This is why I Spin Yarn 🧶

[@carlacrazymom]

Why did I start spinning? Poverty...i figured out it is cheaper to buy a raw fleece and do the work myself than to go to the store 60 miles away and buy synthetic yarn. Why do i continue to spin? Because I NEED to. My failing body and brain get exercise from the physical motion, the calculations of how big to spin the yarn to get the yardage I need for the project I want to make. I love that the waste from the cleaning of the wool goes into my garden and makes my plants grow. I love that the things I make go mostly to my granddaughters and friends so that they can have real wool stuff too. I love that the rugs I have made can get washed and sun dried and smell heavenly...and last more than 2 washings. I love that you and folks like you are here to teach me what i don't know. My biggest regret? That I can't send you a paycheck for all your hard work, information, joy, time, experience...because well, even small amounts of money just don't exist for me right now. Icelandic is my favorite wool to work with. I can't wait to see your Icelandic journey. Anyway, hugs, Happy Valentines day, and most of all thank you for what you do.

[@JillianEve]

Your beautiful comment is a perfect 'thank you'. Hugs to you too and happy spinning! 💜🧶😊

[@jessiebird802]

You may appreciate this: An acquaintance had a barn FULL of raw fleeces, mostly Romney, in every shade possible. He was trying make room for more and had no use for them, so invited me to come take what I wanted (I don't remember if I paid or not). I walked into the barn, inhaled the sheepy smell, and looked around at clear bags of fleeces of all colors, piled up everywhere. I practically swooned. He said, "Oh, you're one of those." I asked what he meant, and he said, "I don't know what it is, but every time a spinner walks into this barn, they get that same weird look on their face." It's a look of ecstasy, I suppose.

[@JillianEve]

In this comment section right now, I think we are all "one of those." Love it!!! ☺️🧶💜

[@rajoba7981]

@@JillianEve oh yeah! I just got here, and I LOVE it!!! 🤩

[@eddavanleemputten9232]

I think i’s not just that weird look. When I recently was shown a selection of raw alpaca fleeces, my hands opened, and then my fingers curled. Ready to skirt. Ready to sort. Ready to pluck out guard hairs. And above all, ready to SPIN. And I’m a newbie, less than a year down the spinner.s rabbit hole. 😅

[@claretrevor8111]

Growing up my family spent our summers on an island in Maine. We had a 150 sheep. My dad has made custom spinning wheels for over 40 years. My mom knitted me a sweater, when I was 8 from my favorite sheep Moe. It’s still called my Moe Sweater. He had only 3 legs. Crochet and knitting keeps my hand busy and calms my brain. I’m starting to spin again… I’m trying to regain my muscle memory. Thank you for this video. It’s wonderful.

[@schoo9256]

I loved reading this!

[@Rvictorbravo]

My wife and I spun yarn from our sheep. We took turns carding and spinning during winter evenings. Chatting and drinking tea. She knitted me a heavy vest 30 years ago that I wear often. No store-bought clothing pleases me more.

[@HandiworksbyClyne]

Wowww what beautiful stories!!! It is my dream to take care of sheeps and spin my own yarn.

[@justaperson4656]

Does your dad still make wheels? I'd love to see some of his work!

[@cammacrae7959]

I was feeling chilly last night so I wrapped up in a beautiful blue and white wool blanket that a friend I taught to weave twenty-five years ago made for me on an old loom of my mother's. One day while my friend was weaving, she told me that the act of weaving made her feel like she was stepping off the bank into a long wide river filled with the thoughts and dreams of all the weavers in the world who went before her. I think my blue and white blanket must be infused with some of those thoughts and dreams, including hers and my mother's.

[@JillianEve]

Beautiful! 😊🧶💙🤍

[@victoriajones1575]

Did I go down a whole KZbin rabbit hole at 4:00 in the morning just to find that comment 🥰🥰 the universe is cool like that

[@cammacrae7959]

@@victoriajones1575 Just keep floating down that river!

[@elizjusteliz6692]

THIS! It’s not especially practical, it’s not especially cost effective, but I love it. I love feeling like I’m preserving a skill that shouldn’t be lost. Things traditionally considered “woman’s work” like sewing, embroidery, weaving, are slipping away in modern society and I think we lose something when we lose those skills. Mainly an ability to do something for ourselves and not have it handed to us. Just because I sew doesn’t mean I want to hem your pants. You have access to needles, thread, and KZbin, so don’t look at me like I’ve asked you to walk on water. It’s been done for thousands of years so I’m pretty sure you can do it too.

[@JillianEve]

Our skills are precious and valuable. 😊🧶💜

[@rajoba7981]

That is so true! I feel like I'm wired to do such things, and it's incredibly satisfying to learn useful skills instead of wasting the urge to do something with my hands. As a child I had a period where I repeatedly winded up a ball of string. When I was done, I took the other end and started over again. Luckily I learned how to knit. Then (I guess when my dolls and their horses had enough blankets) I had periods where I just knitted endless strips. The urge got an outlet, but it's so much more satisfying when you learn to structure such urges into usefulness.

[@justaperson4656]

Well if it makes you feel a little better, I (as a man) got taught to sew and knit as a small kid. Mostly for uniform repairs and blankets and the like, but it grew into a love of fleeces. I taught myself to weave, started out spinning a few months back, learned to felt, and have been trying (and failing) to learn crochet. It's just so fascinating for me!

[@possummerinofelt]

Thank you men in general for building the houses and homes that we live in and so many other man-things which help all our lives.

[@kathytedford9178]

Let me start by saying I am an old soul. I feel like there is a being inside me from some long forgotten century that is scratching to get out. I have want to make my own yarn to find that connection. I garden and preserve food for much the same reason. I have always felt that we as a modern people have so many issues because we have lost the connection to our roots and our families. I loved this video so much

[@carllee8383]

Through my spinning, weaving and knitting I feel a connection to the past. In 1992, I taught myself to spin. I felt that I belonged at a spinning wheel. Some of my mother's family worked in spinning and weaving mills in Scotland and New England. Her 2 aunt's were handkniters. It's in my blood. I find spinning calming.

