Avoiding The Obvious

I could write about how today was just beyond miserable. About how I was stuffy and sneezy and how my sinuses throbbed in time to the beating of my cold, cold heart. I could tell you all about how, by day's end, I had lost my voice completely and was reduced to pathetic squawking accompanied by excessive gestures in order that I might be more clearly understood. I could tell you how many times I had to hear that I was not looking my best today.

But that would be dwelling on the negative. I am now fully dosed with the sweet, sweet NyQuil cold medicine and feeling an all-encompassing love for the world that is beyond description. Let's take a walk on the happy side, shall we?

Since I was home yesterday with the snuffly-wufflies and needed to amuse myself...

And since I can't seem to do anything right on my second sweet, striped little sockie to save my life...

And since I do seem to recall promising that I would further explain my overly complicated system of plying with a drop spindle...

And since I got me some super purty new fibers in the mail yesterday and am suddenly all inspired to finish up my current project in order that I might play with it...

And since I have reached the NyQuil-induced conclusion that I will not be finishing my last paper for class tonight and will most definitely be needing some sort of an extension...

I give you Step One: "Getting the singles off the spindle"

(there are sub-steps to this, though...I didn't actually think the whole thing through before I started writing it down but I have a reeeeeealllllly bad cold and am stoned on NyQuil so you will have to adjust the process in your own, clearer thinking minds.)

Once I've determined that I have enough on the spindle to wind off or become bored, (whichever comes first) I tuck the spindle into the pocket of the tote bag I made last summer when I was fully enmeshed in my "must sew or die" phase:

Look closely...you can see where I also BeDazzled the tote bag. I have no shame.

I then attach the single to the oh-so-lovely plastic bobbin that came with my very first spinning wheel. It has a nice, handy Velcro dot on it so that the wool sticks quite handily. The bobbin is then slipped onto an aluminum knitting needle for maximum spin-ocity:

Note: The bead on the end of the bobbin was not there when I bought them. I superglued it on there as a handle for the crankin' efficiency.

I then wander all the way across the room (you're right, Cathy! This does take out all that extra twist!!!) and crank the singles onto the bobbin like I'm reeling in the big one. (that's why that bead is on there, you see.) You now have some minutes to kill while you wind. This is a good time to think about life and its possible meaning. Or why eggs are pickled and then left to float for all eternity at seedy bars and dubious bait shops. You should also probably be looking out for frisky felines as they, too, enjoy the winding activity a great deal and may try to interfere in the process.

That's it. Step One in all its sub-step glory. One more bobbin to go and then you all get to sit back and enjoy the actual plying process. I'll just leave you with all that suspense until I can manage to spin up another bobbin-full.

Which, given my current state of cold medication loopiness, may be a while...

SA