What goes up must come down, spinning wheel got to go round

I've had an interest in spinning for a few years. Recently a friend got a spinning wheel from her husband for a birthday or anniversary gift. She doesn't spin but "might some day". For now it just sits in her living room and I admire it every time I go to her house. At our last knit night one of the ladies gave me a small paperback book about spindle spinning. So the bug bit. I started searching Craigslist. I found a spinning wheel for what seemed like a reasonable price but not knowing a thing about wheels I did a little research, decided to trust my instincts and went to look at it nearly blind. I knew just enough to know some parts were supposed to move and/or separate from other parts and this wheel clearly had some issues and not worth what she was asking. A few days later I asked my dad to look at it and see if he thought it could be repaired and if so if she'd take $50 for it.  He did, she did, he brought it home. When I went over to look at it a week later (with a week's more knowledge) it didn't look quite as promising. Dad seemed intrigued about fixing it up but i asked him not to put too much effort into it because I couldn't say if it would ever be useful for spinning. He's thinking he can put a little work into it and resell it. Meanwhile, another Craigslist posting nearby for a garage sale specifically listed a wheel.

Well, this has been an interesting experience to say the least! The wheel was still there and I gave it anoher good look. I. chatted with her a little more; she gave all it's history that she knew - that she used to be a Realtor and bought it from a client 30 years ago in it's current state and a few more prior details. I asked her again what she wanted for it. Still $175 but to make an offer and she would consider it.  She mentioned another lady looked yesterday but never returned (anyone, anyone?)  She said she knew it needed work and I told her I had done some research. She was very interested when I said I knew people who restore wheels; she went on about somebody not reputable could wreck something. My husband and kids were with me and I consulted with my husband off to the side for a good five minutes; how much to offer, how high we could go, what I liked about it, what needed repair, what repairs might cost, etc. We decided to offer $100 and see where it went.  Here's where it gets interesting....my husband asked her name and we told her ours. She said "this is really hard for me " I asked, "selling this? " and she said yes and got a little choked up. My husband offered $125 and she just shook her head and excused herself and walked away. My husband said he couldn't bring himself to only offer $100 because of her reaction. We agreed on $150 while she was away. When she returned she apologized and said she didn't have a problem with anything else at the sale. Now she isn't and never was a spinner, the previous owner wasn't either. My husband offered $150 and through tears she still said no. Obviously there is more to his wheel to her than probably anyone will ever know. We didn't make another offer. I got he feeling that even if we would have offered $175 she might not have even taken it.  She gave me her phone number in case i changed my mind. I'll keep my eye on CL in case it pops upagain. If I'm still looking maybe it would be the right time for her. It was clear today was not the day.  I guess every wheel has a story; this one seems to have nothing to do with spinning.....I feel a little melancholy about the whole thing this evening.  I did remember my actual camera and took a bunch of pictures. Sigh.

Wheel Pictures
1 from the end
2 flier and bobbin
3 tension knob & MOA
4 spokes
5 MOA & bobbin/flier

The Mechanics of Art

February has been a really crazy month. I can usually gauge how things are going by what I'm knitting and what I've finished knitting. When I mentioned this to Allen last night I did a little mental inventory.

1. slippers for my brother-in-law's post surgery recovery - one nearly done just missing a seam; the other not yet cast-on
2. February Sock-Club socks - cuffs and one pattern repeat finished (2 at a time), and this is the *short* month...YIKES!
3. baby blanket - about 6 rows done, in about 2 weeks baby will be 5 months old...thinking I might want to plan a bigger blankie.

I did make a few more stitch markers for myself because the previous ones didn't fit on the size 8 needles for the blanket; I made a new beaded row counter to keep track of the pattern repeats on the socks; I unraveled a neckband and 3/4 of a sleeve of a sweater during our ministry trip to Transport for Christ in Rochelle, IL

...about 5 minutes into the trip it was too dark to see the socks. All in all, there just hasn't been much actual knitting time this month.
About a week ago, I came across something very interesting that made me pause. . .
When my husband and I were just dating I was doing cross stitch and made a picture of a humming bird into a clock for my in-laws to be. This outdoes that gift by 1000 times! Sometimes you come across something so ordinary yet so exquisite! This is one of those things for me.
Siren Elise Wilhelmsen | Design Studio
Of course this immediately sent my mind into, "now where is that little knitting machine I got for Sydney a few years ago? hmmm, I could get a clock mechanism from Michael's....." Then I snapped back to reality and just admired it.  But you better believe if I ever see one for sale, it will be on my wall!!
I wish I lived anywhere near Germany so I could see it in person!

May God Bless Your Stitches,
Nance

K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, sister!)

I have thoughts of an inspiring message but just not up for it today so this is one of those random thoughts kind of days -
I'm a simple girl. I like simple things.




 I'm glad my fancy-schmacy "expensive" coffee maker (that I got for $25 at Goodwill) broke


 because I'm loving using the stove-top percolator that used to be my gramma's



I like sitting on the couch next to all my yarn and knitting while Allen watches a football or baseball game (basketball does nothing for me, sorry Deb)




 I like the simple stitch markers I've been making and giving away



 I like reading books about knitting in other cultures and simpler times




I like talking about knitting with other knitters and non-knitters
I like that one such conversation last week now has a co-worker (a non-knitter) day dreaming about buying a farm and raising sheep!!
I like that I have a friend who raises alpaca




 I really like that he gave me a pair of alpaca socks yesterday!


