Roc Day

In Medieval Europe, January 7, the day after Epiphany, marked the end of the Christmas season and the return to business as usual. For women, business as usual meant putting away the Christmas baking tins and taking up the spindle and distaff to spin yarn from fibers. This day was known as Roc Day after the distaff, or "roc," that held the yarn. It was a festive day, and no one seemed to be bummed that the holidays were over and the season of toil was beginning again.

Our local spinning guild, the Black Sheep Handspinners Guild, holds an annual Roc Day festival to celebrate the day in which spinners picked up their spindles and fibers again after the holiday respite.

I've known about the festival the last few years and finally made it to the celebration this year.

Spinners toted their spinning wheels and set them up in a convivial ring. Each spinner sat in a quiet circle of concentration, gently pumping the pedal and feeding the fluffy roving to be wound in tight strands on the spindle. Nearby, a gentleman quietly wove fine threads on a loom.

On offer were bags and bags brimming with yummy roving, both naturally colored and hand-dyed. I knew I had found a crowd of kindred spirits when I read the names of some of the natural wools, Black Coffee and Whipped Cream among them. The hand-dyed Tropical Sunset and September Glow evoked gentler weather and looked as refreshing as fruit smoothies.

Surrounded by such raw goodness, I felt the excitement of a fresh start to the work year and the stirrings of inspiration for many projects.

**All of the roving featured here is produced from Cotswold sheep at Nistock Farms, 10137 Mattoon Rd., Prattsburgh, NY, 14873. The "Pewter" natural color Cotswold roving can be purchased online here, and the Cotswold Curls here. (I'm not affiliated in any way with the farm, just a happy customer!) I also purchased some Jacquard-dyed roving (not shown) from Spinners Hill.