Sunday at Panera; or, teabird sighs

We had a small group yesterday - only 5 of us. We all were knitting. Then, I decided not to knit.

I had only been not-knitting for a few minutes when a lovely woman came over, started at me as I was not-knitting, and asked, "Is that a loom?"

say hi to the new girl on the block

You can always count on Hornbill to be the first on the scene when something new arrives.

A carton was delivered a few weeks ago, and Hornbill tried to figure out what could be inside. He gave up, finally, and asked me to explain.

It's my new spinning wheel, I told him. She comes from Spinolution. They call her the Bee.




Isn't she cute? She folds up nice and small, just the way we like things in our little nest.










Here's a peek at our getting-to-know-each-other bobbin.







We're going to need some time to get to know each other. But this I do know --

her name is ...

Gidget!

In fact, I do still knit

See?

I've been knitting hats for a Care to Knit project with my Ravelry peeps. This is hat #3. In the background is a stained glass that my father-in-law designed and made.


I've also been knitting a red scarf for The Red Scarf Project. It's just about time to send it in.

The other news in my textile life: I want a spinning wheel. I want this spinning wheel. The reason I want this spinning wheel is that I was permitted to muddle around with try one at Panera a couple of weeks ago. I'm doing a little better with spindling (which is a good thing, since I've collected at least 10 of them already), and I love spindling, but - a wheel -

The woman who showed me how to spin on her wheel was using fibre that looks exactly like my hair - so I ended up spinning a reasonable facsimile of my own hair. Who else can say that?

In fact, if I decide to get a wheel, I'll have to do some research, try some other wheels, decide if I want single or double treadle, and all that -- but I love Victoria already.
What sayest thou? Would she make a good present when I retire?

(And would that help me decide to retire sooner?)

(You betcha.)