Okay, I realize the title of this post is a little… how shall we put it? A little silly? But I’ll get to the reason soon.
First, a quick update on the Pollen Gold fiber I’ve been spinning: 3/4ths of the fiber is now spun into singles. The color is gorgeous, and I continue to love how it spins up. It’s an easy spin, which has made it good for picking up and putting down during work calls, cooking, etc… which has definitely helped me keep it moving along. The Wensleydale in the mix definitely adds some shine, contributing to the “gold” in the name. We’ll just ignore the other half of it’s name as spring kicks off. *achoo*
Now, on to the reason for today’s post title and also why getting that final 1/4th of the fiber above finished might take longer…
My birthday present from AwesomeE finally arrived! It was ordered pre-birthday, but hand made things take time.
It’s a bog oak spindle! I’ve been intrigued by the idea of bog oak since I saw the Golding Spindles with bog oak, but those weren’t quite what I wanted – the ones with bog oak tend to be more ornate than I’ve realized I really want.
Anyway, via Instagram I came across IST Crafts and was checking out their stuff, since they are in the UK and I’m in Germany. I thought it might be nice to search for a European made spindle* or two while I’m over here to add to my collection of tools. Looking through their spindles, I realized they have a bog oak one! I linked to it in our sibling Facebook group chat and my sister and AwesomeE were like “is this a hint?” and I said “no… I just thought it was cool.” Then on reflection, when AwesomeE asked about birthday gifts I said “so… maybe yes? I would like that spindle”.
Here’s the description of the wood:
“Sourced from the East Anglian fenland basin this stock of Bog Oak has been carbon dated to 3,300 BC so is in excess of 5000 years old. Logs are excavated from a sunken forest caused by a rise in sea level that started about 7,000 years ago.”
And here it is! It’s gorgeous. I love the dark wood and the little brass weights in the cross arms are both an attractive detail and functional. It’s easy to get moving, and a nice balance between a fairly fast spin and a reasonably long spin. I have one in the “24-32g” and it’s on the upper end of that range (currently weighs 36g according to my scale, but I kinda started spinning before weighing, so that’s with a bit of fiber added).
I’ve gone ahead and planned a gradient to spin on it:
It’s going to be well over one spindle full, so I’ll graft the singles as I jump from one turtle to the next. I play to chain ply it for a sturdier yarn and a smoother transition between colors.
*if you are looking to purchase a spindle from another country, please check that woods you are purchasing can be imported into your country. Smaller sellers may or may not be fully up to date on the latest restrictions.
Women’s History Month
It’s Women’s History Month, which recognizes all that women have contributed to our societies. I think it’s also important that we ensure more women will be able to continue making history as well. So as you reflect on the amazing women in our past (I recommend this great biography of Mae West), consider how you can support the women of today. Can you buy something from a favorite artist or dyer? Help a women’s shelter? Or just tell the women in your life how awesome you think they are?
This means as well continuing to advocate for Black and BIPOC women, who face all sorts of additional obstacles in life, up to and including finding their lives cut short (it’s been one year since Breonna Taylor was murdered in her home). Black History Month and Women’s History Month are two separate timeframes on the calendar, but there is so much overlap.
During these months, as a society we also often overlook LGBTQ+ members of the Black community, and trans women. Helping people shouldn’t be restricted to a specific month of the year, or the holiday season, or immediately after the most recent atrocity. Use these months to celebrate peoples’ accomplishments, but also as a reminder that the work for justice and equality has to continue throughout the year.