Temptation, part II

There's a used Lendrum DT for sale on Ravelry....From what I understand, this is equivalent to the "complete" package, which retails for $622. It's being sold for $550, including shipping/insurance/tracking. Here's my question for the spinners - are the extras necessary for a beginning spinner? When I was originally looking at wheels, I was looking only at the wheel and the bobbins it comes with (not lazy kates, plying heads, etc). Thoughts?

Odds and ends

• Slow down, you move too fast

Yesterday I went to the post office after work to mail some destash yarn (more about this later) and of course chose the automated postal unit over the long line in the lobby. However, there were 2 people in front of me and an elderly man already using the machine. While talking himself through it. "No....no....enter zip.....wow that's expensive...go back.....no....no"

As the line grew and we all silently plotted to throttle him (I know I can't have been the only one), I realized this is what bugged me about my ex's apology. He had waited over a hear to apologize and acknowledge he had failed to treat me like a human being. But he couldn't be bothered to sit down and at least email me from a freaking computer.

We're all in such a hurry these days, and that's been part of the anxiety I've been feeling since the new year. Hurry up to define my relationship, hurry up to resurrect broken friendships, hurry up to get over my brother's death. I suspect all this hurrying is why I wake up before my alarm clock these days.

• Obligatory politics

I've been listening to Al Gore's The Assault on Reason the last couple of days. And a few things come to mind - one: Al Gore has a very distinctive writing style. It's like he's talking to you. And even though he's not the one narrating the book, you know it's him. Two: how the hell did we end up here? I'm not one to follow the news anymore, but listening to his accounts of the last few years have me up in arms. Though his account of hypnotizing a chicken is pretty funny.

• So, you call this a knitting blog?

Only very loosely. In my anxiety to clear out material goods (apparently I am not my mother's daughter on this score), I've managed to destash about half my stash. And made a vow not to buy any more new yarn until Easter. I've decided this applies to a wheel as well. By that time I should have my tax refund and feel a little more certain about this whole spinning thing. In the meantime, I am knitting from my stash, finishing up UFOs (or frogging them), and practicing on my spindle. Unfortunately all this WIP polygamy has slowed down progress on the Buttony Sweater (the Chevron scarf was too pretty to leave in the basket!), but it will be done.

Some day....

Temptation

Yesterday I had a day to myself (most weekends are spent with M - though now that ski season is in full swing that's more the exception than the norm) and took a mini road trip up to the Santa Ynez valley. I had a food club shipment to pick up (yes, I'm in a food club and it's awesome) and a wine club shipment as well. But the real reason? To try out spinning wheels at Village Spinning & Weaving.

I am in love. I tried out Ashfords, Lendrums, a Louet, a Kromski, and a Majacraft. My two favorites?

This Lendrum:
And this Ashford:
Up until yesterday, I've only spun on a spindle before. And while I like it, I don't really have a rhythm to it. There's alot of stopping and starting. But the wheel just felt smoother. Here's my dilemma though - why should I buy a wheel? It's a relatively large investment, and right now I think I'd be buying it just to spin and not necessarily to make yarn....There's also the retail therapy to think about. I've been hugely stressed the last few weeks. Work has been unpleasant, and things with the family have been hard. And my MO to deal with being unhappy and stressed is to a) hole up and knit and b) shop! So I'll wait. But man, did I love spinning on those wheels yesterday :) And I so highly recommend Village Spinning and Weaving - both the owners are absolutely wonderful and helpful.

Today brings laundry, a trip to REI, lunch with an old friend from college, and of course some knitting. I'm hoping to finish up the Buttony Sweater within the next week or so :) Happy Sunday all!

Get your spin on

When I first started knitting, way back in 2002, I knew virtually nothing about the whole process of sheep to sweater. My first scarf was an acrylic garter stitch scarf in a teal green I normally wouldn't have chosen (but still love!) I continued on this way, until I discovered yarn stores. Stores full of yarn for knitting, uncomplicated by paint or framing or stickers which usually dominated the stores I'd been buying my yarn in.

I also, at that same time, discovered just how much money one can spend on yarn. And that it's an evil practice to not mark prices anywhere near the yarn.

I was mostly content with this new discovery, trying out new fibers, weights, and stitches. But somewhere along the way I still wanted more. I wanted to learn how to spin. Growing up, my mom had a spinning wheel that I would play on occasionally. As wheels are expensive for something you just want to try out, I got a drop spindle, some fiber, and started.

And was awful. Lumpy, inconsistent, fuzzy edged bulky yarn. Not what I wanted at all. So I put it down and waited. My local LYS started offering spinning classes and I jumped. I'm no expert now, but I have a better understanding of what I can do to change the texture of my yarn.

Which brings me back to spinning on a wheel. I really want to try it - and I'm planning on hitting up the somewhat local spinning store next week to check out wheels. My question for those of you who spin is how does spinning on a wheel differ from using a drop spindle, and what should I look for in a wheel? I see all sorts of drive ratios, treadles, etc, and it's a little overwhelming :)

Still knitting away on the second manly sock. And a few secret projects! Happy Wednesday all!