Ayuh. Ah'm heading to Maine. My good friend Tom is selling his house and his land to start over on a new piece of land elsewhere in Maine. And since I have known him through the buying of that beautiful land, his design and building the house himself including the stained glass windows, the summer sleeping gazebo, etc., it behooves me to get my buditchkas (buns, to you non-Ukrainians) up there for the goodbye house party.
The fact that there happens to be a Maine Fiber Frolic taking place the same weekend had nothing to do with my plans. Oh, no. Nor did the fact that 3 other knitbloggers (that I know of) will be attending. Pocket Farm Liz, Purl Diva (ex City Knitter) Ellen, and rumor has it Ms. Whoopsy herself may join us.
Now you know I have The Stash That Ate South Florida so there is absolutely no justification for buying any yarn. However, I will be doing a wilderness survival course in Southern Utah in August and it does involve humanely killing and utilizing every part of a sheep. Despite using every other part (yes, I did ask), so far as I know, they have never attempted to utilize the fleece. So my peeps, we cannot let that barbaric waste continue, can we? I will be in the market for a small hand carder, someone to teach me how to use same, a spindle likewise with teacher, and any other accoutrements necessary for turning a small amount of fleece into yarn. I'll have along some Dr. Bronner's magic liquid soap for cleansing some small part of the fleece. I DO realize what folly this is, thank you. Humor me in my extremity.
All suggestions for implements and sane use of same cheerfully accepted. Oh. And ladies, you can strap on those those iceskates now. For if I'm about to learn how to spin, hell has evidently frozen over.
Hope you have a good time and pick up the equipment needed for your survival 'adventure'. I have just learnt how to use a spindle!!!!!, even though the teacher was somewhat bemused by my seeming use of both left and right hand interchangably. Are you ambidecstrous(can't spell the word) I was asked with that what the hell is going on tone of voice and knitted brows look. When my answer was , am I, she just fell about laughing as she realised I was totally unaware that my mirroring her actions had veered from 'real' mirroring to my reality which was facing her and moving in echo not mirror when she moved her right hand it was my left that followed much of the time BUT either way yarn appeared which I was pretty chuffed about really. As to carding, cleaning etc., my teacher collected some wool caught up in the hedge outside the classroom door and we used that as well as some just washed, some washed and carded etc.Cheapest small portable carders are small dog brushes or natural ones are teasels but not sure if they grow where you're going to be 'surviving'. A freebie CD a piece of dowel a hook and a rubber gromet and you have a cpindle that really works, wont make you cry when it gets lost in the desert and could be used as a signaling device when you're needing to attract help when you're lost in the desert :0) Have fun.
Posted by: Daisy-Winifred | June 08, 2006 at 02:26 AM
You really have gone of the deep end! Killing sheep and learning to spin...hmmmm. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by: margene | June 08, 2006 at 11:20 AM
I'm not so great with the drop spindle, but we'll give it a try (note to self to pack fiber, handcards & cd spindle). :)
Bring your galoshes! It's been pissing buckets here!
Posted by: Liz | June 08, 2006 at 12:10 PM
omg (covering eyes) the vegans are gonna kill you!
Posted by: Alarming Female | June 08, 2006 at 06:23 PM
You had me til the wilderness survival stuff...I'm a girl who brings a suitcase to shower at your house :)
Have fun in Maine!
Posted by: Debi | June 09, 2006 at 07:02 AM
I'm patterning my unemployment experience after yours
Posted by: Edge | June 13, 2006 at 03:46 PM