New spinning wheel

It was a gorgeous day today, I wasn't working, so Lyn and I had brunch with Keri and Ryan in Portland (nope, not going to Texas!) and then left for Carlton to go to Woodland Woolworks. I had wanted to try out spinning wheels, the idea being that I'd try the wheels there and then buy one at the Black Sheep Gathering next weekend. I was especially interested in traveling wheels and had tried a Lendrum in spinning group. WW was completely out of Lendrums and had waiting lists. I tried Fricke, Louet, Ashford, and Majacraft, but the one I loved as much as the Lendrum was the Kromski Sonata. I found a double-treadle, walnut finish, and bought it. Here it is!



As part of the spinning package, I was sent home with spinning wheel oil, wood oil, a bag to carry the spinning wheel, and 4 ounces of dyed tussah silk top. I'm saving the silk for a bit. I came home and promptly opened up some of the BLS Sakina Needles I bought from the Loopy Ewe a few months ago. I've almost filled a bobbin with Squashed colorway.



I love the double treadle, I love the way the Kromski performs, and I love the fact that the wheel is portable. I think I'm a happy camper! I plan to keep my Ashford Traditional, but I won't be taking it to spinning groups anymore.

The June WoolGirl sock club shipment came yesterday. It was a colorway I'd never have chosen for myself, but the pattern is perfect for the yarn and I like it when it's knitted. The theme was tree frogs and was one of the most creative packages I've seen in a sock club yet. We got a calculator, a frog notepad on a keychain, a frog sucker, 2 plastic tree frogs, a tiny frog stitchmarker, and a frog tattoo. Everything was surrounded with frog and bug confetti. I started the socks immediately. Here's the ribbing I've done so far. The little green thing hanging down on the needle is the frog stitch marker.



I've been busy knitting and spinning alone and haven't felt like doing as much social knitting. I skipped Knit in Public Day to go to Woodland Woolworks. I feel like I have too many projects that require concentration - the kind of projects that don't work in social settings. I'm feeling more of a desire to learn new things rather than make friends. I'm finding I'm gravitating more to project and technique threads at Ravelry, too. I think I'll be looking for classes and attending guild meetings this summer rather than getting together with friends to knit on a weekly basis. I think I'll take a month off from any swaps, too. I'm not giving anything up, just concentrating on knitting for awhile.

I've also gotten enthusiastic about reading again. I'm reading Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble right now and am enjoying that. I'm also in a Ravelry Readalong of War and Peace which may last over the summer. I'm reading the Briggs translation.