I can’t believe I’m posting this at 4:11 am. But you see I’ve been up since 2:30 with a hacking cough that sneaks in every time I lay down. So, I’ve checked my email, done my blog stalking and here we are together.
I’ve been working on some bigger projects again – my scarf, my knitting bag, an afghan or two, and Einstein. Maybe it’s because I’m sick, but they just don’t seem shiny anymore.
I did finish a hat for my co-worker Jo. We did a trade – she had a laptop bag that I coveted and she needed a hat….so, everyone ended up happy
I did some alterations on the pattern – I changed the edging to just single crochet and then did a crab stitch around. It snugged it up much better.
I’ve been on a bit of a spindle binge lately.
In order of height (tallest to shortest)
1) Ashford Student model
2) Ashford small whorl (loving this one)
3) No name (was told it was Louet, but am skeptical)
4) Bosworth midi (surprisingly unimpressed with this one)
5) Lady Bug #1. I saw this on a link from Stephanie’s site and since I collect Lady Bugs I had to get one. I can’t believe I have the first one! It’s just too cute for words.
Now you may be wondering what I have them sitting in. It’s something I got from my grandmother when I was little. She called it a Frog…I have no idea if that’s the real name, but the idea is you put it in a vase and put the flower stems through the holes. I thought it would be great to hold my spindles and it is!
I am waiting for my Bossie. It’s been shipped. What didn’t you like about it? I hope you feel better soon.
I know everyone raves about it and perhaps I was expecting too much because of that. I just don’t find it spins as long as the Ashford model. At first I thought it was me (because I’m just learning), but I had an experienced spinner try it and she was underwhelmed too.
So, I’ll keep trying it with different rovings and maybe as I improve I’ll get to like it better, but for now I like the $17 Ashford model I picked up at Romni the best.
Do let me know your thoughts (I stalk your blog too…lol) I’m interested to see other’s experiences.
That’s how I felt about the spindle I got from Roving. I am sending it back because I can’t justify spending $50 for a spindle and I keep having the yarn come off the spindle when I try to spin it up my leg. I was getting too frustrated. I loved the look of the spindle but I couldn’t get it to work properly.
My husband is going to Romni for me tomorrow to pick up the Ashford learning spindle. My son has expressed an interest in learning to spin and I don’t want him to try on my Forrester. They were closed today for inventory or he would have gotten it today.
Hope you’re feeling better.
I’ve found that there is generally a “right” size of yarn for different spindles. If you spin a yarn on a spindle, and the yarn is too thick for that particular spindles, you will lose your momentum very quickly, and therefore the spindle won’t spin as long. Try spinning a thinner yarn and see if that works for you. I have two Bosworth spindles, a midi and a maxi, and they both spin great in their range. But I found through unfortunate experience that the midi just doesn’t do well with spinning anything above a sport size yarn. The Maxi, oh, I LOVE it for spinning bulky. It’s the only spindle that I have that is heavy enough to spin all the way to the ground (and farthere, if only my arms were longer!). Good luck!
Feel better soon! That hat came out great! 🙂
I have one of those plants near my desk and it’s blooming. Not as many as yours tho…it’s beautiful!
If the mystery spindle is a Louet, it will have pictures of sheep around the rim on the top. But it looks too flat to me, and
hexagon/octagon shaped?
your hat is great……and what yarn did you use….and what pattern…just beautiful…..ej
Thanks EJ – the info is:
http://kodymayknits.blogspot.com/2006/11/asminahs-hat.html and I did it in Patons Soy Wool Stripes, Natural Geranium. It took just over one ball.
Hi Sherri,
Could you please email me directly? You have my email address. Trying to communicate through comments is a bit cumbersome. If you don’t have my email address there is a link at the bottom of my blog that has it.
Thanks,
/Rochelle
The more I hear about spinning from you, the more I want to ask my mom where she put my grandmother’s spindle and if possible, bring it to our next guild meeting for show & tell.
I love the hat.
The sheep are just too precious. 🙂
Love the hat!
My grandmother had a collection of frogs like that. They are put in the bottom of a vase or bowl and then you use them to support floral arrangements. Some of them have a bunch of sharp points sticking out and you spear the flower stems on the barbs.
Hope you feel better.