Branching Out is coming along pretty decently. I took a bit of a break from knitting it, but now it's zooming along. I've discovered that I knit lace much tighter than I would stockinette. Eventually, that is. You can see how the scarf is really fat at the beginning, and getting narrower as it goes along. Thank god for blocking.
I'm going to start up on the Hedera socks tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow. No more putting them off! It turns out that it wasn't working at first because I was doing yarn overs wrong. Ugh. I've been doing them wrong for MONTHS. That situation called for a "palmface." Well, now that I know that yarn over doesn't mean "yarn over, knit one," things will go much better. I'm excited about them.
As for the spinning wheel situation, I've decided to keep my Ashford Traditional for now, but to get one that's more portable and reliable for mobile spinning. From what I can tell, the Traditional is easily reparable, but I don't trust that nothing else will happen to it. If I didn't have to take that class in Alberta, I'd just stick with it, but I'm terrified that something else might happen to it while I'm there. An Ashford Kiwi looks like the way to go. Inexpensive, beginner friendly, small and compact enough to be portable, and adorable enough that I can fall in love with it. I can't wait to get it!
Okay! Now that Scott has finally stopped playing his new Grand Theft Auto game (after about ten hours), I'm off to eat popcorn and watch me some Star Trek Voyager.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
AH HA!
I think I have a solution to my most recent wheel problem.
If I can't make the screw stop spinning, maybe I can replace the screw with something else. Tomorrow after work, I'm off to the hardware store. I think this will work!
If I can't make the screw stop spinning, maybe I can replace the screw with something else. Tomorrow after work, I'm off to the hardware store. I think this will work!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
My patience is wearing thin
So far, I have had unending patience with my spinning wheel, but I'm almost at the end of my rope.
It's been nearly two full months since I got it, and I haven't been able to use it for more than twenty minutes yet. I have to go to Alberta to take a class in spinning in two months, and I haven't been able to practice AT ALL yet.
Every time I think I've fixed one problem, another pops up. The leather broke, so I replaced it. When I put in the new leather it broke the footman. My friends was nice enough to repair it for me, and make a spare part in case it happens again. I finally, after a month of waiting, got the part back, and put it on. I got to spin for ONE minute before I noticed that as the wheel turns, the screw holding the footman to the wheel loosens or tightens. A lot. So much that it's totally useless.
So, I've decided that this will be the last problem. After I fix this (if I can fix this) if anything else goes wrong within the first few days, I'm just going to sell if for spare parts, and buy a new one. A brand new right off the production line one. This damn wheel has just been so stressful, and there is enough stress in my life already. Even broken, I'm sure someone would be willing to give me $50 for it. That's only a loss of $150, two months, and my sanity. Sigh.
I think if if comes to that, I'd like a Kiwi. Those are supposed to be good.
On a positive note, I'm trying my hand at lace knitting, and I'm really pleased with it. I'm about 25% done my branching out scarf. I had to rip back just about every row a couple of times for the first repeat or two, but now it's just flying off the needles. There will be much more lace in my future. I have a huge crush on Laminaria in the new spring knitty. It's out of my skill level now for sure, but it's something to work towards.
It's been nearly two full months since I got it, and I haven't been able to use it for more than twenty minutes yet. I have to go to Alberta to take a class in spinning in two months, and I haven't been able to practice AT ALL yet.
Every time I think I've fixed one problem, another pops up. The leather broke, so I replaced it. When I put in the new leather it broke the footman. My friends was nice enough to repair it for me, and make a spare part in case it happens again. I finally, after a month of waiting, got the part back, and put it on. I got to spin for ONE minute before I noticed that as the wheel turns, the screw holding the footman to the wheel loosens or tightens. A lot. So much that it's totally useless.
So, I've decided that this will be the last problem. After I fix this (if I can fix this) if anything else goes wrong within the first few days, I'm just going to sell if for spare parts, and buy a new one. A brand new right off the production line one. This damn wheel has just been so stressful, and there is enough stress in my life already. Even broken, I'm sure someone would be willing to give me $50 for it. That's only a loss of $150, two months, and my sanity. Sigh.
I think if if comes to that, I'd like a Kiwi. Those are supposed to be good.
On a positive note, I'm trying my hand at lace knitting, and I'm really pleased with it. I'm about 25% done my branching out scarf. I had to rip back just about every row a couple of times for the first repeat or two, but now it's just flying off the needles. There will be much more lace in my future. I have a huge crush on Laminaria in the new spring knitty. It's out of my skill level now for sure, but it's something to work towards.
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