[@soma7940]

I have to tell you this was one of the loveliest, most enjoyable videos I've watched in many years. And to answer your question I learned to spin last year so I could gift my husband a scarf and hat set made from the fluff I saved for many years from our Husky. She was his baby and she passed away at 15 years old. And I learned to knit 6 years ago because my daughter used to knit lovely things and when she had her baby girl she couldn't wait to teach her that beautiful craft. She died of cancer when her daughter was only two and I decided I was going to be the one to teach her so I learned everything off of KZbin videos. In fact you taught me a lot about how to spin as well. So now my granddaughter is eight years old and I just started teaching her how to knit and now she wants to learn how to spin as well and help make my husbands gift from our dog's yarn whom she loved as well . Thank you so much for all of your videos. You always brighten my day with your sunshiny spirit…

[@sadiesspincraft6319]

I saw someone spinning, and something inside me awoke as though a past life was coming through. I followed the feeling, and 5 years later, I'm still in love with it and can not see myself not doing it xx

[@JillianEve]

Yes! 💜🧶😊

[@rebeccagibson7881]

When I became homeless what I missed the most was the beautiful art (and squishy socks) I'd been surrounded with. But a friend gave me a bag of yarn and my espinner miraculously returned in a box with my school stuff. Every day I think about what's left behind! There's just so much to catch up.

[@JillianEve]

I hope that you can regain your sense of security and surround yourself with all the art of your choosing again soon. Sometimes life really sucks and I'm sorry you are going through it. 💜💜💜

[@katieh8226]

It is so refreshing and uplifting to know I’m not the only one who feels a strong desire to find connection through the art of making, and in the process,discover the wonders of living with intention. Slowing down and reconnecting with our deepest selves and with our human history. Thank you Jillian for everything you are doing to keep fiber arts and education alive. We need it now more than ever. ❤

[@helenehenkel]

I wanted to learn how to spin for decades, it wasn't until a few years ago that I finally did it. An advid crafter for my entire life, I have learned many crafts, mostly self taught. From crochet to sewing to soap making & spinning. I have always been able to move to the next level. Although I would love to farm acres, I have turned my backyard into an itty-bitty farm. Of course, I have fiber animals. The only ones that can fit into my space are Angora Bunnies. Getting in contact with local farmers, I can source Icelandic wool, alpaca fleece & mix it with my angora fiber. Spinning is a multi sensory experience, I feel the fiber traveling through my fingers, I see it form into yarn as it winds onto the bobbin, the slight aroma, feeling the wood as I treadle & of course the slight sound as the wheel spins. With all that going on, I can ignore the unpleasant things that are happening around me. I know it's temporary, but it sure helps to get away from it for a few hours.

[@JillianEve]

Yes, all those things! 🐰😊🧶💜

[@rajoba7981]

Wonderful and so very relatable description!

[@cool-on4cc]

What a wonderful comment

[@chasingthelook]

That blue fiber is beeeauuutiful! 💙 My brother had a similar response when he saw me knitting a sweater that I had spun yarn for...":o why?!" He couldn't believe all that work was just for enjoyment and not a side gig lol.

[@JillianEve]

We are so trained to think of the hustle aren't we? 💜🧶😊

[@feedthecatplease]

"The Omnivore's Dilemma" is one of the best books I've ever read. ❤ I appreciated your explanation of how you came to spinning.

[@HegenerHomestead]

I learned that spinning was still a thing last summer. I didn't even know people still did this, or know really anything about it. I got my Turkish spindles and started small. I just got my first spinning wheel less than a month ago and already feel like I have a pretty good handle on it. It just fits and I really enjoy doing it. I'm not fast at all at knitting or crocheting, but I don't think it takes that long to spin up a bunch of fiber.

[@maryannhalstead5547]

My why might seem simple to some but is actually quite complex when you understand that I was adopted and didn’t learn my true heritage until I was in my mid-40’s. Once I learned that heritage, I felt a deep yearning to connect with my ancestors. Primarily of Irish decent, working with wool felt natural. Now, every time I sit in front of my wheel or grab a spindle or pick up a cake of my hand spun, I feel that connection.

[@forge_of_stars]

I love the way you speak about spinning, I've found it hard to articulate these same ideas to people who ask me why I spin and hearing it from you is beautiful. Thank you

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! 😊🧶💜

[@estone3393]

Ditto ❤

[@christagupta8737]

Thank you so much for this video. I listened to it while I was weaving this morning (raise your hand if you too listened while weaving, knitting, crocheting, spinning, embroidering, or working on any other form of fiber that I may have missed…..✋🏻) . Not only are you inspirational, but you let others know that we are not alone in how we feel about the history of textiles and trying to keep this beautiful art form going.

[@michelepfaff5363]

I love spinning on my spindles, so calming.

[@kathywinn2617]

What a wonderful reverie. Thank you for this. We as modern people are so spoiled. It used to take a village to make clothing. My spinning guru loved to weave. (not my thing but...) She told me that it took 8 spinners to service one weaver. When people ask me what I make with my spinning, I tell them I make yarn. I love the quizzical looks I get to that answer. Thank you again for this lovely valentine to spinning. From a Louisiana spinner...

[@JillianEve]

Hi Louisiana spinner! 💜🧶😊

[@angeliqueartistry9949]

Thank you. I've been in a rough place and haven't touched my wheel or loom in months. This helped remind me why I create.

[@JillianEve]

I hope you rediscover joy in your crafting. I'm sorry you've been in a rough place, so I mean it the most when I say... Happy spinning! 😊🧶💜

[@angeliqueartistry9949]

@JillianEve thank you 💕 I'm already back in the studio! Tackling an intimidating project; double-width weaving.

