All our guests left on Tuesday, and I've been slowly putting my house back together and catching up on emails and such. Thanks to all who left comments while I was away - I did read them, although I didn't always have time to answer.
A month or so ago, I declared to Alicia that No One ever hand-winds hanks of yarn into balls, and she skipped off and bought herself a swift and ball-winder.
So guess what I just did?!
Hee hee hee.
This morning I was digging through one of my stash boxes looking for something, and I came across this old hank of handspun. I thought it might work for a Miranda hat, so I put it aside. I made this so long ago, I can't really remember what the fiber is, except that I do remember it's superwash. I also remember that I have a whole lot more of it - I think I bought something like 3 pounds, and only made this one hank!
When I found a little time to wind it this afternoon, I decided that rather than get out my own swift and ball-winder, I'd use the lovely nostepinne my father made me years and years ago. Dad was a great woodworker, and this beautiful tool is just one of many cherished items he made for me.
It felt so nice and relaxing and organic to hand-wind this ball. The wood on the nostepinne is smooth and silky from the oils of my hands and the wools I've wound on it; the shape fits perfectly into my hand, and the heft is just right. This tool lives in the knitting basket right next to my chair, and although I don't use it often any more, I do get it out and just hold it.
Have any of you ever wound a ball of yarn using a nostepinne? Somehow, I find it less tedious than hand-winding. I guess that's because I love mine so much.
I've never even seen one of these gizmos! I have to get one!
ReplyDeleteIf you think this is a cool gizmo, you should check out the "diz!" http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/06/etsy-friday-and-what-to-do-with-diz.html
DeleteAlthough I admit it's pretty spinning-specific. :-)
What a beautiful tool! Even better that your dad made it for you. I've got a Knit Picks ball winder, but that definitely feels tedious. Enjoy your treasure!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I do enjoy it!
DeleteWhat a beautiful story! My husband is an incredible woodworker. He's a violin maker and is in the process of making a viola for my 17 year old daughter. I'm not a musician so this is just the thing to have him make for me. I can't wait to tell him about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new knitter so I didn't know any better than to hand wind my yarn. I love to do it. Crazy, huh?
That's a beautiful tool, really! A great present from your dad. I usually wind yarn into balls by hand, but I've never used an actual nostepinne, I improvise with a toilet paper roll.
ReplyDeleteYou know I love to find good uses for toilet paper rolls, LOL!
DeleteThat is such a gorgeous nostepinne, your father was so talented! I love the look of yarn wound that way, it always has that distinctive shape. I've never tried winding with a nostepinne, but I do sometimes wind yarn by hand into a haphazard ball.
ReplyDeleteIt does have a distinctive shape, doesn't it? I also love that it makes center-pull balls. I'm kind of surprised you don't have one, with all the recycling you do!
DeleteI was so happy to read this post -- I've been hand-winding my Cascade 220 for my Gray Day Pullover (even though I have a swift and ball winder) and have enjoyed the process again. But then I also just learned about a nostepinne and have been thinking of getting one. The fact that your dad hand-carved one for you makes my heart swell. Lucky daughter, you! xo
ReplyDeleteIt can be very meditative, can't it? I vote that you get yourself a nostepinne!
DeleteOMG, fibber!
ReplyDeleteThe tool and yarn are both lovely. Also, it is confirmed yet again that spinning tools have the awesomest names ever.
Hehehe! I know - you really can't believe much of what I say ;-)
Deleteand yes, spinning tools DO have the coolest names!
Your dad made this for you? What a treasure! I've never heard of it. You won't believe this, but I still make my husband hold the skeins between his hands while I wind up my yarn into balls, not really cakes, because I don't know how to do that. Is this spousal abuse?
ReplyDeleteI love that! More proof that your hubby is a keeper :-) Mine would do it too, if I asked him to, but since I have the tools, I never do!
DeleteHow lovely! What a lovely gift from your father!
ReplyDeleteHe loved making spinning tools for me :-) He also made 2 of my spinning wheels and my large 4-shaft loom!
DeleteHow wonderful to have these heritage-gifts from your Father. Makes winding yarn personal.
ReplyDeletehugs