I like that there are some people who read my blog and "get it" :-)

May God Bless Your Stitches,
Nance

Free At Last!

Free
Now that's an interesting word, isn't it?  It can be "free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I'm free at last"; it can be "candy, ice cream...all free today";  It can be "...if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed".
But today, for me, free is - free from the clutter and disorganization coming from scattered skeins, balls and piles of YARN. It also means I am finally realizing that, although this is not literally true because I've already paid for it, I just may have free yarn for the rest of my life! Yes, it is time for what they call on those reality shows - The Reveal!!! If you need a refresher on where this all started - here you go.

Welcome to my home yarn shop

We'll start our tour with a full view

From My Yarn Shop

Along the top are baskets with leftover bits of yarn, 

From My Yarn Shop

odds and ends, extra needles and hooks, etc.,

From My Yarn Shop

and the swift my dad made me. It's seasonal neighbor is the "yarn ball snowman" Brendyn gave me for Christmas which I totally adore!

From My Yarn Shop

All this sets on a selection of dresser scarves my Busia (grandmother) made which I gladly took from her house after she passed away. I'm still trying to decide if I should put my yarn ball winder up on top with the swift but I've been using it a lot lately so it's not an urgent question.

Now for the detail, the organizational part that I've struggled with for years. I was given some sage advice which, when I heard it, made the most perfect, logical sense and I grabbed onto it like it was one of the Dead Sea Scrolls. "Think of how you choose your yarn for a project. Is it by color? by weight? by fiber? Organize with the end in mind." Why hadn't I ever thought of that before? All my vain attempts at organizing had failed because of this tiny nugget of wisdom had eluded me. So with that in mind and having the storage solution in hand, the rest was easy. Since I have branched out beyond acrylic and cotton I realized weight then fiber type are usually my initial thoughts for a project. Here is a walkthru of the shop. . .

First, animal fibers (wool, alpaca, camel, etc.) and animal fiber blends; bulky and worsted on the top. . .

From My Yarn Shop

moving to sport and fingering/sock weight on the bottom

From My Yarn Shop

Next is plant fibers (cotton, rayon, bamboo, etc.) and plant fiber blends. Most of these are worsted weight so I didn't see a need for further categorization. On the far right is the man made fibers section. I couldn't get a good photo of this because of the window behind it but it also uses the "heavy to light weights" organization. You get a better view of it in the first picture.  You'll also notice books scattered in as well. No real organization to those yet except maybe by height ;-)

From My Yarn Shop

And finally, the yarn waiting to be re-born....sweaters! The top left silk and silk blends, next cashmere and cashmere blends. Wool and wool blends ranging from "really soft" (i.e. merino) to "kinda scratchy" (i.e. Shetland). At the bottom are the cotton and rayon blends that either feel really nice or have a cool color.

From My Yarn Shop

Well, that's the tour of the shop. I feel very good about it being done. And although the shop is done, there is still yarn in other parts of the house. I'm doing my best to find it good, loving homes. I have a few people who have offered to take most of it but I'm prayerfully considering where it goes. I would hate for someone else to end up in the same situation and have their hobby and joy become an anchor. My hope is that it will be divvied up within a month or so.

May God Bless Your Stitches,

nance

Happy (k)New Year!

For the last couple of weeks I have been giving a little thought to my year of crafting. I wanted to (randomly) share things I learned. . .

1. I learned double knitting
2. I learned stranded knitting
3. I learned not to start Christmas knitting in 90 degree July weather if the project is made with wool
4. I learned I'm not quite ready to knit lace with lace-weight yarn
5. I learned how to use my Slice machine (Christmas Thank Yous will sent soon; does the 6 month rule for wedding gifts apply to Christmas gifts too?)
6. I learned crocheting has not left my repertoire, it's just taking a sabbatical
7. I learned giving away at least half of my yarn stash to friends and those who will put it to good use sooner than I would didn't hurt nearly as much as I thought it would although it did sting a little
8. I learned by sorting and organizing what I didn't give away I feel less of a need to get more
9. I learned knitting with friends at Cynde's really is about more than just knitting (and snacking)
10. I learned my family really appreciates what I make for them
11. I learned my husband is an exceptionally good sport for letting me create a yarn shop in our living room; and he really likes the way it looks too!

So today starts a new year. Here's what it looks like -

1. I'm starting the year with only 3 WIPs and two projects I promised to start after Christmas gifts were finished.
2. I will start my Self Imposed Sock Club today. I can't wait to see what the ladies put together for me and which I will choose each month!
3. The home yarn shop is nearly finished - sock yarn and a couple of small boxes just need to be shelved today. If I get some good lighting today, I'll post pictures tomorrow. Although I love the look of the black shelves, I need lots of light for a good photo op.
4. I haven't made any plans for what to accomplish this year aside from keeping up with the sock club. I know me; I have a short attention span and I find patterns too rapidly to complete as it is. I like the "instant" gratification of small projects but just can't get even those done quickly enough to keep up with my interests.
5. I can't wait to start finding patterns then go "shopping" in my living room!

What an exciting year this will be!!!
May God Bless Your Stitches,
nance