[@michellemorin6258]

You thought me how to drop spin. Last summer I spun my own sheep’s (Baabaaraa) full fleece. I am grateful for your upbeat presence in my life. 😊

[@JillianEve]

Yay! Happy spinning! 💜🧶😊

[@LisaMyEclecticLife]

I started spinning in the fall of 2012, I was teaching early American History in my homeschool and wanted my children to get a better understanding of what it took for people to clothe themselves before the industrial revolution. I made a couple of spindles from to wheels and dowel rods and found a part of a fleece online and bought some handcards from the sister of a homeschool friend. This same lad had a loom and I bought it too. My daughter and I each have spinning wheels, spindles, fleece, top, dyes, looms, and a drum carder. I also have two electric spinners. We are so far down the rabbit hole, and loving it still.

[@Coastalwoolwashing]

I just love how well you put the connections we feel emotionally to fibercraft into words. Such a fantastic video. Can’t wait to see your projects!

[@camilareyna9976]

I'm learning to write in English so here's my try: I'm deeply in love with you and your way of sharing knowledge and interests. Thank you and keep making our days happy ✨🥰❣️

[@ArtemensiaK]

Now I am more excited to spin. Spin was a way of fidgiting with yarn, without my loom. Its more accessible and movable and more on the side

[@melaniekay3647]

Hey man, it’s cheaper than therapy 🙌🏼 that’s what I keep telling myself when I invest in a new project. I keep bouncing back and forth between knitting, sewing, hand sewing, and now spinning 😄🙌🏼

[@joanntakehara458]

I so connect with your thoughts about going backwards in the process. Going from knitting/crocheting/quilting/weaving to spinning was natural. Your videos made spinning doable. Thinking now about growing flax. There is also love of history and archeology that I share with you. And thank you for recommending “Women’s Work” - great read!

[@rajoba7981]

I've never thought of growing flax, but years ago I watched a video about extracting fibre out of nettles, and I got very inspired by it. For me, that makes even more sense than growing flax, as nettles grow in abundance in my region (and in my garden!). Thus growing it requires no effort, I could go straight to harvesting.

[@CheapEngineerCrafts]

@@rajoba7981 was that a Sally Pointer video? I wish I could ‘hedge bother’ but not possible in Boston!

[@rajoba7981]

@@CheapEngineerCrafts No, it was a man. It might have been this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoKWppWNosuKlbc Anyway, thank you for pointing me to Sally Pointer! 🥰 I've watched a few of her videos now, and find them interesting. Is "hedge bother" to forage in other people's hedges? I guess I am lucky living in an area with lots of land where no one will mind if someone forages wild or semi-wild plants. Sometimes you can also be allowed (or even asked to come) into people's gardens to forage.

[@niamhsknits]

I'm 9 seconds in, and I will write a more eloquent comment when I finish it after work, but I must say now that I adore your hair right now, you look incredible!

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! I want purple hair forever now! 💜🧶😊

[@elegantsufficiency2866]

This! This is why we do what we do, too. We started off with growing our own food and foraging, and now we have angora rabbits so we can learn to go from fluffy bunny right through to a wearable knit garment. It's a long journey!

[@robin_ish]

i finally got myself a spinning wheel last month and i've been binge watching your videos ever since. you have taught me so much, so thank you for everything!

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! Happy spinning! 😊🧶💜

[@carrieahall85]

This is soo relatable and very similar to my journey into fiber art and all the other arts. I also make my own paint from rocks, and use natural materials for all my art making. It makes such a difference to learn how things are made and where they came from and connects us to our roots and the earth! I could talk about these things all day but most people don't relate, it was soo nice to hear you talk about it. Also, your hair looks amazing! Love that color on you.

[@JillianEve]

I'm so intrigued by natural paint pigments even though I don't paint. I agree, it makes such a difference to know where things come from! 😊🧶💜

[@carrieahall85]

@@JillianEve I’ve used earth pigments to paint on fabric! You use soy milk as a binder. I’ve also done some natural dyeing and used the same materials as inks. Its soo much fun to use natural materials!

[@springlockedfoxy8396]

I wonder if it's a product of reading the Omnivore's Dilemma. I, too, have been investigating a method of living more locally, and more sustainably. I've started learning to make my own clothes, my own blankets, rugs, produce my own foods. I feel the same, and I'm slowly working towards a type of more sustainable, local, living. And I picked up my first spindle recently too. :D

[@JillianEve]

Happy spinning! 😊🧶💜

[@HeavenlyKnightAK]

I’m late to the video! I just got my first spindle from the lady spinning at the state fair. I just learned my traditional weaving which uses (traditionally) mountain goat wool. Today it’s not sustainable, one traditional blanket uses 7-9 mountain goat. Since the early 1900s, we adapted to merino wool for the materials used for our regalia. Our regalia is very precious, only brought out during special occasions. As you stated making one garment can take a full year or so because we have to make the materials ourselves. I just started with thigh spinning for our warp. That’s a process in its own, it takes so long just to make one yard. This cannot be commercially replicated, I’ve bought 7 different yarns and they weren’t what I needed. And this is just my warp. So making it myself is the only option as commercial cannot give me a strong warp. Then I found my wefting materials was just has difficult to obtain. Most are springy and acrylic which I hate with a passion. So i figured that’s something I’ll need to soon myself. I saw ladies at the state fair spinning on an electric spinner. I told her I’m learning thigh spinning, and asked If sock weight can’t be thigh spin. She thought about, and took me to the side and explained what needs to happen for that materials. She pulls out her spindle, and some wool and started teaching me. I didn’t know it was for me at the time. As she was instructing me she was giving me a lot of information but she was so happy to teach someone. After a few minutes of instruction she was- you’re such a natural I’m going to give you more of my wool. She packed my bag full, and she wrapped the spindle and said that she’s giving me her spindle. 😭to me this felt like someone giving away their prized possession just to see the craft passed on. ❤️😭 I honestly reared up on the way to the car just how much this meant to me. she wanted to have me enter the state fair next year and I think I’m going to do it! This art was really only done by our women, as men only designed what was going to go on the garment. The men did more tasks like carving or wood working. So our old traditional weaving almost died out. I think it went down to only a few handfull of women who held onto that tradition. It used to be only passed down to family only. Teaching outside the clan was not really practiced. That was the tradition in until a group of ladies decided to break tradition and teach outside of the clan/tribe. Which lead to me being able to be taught via online. So now I’m a weaver, spinning yarn to make my first traditional regalia for my soon to be matriarch sister a ravens tail blanket. I find your videos very instructive and informative, I cannot wait to learn more!

