Overachiever

Yes, Jamie, you're right. I am an overachiever!

Today, while trying to figure out how to answer someone's question on Ravelry about how to corespin on a drop spindle, I decided to a) do a video and b) take pictures.

But in the end, I settled for pictures. The video was just another reminder of how big I've become since I've started this spinning business. Which just means I have to get my butt over to the garage where the Orbitrek is parked.

Anyway, ever since I've succumbed to this nasty cold during the weekend and having had to work through it all, I've come to know firsthand the effects of Dayquil and Nyquil. I never used to take these things because I'm a staunch believer of naturapathics. However, seeing how the last two years cold virus hit me and stayed with me for two to three weeks has made me realize that I simply don't have that much time to be sick. Not when I can spin and knit and join the masses in their hacking, coughing states.

Where was I? Oh yes, the corespinning post. So after a few minutes of photographing my fingers (I am in desperate need of a manicure - that's for sure) doing all this corespinning, it was off to Photoshop and here it is!

My quick and dirty guide to corespinning on a drop spindle. Unfortunately, there are still traces of Dayquil in my brain and so I still can't form coherent sentences to really describe what the steps are, but hopefully the pictures suffice.


You'll have to click on the image to see the incoherent directions though...and a good view of my for-the-first-time-in-a-long-time neat living room!

Here's a few pictures of the finished coilspun yarn:


And stretched on the niddy-noddy:


Not bad for a few hours' work. Although I really should start doing this more on my wheel...

As a side note, whenever I was sick, or feeling homesick or just feeling the blahs, I usually reached for my favorite go-to movie, While You Were Sleeping. I just love love love that movie - and can probably recite the lines by heart as well. Well, it came out during a time in my life that resembled Sandra's character in the movie - but that's another story and doesn't belong in this blog.

Well, move over, Sandra Bullock, you've been dethroned! I've got a new one as my go-to movie and it's a classic. Well, not exactly classic as in old movie classic and all, but of a classic. Today I finally viewed my Pride and Prejudice DVD as a get-well-and-get-out-of-the-doldrums way to relax and get better quickly.

I am feeling much better for sure, but also drooling over Matthew McFadyen (I so liked him in Death at a Funeral - that was a fun movie!)that I have to move any yarn or fiber out of way before I drool some more! I'd seen the movie in pieces and thought McFadyen's Mr. Darcy way unsuited for him - but that was before I finished seeing the entire movie up to the end (note to self: never judge Pride and Prejudice on the first 15 minutes - of course Mr. Darcy is going to be smug!).

It's embarassing that I have all of Jane Austen's works in a leather-bound collection for about 10 years and never once considered reading Pride and Prejudice. I've read Mansfield Park and Emma though, so it's not all lost. Judging from my library - that includes books that are sitting in boxes in the garage, I would totally fit in in 18th century England. Imagine having only books and the piano forte to entertain oneself - but then there's always spinning and knitting!

Okay, I'm going to shut up and drool some more over Mr. Darcy...

EDIT: Hmmm...after viewing the BBC 1995 version with Collin Firth, I stand corrected. THAT version is my favorite version over this new one - Matthew or not.

If you've never read Pride and Prejudice, here's a fun version using Facebook news feeds. Way better than Cliff Notes...