Hail Victoria!––The Mini Cooper of Spinning Wheels

(The Spinner-escape. All pics enlarge)

While my sisters-in-Spin City joined the multitude of fiber heads, knitterati and other zealots from all over the eastern seaboard and beyond, to make the pilgrimage to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend, I was right here spinning. Yes folks, spinning on my fire-escape––sarcastically referred to by some, as the ghetto terrace (Hmmph. The folks who coined that dis haven't lived). It was totally fab! Victoria provided me with the solace I needed from not attending the fest due to my self-imposed fleece ban.

Staring at the fire escape the other day, the idea bulb over my head lit up. Though I'm definitely fond of spinning and knitting in the park, I'm not always down for a craft demo or answering questions––I just want to work outside without participating in other folks lives. And since I use my terrace for almost everything else, why not spin there? Faster than the turn of a knit row, I got my wheel and a folding stool. I placed the stool securely on the metal lats, my bag of fiber under it; Victoria took her place at the opposite end, and vóila––I spun for a coupla' hours high above the heads of passerby, discreetly adumbrated by the cloud of adolescent leaves, taking in the street life below and the warm sun above. It was urban nirvana.

 A Foot Powered Compact

(Rather than a squeeze, a shift in perspective; I'm actually a lot farther back.)

I bought my Louet Victoria (named after the company owner's grandbaby) a few years ago after taking the one my gurl Chanté owned for a spin (catch the car comparison). I fell in love with the wheel's portability, design and weight––the same as the baby's at birth. If you're interested in a thorough review of this dynamo, Abby Franquemont gives an excellent one. 

Sunday, I'm spinning on the grassy knoll at St. Nicholas Park in Harlem, as the weather should be terrific. Like the Mini, Victoria is stable enough for me to place her on the grass itself; I park my butt, sit back and whizz! And trust me folks, I'ma put as much mileage on my bobbins as the Cooper S Convertible per gallon.

 Then There's The Fiber                                                                    

(Imagine holding sparkling fireworks in your hand; a bespoke cloud made by Steph Gorin of Loop Yarn, Garnerville, N.Y.).

I hope those of you who made it to MDSW stopped by her booth and spent, because her batts and yarns are all that. I'll be blowing her up in a subsequent post, but for now? It's a merino/alpaca combo with some angelina thrown in for sparkle and a few neps for texture. I bought 4 ounces (113 grams) to sample, that will morph into knit gloves. I'll drop the yarn  knowledge in the sidebar. Ancestors! The yarn was buttah! Check it out. 

 Peace and sheep fleece everyone! Have a Happy Mother's Day!

  (A ply in the sky!)

 

Comments

[Heather]

What a fantastic idea! And you yarn looks great too.

After four days this week demo-ing spinning to the public at a local stately home (great fun but exhausting) I am looking forward to a bit of therapeutic spinning without answering a thousand questions at the same time :-)

[Sahara]

Hi Heather!

I totally understand! I'm participating in a spinning demo on Sunday at the oldest and last working farm in Queens, NY. So I'm keeping my mouth shut until then!

[naomi dagen bloom]

Sahara! Great to hear from you and see the blog cooking. It's on my roll again. So much to follow here and be reminded once again what we are missing, though there are many compensations, resettled in the Northwest.

Curious to note that colored girls were invited to Kansas; that tee-shirt would get many spun heads in Portland where, at the same time, the dominant energy was quite the opposite. We know live with the dominant whiteness of America [actual statistic].

Have to show Ron your latest lovely spinning which he will admire. He still knits hats to give away, now weaving scarves. We both miss Knitty City, not replaceable, as are you. Love and peace, naomi