[@stitchedtogetherfiberarts]

You're articulating so many reasons why people spin and I resonate with so many of them. The Omnivore's Dilemma spoke to me, too, and the meditative dimension of spinning really speaks to me, as well! Thank you!

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! 😊🧶💜

[@yasminpatel231]

I was so moved watching this video, especially the fact that you know the sheep that your wool came from. Thank you.

[@_robynamber_]

I can relate to this video on so many levels. I no longer feel alone and the seeing the response to video shows such a wonderful, vast community who feel the same. I can feel your, passion, care and enthusiasm and thank you for sharing this with us. It brings me great comfort xx

[@JillianEve]

I'm honestly blown away right now to the response to this! I'm so amazed and grateful for this community. Thank you for watching and I'm so glad it brought you comfort. 😊🧶💜

[@miserybutane298]

I commented on your instagram image as well, but I have realized that i left out a plethora of reasons why I spin. so on top of the reasons of I started to keep me from going spare during the great panini and a second gigantic lockdown, feeling a link beyond the grave to my mother who has been out of my life longer than she was ever in it (by a factor of almost double now) and to control the yarns i'm using, I have to now add that yes, i do spin to fidget. I can't imagine what its like to not have something in my hands while i'm watching things now. I also find that my wheel gives my legs a good workout. I love the smell of fleece and the connection I feel to the origins of my clothes. I feel proud to wear a sweater, even with all its flaws, that I made myself. I could wax poetic for as long as your Video Evie, but I won't.

[@conniedubois4292]

Such a lovely video💕 There are so many feelings you have as an artist that are like those of the shepherdess...the peace and nourishment, the patience of growing a fleece for a full year before shearing, the joy of seeing something beautiful created. Thank you!😊

[@JillianEve]

Thank you so much Connie, and thank Lily too. She's a star! 🐑💜🥰

[@elaineheeley3020]

I just love your sweater. Would you mind letting me know what the pattern is please?

[@SoulfulSpinning]

Such a beautiful comment! 💕

[@JillianEve]

Arboreal by Jennifer Steingass 😊🧶💜

[@elaineheeley3020]

@@JillianEve 💕thank you 💕

[@teacat55]

Beautiful haircut. I LO❤E that tiny sheep!! Whoa!!,,!, you lived in Louisiana!?!? That’s where I’m at! I KNEW there was a land connection here, somewhere! And yes this wonderful state is a bit of a fiber desert (except for cotton) In the late 60s-early 70s, I can remember a fad of paper clothing…. Talk about wasteful

[@venite_makes_things]

Yay a whole episode of #DeepThoughtsWithEvie! My favourite. I actually live in a city that was once a Roman fort and later a Viking trading post, so I bought a reproduction Viking spindle to connect with that.

[@myrany8407]

When I was in 1st grade we had a school field trip to a farm. The old farmer demonstrated carding wool and spinning on a bottom whorl drop spindle. Then he showed us how we could do the same thing by sticking a pencil in an apple and spinning that way. I had already started to learn to knitting and this concept just grabbed me. I drove my mom crazy by my hopeless attempts to spin the bathroom cotton balls with an apple spindle so my experiments were cut rather forcefully short. LOL 40 years later I found a shop and got a real spindle and wool and have not looked back since. Mind you I also took up weaving and other fiber arts to go with my lifelong knitting. Though I am old enough now that I have to be careful how much I do in one sitting or the joints really tell me off. I can knit a sweater in week to this day. The spinning is what slows me down.

[@queendelgado1181]

This is absolutely beautiful. I love the connection to the sheep it's precious.

[@Eternal_Hope_Q]

I'm like you Evie...I had a hunger for 'something'... feeling growing concern that we, as a society, have outsourced our essentials for life. I started with growing veg in amongst my flowers in our (then) tiny front yard. I brought my daughters up to be able to pop out and pick food that we could eat that night. I quickly went to spinning when I happened upon an antique spinning wheel. This was before the internet and learning via an old dusty book from the library was hard and slow! Skip forward almost 30 years and now we have 5 acres, I have 6 fleece from my own sheep (waiting to be processed!) We grow and preserve a decent amount of food and I have that satisfied, content feeling that has been growing since watching my first seedlings come up through the compost. We aren't self sufficient, but we are doing our part and we are as organic as possible. My prayers are that what used to be called 'womens work' back in the day as an insult will be held as a badge of honour as time passes ❤️🙏

[@alanamuir]

My love of spinning is very connected to my autism and my disability. I have a physical disability that makes holding a job extremely difficult, so I am in a position where I have more time than money. I first picked up a spindle because 100% wool yarn was expensive and I wanted to knit some fulled/felted projects. It was cheaper to buy wool and a spindle. The money savings has not continued. I just bought my second spinning wheel. I love the soft textures and it's definitely a stim for me. I spin far more than I can knit, and I end up giving a lot away to my knitting friends. I live in Scotland and I also happen to have a history degree. Spinning makes me feel connected to this beautiful country where I'm an immigrant. I didn't come from here, but I still want to help retain that history and connect to that culture.

