Kiss My Knits!

I have borrowed a wheel with an eye toward buying it. The seller is asking only a third of its retail price, so it’s a pretty tempting deal. It’s a single-treadle Louet S51.
The seller sent me off with some practice fiber. I’m not sure what this stuff is, but I swear it feels just like human hair. I feel like a creepy fairy-tale witch spinning some child’s locks into a magic rope or something. Evilness issues aside, clearly there are some evenness problems with my spinning, but I can already see improvement. I’m holding my left hand a different way and it’s helping. Also, finally finding the tension control was a big boost.


When we first got it home, Emily asked where the spindle was. Obviously she was thinking of Sleeping Beauty pricking her finger on it and falling asleep for a hundred years. No worries, sweetie, it’s not sharp. You may be a princess, but you’re safe.

On day two, she asked to give it a try. All righty! I’d rather her try it under supervision than hear a loud crash from the other room after her curiosity got the best of her. She’s very good about keeping hands-off and following rules, but why tempt fate? Since she asked, I was happy to help her give it a go. I picked some gray merino roving with streaks of brown and blue. I got her to use the hook to help me pull it through the orifice (that’s the little black hole in the front that the fiber goes through after it spins into yarn) and showed her how to use the pedal. Pretty soon she was treadling like a pro.

(Side note: I am not a slob, the giant stain on my shirt is water from having just done the dishes)

I helped her control the fiber, but she did get to feel it going through her fingers, and she seemed to have a good time. I think it satisfied her curiosity, at any rate. And at the end, I showed her what she’d made, and she jumped up and put her arms in the air and said, “I did it! I made yarn!” That’s my baby! I’ve saved it and am keeping it on my computer desk.

Right now, I’m leaning toward buying the wheel. However, this week is a tight week for me in terms of having time to really play with it – I’m getting behind on the Jayne hat line and so am knitting like a fiend. I’m also making a concerted effort to exercise more and get more sleep, so that cuts into my playtime as well.

Tonight is Girl Scouts, but I am not leading the troop tonight! See? I have no trouble saying no! Last night was district meeting, where I learned about an upcoming skills day/overnight camp. I don’t think I feel comfortable taking the girls overnight, but I don’t see a problem with the day part. It’ll be challenging, but that’s why I signed Emily up – socialization and new experiences. Nature walks, knot tying, and learning how to lay (but not actually light) a fire. Should be fun!

I got a great little surprise from a couple of days ago. It’s Buffy the Backside Slayer from Lush! I fortunately do not have a rough heinie, but I have had great fun slathering this on nonetheless. This is one of those Lush products I had dismissed as a frivolous luxury, but still kept eyeing with curiosity. What a great treat! I’ve been having headaches the last few days lasting most of the day, which means there’s some source of stress in my life I haven’t identified yet, so having a little unexpected package was a great pick-me-up. This morning I’m feeling good. Could it be Buffy? Hmm. Thanks, !


I have a knitted object to share with you all, but I don’t think I should until it actually gets to its recipient. It’s pretty darned cute, though.

Well, I’ve hung out one load of laundry and another is ready to go, then it’s off for a morning walk on this absolutely beautiful day. Have a good one!

Hats up for: CA, WV, MA