Crafty Crafts

Charlie Rainbow Wolf

To me, Imbolc marks the first days of spring. It is traditionally a time when the first of the season’s lambs are starting to be born, when the first of the snowdrops are peeking their heads through the still chilly soil, and when—as the nights start to get ever lighter—the first tasks of spring cleaning are started. In fact, the original word imbolg actually means “sac” or “bag,” while the old Irish word oimelc means “the milk of a ewe” (“Imbolc”). This definition only goes to enhance Imbolc as being the festival welcoming new life and plenty.

Imbolc is Brigid’s festival. Before Saint Brigid became one of the main patron saints of Ireland, she was known as the goddess of healing and poetry. She is believed to bring fertility back to the land—and with spring starting to emerge during the time of her festival, it is easy to understand why!

Homage to Brigid is often paid by making a Saint Brigid’s Cross. This was traditionally woven out of rushes, but in modern days yarn is frequently used. It’s thought to keep bad luck away from the household where it is hung. There are many stories about its origin, but the actual cross is now a familiar emblem of both Brigid—the goddess or the saint—and Ireland.

Spindle Spinning

Even though spring is springing, the warmer weather has not yet arrived and the nights are still long and dark. Needlework in the form of mending or knitting was done by both men and women in the fishing town where I used to live—in fact, knitting was considered men’s work until around the eighteenth century! The relationship between the fleece and the finished garment was much closer then, before yarn could easily be obtained by mail order or in a specialty shop with a large selection. The sheep had to be shorn and then the fleece had to be washed and carded—a way of combing it with special tools—before it could be spun.

You don’t have to do all of that though (although having done it myself, it is very interesting to do it just once so you really get to know the yarn). It’s much more convenient to buy ready-to-spin fleece—called roving—from hobby shops or specialist wool merchants. It comes in natural colors or already dyed.

Materials

Wool roving: Don’t get anything other than pure wool; it will be harder to spin. Some of the lanolin should still be in the fleece if possible; this makes it easier to handle.

Drop spindle: There are many drop spindles from which to choose. I recommend looking for a rim-weighted spindle, for it will spin slower and will be easier to control as an absolute beginner. It’s probably best to look for a low-whorl spindle—one that has the bulk of its weight at the bottom. A notch in the spindle to guide the wool is optional.

Cost: The spindle is going to be the most expensive item. Basic spindles range from $15 upwards. Expect to pay around $3 an ounce or more for the roving, but many places do offer discounts for higher volumes. I’d suggest more than an ounce to start with; the finer the wool is spun, the longer the strand the roving will produce.

Time spent: There is no set time for this. Spinning takes a lot of practice; it’s not something that will be mastered in an hour or two. However, persevere with it; 4 ounces of nicely spun wool will be enough to knit or crochet a lovely scarf!

Start Spinning

Well, not quite. Before the spinning can be started, it’s necessary to pull out some of the fibers and twirl them with your fingers as if you were twisting them into a thin rope or thick thread, to give them the direction. This is called drafting, and it is the very essence of spinning. Keep doing this until there is a uniform thickness of yarn and around 18 inches in length. There’s a skill to this; not twisted enough and the fiber will fall apart, too much twist and it won’t pull out properly.