Thumbelina

Do you ever browse Kijiji (or whatever is local for you). You know, just looking, just to see if there are any looms or spinning wheels or drum carders... Of course, you have no plans to buy - especially when the dh pops his head into the computer room and asks. "Whatcha looking at?"

Local things for me rarely pop up - so sometimes I broaden my search to include all of Ontario, because I'm "just looking". A few weeks ago, just before my family converged on my small town for a fun-filled reunion, I was "browsing". Now I realized this time that this could be dangerous, since there were three parties of family members driving in from 3 different parts of Ontario. This meant, 3 potential delivery options...

And I found something!!! A circa 1975 Thumbelina from New Zealand*.



The seller was offering the wheel and 2 bobbins for $35. I almost burned the keys off my keyboard I typed the email in so fast. It just so happened that my brother was overnighting in a hotel very near the sellers home, so she offered to bring the wheel to the hotel (always wise to meet in a public place). And now I've got the cutest little wheel sitting in my living room.

She spins like a dream. It doesn't appear to me that the wheel ever saw much use. There are very few marks of any sort of wear, a few minor bumps and dings that you'd expect on any piece of furniture. I took it apart, oiled it, put it back together and promptly spun about 8oz. I hope my Ashford Traditional doesn't hear this, but I think I like the Thumbelina better! I don't need to treadle with nearly as much effort.



My Traddy never feels effortless, and although I've made lots of yarn on her, it seems that there is a lot more resistance on her foot pedal, despite regular maintenance. Now the Thumbelina is no longer made, so I knew that getting additional bobbins would be tricky at best. But... my dad has a lathe, and has already shipped me some reproductions. I've got 2 originals and 3 reproductions that work very well. Should be able to make lots more yarn!

So the moral of the story? Don't go looking if you don't want your living room to start filling up with fiber making furniture!


*Check out this thorough resource on identifying New Zealand wheels.

Maybe I said too much

Sometimes we all need the reminder that we are not normal...

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Last Thursday, G and I went to a dinner for a few people from his work. Good people, fun to be around, easy to talk to... Dinner was great - his boss cooked - and he's a great cook! And inevitably people chatted as people will at this sort of function.

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One of the women mentioned that she'd been invited to an SnB in town. Of course my ears perk up at the mention of knitting. She was surprised I didn't go to this group as she knows I love knitting. If I'd been paying attention, I'd have noticed that a few of the other women were confused. The conversation continues. I told her I hadn't heard of the group she'd mentioned, although a number of friends and I will frequently get together over coffee and knit. We talk a bit more about the number of dishcloths she cranks out (she's a dishcloth knitter only). I mention a few projects on my needles...

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Finally I notice the slightly blank look of confusion and to clarify, I say:

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"I knit..."

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Their faces indicate its not quite clear enough so I add:

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"... obsessively"

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It's a wonder my hubby takes me anywhere.

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I hate Tim Hortons

Have you ever tried really hard to stop a bad habit. Like drinking a pot of coffee a day. I have. And succeeded.
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It all started innocently enough. I saw the billboard - the one that said "only $1.39 for a small". So I thought, "That looks good. I think I'll go through drive through." That was Monday. I'm now making them at home, because I find Timmie's are too sweet. Tuesday I made one for the dh and myself. Wednesday I made a few more. And Friday? Well Friday, I downed a whole coffee pot's worth of iced coffee.

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A slippery slope indeed.

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