[@susancorbett8155]

What a joyful video! My spinning journey is tied up with emotions and family history and memories, but also new and special friendships. Even my wheel which was a "thank you" gift recently from a friend I have been supporting turned out to have a direct link to my childhood.

[@carolharper268]

I’ve missed you for a long while. As you may remember I suffer from chronic illness but last Christmas I don’t know what happened, I was really ill and I thought my heart was going to burst! I’m still being treated and tested but feeling better than I did. You give me inspiration to get to my wheel again. I’ve got to take it slowly to begin with but watching your videos brings me joy. Happy Spinning with your new project, I suppose you have started so I’m going to look now. ❤

[@MsBooshka]

Best video I’ve watched on yt for a very long time. WOW. Thank you. I spin because of how it feels, because of how it slows my experience and it’s primal nature.

[@tracybird4547]

I loved this! One sweater a year…you have NO idea how much this released me from my own toxic productivity messages swirling in my head about how “little” I produce!! I looooove what I do. Why…WHY…am I internalizing and judging myself using capitalist, extractive values?! I buy very little commercial clothing now and am trying to build up my collection of valued, personalized, hand made clothing pieces and yes, it’s not quick. However, the process is joyful in its own right so I need to stop dampening that joy by applying standards that don’t align with me and my making. Thank you for this amazing gift.❤

[@karamarie6781]

Your background complements your gorgeous coloring beautifully! Great choice of background.

[@michelenorine3621]

I don't usually comment but I have to say FIRST, I love your new hair color, you look ravishing - it really highlights your face and SECOND - this video was AMAZING!! I was riveted from your first utterance, which by the way, you are an eloquent speaker, and you made me laugh and cry and touched a very deep well in my soul with your words. Very well done! I started spinning wool many years ago in Georgia and then Utah - knew my sheep by name, scoured, dyed then spun their wool and absolutely loved it. But life took a down turn and I did not do any of it anymore for another long period until in the last year I picked up my wool, (which I have moved along with me, including my spinning wheel, cards and niddy noddy), stewed some onion skins and the most beautiful golden yellow wool came out and is ready for me to spin. I feel connected again and want to thank you for your video content in helping me re-learn how to spin. Our youth and country REALLY need these vital skills and connection.

[@bitnewt]

The great thing about automation is that the things we need can be made to a decent standard without as much time and effort, but that doesn't mean we can't do things by hand when we want to. If anything, having automation to do some of the things we don't want to do frees us up to do more of the impractical creative fun relaxing things we do want to do. The current system of exponentially increasing production and consumption is not sustainable at all, though. We don't need to automate as much as we do and we don't need as many things as are made to be sold. This was a lovely comforting video! You described feelings that clearly a lot of people share so eloquently

[@kmpage333]

I'm going to be VERY popular when the SHTF. So will you!! I'm 75-90% done on two different sweaters, lol!

[@Phill4957]

This is why i keep buying old tools and learning old crafts so that i have a choice in how i consume, essentially. ive mostly gotten the hang of knitting, crochet, naalbinding and embroidery so im working on lacemaking now. Besides, for me as a person with ADHD fiber crafts but also most kinds of crafts really lets me relax and be in the moment. One day my dream would be to live off of all these small things i can make, or by teaching others like you do. All the best from denmark :)

[@amylamphere7232]

Beatrice bah bah for the little sheep name 😊

[@mmatthews7413]

OMGoodness! I can relate so well to that moment when “something clicked”. I feel so connected with every project. There is just something about having a raw fleece and processing it from sheep to a garment. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, the process is so calming and spinning is like meditation for me. ❤

[@JillianEve]

It's such a wonderful moment when things click like that. 😊🧶💜

[@rajoba7981]

Oh yes! I remember once I crocheted a couple of curtains. They were small, but still, I used thin yarn, thin needle and it took me over a year. I realise even a lot of people making crafts are so impatient. They're sighing and moaning about "boring" parts of a garment. And many of such people didn't understand my joy over my project. "How do you bother? It takes so long!" Yes, and so what? I enjoyed it. I was almost sad, and had a minor "crisis" when I was done. What was I to do then? Life felt a bit empty for a little while. 😅

[@khimbalee5087]

What a beautiful talk, I came for the spinning and stayed for the wisdom,

[@yorkshirenome]

I love this so much, thank you for this video! I'm very new to spinning, have been knitting seriously for over a year while trying to recover from chronic illness and my interest in how yarn is made and the connection to where it originally has come from has been growing steadily over that time. Someone in my knit and spin group has lent me a wheel to see how I get on with it for which I'm so grateful. I was laughing with someone today how it's typical I choose these expensive hobbies at a time of my life when I'm not able to earn an income unfortunately, and it made me think, why am I not happy with a simpler/cheaper hobby like embroidery or drawing or whatever - but it's the act of making something that is useful as well as creative that I find particularly satisfying, and your video helps me see the reasons behind that, especially a distaste for fast fashion and a throwaway culture. Sorry if this comment sounds rather rambled. Just wanted to express how much of what you say resonated with me 😄

[@ediemartimucci6909]

That book changed my life !!!

[@JillianEve]

It's so wonderful how books can do that. 😊🧶💜

[@HundredAcreWool]

Your mini spinning wheel whattt 😍😍😍 I need!!

