When all else fails…shop…

To be honest nothing has ‘failed’ but I have shopped…most noteably a new spinning wheel, after wrestling with an old ashford traddie I went to ‘look’ at wheels a few weeks ago. I knew I wanted something portable and user friendly…and I wanted something that was new, I have a couple secondhand wheels and none of them are ever quite ‘right’ and I am sick of working at them to try and get them working well only to find new issues everytime I fix something. I just don’t have the time to stuff around with a wheel that needs lots TLC rather than just general ‘maintenance’ anymore. Between working full time and running a small dressmaking bussiness my spinning (and knitting) time has become very precious, which is obvious to me in the drop in my knitting work rate over the last few months. So anyway back to the new wheel.
I gave Bella at Walking Wheel Studio a call one Saturday, almost a month ago, and headed over to try her stock, she had just got in the new Majacraft Pioneer, I was not immediately sold as I had never used a double treadle before and had the Ashford Joy in mind. I was a little concerned about the orofice height of the Joy though, as it turned out Bella had sold the shop Joy a few days earlier so I did not get to even have a test spin, however having sat with the bag in front of me I could see that the orofice was going to be a problem. I tried an Ashford Traveller, but didn’t quote like the way it felt when I treddled, then I tried a Louet S10, but it didn’t like it because when I spun fine which I tend to do the flyer shook…not fun! Plus it was a lot bigger than what I had in mind. I had already sat at the Pioneer but went back and having tried the other two I started to see what made that baby good…I fiddled with the ratio’s, I changed my position and with every change I made I loved her a little more. My mind was still wondering about the joy…then Bella told me the price of the Pioneer, about $200 less than the Joy and with an orofice at a good working height. I was sold…so now I have the new Majacraft Pioneed, I got her 3 days after she had hit the shops and we are still in love, though I do have my eye on her big sister ‘Alpaca’…maybe in 5 years or so…
Anyway here she is in all her glory:

Fittingly my first project to show you all this time is the first garment I made from yarn spun on the new wheel. I knitted it for a friends neice who is just the most adorable little one. I even got sent a grainy mobile pic of her in the cardie…so cute! The flower at the neck was crocheted from a vague memory of how crochet flowers are made but I am pretty happy with it. Plus it covers up where I put the buttonhole on the wrong side when I was trying to be clever and knit the garment top down rather than bottom up as I was worried I wouldn’t have enough yarn (I have 43g left BTW)! I think it was a good save and actually looks nicer than just a button.

I’m working on knitting up some yarn I spun on the old wheel, but plied on the new wheel (Very badly plied I might add). It’s going to be EZ’s february baby sweater/baby sweater on two needles depending on who you talk to. I am really liking it so far, the subtle stripe is just lovely in my opinion. Now I just need someone who is having a girl AND will treat homespun as homespun should be treated to give this one too.

I have pretty much finished, except for weaving in the ends and choosing buttons the rainbow matinee jacket, just need to find the motivation to finish and knit some matching pants…oh and find a home for the finished product which I have been realiably informed is not suitable for a boy…

Just for fun I knitted a little beaded purse recently that will make a pretty good gift for someone come Christmas, who I am yet to decide…mayby my kris kringle at work if I get a girl.

I’ve also made a tentative start on my SIL wedding handbag after having to dye crochet cotton as I was unable to find anything even close to grey in either crochet cotton or perle cotton. I won’t be posting much about this one now until after the wedding as I want to keep the design at least a little bit of a secret and I know the bride reads this…Hi Leah!

My Auties socks and jumper are still going, I only knit the socks on the bus and the jumper at work so I have no progress shots of the jumper to show you as it lives on my desk. I will need to bring it home soon though as we are getting really busy at work so my knitting time is getting less and less.

Oh and I haven’t forgotten me in all this, I decided it was time I do myself some summer knitting. I am yet to cast on as I am making myself wait till I have finished at least one of my Aunties things!!! Gotta be tough on myself sometimes. Though I can still look at my new cardie…

I think thats it for now…see you all next time I get off my bottom and blog!