Twists of Fate

If you could see your way fit to telling me where the fuck I put the Russian Paddle Combs so I could work on my CVM that’s lightly greasy, I would greatly appreciate it.

*burns pixels of incense in offering and shakes tiny ineffective fists at the heavens*

Dyed some 50g skeins of sock yarn in what I hope will resemble Red Sox red today. Put too much dye in the bath (per my usual…still) and I have slightly pink hands because I am impatient and want to start knitting socks for my Sox fen during the first game with the Haloes tomorrow.

Last but not least, I think it would be completely awesome if Cody & his partner on Dancing with the Stars did at least one of their routines to Simon & Garfunkle’s “Mrs Robinson”. The tango, maybe.

Once again, another year goes by and I’m not able to make it to OFFF. I could do a fly-by kind of trip, where I just drive down for the day and come back, but frankly, I’m just getting too old for that.

I went to college in the Portland area, and it doesn’t hold a lot of good memories for me (though Bestest Friend A is a result of those PDX years), and driving through there usually brings back a whack of memories I’d really rather not revisit. This kind of blows, because what are arguably the two largest fiber events on the west coast are in Oregon!

Maybe next year I’ll take the train down and rent a car in Portland, and drive out and stay at Cannon Beach for a couple of days before hitting up the vendors at OFFF. Or maybe I’ll get it together and be able to rent a room nearby, or find a vacation rental to share with some friends, or …or…or.

*sigh* Maybe knitting will help take my mind off what I’m missing. Or diving into another luscious alpaca fleece to wash. Or hand coming some CVM. Or throwing some more yarn and fiber in the dyepot. I have a ridiculous amount of stuff HERE, but it’s not THERE.

Foo.

As no one, not one person, is biting on my resume, I’m going to try to keep the panic at bay by participating in this.

I’m not sure what I’ll be working on, though likely a pair of Mountain Colors Bearfoot plain old stockinette socks for myself. If you like socks, join in the insanity (there’s a Ravelry group…surprise!…not!) and knit a pair or two during October!

Posting here in case anyone is interested or knows someone who may be interested. Please point them to this post if so!

I have to downsize the number of spinning wheels I have at this time, so I’m letting go of a couple in my collection. Please comment if you’re interested or email moiraeknittoo at gmail dot com . Thanks!

The first is a lovely Pipy Wendy spinning wheel for sale. This is a very light weight transportable wheel, made in New Zealand, though I think they are no longer available. I recently purchased this from the Spin-Sales list, I believe, but as much as I really love the glorious Rimu wood, I need to downsize. Specs are copied from the person I purchased the wheel from.

1. Orifice 24″ from the floor
2. Double drive bobbin lead
3. Bobbin length 3 and 5/8 inches - 3 bobbins
4. Flyer width 4 inches
5. Pulley ratios of 1.11, 1.19, 1.29(suitable for fine yarn)
6. Drive wheel 16.5″ drive ratio 9.42
7. Pivoted double-action treadle
8. Metal-screw drive belt tensioner
9. Heart rimu Wood with linseed oil finish

“Wendy wheels by Philip Poore were designed for easy transport, and can be laid flat in the boot of a car - in fact it is apparently possible for a passenger in a Volkswagen to spin on a Wendy. They have an unusual design with a metal flyer frame that is tilted by a tension screw (inside the wooden ball) that has a left and right hand thread. They were designed for double drive but can be adapted for brake tension or even bobbin lead.” This one has the Tekoteko stamp and is signed P.B. Poore.”

Here is the site with the info and picture of the wheel.

Full size versions of the pictures available upon request. Price $375, shipping extra, Paypal only.

The second wheel I found just today when I went to my storage place to find, of all things, a couple of slabs of paraffin wax. There, in an unopened box, is a brand new Babe’s Fiber Garden electric spinner.

1. HH Deluxe Electric Spinner with
2. electronic foot control and lamp dimmer.
3. One Ply Bobbin and Two Standard Bobbins
4. Lazy Kate with Skein Winder & Counter

Also included:
5. Two drive bands
6. Three extra bobbins for the spinner
7. One extra plying bobbin

Priced separately these pieces would now run at least $400 (I’m not sure if the counter version would now be the $5 or the $90…I’m erring closer ot the $5 one). I’d like $350 plus shipping to your location, Paypal only.

I seem to have misplaced the camera, but here’s a cell phone pic shot in the box. Apologies in advance for the awfulness.

If you have any questions please comment. Thank you!