[@ChayatsujiKimono]

Evie, your hair! It's soooo beautiful🥰I love the colour on you 😍

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! I want purple hair forever now! 😊🧶💜

[@blackmber]

I made a drop spindle yesterday from a barbecue skewer and a wooden craft wheel I lad lying around, and started spinning for the first time using the fur of my friend’s Bernese mountain dog. It felt magical to just use my hands to turn a pile of “dust” into yarn, just by twisting it. It’s so simple. It made me reflect on how industrialization has taken away our connection to production, and turned satisfying work into “hobbies”. I thought, this is like Minecraft, finding natural materials and turning them into increasingly useful things. How sad is it that I had to use a video game to explain the enjoyment of a basic task that humans have been doing for thousands of years. We’ve found ways to accelerate production of goods, but now those goods don’t mean anything to us. We still yearn to create. I don’t think we would feel the need to buy so many new clothes if we had the satisfaction of taking time to make them ourselves, or see the effort that loved ones put into them for us. We could be happier with less.

[@louderthanwordsInclusivity]

I am embarking on this journey myself, learning to spin and weave, sew and knit and crochet and nalbinding, basket weaving, and we hope to buy a land and start our own homestead one day. I dream to one day be able to afford the equipment such as a spinning wheel, a floor loom, and even the equipment to grow and process my own flax. I want know where our food comes from, where our clothes come from, our blankets, our baskets, and to know what’s in them. I dream of finally one day growing or sheering the fiber that I will spin, weave into fabric, cut and sew into garments. I have a long way to go, for practicing these skills and investing in the time and money, but I love it so far

[@cuppajavaplease]

Your words brought tears to my eyes.

[@bluefox5331]

Came to your channel just yesterday, in search of information about spinning- what I am planning is spin nettles I will gather in the forest into thread. I am slowly walking down the foraging rabbit hole- mushroom foraging is obvious, it is a tradition in Poland and not unusual at all. Then there are the common forest fruits like raspberries which also don't seem weird. Then there are beech nuts and young beech leaves and dandelion root (tastes, in order, like: milder hazelnut, a sour leaf, milder parsley root). And when I saw a shirt handmade from beginning to end with nettle flax and hemp.. well, I know what next I will try. Already made some rope from dandelion stems, it's not perfect but it will do for tying up my hoya to it's pole. It really does make you more serene, somehow, and grateful for the end product when you know how much effort was put into it. Even on a smaller scale, I feel more coneccted to the couple of clothes I thrifted and love than the ones I bought and love- there's something in the effort that makes me bond stronger. Might not be practical, but when did hobbies have to be practical? If people can watch TV all the time after work, I can forage and spin and birdwatch and do all the fun things I think to try I am determined to check off that garment-made-from-scratch off my checklist before I die. It will be a fun little adventure!

[@lisa-mariegarciaperea4365]

For me spinning is profoundly practical because I am not allowed to work anymore due to health reasons and I am neurodivergent. So I have tons of time but little money, if I want to have quality things I have to hunt them down in second hand shops or make them myself. I am thrilled that you want to make an apron dress. A few months ago I made one myself and it is the single most loved item in my wardrobe. It took many months to complete an a whole kilogramm of wool but it is so versatile and warm :-)

[@flyingpigfarm1]

Every time I sit down with nothing to do, I hear my grandmother’s voice saying: “Nothing to do? I’ll just go find you something to useful to do…” Damn that Pennsylvania Dutch work ethic! I hand sew everything because that way I can yack and watch TV while sewing. I knit, I spin, I make jewelry, and I especially love to quilt. I make a quilt, which takes a year, and promptly give it away as a gift to someone I love. Money can’t buy the product of my labors - no one could afford to pay for a thousand hours of my precious time. So NO, the stuff I make is NEVER sold, but if you’re in my circle of friends and family, you’ll be snuggling in front of the TV wearing an amethyst beaded necklace under a snuggly handmade blanket! So cheers to you, my drop-spindling lady! I’m off to Netflix and Knit!

[@arianetoogood2726]

I didn't really choose to spinn, I had to learn at school about 40 years ago, when I was 17. I was good at it at school, and that's why I liked it ,so when I left school I got myself a spinning weel. We also had to learn to make baskets, pottery , metal work, wood work and so on. I loved it all, but, because I did knit before, spinning went well with the old hobby. Also, I did knit 3 jumpers and a cardigan last year and I haven't got a lot off time because I work a lot. Also think it's a lot cheaper to spinn your own wool and dy it , then getting it in a wool shop. All hobbies are expensive!

[@thehennapeacock]

I have crocheted for years and never thought spinning yarn was possible (I thought it had to be done on machines or spinning wheels). Last year my MIL to be gave me 2 black bags of alpaca fiber from her partners sisters alpaca farm. I looked up what I could do with it and found your videos so helpful. I’m not great at the preparing stage yet still, and have bought prepared fibers from small etsy shops, which has been MUCH easier to work with. I’m still very much a beginner but I’m loving it. I have ADHD and it’s calming and soothing like crochet is, but means I can still make/do something even when I can’t decide what I want to make. I have always had a deep need for connecting to nature and the natural world and also to make/create things. I’m a henna artist by trade and so i literally work with plant paste. Spinning gives me the same joy and feeling of connection to nature and it feels like magic to turn fluff (fiber) into yarn. I can’t believe i hadn’t done it sooner really. But i love it. It calms my mind. I love the feel of the soft fibres going through my fingers and it’s been helping me find peace and calm during times where my anxiety starts to spiral. When I’m creating with nature (through henna, crochet or spinning), i feel connected and calm and like I’m exactly where I need to be. It’s so satisfying and like medicine for my very soul.

[@Hugsandkisses305]

I spin yarn because it connects me to the ancestors i never got the pleasure to know or hear about. My family is a blend of many different immigrants who either had to assimilate into american culture (the Irish and Scottish side) or lost their parents on the trip over to (we believe that was our German side) and I feel so connected to them when I spin because I know that is something they likely did at some point in my families history. Even tho there are no heirlooms or stories passed down I still have that link.

