Comments on: Go Ahead: Be A Beginner!

By: shelly

shelly — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:47:43 +0000

abby, this post on your blog was very inspirational to me as a beginner. i went to the opening of a brand new yarn shop today in my town ( now there are 3!). I noticed ( and asked) if she sold any handspun. she said ( and i saw none). That made me start thinking i could produce yarn that was of better quality than what i was in the store purchasing today. By the way, she was selling patterns she had printed off of ravelry; is there some rule against this?

By: val

val — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:14:56 +0000

I just wanted to say i read your post and i am yet to meet a master or an expert even in spinning – many claim to be these but they are not – someone so trained and skilled in one area that could spin a masterful yarn of total perfection and quality, everytime they spun – id like to see that human being.

By: Chris Harvey

Chris Harvey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:00:11 +0000

Ok, so I just popped in and read only this post for random reasons and man- you really need to be writing a book. I take it back… a series of books.

Ok so I can’t begin to even spell yarn. Does that make me a pre-beginner? Un-beginner? I mean what about those other categories of folks who have never considered Yarn and stumble upon your website via accidental keystroke eror but yet they are captured and curious. I think “the beginning” of most things starts long before you even become labeled a beginner. Most things seem to start with a thought or feeling, maybe story from some drunk guy sitting at the bar next to you or other means of coming into your consideration. I mean, if the beginning started at the bar no one would ever ask “what’s a guy like you doing in a place like this” because nothing would’ve happened before then. My point is, I totally agree with the life lesson in your post and I don’t have to know how to spell the “y” word to get it. I just would like to ad that I think we’re all so busy “beginning” the task that we often disregard the importance of learning before doing. Learning the history, concepts, possibilities, theories and dam good stories that set the foundation for a solid creative learning experience. Although, I must admit…I don’t ever want to hear the history behind wal-mart, I can’t seem to get past the stuffed animal machine by the front door before wanting out.

By: Wynn

Wynn — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:04:08 +0000

Well said, Abby!
And I agree with Andrea as well… Go away all you pushy folks who demand that I ‘produce’ expert quality goods (yarn and knitting and art and whatever) and quickly! I am a beginner. I LOVE being a beginner! I have so much yet to explore! And practising to do… and playing… and planning… and reading… and… and…
And I’m happy to take as much time as it takes… the longer the better.

And to the barely acquainted ‘friend’ who, upon entering my private room some years back while I was exploring ‘painting’ for the very first time since childhood (exploring, experimenting and making a great big, wonderful mess), commented “I don’t know why you are bothering to paint. You are obviously terrible at it!” – You didn’t stop me )

By: Cj. Aberte

Cj. Aberte — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:34:17 +0000

Abby – what a beautiful mind you have. So impressive, concise and descriptive. I wish I had the facility to make the kind of distinctions your mind makes! Your essay on the beginner’s mind is as near perfection as I can imagine. Qudo’s all around!

By: Shaina

Shaina — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:00:41 +0000

I’m not sure if my comment in this thread is ironic, considering the post’s subject, but…I’d love to see an in-depth technique post about longdraw, like the one you did on spinning from the fold. I’m an adventurous beginner wanting to learn more!

By: Barbara Rickman

Barbara Rickman — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:40:05 +0000

Abby,

I am the lady who was looking for a Country Craftsman wheel a month ago. I finally did buy a wheel…a Kromski Polonaise, thanks to help from my husband…!:-)

As a beginning spinner, I thought to take lessons but then, as a beginner I thought “I have been drop spindling for a while now and, I have read, and read, and read, my eyes out on how to use a wheel”. “Let’s see if………

Of course folks told me…as a beginner that I should not learn to spin on a Kromski Polonaise because “it is to hard to learn on”, but, being the beginner I am I thought, “but it has up to 23:1 which is what I will need for the future” “What if I…….tried it anyway….”.

That is how beginners think. We jump off cliffs, dive into the deep end, and fly without lessons. I have taught myself how to spin without biases from others, and without others saying stupid things to me like what you talk about in your article. I have been unpreturbed and I, by the way, have grown up with my Kromski and she and I love each other and a wheel and it’s owner should. I know her and she knows me. We are friends!

I hope I never stop being a beginner. I am untainted by anyone’s biases, habits, preferences, or quirks. I adopt no one’s opinions or doctrines.

I learn by feel, sight and instinct. I know what good yarn should be and work toward that. Maybe one day I shall have art yarn. But…I am enmoying being a beginner..and I hope I never recover.

bjr

By: Shirley

Shirley — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:17:49 +0000

Thanks so much for this post. I think I’ll print it, store it with my wheel, and re-read it from time to time, as well as handing it to folks who seem to think I’m unnecessarily putting myself down when I refer to myself as a beginner! As a former teacher, I fought the good fight against the “let’s always tell the kids that they are totally special and skilled no matter what they’ve actually accomplished” mindset. “Beginner” shouldn’t be a dirty word; it should be a badge of honor. It means you had the guts to try something new!

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:30:00 +0000

Well, I realize I am late responding to this, but I will, mostly because I started laughing and nodding my head at what you were sayin’. It’s true, and it occurs in ALL fiber areas for beginners, and it is RUDE and WRONG. My position has always been that you CANNOT break the rules (so to speak) unless you have first learned them. This allows you to ask the great “what if…” questions and go in all sorts of directions trying new things. If you don’t have the basics down of good yarn (and by that, I mean yarn that is purposefully spun, holds together well, and serves the purpose for which it was made by the spinner), you can’t really apply your mind to the possibilities as easily as someone who has done their “internship”, however long it takes.

This applies to quilters who barely “baste” the sandwich together, don’t do a proper binding, then call it an “art quilt”, when a single washing of the so-called “quilt” would cause it to disintegrate from lack of sufficient effort applied to doing the job right. It isn’t the design of the quilt that is at fault, it’s the execution of the craft they didn’t bother to learn. But you will hear certain people say they are “artists”, and therefore the technical aspects of the craft don’t apply. Bosh!

Great seeing you at Sock Summit, and finally getting to meet Denny. I was only sorry we had no real time to visit and spin. My spindle spinning is improving (and dammit, I already ordered my book from Amazon… should I have it shipped to you, and you could sign it for me? Are you doing a book tour to Seattle area?), and I will NOT be at SOAR, because I will be in Vancouver, BC with Charllotte Kwon doing traditional Indian dying with bugs and plants all week… and after that I have no money for SOAR, which makes me sad, but I am thrilled I was able to go to two special events this year. I heart you, but I am jealous of the cherry Matchless. I’ve been wanting one, but I will have to settle for keeping my old faithful Matchless… and I am trying to save up for a 30″ production wheel from someone, now that I won’t be getting mine from Bill Wyatt…

By: pdxknitterati/MicheleLB

pdxknitterati/MicheleLB — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:18:09 +0000

I just bought a Turkish drop spindle at Sock Summit. I am a Beginner. I have just a smidgen of an idea how it works, but that’s it. On to the adventure!

I wish I’d taken your class. But at the time I registered, I had no idea I’d want to spin!