However, living way the hell up here in Alaska, I don't really have that option without a spendy trip to Juneau or Anchorage. While for most people a trip to a big city in their state might cost a tank of gas, getting out of my tiny town is quite the process. I'd either have to take an 8 hour ferry ride to Juneau with my car and spend a couple nights in a hotel there until the next ferry back to Skagway; or I would have to drive two solid days (or one VERY long day) to get to the big city of Anchorage and also spend a couple nights in a hotel. And this is even saying that any place in either of those cities even has a LYS that carries spinning wheels, of which I'm not at all sure.
So trying out a wheel is a little out of the question for me. Now you can see why this is such a difficult decision. I have encountered a few people who bought their wheel sight unseen based upon the recommendations of others. It appears I will more than likely have to fall into this category.
And the next big hurdle is the price. Last year I would have thrown the wheel on my credit card and paid for it later. But this year I'm trying really hard to be a little more financially responsible, and teaching myself some patience along the way. So, I'm setting aside a little bit of money each month until I have enough to buy a wheel...hopefully sometime this summer. This is no easy feat for the girl who in childhood used to spend birthday money even before it was in my hot little hand. I need to take a cue from my sister, who would have 5 or 6 years of birthday money saved up and still not want to spend it!
If any of you have any spinning wheel advice, I'm all ears.
In the meantime, I decided to spend about $20 on a spindle and bought some beautiful fiber to try my hand at drop spinning.
The spindle itself is made of wood from the buckeye tree, which will always have a place in this OSU grad's heart. :)
And the fiber I got from Wool Gatherings on etsy. It's absolutely delicious. Here are some gratuitous fiber shots for you.
So, now you know what I'll be working on this weekend! What about you all? What knitterly things are you working on?
Oh, and I've also been trying my hand at a little baking lately. I had a bunch of apples that I needed to get rid of, so I decided to bake a pie for Jeff, since apple is his favorite. And I added a bit of my own design to the top. What you do you think? ;)
3 comments:
Delightful! Congratulations on acquiring a spindle!They say that if you get down the drafting on a hand spindle you pick up spinning on a wheel in no time flat. I too am in the "saving for a wheel" catagory. i have been a spindler since last year and absolutely love it. Your roving looks scrumptious! Have fun!
P.S.
I was in Anchorage last year and had a hard time finding a yarn shop, let alone somewhere with spinning wheels! But not being a local I probably didn't know where to look.
I bought my wheel without having spun at all. Nothing, not even a drop spindle. I researched a wheel that would be good for a beginner, but one also that I could grow into as well. The price had to be reasonable, and what I came up with was the schacht Ladybug. I bought it about two years ago, and I love it. The only thing that I would encourage you not to get is the portable lazy kate- it's a piece of crap. You can make a lazy kate out of a cardboard box and some knitting needles.
Anyway, good luck in your search for spinning bliss- I'm sure you'll find it!
I feel your "living in the middle of nowhere" pain. Reaserching and waiting till I get to a place where I can try my dream out has always worked for me. You'll have to take a trip to a city with spinning wheels eventually.
Love the pie!
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