Spin-Off is requesting skeins (warning, this is a large .pdf file) that have been spun by kids under 18 for the Spring 2004 Issue. Since my nephew has expressed an intense interest in both of my wheels, I thought it might be fun to see if he'd be interested in learning how to spin.

We got off to a good start (considering that he is four and a half). His latest cd was loaded into the stereo (Barenaked Ladies and Paul Simon) - the playlist selected by him and freshly burned, the fiber was selected from the stash (very sticky, generic, naturally colored wool) and skittles were placed in a bowl nearby (for high energy spinning).

We spun two skeins and according to Nathaniel the process is called 'yarning'. We 'yarned' using a tag team method - one of us would work the pedals while the other pinched and drafted. He mastered getting the wheel going in the right direction and re-starting it as necessary. We also had a few speed-racer pedaling moments and it was all I could do to keep up!

As with most new spinners, drafting was the most difficult technique for him to learn, but with some careful pre-drafting he was able to spin some pretty decent looking segments of yarn. With a couple more practice sessions, I think he'll be on his way.

After winding the yarn off the bobbin and making a skein it was necessary to have a photo session documenting the first skein. We were able to get a local model
to show off the skein in various positions, illustrating that a skein of freshly spun yarn can be quite fashionable.