can help promote recovery from any physical strain. Use this time to schedule a self-care day—get a nice massage, get cozy with a good book, or simply relax. Embrace this period as a necessary part of the creative process and give yourself the space away from the tools of your craft. When you return to your tools, you and your body will feel replenished and ready for more spinning.

Reward the Small Wins

Celebrate any progress you’ve made—even if you haven’t reached your goal yet. If you experimented with an unfamiliar fiber, tested out a new-to-you spindle or added a new attachment for your spinning wheel, give yourself credit for stepping out of your comfort zone. Another “win” is being able to spin for 15 minutes for a few days during a busy work week. Look back at your small wins and reward yourself with something that is meaningful to you. It could be a quick trip to a favorite coffee or tea shop or local yarn store. If you are a stationery fiend like me, treat yourself to a new pen or journal.

Sampling with handspun gives insight and new direction for next steps. After evaluating the samples, it is time to prepare for the next spin.

Sample Your Handspun Yarn

Auditioning your handspun for a project or craft can give you a boost of inspiration and motivation to do more spinning. Weaving on a pin loom is a fun and quick way to sample with small amounts of yarn. Knitting and crocheting with handspun yarn can be just as fulfilling! Don’t hide those beaufitul skeins and all those lovely singles—give those yarns a taste test! If you are pleased with the way your samples turned out and enjoyed the spinning experience with a particular fiber or fiber blends, plan on spinning more of those fibers soon. Not thrilled with results or didn’t enjoy the fiber? Put the sample aside and select a new fiber to spin . . . in colors you enjoy!

Choose fibers for your next spin. Top, from left: Shaniko wool/acrylic/nylon blend; Shetland fleece; Treenway Silks Nistari bombyx silk sliver. Bottom, from left: mohair; 55/45 bombyx silk/cotton sliver.

Although this year’s Tour de Fleece has come to an end, your spinning doesn’t have to. Remember, your body needs proper rest and recovery time to make spinning even more enjoyable. Reward yourself often with goodies—luxury fibers, anyone? Finally, use your handspun as often as you can— it’s a great way to learn from your experience, make small adjustments, and stay motivated to spend more time spinning yarn.

Resources

• Even though the official Tour de Fleece is over, it's never too late to join the conversation in the Spin Off Ravelry group!
• Is your wheel feeling weary after the Tour de Fleece? Check out Heavenly's article, “How to Maintain Your Spinning Wheel: Oil and Lubrication” to get started giving your tools some attention.

Heavenly Bresser is an award-winning handspinner, spinning wheel restorer, and international fiber arts instructor. Some of her areas of passion include the love for working with color, working from fleece as well as researching historic information for antique spinning wheels.