Impromptu Project

I was thinking today that it would be nice to have somewhere on my wheel where I could store my scissors and spinning wheel lubricant. Next thing I knew I was digging through my fabric scraps and this little fabric cup with pockets was born.

Long ago I bought an acrylic cup holder for my spinning wheel thinking it would be handy to keep a drink nearby, especially at crowded spin-ins. While cup holders work well on some wheels the only location for one on a LittleGem is right below the flyer. It didn't take long to discover that this results in debris from spinning falling straight into my coffee. 

If I use the acrylic cup to hold scissors or other tools they rattle while I spin. I decided a cloth liner would be just the thing. I even found remnants in my scrap box that match the applique I added to my spinning chair eleven years ago. The spinning related implements fit snuggly in the exterior pockets while the centre cup portion can be used like a tiny garbage can to contain the debris picked from wool while spinning. 

Mary and Little Gemima

Mary and Little Gemima loaded up and ready for an early morning ride out to the annual Ryder Lake Spin-In hosted by the Chilliwack Spinners and Weavers Guild.



Both wheels belong to me, but "Mary" (the Ashford Traditional) was my first wheel and it is now on loan indefinitely to my daughter. "Little Gemima" (a Majacraft Little Gem II) was a later addition, now the only wheel I use.

Both wheels hummed along beautifully for the entire day, happy to be among their kin folk, an interesting variety of wheels brought along by the other 40 or more spinners and 5 vendors in attendance.

Pictures of the other wheels and the crowd? Well no. See I have this habit of taking my camera along on such events and then never taking it out of my bag. I was too busy --- spinning, chatting, listening to guest speakers, sipping coffee, eating the lasagna lunch, --- oh, and buying more fibery goodness. The day zipped by all too quickly.

My purchases? I bought another bag of Black Rainbow Glitter from Aurelia, in preparation for ripping out the MS3-(Swan Lake Stole) and knitting the Honey Bee Stole instead. I'm just not loving the abrupt change to a wing at the end of the MS3 and would rather "spend" my handspun elsewhere. The Honey Bee Stole requires a little more yardage, hence the purchase of another bag of Black Rainbow Glitter. The leftovers will be used in some smaller lace project. A scarf or small shoulder shawl perhaps?

I also picked up two 50g "braids" of wool/silk in a gorgeous mauve colourway dyed by "Fleece Artist" and purchased from "Shades of Narnia". I'll likely reserve those to spin on my Spindlewood Co. spindle.

2 B Plyed

On the wheel:



Superwash mill ends from ebay seller shpherder.

I have 2 very large bobbins of this spun and ready to be plyed. I purchased 2 pounds of this dark, dark navy colour, and pound of a soft, bubblegum pink, 2 pounds of black, and 3 pounds of light blue. It's lovely, soft wool, but I find it a bit difficult to spin. The combination of "superwash" AND "merino" makes it very slippery. I have to "pinch" with the lead hand a little more firmly than I am used to and if I spin for a long time my hand cramps up.

Worth it though.