The spinning life: more than just yarn

Tag : Wool Yarn
Fields had her spinning wheel going as she sold her handmade soapsat the event. Tollman considers her the “grandmother”of local spinners because she has taught so many how to spin, andthey, in turn, have taught others.

Tollman said she watched the wheel go round as Fields’ handsseemed to effortlessly and expertly guide the wool on the spindle.

The fluffy strands of wool gently twisted into yarn.

“She made it look so easy, but down deep I knew itwasn’t easy,” Tollman said earlier this week.“That’s when my real interest started.”

Fast forward to June 12, 1999, the day Tollman married Jon Tollmanin a ceremony atop Manastash Ridge.

After the ceremony, the couple went for a drive and stopped at thehome of friends in Ellensburg. The friends were packing for a moveto Latvia where they would teach school.

Mary Tollman spotted a spinning wheel. She recalls“innocently” saying she was interested in learning howto spin.

Immediately the friends offered to let her keep the wheel for thenext three years.

“I was so surprised I didn’t know exactly what to say,but ‘OK’ came out,” Mary said with a laugh.“I guess they needed to lighten the load they werepacking.”

She later called Fields who invited Mary to come to the KittitasCounty Farmers Market where members of the Kittitas County Spinnerswere giving spinning demonstrations.

“I brought my wheel, and right there in front of the entirefarmers market I struggled to learn how to spin,” Mary said.“I did terribly, and it was quite humbling. I just went homeand practiced, practiced and practiced.”

A spinner was born.

Support

Mary, now 45, is one of more than 30 women associated with theKittitas County Spinners. Anywhere from three to about 10 womenmeet monthly, mostly in the late fall and winter, for a spin-in atone of the women’s homes.

There’s also a mid-day potluck meal that goes along with thegatherings.

Some of the women raise sheep to produce their own wool and sellthe wool to other spinners.

“Spinning is very calming, very soothing to me,” Marysaid. “I love the feel and smell of wool and the rhythmic,repetitive action of the wheel. It’s an amazing visual to seethese puffy, dyed fibers turn into amazing yarn.”

During a spin-in, the women talk and patiently listen: someone isconcerned about having a baby, kids are going away to college, aspinner shares about her husband who recently died and a daughteris getting married.

“The talk among the women isn’t just clucking,”Mary said. “There’s a lot of emotional support thatgoes on.”

Taking a spin

Terry Niles, who lives five miles north of Ellensburg, taughtherself to spin 14 years ago and agrees spinning is a relaxingdiversion from stress.

“It gets your mind off whatever you’re worryingabout,” said Niles, 67.

Spinning was something Niles always was interested in, and in 1994she bought a wheel and learned techniques from books.

She later joined the Northwest Regional Spinners Association afterthe group used Central Washington University for its statewideconference in 1994. At the time Niles worked in Central’sAuxiliary Services and is now retired.

Yet raising 19 sheep and two llamas for yarn fibers has continuedto keep her busy along with her husband, Ken. After having theanimals sheared, she and Ken prepare some of the fibers forspinning and also send some of it out for processing.

Terry estimated she sells about two-thirds of the fleece to otherspinners.

She has joined with other local spinners to demonstrate the craftat the Kittitas County fair, at the county historical museum, theSpirit of the West Cowboy Gathering and at the threshing bee atOlmstead Place State Park.

Ken, at times, has joined in by demonstrating the use of their“great” wheel that is 4-feet in diameter.

All that yarn

Together, Ken and Terry in their blended family have seven grownchildren, 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She usesher spun yarn to knit hats, sweaters, mittens, mufflers and othergift items for the clan.

Terry also travels to spinning association conferences and retreatswhere she says she’s able to “totally immerseherself” in spinning projects, workshops and relateddiscussions.

“I’ve come to know many people in the association who Iconsider friends,” Terry said. “It’s a greatsocial time.”

She has fond memories of gathering with other Central employeesduring their lunch breaks on campus to talk and knit at the sametime.

Mary Tollman said several years ago she had to ask her mother toteach her to knit as the logical next step now that she makes herown yarn.

“I had this pile of yarn the size of Nantucket to contendwith,” Mary said.

She now knits socks, sweaters and hats for the couple’s fourchildren and two grandkids.

Mary’s looking forward to the coming season of monthlyspin-ins.

“In a way you’re part of a family and a community whenwe spin together,” Mary said. “It’s wonderful tobe involved with each other’s lives.”