Don't tell me you didn't see this coming
Me + lingering longing for spinning + everyone and her sister in blogland spinning lately + going to a sheep/wool festival where fiber outnumbered yarn 2:1 = a certain something coming home with me
That's right, folks. I caved. It didn't help that my wonderful Matthew says things like, "You know, I've spent almost $1,000 on swords and a cape" and "I think you should get it because it will make you happy and sometimes you get sick of knitting" and all sorts of supportive stuff. (This is the same man who regularly says that I can buy whatever I want in yarn stores. Are you jealous yet?) I didn't take him up on his condition that in order to get a wheel I must also buy an angora rabbit and spin off of it like someone at the festival was doing. Somehow, he let me get away with JUST getting the spinning wheel.
My wheel is a Jensen Tina II, unfinished, and man, is it wonderful. My previous wheel was old, clunky, slow, loud, and inflexible - this one is quiet, fast, has six ratios already built in, the orifice is the right height and in the right location, the bobbins are huge, etc., etc. I was pleased to see nothing but praise for this wheel when I was looking up information after my purchase.
I've already spun a two-ply worsted-ish 135-yard skein that's currently drying. It's by far the best yarn I've spun.
But that's not the end!
I spent all of my cash on the wheel (and Matthew paid the rest, in lieu of paying for rent), so I had to return with some today to buy fiber, of course.
- 8 oz. merino/silk in "Sea Mist" from Mielke's Fiber Arts
- 8 oz. colonial top in "Teal" from the same, of which I've spun about half
- 2 oz. unidentified red blend with sparklies from someone I don't have a card for
- 4 oz. handpainted merino/tencel from Sandy's Palette
- 2 oz. lincoln/silk from Inspirational Fiber and Textile
- 4 oz. handpainted merino in "Peony Bloom" from the same
- 4 oz. handpainted superwash colonial from Anne's Fiber Expressions
- 2 oz. Nature's Paintbox merino/tencel from the same
Quite a haul. Several vendors commented on my tote bag - "You came prepared!" You bet I did.
It was a very nice festival. A little small, but plenty to see, including many breeds of sheep (man, merino sheep are ugly) and llamas and alpacas. I thought the llamas looked seriously pissed off; Matthew said they looked relaxed. In any event, they're very weird creatures.
A big "Hello!" to anyone I ran into! I love running into people, probably because I grew up in a small town and it happened all the time. I miss that sort of random interaction in the big city.
Last, but not least, here's some Dibs on Ribs progress:
I'm at the long and boring knit-the-sleeves-lengthwise bit. The body fits perfectly, as far as I can tell, though I'm not 100% happy with the back diamond - it sticks out just a little, but I think that blocking it will help, and it won't be noticeable while being worn.
P.S. I also picked up a niddy-noddy and At Knit's End, finally!
Tipper @ 8:16 PM * link
|
