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This article was originally written for the In a Spin newsletter (email Joan Kendall for info) and has been re-written for our site in case there are isolated people like me who spin but who don't yet know about cyberspinning.

For those of us living far out of reach of any real guild or other spinning group, or even a fellow spinner, the Internet has become something of a lifesaver.

Cyberspace is still relatively new to us, as the Falklands as a whole only got access to it back in December '97. Spurred on by this, we bought our son's old computer so he could upgrade. And I can honestly say - even in the certain knowledge that some will label me a sad so-and-so - that I couldn't manage without it now.

Every morning I come out to the workshop to check my e-mails and see who's spinning what, where and how.

(And sometimes why!!)

I check at regular intervals throughout the day, and late at night I come out again to "put my e-mails to bed'" - i.e. do a final Send and Receive and shut the machine down for the night. With the different time zones around the world, there are inevitably bursts of messages from different countries or states at different times of the day - Australians or Kiwis being already in 'tomorrow' of course...

I subscribe (at no financial cost) to several spinning-related mailing lists, filtering the various messages into appropriate IN boxes to retain some sort of order. In case you don't already know - a mailing list is somewhere you can send a message for others (sometimes hundreds of them, depending on the list size) to read, and to respond to if they wish. These messages can normally be sent to you in digest form, i.e. bundled into so many messages at a time, or as individual messages (which I find easier since I can whizz through the subject lines if short of time or otherwise under pressure, deleting those which appear less interesting).

You just download your mail when it suits you to do so. Some people find early morning good, others the evenings, it all depends on your daily schedule and commitments. If you find a list less interesting than expected you can simply un-sub and try another, and if you are going away for a while you can set a list to No Mail - usually - or unsub temporarily, to prevent your mailbox overflowing at your local server (service provider).  [currently due to lack of time and high phone costs, I am only on one list, for feltmakers].

All the lists I subscribe to are moderated, that's to say they each have a 'List Mom' - not necessarily female! - who lays down certain rules and guidelines to keep things on a reasonably orderly footing. Flaming (being rude to or about someone on the list for others to see) is not allowed and leads to being banned. Usually there's one warning, a bit like the yellow card in football, and if there's a second offence the guilty party is removed from the list - they may still be able to read messages, but not respond...

Some of these are fun lists, some are serious, others are a pleasant mix of pure spinning talk (known as OFC or Official Fibre content and obligatory on many lists since that's their real purpose) - and general chitchat about families, pets or any one of the other myriad topics that make up daily life. (See Links for the URLs of my own favourites). If you love spindles of any breed, there's Spindlitis just waiting for you to join. (I still can't use a spindle really well, but live in hope, owning everything from a Navajo to a Spinimal, so I belonged to this list for a while.) Several lists exist for spinning as a whole, i.e. wheel and spindle, the main one being the Spin List - excellent - and others for selling, trading, swapping or simply chatting. Some also set up Chat rooms on the Internet where you can 'talk' real-time to others, and even attend cyber classes, but this is an expensive luxury if your online time is as costly as it is down here, so I regretfully have to forego these treats.

Those fortunate enough to have unlimited or very cheap online access sit there for ages knitting or spinning while they watch the chat unfold, just taking part if and when they feel like it.

If someone has a query, they post (i.e. e-mail it) to the appropriate list, and wait for replies to come either privately (if requested that way) or to the list as a whole - far more useful! It's amazing what you can learn this way, either by asking oneself or reading replies to other peoples' questions... I save any titbits of info that interest me, cutting and pasting them (electronically) into suitably named folders. I can then consult these at any later date. They include other spinners' views on various wheels, various problems encountered and solved with any one of the many aspects of spinning, knitting tips, useful software, etc etc. This squirreling away of information results in an ever-growing, personalised reference library - without sacrificing one single tree in the process.

If you are a spinner who views computers with fear, loathing or total disdain, and are only visiting this site because someone twisted your arm, maybe you live within reach of a living breathing guild of likeminded people and have rather less need of one. But even if you do, you could gain so much from cyberspinning...

Right at the start, I was afraid I would lose spinning time, but have actually done more production and experimentation since I first met other spinners (through the now-defunct and sadly-missed Ashford list) than ever before. (Other than while preparing text and pictures for this site, of course!) I now rush to the nearest wheel to try out new ideas, or techniques, report back to the lists on things I have tried or am struggling with, and have never failed to get help with any problem whether it be spinning, dyeing, knitting or life itself...

I have struck up some steady friendships with a few special people, which is like having a pen friend relationship but far simpler and much more rewarding - it's great to be able to 'vent' when life gets too much for some reason - and get a swift and understanding response with a 'cyber hug' built into it. No stamps to buy either, no long delays, and no worries about spelling, punctuation or bad handwriting! No-one really cares about such details, they are all more concerned with what you are saying than about how beautifully you say it.

So if you have yet to try cyberspinning, or cyber crafts of any kind, I would urge you to explore the possibilities and see for yourself! There are newsgroups too, of course, but the moderated lists are safer. Less chance of getting unwanted and possibly weird e-mails. Lists tend to be cosier than newsgroups (please don't flame me!!). Whatever your craft, there is almost bound to be a list to suit you. These are also a good way to find websites that will interest you, rather than floundering through the search engines and finding yourself in some very strange places indeed...

Other craftspeople with similar interests are just waiting for you to contact them and set up enduring friendships. You may even get to meet some of them over the years - in the flesh!

See Woolly Links to find my favourite spinning websites.

If by now you are muttering darkly that you are too old for this newfangled stuff, think again!! Age doesn't come into it. There are spinners out there who are still at school or college. There are young mothers retaining their sanity amidst the chaos of small children by maintaining contact with others. There are middle-aged people finally realising their dreams and following their own stars, splashing out on some longed-for hand built wheel and sharing their pleasure with others who understand. And there are many retired people enjoying sharing their spinning interests with a whole new spectrum of friends. Folks in their seventies or older have taken to cyberspace like ducks to water and never looked back... Gender doesn't matter either. Many a male is quietly 'lurking' (ie reading but not posting messages) and some are brave enough to de-lurk and contribute their thoughts and ideas.

All of us are learning, ever learning. No matter how experienced, it would be a foolhardy spinner indeed who boasted that they had nothing left to learn. The Internet as we all know can be a dangerous place to roam without signposts to guide you - but focus your attentions and you will find a wealth of knowledge out there for the taking. The pill may be well sugared by chit-chat and fun, but I can honestly say that hardly a day goes by when I haven't learned of a new process, technique, book, event or fibre.

So go on, if you haven't already - take the plunge, and join the most exciting guild of all - the 'Worldwide Guild of Spinners'.

I promise you one thing. You will find yourself warmly welcomed!

Cheers from one of its more remote 'members' -

Rosemary

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PS There is now a wonderful official Online Guild which welcomes far flung members - I am currently 'no mail' on that one too, due to lack of time and money for phone bills...   membership has to be approved and cost includes the Journal from UK.  A great bunch of people with monthly online workshops.

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Updated 1st August 2006