{"id":11071,"date":"2024-07-13T07:14:01","date_gmt":"2024-07-13T05:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/waltin.se\/josefinwaltinspinner\/?p=11071"},"modified":"2024-07-13T07:14:03","modified_gmt":"2024-07-13T05:14:03","slug":"a-spindle-a-day-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/waltin.se\/josefinwaltinspinner\/a-spindle-a-day-5\/","title":{"rendered":"A Spindle a Day 5"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last week I taught a five-day course in spindle spinning at S\u00e4tergl\u00e4ntan Institute of sloyd and craft. Today I invite you to a peek at A Spindle a Day 5!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the past year I have turned down every request for teaching to focus my energy on writing my book, Listen to the wool<\/a><\/em>. The five-day course at S\u00e4tergl\u00e4ntan is the exception, and I have looking forward to it immensely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Words and more words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The two to three days a week when I work from my home office I have been writing before work, from 6.30 am to 7, plus a couple of hours on the weekend. In May I started a seven-week writing course that demanded even more of my time, but was incredibly nourishing for my writing. Our son moved into his own apartment and our daughter graduated from upper secondary school and the spring has been busy to say the least. I haven’t had the time or the energy to spin for the past few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It always feels good to be back at S\u00e4tergl\u00e4ntan, but perhaps especially this year. The magazine room where I’m weaving has the most beautiful light in the morning just before breakfast.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coming to S\u00e4tergl\u00e4ntan to teach has been the spinning reward after months of not spinning. The course wouldn’t be without writing, though. The chapter that was next in line was a very good match for teaching \u2013 a section where I talk about the importance of talking, of using spinning vocabulary and of referring back to the terms we have established during the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The progression of rolag making! And some beautifully and blissfully spun yarns at the top.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When the students were practicing I made notes of their questions, their struggles and successes and how I could meet them where they are. There was so much to reflect over in the classroom. And it was such a treat to get to teach again, be among other spinners and to hold the tools in my hands. I had spent so much time spinning in my head for the book and felt truly nourished in the company of spinners and spindles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Spindle a Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The course is an immersion in wool preparation and spindles, we focus on one spindle type a day for four days \u2013 suspended, supported, in-hand and floor spindles, and prepare all the wool we spin with combs and cards. Every new day builds on the previous days in every aspect except for the specific technique of the spindle type for the day. By the fourth spindle they don’t really need much introduction, they know all the parts by now and just need to translate them to a different model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the fifth day the students get to do a wool tasting<\/a>, where they get to explore five different wools for fifteen minutes each, with combs, cards, hands and spindles, all individually and in silence. The very last thing we do before we go back home is a spinning meditation, which usually is very appreciated. This year was no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo session on day 4: Supported spindles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The five students formed a tight-knit group and I had the chance to give them proper individual feedback, something I value highly when I teach. Every student has their own context, way of learning and skill level and I want to be able to meet them where they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five sweet souls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I always get a little nervous to start the course. By now I know my curriculum and how I can sharpen my teaching. What I don’t know is who the students are, how they learn and how they work as a group. Usually everything turns out wonderfully, but there is alway that tension before we have settled in the classroom an in the group. We had a lovely mix of people this year \u2013 an archaeologist, a teacher, a pharmacist, a librarian and a musician. They all brought their experience, their curiosity and their warmth to class and turned the week into such a sweet time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Day 1: Suspended spindle and day 3: in-hand spindle. Note the instructions drawn on the hand in the right picture: Spin counter-clockwise with the left (v) hand (and clockwise with the right).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I always learn heaps when I teach, but this time I learned a little extra. One of the students was from Germany and I got to practice my spinning vocabulary in German. A little wonky at first, but it was nice to give the student some rest from taking in everything in Swedish. I also learned a lot about adapting my teaching and my classroom to individual circumstances. Everyone doesn’t learn the same way and everyone doesn’t have the same conditions in the classroom. I am grateful for being reminded of that. They might need adaptations in light, sound or in what tools they can use, or just take a nap to recharge. This is all good and I get to cooperate with them to create the best context for them to learn and explore from where they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book progress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The chapter is almost finished and after that I have only five more to write. Dan and I are renting a cabin right between the two biggest lakes in Sweden and we will spend a lot of the time taking photos for the book. It suddenly feels so real. I have seen the book in my mind for so long, with pictures taken here in the vast landscape, and now we are here. Smack in the middle of the real thing it all feels strangely unreal. But oh, so good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A huge thank you to C, K, J, G and U! And to Bj\u00f6rn Peck<\/a> for providing spindles for the course and for the students to buy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Happy spinning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can find me in several social media:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n