Two events are scheduled to take place in Patrick County on Saturday. A group is scheduled to meet in Stuart at Honduras Coffee Shop on Main Street from 10 AM until noon.
World Wide Spin In Public Events Scheduled in Patrick County
Saturday, September 19, 2009 has been designated as the first World Wide Spin In Public Day. All over the world, in countries ranging from Australia to Europe to North America, handspinners will be gathering in public places to show off their skills and gain recognition for their hobby. Performing an art in public, either formally or informally, is often a means of spreading the word about the popularity of a hobby such as spinning, knitting or crocheting. An established "Knit in Public Day" usually takes place in June. Events are sponsored by local yarn shops or put together by groups of volunteers.
Two events are scheduled to take place in Patrick County on Saturday. A group is scheduled to meet in Stuart at Honduras Coffee Shop on Main Street from 10 AM until noon. Knitters, crocheters and any other fiber worker or needlecrafter is also invited. From 10 AM until 4 PM local and area handspinners will be demonstrating their spinning skills at 10 Concord Road, Meadows of Dan, Virginia, at a gathering sponsored by Greenberry House, a local yarn shop. Weather permitting this event will be held outside the shop. Any fiber artisan is welcome and the public is invited to attend and ask questions.
"People always enjoy seeing handspinners," said Leslie Shelor, owner of Greenberry House. "I'm often surprised when I'm demonstrating how many people have never seen a spinning wheel at work, even though antique spinning wheels are common in our area."
Handspinning is a traditional art form and was a necessary skill for the households of generations of people before the invention of industrial spinning equipment. Twisted plant fibers have been found by archaeologists that date back 30,000 years. Although most clothing is now made from machine-spun material, handspun yarns are valued by knitters, weavers and crocheters for creating quality and unique works of hand made art.
The recent interest in the Buy Locally movement has expanded beyond food into other items created by local artisans, such as handspun yarns, soaps, crafts, furniture and more. "Customers like to know where their purchases are coming from these days," commented Shelor, whose shop features locally made yarns, handspinning fibers, soaps, lotions and candy. "If a customer meets the spinner who made the yarn she's interested in buying, she feels that she can trust the yarn to be special. And safe."