[@casper1858]

i really appreciate you having accurate closed captions on your videos. it might help more people who can only watch videos with closed captions to find your videos by putting “[CC]” at the end of your titles so people know you put in the extra effort to make them accessible. either way, thanks so much. i really enjoy your videos ♥︎

[@Misty_Murphy]

I just recently found your channel. And let me tell you, you might just get me in trouble with my husband. Lol. (That’s a complete joke by the way) I follow wool needle hands and she recently got a wheel. I wanted to know more about the drop spindle that I seen so I decided to “KZbin it”. I have so many books on my to be read now that it will take me a while to read them. Especially seeing as I have a17 year old, 16 year old and and almost one year old. I already crochet and am dabbling into the world of knitting. My husband just shakes his head and says ok, one more yarn craft to add to the growing stash. I say all of this to simply say thank you. You have inspired me to, POSSIBLY, take up the art of spinning. Have a lovely and blessed day. God bless.

[@jinxleah]

Thank you so much for this! It is so wonderful. I haven't spun much in my past, but I plan to do more in the future, partially inspired by you. I do so many other crafts though, from weaving to crochet to gardening to blacksmithing to cooking and just about anything else you can think of. I do it because my parents did it. They were both very creative people. My father built the looms that he and I loomed on, a full size one for him and a child sized one for me. My mother made the best fitting clothes I've ever had in my life. They both had more skills and hobbies than you can think of, and their love for it rubbed off on me.

[@JillianEve]

That's such a beautiful heritage to have from your parents! 😊🧶💜

[@emilyporter1186]

I got interested in spinning years ago when I read a tumblr post by someone I followed. They had bought silk moths to have an easy close source of silk to spin. It had never occurred to me that ppl still spun other than stereotypical European grandmas, or that one could make clothing from scratch beyond just knitting store bought yarn. I love being able to circumvent capitalist industries and doing things myself. But I hadn't done any level of fiber making to justify picking up spinning. Just some on and off crochet years apart. The idea of spinning lived in the back of my mind until last winter, when I finally got my first spindle. I still hadn't done much more crochet at that point, and had just started teaching myself to knit. I taught myself to spin a bit. Then I got too busy and dropped all my crafting for a long while. Then I found your channel. I picked it up again this winter, along with knitting, and am knitting a shawl with part store bought, part handspun yarn. I have 2 balls waiting to be plied now. I'm hoping it'll be my first finished knitting project and first project with handspun!

[@CherylHarpercompulsivespinner]

It's in my soul. That's why I spin. Loved your talk. Happy Spinning ❤.

[@wezzerette5555]

Yeah, I definitely get the same response from folks about my knitting and crochet projects. The amount of time it takes to create an item, the amount it costs to purchase the fiber. There is no way, somebody is going to pay $300 for a sweater. When they can go online or a store for less that $50. It's something to give to family and friends

[@mmmmg2494]

So glad i found you!

[@benf262]

as someone new to yarn crafting and not (yet) a spinner, but the community and the meditation is great! I got it into for something to do while on the clock at work. I cant be on my phone to set a good example for students, but I need something to move and make. As someone with a basis in traditional and digital mediums, my go to is harder to bring with. I can't sit on a bus and break out a whole computer and a drawing tablet since an ipad is too expensive. its much easier to stop and stuff it in my bag after a 20 minute ride and i dont have to wait for it to dry like paint. It has helped me slow down and take time for me since moving out. im so happy to have this community

[@mmcdo61930]

Beautifully said, and exactly how I feel about connection to past family.

[@velzanna2281]

Everyone always asks "but can you make money from this hobby"? That isn't the point. Thank you so much for saying this on your platform. I don't spin but I crochet sometimes, and I paint with watercolour. I don't intend to make money off that - it's for me, and me alone. But some people still feel the need to ask, because they just can't comprehend putting hours and hours and hours of work into something that just... makes you fulfilled. I don't ascociate with people like that anymore, and if when I explain they still don't get it I just accept that they will not understand me. Not everything must become a hustle, and if one's outlook on life is that miserly I hope they have some other outlet for our human need for making things.

[@liadanmakes]

I've learned so much about spinning from your videos but especially appreciated this one. That figure of 60+ items of clothing a year is staggering - mostly because there's almost no reason anyone would need to buy that many items of clothing in a year, and as many of us probably know the fashion industry is an overwhelming producer of waste and a lot of clothing is never bought, just straight to the landfill. Another reason I love knitting (and spinning) beyond the sheer enjoyment is that I produce things which are meant to last, things that I or the people I make them for can wear for years or even decades to come if mended on occasion. Again, really appreciated this video and hearing about your journey and philosophy. Thanks for what you do!

[@mariedupuy7]

Thank you so much for sharing your passion. It was so poetic, and it looks like it touch my soul not only through screen but also through continents. I love spinning and crocheing and knitting cause my grandma use to do it. I don't remember that time but i deeply know that i reproduce her movements and i feel connect with her, her past, my past my mom's past. Maybe i'am a bit too emotionnal but it almost made me cry. I send you a lot of support and love from France

[@lgassin]

Good to see you back :). Beautiful meditation on our favorite activity!

[@JillianEve]

Yes! Thank you! 😊🧶💜

[@jessiebird802]

I love to spin yarn from local fiber and aim for one handspun sweater per year. It has turned me into a bit of a yarn snob, though, as I find a lot of commercial yarns just don't have the character or life that I get from my handspun (which is far from perfect!). I prefer raw fleece to commercially combed top because I love to take it from greasy lock right through to final product, whether I dye it or not. It may take a long time to go from fleece to FO, but I love every phase of the journey, so it just means more joy when I get to be part of all the steps.

[@Mimulus2717]

I don't spin, but this video convinced me to give it a try! Excellent discussion of knowing the origins of our creature comforts.