OK, so have this sewing maching, but I haven’t the foggiest idea how to use it. I’d really like to do some quilting at some point, especially since I signed up for a fat quarter club and they keep rolling in. Also, I may have gone a little overboard looking for old-style Winnie the Pooh fabrics to maybe make a quilt for my niece. I think the machine might be good to maybe help finish edges on any weaving I may do, but I dunno about that.

Every time I try to sign up for a sewing class somewhere, or a beginning quilting class, Murphy (that rat bastard) always intervenes and something happens where I can’t take the class. Plus, I just get this *vibe* from the quilting stores when I say I would like lessons or ask when their lessons will be. It’s like they lose all interest in me at that point, and a few have been downright rude.

Anyway, if anyone is in the area and can show me the basics of a sewing machine and maybe how to quilt, or can pass along information on a private lesson provider, I’d really appreciate it. This thing is just sitting here, and while I’m waiting for someone to realize that I am an awesome worker who can bring a lot to any project management role they need filled, I’ve got some time to kill. *sigh*

that I have poor impulse control, right?

Later today or tomorrow there should be a slightly used 16″ Kromski Harp with all accessories + bag winging its way to me via FedEx. I ordered a few extra stick shuttles and pick up sticks from another vendor, and some cotton weaving yarns from another. Why I had to go to two different vendors to get it all is beyond me, but whatevs. It should all be here by this weekend and hopefully I’ll be able to drown my employment panic in warping instructions. Or at least work through the panic in a calmer, more meditative state than I am currently experiencing.

Of course, I could just blame it all on that Sun in Virgo and the full Moon in Pisces. From my friend Carol’s astrological forecast from today:
The Virgo, Pisces energy is about confusion and details and both are strong within the sky right now aren’t they? With Uranus the energy of CHANGE actively involved in this Full moon (URANUS at 21 degrees of Pisces and the moon at 23 degrees of Pisces), this is much stronger energy than normal.”

One change I should probably make is to sell a couple of the wheels that I haven’t been using. I have a Pipy Wendy and a single treadle Ashford Traveler I may put on craigslist or ravelry. I’m not sure yet, as I need to weed through my BPAL first, but I’m leaning in that direction. The Pipy wheel is just too light and cute for my klutzy self, and I’m afraid I’m going to break it. The Ashford is lovely, though the maidens face backward from the later versions (I’m told this design I have was probably one of the first ones for the Traveler), but it works just fine and would be a treat first wheel for someone. I’m mostly using my Majacraft Alpaca at the moment for spinning, and have a Schacht Matchless that’s the backup/zomg awesome future wheel for when I feel more comfortable with my spinning. I don’t really need these other wheels right now and, well, it’s probably time to move them on to loving homes.

Regardless, right now I need to go get a drink of something cool so I don’t hyperventilate. I know this is a good purchase (the carry bag was free!), and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for at least two years. I think it’ll help me use up the stash that much faster, as I’m a terribly slow knitter and can’t crochet worth beans. Let’s hope this is a good intro into the wonderful world of weaving.

If you’re reading this and you know of some great resources, leave a comment? Thanks!

Today is the 14th with the Sun in Virgo and the Moon in Pisces, and there’s a full harvest moon waiting to happen here at 2:13am in Seattle. I wish I could stay awake for it, but the bits I can see out my window right now are more than beautiful enough to touch my soul. If only there weren’t so many damn mosquitoes out…I’d happily moonbathe this evening.

Back in more of the real world…. While I’m waiting for my mic to get here so I can begin recording for Librivox, I’ve been downloading a ridiculous number of podcasts and have a couple of recs for you.

Faery Knitting, done by ravelry user “spinnerin”. She has a LOVELY speaking voice and reads one or two fairy tales at the beginning of each podcast. She’s actually the reason I’m going to try to do the Librivox recording, as all of the tales she reads are from public domain works found at Project Gutenberg. There are a number of the Lang “color” fairy books already recorded in the Librivox catalog, but I thought I’d do some of these for my nieces & nephews, to be listened to at their parents discretion. And if I’m going to do that, why not do it for Librivox?

Anyway, I love the tales of life in Texas with alpaca, and dairy goats, and cheesemaking and construction on their land and generally all the groovy things she does. A little off the mainstream beaten path of knitting podcasts, but I’m enjoying it so far!

My other rec for the day is Celtic Myth Podshow, and it’s a lovely podcast out of the British Isles covering, you guessed it, Celtic Myths. Given that my proto-business here in fiber revolves around myths and legends, the title piqued my interest and I’ve enjoyed the few I’ve had a chance to listen to so far. Plus, I just dig the accents.

I need to step away from the computer so I can fight down the urge to purchase a rigid heddle loom and stand right the hell now, so I’m posting this and walking away for a while. I hope this finds you well!