Higher Calling

Dearest Friends And Family,

I hope that this little note finds you well and that you are enjoying the start of the holiday season. 'Tis such a lovely and festive time and one that certainly deserves the best that each of us has to offer.

Sadly, I have tragic news for you all. I hope that you will find it in your hearts to understand that sometimes a Sheep's life is steered towards another path, a higher path, if you will. I know that this news comes late and, for that, I apologize deeply. However, when one is faced with clear signs regarding one's destiny one cannot simply ignore it and go blithely forth as if nothing has changed.

As my nearest and dearest, many of you are more knowledgeable in the ways of the wool than the average person. Whether you like it or not, you understand the purpose of sheep, how it is that one can be swift and use a swift at the same time and can utter the word, "niddy noddy" without giggling. And, while this knowledge base may give you some level of understanding with regard to this new state of affairs, I fear that its full import may be beyond your ken. I will do my best to help you to understand. But, at day's end, it is only your kind natures that will allow you to let go of tradition and release me from promises made in good faith.

For you see, there will be a dearth of handknitted gifts this holiday season. I know this is a blow. I cannot begin to imagine just how difficult it will be for you to accept this new state of affairs. It pains me to even think of it, really. I know how much you all look forward to your ill-fitting hats, your scarves that come with elaborate explanations regarding the inconsistencies in pattern and my hour long dissertations on how one should care for wool. I shudder to think how we shall all spend Christmas day now...there will be hours to fill without my lecture schedule. And I've given you precious little time to plan for the day.

I couldn't feel worse if I tried.

But, dear friends and family, the times have changed. I have come to a crossroads in my fiber career. I only wish that this eagerly anticipated accomplishment had happened in January...but it didn't. The day that every fiber artist longs for, works for, and will spend vast sums on fiber for has come. We must accept this.

I have spun laceweight. There. I said it. I have reached that Holy Grail of spinnerdom and, while I find joy in breaking the gauge barrier, there is sadness, too. No more will I have time to knit your precious holiday gifts. There is no hope for the oddly shaped hats and items for which you cannot for the life of you find a name or use. They will not be done. For I have spun laceweight and must now accept my place among those other great spinners who have made very, very skinny yarn. It is my life's mission.

Note: The fact that I wasn't actually trying to spin laceweight is immaterial. I did it and we need not waste time by going into the whole process so deeply. I am a lace-spinner and that's all there is to it. Let's not be nitpicky...this is difficult enough without focusing on those pesky sorts of details.

Where was I? Oh, yes...my ascending to a higher level and whatnot. I know I mentioned the path...and I did the Holy Grail comparison. Did I do the part where I mention the Secret Laceweight Spinners Handshake but refuse to reveal it? No? Oh, now I'm all messed up..

At any rate, the whole point of the matter is this: I have found my spinning mojo and I can't seem to stop. It appears that once you have spun teeny-weeny yarn, you need to spin more. And more. This is going to cut into the knitting time, I fear. I had a whole day off today for Veterans' Day and didn't pick up the needles once. It is all spinning all the time.

I also didn't get the laundry done or the kitchen cleaned...but who cares? This is my calling, for crying out loud!

It seems that once one makes that most sacred of transitions from spinning to Spinning, one has a responsibility to the wool and one must make a sacrifice or two. You still have to feed the cats and clean the toilets, though. Spinning laceweight does not come with maid service. I was a bit surprised by that. I have been dreaming of this day for so very long and expected, if not a whole bunch of handmaidens and whatnot, at least a couple of adoring apprentices. That would have been handy.

They could have maybe helped out with the knitting of the oddly shaped hats...

SA