[@JillianEve]

Glad you enjoyed it! Happy spinning! 💜🧶😊

[@rutheder1471]

Thank you so much for the videos you have made, for nearly a week I have been bedridden with a crippling earache (I think my other symptoms are reducing just not yet the earache). I have been a yarn crafter for most of my life and had many many wonderful teachers. A couple of days ago a friend sent my your video and it was a God send as I found it was one of the few ways I had of distracting myself....thanks to you I put on your videos, put my earbud in my good ear and am nearly finished myown basic design singlet. You are such a God Send. Thank you

[@Sami-tk4dd]

You're making me cry 😭 this is so beautiful and makes me want to start doing this myself

[@helenf4214]

I got into spindle spinning a few years ago. My neighbour had “lawnmower” alpacas. I asked what she did with the fleece. She answered that she used it as a WEED MAT in the garden. I bought a garbage bag full of her fleece for $20 and a year later I presented her with a pair of hand spun, dyed and knitted mittens. From her own alpacas. She was gobsmacked. I have not stopped since then. I love it. Especially the different dyes you can use. Great video, I feel where you are coming from 👍

[@horsecrazy4978]

Fibrecrafts and textiles is something I am very new to, but your message on being connected is something that my family and I have been trying to do for years. Twice now we have raised our own meat chickens and while sad, is weirdly enough a fulfilling thing. They taste far better than any bird you buy in the grocery store and they are the same breed. You know that they had a good life and got to be chickens and they ate good food and got to run around and forage and it shows. We have other chickens for egg laying and as pets and the eggs that they give us are also better than store bought. I recently started working at a sheep dairy and the milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream is so good! It's so satisfying when you can look at a meal and say, "This came from Shadow!" or "Phyllis made this!" There is no feeling like knowing where all your stuff comes from and learning to appreciate the lives and the sacrifices of others around you.

[@jenniferrosener4668]

When you look at plastics, you can think about the contribution of the very distant dinosaurs and maybe feel connected to times before man! 😂 this was a great video, thank you for your time!

[@TheTypewriterError]

One of the ways my mom and I often spent time together was by going shopping. We loved (still love but it's harder to shop together with her living out of state) going yarn stores and oohing and ahhing over the hand dyed and hand spun skeins especially. Going back another generation, my maternal grandmother was a newly married 16-year-old when the depression hit, so my mom and her siblings were always raised with "You can make that" whenever they wanted to buy certain items of clothing while shopping. I know my mom loves seeing me take joy in spinning and she appreciates the hand-spun yarn I gift her with from time to time, but I also feel like my Nana in spirit is proud of me. Now when I go to those yarn stores and admire the hand-spun and hand-dyed yarns, the first thing I think is "I can make that'. XD

[@JillianEve]

Oh yes! 💜🧶😊

[@lizabethhampton4537]

I don't spin (yet), but I'm working on a MASSIVE crochet project right now (not the first one tbh) and frankly for me the draws have been a combination of a feeling of closeness to my ancestors (not just my grandmother who first exposed me to the concept but also whomever taught her and whomever taught that person and also (mostly) women ad infinitum back to the days of yore knitting, crocheting, nalbinding, spinning, weaving and so on), and the slow fashion angle. Being able to literally make your own clothes is so fulfilling.

[@PlatypusKnitting]

This was beautiful and moving, thank you! It should be a TED talk.

[@rachelroot2913]

I relate to this so much. I don't spin, yet, but I knit for the same reasons

[@intheyellowcorner]

I come from a long line of Lancashire weavers on my mums side and scottish spinners and knitters on my dads side. I feel like textiles are in my DNA. Last year i went to shetland wool week. It was amazing to go somewhere, where spinning and knitting every day is still the "norm". It felt like coming home despite it still being in the same country as i live.

[@selenawitch5141]

this story is so heartwarming and so right. It is about connection. Thank you so much.

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! 💜🧶😊

[@kfam18]

I’ve been wanting to start spinning since I was a child. I grew up seeing my Grandmaman knit, and just this past year I learnt my Great Grandmother (whom I never got to meet) spun and wove, knit and crocheted, and it’s like something clicked. I feel like I’ve always known I was supposed to spin. Just discovering your channel the day I happened to look into buying some sheep for our little ranch seems too much of a sign from the universe that I’m on the right track. I cannot wait to dive into all of your videos! I really love how you shared this, and I geared up in a few parts from a feeling of “yes! Me too!”. Wishing you a beautiful September ☺️

[@DianaMorgancrochet]

Wow! Just Wow! This video is so amazing and impactful that it brought me to tears. Thank you for gathering and verbalizing the thoughts of my heart. I love watching your videos, but this was something special.

[@lindaholmes1920]

A thousand times YES! Every reason you gave for spinning is why I also took up the spindle again a few years ago, after a hiatus of three decades! The first prompt was, like yourself, after growing my own food and buying slow food for years, I began to rid my life and home of the single use plastic that is destroying our planet. I trawled my wardrobe to weed out the plastic derived clothes and now aim to buy only natural products that will biodegrade, and this drew me back to when I first spun fleece years ago. It was time to get back to that reconnection.

[@jewelsinterests]

Thank you so much for your information and teaching materials on spinning. I have to say, as someone who loves all things knit, crochet, sewing, leather, and jewelry making, spinning was kinda the last thing I needed to add to my list of things to work on...lol, but here I am, addicted to a new project thing that I am now obsessed with. I LOVE it! I love raw textiles and doing things as you do, from the source of a thing. I also like the sustainablility and having the self pride and satisfaction of completeing a thing from my hands only to wear, eat and decorate with. Life in general is so much more fullfilling because of it. I have been sewing from home for three years (no fast fashion except for sox , shoes and technology of course) for me and for my family. Now my college student will shop for clothes and my youngest son has recently requested clothes from the store but I know he will be asking me for clothes as soon as he realizes how hard it can be to buy what you like. So, long story long, thank you for allowing me the ability to make my own yarn to my liking! THANK YOU and letting me know i am not the only one! Great tutorials! Keep up the wonderful work!