Good weekend!
This weekend, Turtlegirl,
We got to practice carding, combing, using a drop spindle, and using a wheel. I was gratified to find that yes, the wheel from the alpaca fest was crappy, and that with some practice, I was able to turn out some… well, I don’t know that I can call it “yarn” but I will say “slightly higher quality than average belly button lint.” But it’s better than I’ve done before! To the left, I card some wool. To the right, Turtlegirl76 produces some nice yarn. Spin, Turtlegirl! Spin like the wind!
The best of the three of us was
There was a marked difference among the wheels. The $75 wheel (maybe an Ashford Elizabeth II?) that someone got used for super-cheap and let their grandkids play with was awful. The double-treadle Ashford Traveller was much better. And holy moly, that Majacraft Rose was to die for. Out of curiosity, I looked up the prices. The Ashford was about $400, new. The Majacraft was $655. Yowza.
You know what? I’ve never been a Porsche kinda gal. My little used Mitsubishi gets me where I want to go just fine, thanks. I’m not plowing $700 into a new hobby when I’ve already got one that I’ve plowed thousands of dollars into which I really enjoy. And if I ever do, well, the Ashford Kiwi looks like a good beginner wheel for about $300. Maybe I can find one used. Or maybe at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival. (Is that the one we were talking about going to,
In non-fiber news, Emily’s Brownie troop went out and sold cookies in front of a Harris Teeter grocery store on Sunday. We actually did really well – I believe we sold nearly a hundred boxes! Go us! We hadn’t been there too long when I said to the cookie manager (the only other adult there), “Boy, it’s really bright out here! I should have brought some sunscreen.” Sadly, I did not make the extra leap and think, “hey, you know, we’re right in front of a grocery store, maybe I should go inside and buy some!” Two and a half hours later, and this Germanic girl is a lobster. Ugh. Well, at least I was able to use it as a very visible demonstration to Emily of what sunburn is.
We ran out of Do-Si-Dos, but aside from that, we’ve got plenty of cookies left, if anyone’s still jonesing for some Samoas. And this is it – cookie sale 2007 is over, so it’s your last chance! They’re only $3.50 a box, and Thin Mints freeze great! We’re planning on using the money to go horseback riding and also for a day camp in April. Fun!
While Emily and I were out selling cookies, the hubby went on a computer game buying shopping spree, getting the new Sims 2 Seasons expansion pack (pictured left) for Emily, a joystick for himself for playing Microsoft Flight Simulator (although Emily also likes to crash planes), and Sid Meier’s Civilization IV for Macintosh for me. I’ve been wanting that game, so I can’t say too much about the shopping spree. He’s clever, that man of mine. So in addition to knitting the current item in line, which is NOT a Jayne hat, I’ll probably be playing a little Civ IV today. Oh, and staying out of the sun.
Knits up for: TX, WA, WV.
We hate that this world orbits a ball of fire.
We hate that this world orbits a ball of fire.
Save you the trouble. Can you wait until Wednesday? I’ve got supplies for 3 drops and you can make top or bottom whorl.
Save you the trouble. Can you wait until Wednesday? I’ve got supplies for 3 drops and you can make top or bottom whorl.
No kidding. There’s gotta be a better way.
No kidding. There’s gotta be a better way.
Woot! Fantastic! That bottom-whorl worked really well for me.
Should I bring CDs?
Woot! Fantastic! That bottom-whorl worked really well for me.
Should I bring CDs?
Bless you for the compliment 🙂
We were talking about going to SAFF, the SouthEastern Animal Fiber Fair. They’ve already got their schedule up on their site!!!
The Majacraft was to die for. I hope that Louet I get will be a breeze to use or else I’m spoiled for life from the Majacraft. eBay has some decent deals for wheels, but most of the used/lower-priced Ashfords will be shipping from NZ. I haven’t check for Majacrafts. I don’t dare do that right now!
No need to bring the CDs, we’re working from toy truck wheels, baybee!
Bless you for the compliment 🙂
We were talking about going to SAFF, the SouthEastern Animal Fiber Fair. They’ve already got their schedule up on their site!!!
The Majacraft was to die for. I hope that Louet I get will be a breeze to use or else I’m spoiled for life from the Majacraft. eBay has some decent deals for wheels, but most of the used/lower-priced Ashfords will be shipping from NZ. I haven’t check for Majacrafts. I don’t dare do that right now!
