When you’re only 20 rows away from a finished sample, new ideas seem to flood the brain (or is it only the spring breeze?)…
They’ve been patiently waiting their turn. A little unnecessary shoving was going on, but nothing too out of the ordinary at Studio Chic for this time of year.
Even though the mark of the New Year is the time when many people promise to adjust their personal culture, I’m more inspired by what really starts happening a little later on and have let myself be pulled forward by nature’s clues.
Spring is the face of change, the time when it seems most natural to join the re-birth of the outside and invite it in.
Case in point: a short while back I was struggling with something simple that was slowing up my work flow.
Lots of my yarn is in skeins and needs a-winding before it’s ready to be on the needle. But no matter what I tried there was Resistance. Procrastination. Loathing, even.
But there was a solution right in front of me that was a sort of last chance situation.
I had no where else to set up the winder but on a small table off my kitchen. This area is where I do most of my knitting – there’s a large window behind the comfy old leather couch with beautiful light and air.
The only place left for the swift was a something my Dad made years ago. It’s actually a little child’s wooden chair, with a sweet little heart cut-out and an handle to tow it around. Flipped, it makes a small little stool, perfect for my swift.
And here accidentally, I found a speed bump.
I put the winder on the higher table and the swift on the stool, which is much lower than it.
ZOOM!
Skeins be gone!
Easy up; easy down!
I actually prefer the winding in a clockwise direction (seems smoother/faster somehow) but this high-low set up seems to have revoked my citizenship in the ProcrastiNation once and for all…
Well, you’re ahead of me -I still wind into a ball from the hank draped over upside-down chair legs!!! love the colour, btw!!
When I saw your set up, I decided that I’m going to try to rig something up so I can knit from the swift – no winding!
Hmmm, maybe I’ll try this with that old footstool I don’t use anymore…thanks for the tip!
Such innovation Bonne Marie! And what a special chair!
I love the little chair! I miss my Dad – he loved to make wooden things – I always wonder if he’d get a laugh out of how much and how I use this…
(not being a ‘lil kiddie) ;p
Reading about the wooden items your Dad made, got me thinking about a dear man gone too soon named George that I worked with many years ago at the phone company. I purchased several things from him that have gotten lost over the years with my many moves. He made and donated a lot of items to children and children organizations. My favorite was my name in a carasol with ribbon that I loved to twirl and watch its motion until it stopped. What a lovely creative craft. Great you have such keepsakes from your Dad.