Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Plying: the downside

Have I said before how much I love plying singles, as opposed to spinning them in the first place? There are so many reasons why I do - it's faster than the spinning, it's closer to finished yarn than spinning, you can ply less attention than spinning, it's easier on your grip than - okay, you get the idea.  Love. Plying.  Could ply all the day long.


Well folks, be careful what you wish for.


That whole idea I had to make my July spinning goal "using up all the fiber in the yarn cupboard" seemed so noble at the time, and I was really excited when I did get through all but a tiny part of one colour batch before the end of the month.  Of course, if I'd been able to do that AND ply as I went along, I might be a happier girl today.


As it is, I spent all of August looking at a whole huge pile of baggie-protected unplyed yarn in an overflowing basket in the living room, which was not exactly decorative.


And then as I finally made serious headway on the plying, which happened because I set myself another goal of half a braid's worth a day, I just couldn't believe how long it was all taking.


Just - so, so long.  How many braids did I get through in July??  (that's a rhetorical question.  Doubtless I knew at the time, but I'm pretty sure I've blocked it out and that my intellectual survival depends on keeping it that way.)

In good news it's nearly done now, and not a moment too soon because hello, GIFT KNITTING.  That was the plan for all this spinning, as I recall - that and not having to move a lot of unfinished business into the condo downtown when it's time to leave our lovely, too-tiny home.  Unfinished knitting projects, sure, but unfinished yarn prep?  Nope, too risky.  Better to get the yarn prepped, knit giftable things with it, and escort it out the door into welcoming hands.

So: did I learn anything from all this?  Like maybe: ply as I go?  Spread out the joy a little bit perhaps?


You know it.

Guess I'd better get back to tidying up all these bits of handspun now - you go and have a great day, and I'll see you tomorrow!

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