little things

So, a few little things (festival and post festival) to catch up on.

I mentioned I had found the perfect shawl pin. This really isn't me being melodramatic - at least not any more than usual. I've been looking for just the right shawl pin since I started knitting shawls. At least two years worth of festival going went into the search, but I think I've finally found it.

Everything else was either too heavy, too big for me, or just plain not right. The years of shawl-pin searching are over - it had gotten to the point where Jon was trained to look for anything that might work as a shawl pin wherever he went, which is either impressive (if you know him) or pathetic, depending on how you think about it. The pin is made by Leslie Wind, who was herself at the festival in Massachusetts. They came in brass and silver, but I chose the silver. I absolutely adore this pin (shown on the not-Kerry shawl) - lightweight, elegant, and .... I got to meet the silversmith too. Extremely cool.

In the gadget department, we've got something that does dual duty. Years ago at a quilt show, I bought two magnetic pincushions - powerful tiny magnets set into hand turned wood. Trust me, it takes an effort to find handmade wood items at a quilt show, unlike at the S&Ws. They were made by someone in Canada, and I probably would have bought a half dozen of them as gifts if I had been able to find them again.

Of course, Janet Lynn at The Wheel Thing came through. I grabbed one the first time I went through her booth, happy to have found a new source for these little beauties. Then on Sunday (or Monday, it's all a blur) Mamacate mentioned getting a 'tahkli magnet' or something like that. When asked to explain, it turns out she was talking about these - and that someone had figured out you could use the magneticism as a kind of modern support bowl for a steel tahkli spindle. Brilliant.

Totally irrelevant to anything else - the funniest google search that landed someone on my blog this week? "Pompous wool." Its still cracking me up. What in the world were they looking for??

Spinning news - and of course there's spinning news, I've got a new wheel. There's lots o'wool in this house, but I have a tendency when I have an overwhelming urge to spin to just grab whatever is on top of the pile. Having spun up the red fiber from Bay Colony Farm, I grabbed a big bag of carded Polwarth that was .... kind of sitting in the living room on a chair. For a few weeks.

This is the stuff that Juno, Stephanie and I carded on Juno's drumcarder a couple of months ago. I never mentioned that I got grief from both of them for not having washed the fleece thoroughly enough (it was a traumatic experience, being scolded by those two - as much as I love them both). We'll just let it rest that Juno's fleece preparation regimen is, how shall I say? Meticulous. One day I'll sneak a picture of the fleece drying racks that live in her kitchen. It has to be seen to be believed.

I had bought a few ounces of raw fleece from Linda at The Yarn Tree (who can, by the way, be credited with jumpstarting my current state of fiber fanaticism). Its Polwarth, a coarser, less crimpy fleece than what I bought over the weekend. I probably should have spun it a little thicker, but I was having so much fun with the faster whorl on my new wheel (how many times can I say I've got a new wheel in one post? trust me, I'm controlling the urge as best I can) that this is what I got.

It is a bit greasy, but not in a bad way. The wool is slightly coarse, but will probably make great sturdy socks or very warm very hard-wearing mittens. The color in the picture doesn't do it justice - the shine and the warm gray color are gorgeous. I don't think I've even used up half the fiber and am about ready to ply a second skein.

Other than the spinning, there's another ankle sock on the needles, but only for subway knitting. Not too much knitting is happening at home right now. Because, you know .... there's a new wheel in the house.

Comments

[Jan]

That shawl pin was definitely worth the wait. Fabulous!

[margene]

Of course you must spin on the new wheel and make it feel at home, welcome and part of the family. The shawl pin IS perfect. It's the only pin I've ever seen that I like at all. It fits you and the shawls you've made, too.

[Rachel H]

VERY cool magnet thingy. Must try that. I have to say, I clicked on the link to The Wheel Thing and was thrilled by the number of spindle makers on her site from Canada. And I'm pretty sure Alvin Ramer is only about an hour's drive away from me. Must explore that. I'm told he has a spinning wheel museum.

I love your shawl pin as well. It's gorgeous, and yes, truly suits you.

[Chris]

I love that shawl pin!

[adelaide]

I hear that you've gotten a new wheel. Is it true?

[Juno]

The word you are looking for is obsessive. I just can't bring myself to throw it in the sink and call it a day. Go big or go home, remember?

But even I get bored with the sorting of the locks, at least in this weather. You'd be proud - I washed some of the new shetland the other night and when I took the bags of it out of the sink, I just dumped them out on the top rack and spread them out a little bit. I didn't spin them dry or arrange them all in the same direction or anything.

It was hard.

The Polworth looks grand.

Now that I gave up and turned on the AC, maybe it won't be too sticky to spin. 84 degrees in the LM last ngiht. No way I could do anything but knit cotton in front of the fan.

[Melanie]

Hah! I picked up a similar shawl pin from Leslie on Saturday :) She had some lovely, lovely stuff.

[Kelli]

I too have been searching for the perfect shawl pin and lamenting that I still don't have one. Unfortunately I never seem to find out about fiber festivals in my area (central Indiana) until after they happen.

To the point: that pin is gorgeous!

[JoVE]

If it is still a bit greasy then go for the mittens. Waterproof mittens are probably what you need in your part of the world where the snow has a tendency to be wettish.

I'm glad you like your new wheel.

[Lía]

Ohh! it's such a beautiful shawl pin...simple and elegant, just perfect congratulations!
I'm still looking for the one made "for me".

[Carole]

I bought one of Leslie's shawl pins in CT but I got a one piece pin that you turn. I figured if I bought a two-piece one I'd lose either the pine or the stick, you know?
Glad you're enjoying the new wheel.

[Laurie]

Beautiful! The shawl pin is unique and lovely. Very Cassie. You are really going to town on that smaller whorl. I thought Polwarth was a fine wool, like merino, Targhee or Cormo. ??

What new wheel? :0

[SpindleRose]

Congratulations on the new wheel! May you love yours as much as I love mine. And Etherknitter loves hers. And....

[Valerie in San Diego]

The shawl pin rocks the Casbah! I'm jealous :-) Seriously, it's beautiful and you have great taste.

[Martha]

That grey Polwarth looks gorgeous.

[mamacate]

Oh that silver! Be still my heart. You and the new wheel seem to be getting along FIIIIINE.

[Silvia]

Wow-wee! Pretty shawl pin. That's a keeper...

[Cordelia]

I love that pin. It really is beautiful. I'm so glad you found a perfect pin.

[Sara]

what no photos of the new wheel? Lovely other stuff though - I'm intriqued by the tahki magnet spindle. The shawl pin is great.

[Julie]

The shawl pin is beautiful.

[Kim]

I LOVE your shawl pin!!! BTW a new wheel may be coming this way too....LOL. I am such a sucker for good wood.

[Vicki Roy]

How exciting! A new wheel! I am so happy for you. Also a very gorgeous shawl pin. It is absolutely the perfect pin. So glad you are happy with all of your special treasures.

[Marcia]

That is just about the prettiest shawl pin I've seen yet! And, congratulations on the new wheel!

[Dorothy B]

Oh, did I hear you say you've got a new wheel? :D

Now I really want to learn how to spin just so I can have one of those magnetic pincushions and a metal Tahkli spindle!

Oh and while I'm wishing, a beautiful handworked silver shawl pin would be awesome too!