No need to bring the CDs, we’re working from toy truck wheels, baybee!
Oops, my bad. That would be.. SAFF has their 2007 dates and times on their site, not their schedule yet. The schedule that is there is from 2006.
Oops, my bad. That would be.. SAFF has their 2007 dates and times on their site, not their schedule yet. The schedule that is there is from 2006.
We shall start the Morlocks!
We shall start the Morlocks!
Sounds like an awesome class – I am teaching one next month so it was good to read what people are demonstrating. I don’t want to do too much but enough to excite people. It is a hard decision. 🙂 If you have any input, let me know.
You crack me up about the price of wheels. I feel exactly the same way. I love my wheels – both Babe’s and mainly it is because of the price. I also like the utilitarian look and the fact that they use challenged folk to help build them. I also drive a 92 toyota tercel (BY CHOICE). I spend more money on my nice house than on a car for the parking lot.
I do however love to buy expensive fiber, so I guess we all spend it our own way.
So I wanted to send you the link to Babe – in case you haven’t seen these before. I am going to be a vendor one of these days (can’t remember if I already told you all of this so forgive me – I am old and senile!)
http://www.babesfibergarden.com
BTW – I spun on a drop spindle for about 2 years – it is the EXACT same thing but just takes a little longer. I still think I have more control on the spindle for some things….
I recently went to a Spin In and I was the only one who had a Babe wheel. I was amazed at how much money these people have invested. Bottom line, the wheel does not make fabuloso yarn, the spinner does! I think it is a status symbol type thing or something. Or maybe they just like them. I want an antique wheel, really old, loved and beautiful, so I will wait and spend all my money on that.
Happy Spinning and holler when you are ready for Batts!
Holly
Sounds like an awesome class – I am teaching one next month so it was good to read what people are demonstrating. I don’t want to do too much but enough to excite people. It is a hard decision. 🙂 If you have any input, let me know.
You crack me up about the price of wheels. I feel exactly the same way. I love my wheels – both Babe’s and mainly it is because of the price. I also like the utilitarian look and the fact that they use challenged folk to help build them. I also drive a 92 toyota tercel (BY CHOICE). I spend more money on my nice house than on a car for the parking lot.
I do however love to buy expensive fiber, so I guess we all spend it our own way.
So I wanted to send you the link to Babe – in case you haven’t seen these before. I am going to be a vendor one of these days (can’t remember if I already told you all of this so forgive me – I am old and senile!)
http://www.babesfibergarden.com
BTW – I spun on a drop spindle for about 2 years – it is the EXACT same thing but just takes a little longer. I still think I have more control on the spindle for some things….
I recently went to a Spin In and I was the only one who had a Babe wheel. I was amazed at how much money these people have invested. Bottom line, the wheel does not make fabuloso yarn, the spinner does! I think it is a status symbol type thing or something. Or maybe they just like them. I want an antique wheel, really old, loved and beautiful, so I will wait and spend all my money on that.
Happy Spinning and holler when you are ready for Batts!
Holly
I have the Ashford Traveller, as a matter of fact. At the moment it’s a home for wayward spiders and dust bunnies (sort of ecumenical), but at the quilt show, I visited a fiber arts demo and someone showed me how to get it started. That’s the part I could never figure out! Of course, there are so many moving parts, too…and hand-eye stuff was never my forte… Anyway, once I get caught up with the quilting, I’m going to start playing with the wheel again.
By the way, toots, I have a quilt that’s screaming your name. I’m going to have it professionally quilted ’cause it’s taking me just too durn long to get good at it myself. You could provide a home, couldn’t you?
I have the Ashford Traveller, as a matter of fact. At the moment it’s a home for wayward spiders and dust bunnies (sort of ecumenical), but at the quilt show, I visited a fiber arts demo and someone showed me how to get it started. That’s the part I could never figure out! Of course, there are so many moving parts, too…and hand-eye stuff was never my forte… Anyway, once I get caught up with the quilting, I’m going to start playing with the wheel again.
By the way, toots, I have a quilt that’s screaming your name. I’m going to have it professionally quilted ’cause it’s taking me just too durn long to get good at it myself. You could provide a home, couldn’t you?