Every time I pull a new skein of wheel spun off my niddy noddy, I'm inspired anew to crack open my stash of roving and see how the next fiber will work up. This time, I pulled out my supply of Red Maple Merino, one of the Almost Solid Series fibers that Amy offers. It took me a few yards before I really started to get the feel for the merino. It's a more challenging fiber for me to control than some of the others I've spun lately, but I think the practice paid off. This stuff is sproingy, soft and airy. I'm spinning it a little thick and not too tightly (I hope) in an attempt to maintain it's great innate qualities.
During my lunch break, I often eat a quick bite before sitting down to spin a bit. Monday was no exception. As I did so, Spongebob playing on the tube and Panda sitting beside me (try to top THAT for a lunch break), Leo stopped and watched me for a moment. I look up and our eyes meet. He smiles and says "Can I try?"
Well, short of offering to do all the housework forever onward, there are few things he could have said that would have filled me with more joy. So hurtling over pre-drafted yarn, a sleeping pup, and nearly crashing into the coffee table in my excitement, I ushered him over to El Matchador. We practiced starting up and maintaining the speed of the wheel with the treadle and then I reattached the unspun fiber to the yarn on the bobbin and held his hands while we drafted together. After a bit, I left him to try it on his own, offering advice when he asked.
Let’s be honest, though, I am probably not the person to be teaching anyone to wheel spin right now. After a few minutes, Leo gave up in frustration. I removed his yarn from the bobbin and piled it carefully next to El Matchador and started back to my own spinning.
Later, he picks the small pile of yarn up off the table and begins to straighten it out and untwisting it. "How will you salvage this?" He asks innocently.
"I don't plan to salvage it, I love it," I say as I snatch it from his hands before the fibers are completely set loose. "It's sentimental now."
He smiles and walks off and I go into the kitchen to do the dishes. And then he realizes the implications of what I've said. From behind me, I hear "You're going to BLOG about this aren't you?"
I don't meet his gaze.
"I won't if you don't want me to."
Silence
He kisses my neck, gives me a little hug and says, “go ahead.”
He's a keeper.
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Comments (26)
Awwww....that's precious hand spun. You should frame it :-)
Posted by Kathy | September 25, 2006 9:37 AM
Posted on September 25, 2006 09:37
You two are so great together (& Panda makes three!)
Posted by Delica | September 23, 2006 7:56 PM
Posted on September 23, 2006 19:56
It was great meeting you last night at guild. It looks like I'm going to be at Flock & Fiber on Sunday instead of Saturday. Chrissy signed us up to work the knitting guild booth in the morning and I can't get The Hubby to agree to both days--go figure! *grin* If you see any great spindles, let me know so I can be on the lookout! :)
--Amanda
Posted by Amanda | September 22, 2006 3:34 PM
Posted on September 22, 2006 15:34
We loves Leo. :-)
Posted by Laurie | September 22, 2006 11:26 AM
Posted on September 22, 2006 11:26
Awwww. Now THAT'S spinning a love story.
Posted by Carol | September 21, 2006 6:08 PM
Posted on September 21, 2006 18:08
He is a keeper:) That is a very sweet story.
Posted by beth | September 21, 2006 3:08 PM
Posted on September 21, 2006 15:08
Simply put:
Leo Rocks.
;)
Posted by Nikki | September 21, 2006 11:49 AM
Posted on September 21, 2006 11:49
ah, true love. so sweet. i can see how a guy might like to spin what with the mechanics of a wheel and all. i was pretty excited when johnny came to a knitting class and worked very hard at making a hat. he did it for me and it meant a lot. though, he never knit again.
Posted by kat | September 21, 2006 10:45 AM
Posted on September 21, 2006 10:45
Awww, I'm glad you and he shared with us. Feelin' the love :)
Posted by Estellika | September 21, 2006 9:55 AM
Posted on September 21, 2006 09:55
What a great guy... That is such a great story.
Posted by kitty kitty | September 21, 2006 8:26 AM
Posted on September 21, 2006 08:26
OH MY!! A keeper indeed!! Absolutely gorgeous purple love!!
Posted by Esther | September 21, 2006 8:26 AM
Posted on September 21, 2006 08:26
First, I had a very similar experience when I walked into my living room and B was holding some knitting needles and yarn and said - so how exactly do I do this? I went sprinting to the couch, tripping over the doggie on the way. Still makes me smile to thing about it.
Second, I LOVE the title of your post - its namesake is one of the best songs in the world.
Posted by Disentangled | September 21, 2006 7:08 AM
Posted on September 21, 2006 07:08
What a great story - you two are so dang cute.
I'm pretty sure Leo's spinning is 100x better than anything I could do - good job, Leo!
Posted by jessica~ | September 21, 2006 5:38 AM
Posted on September 21, 2006 05:38
You two make me jealous. :p
Posted by Hooney | September 20, 2006 11:03 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 23:03
I like spinning merino. Today I spun up 4 ounces of BFL and that was great. It's almost silky feeling while spinning, and then the resultant yarn was soft and floofy. Tomorrow I play with beads...Will you be at Flock and Fiber this weekend? Looks like I'll be there on Saturday.
Posted by TheBon | September 20, 2006 10:00 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 22:00
Oh honey... long years ago, my First True Love wanted to learn to crochet a little. He made a tiny little piece and ran out of interest.
30+ years later, that little bit of crochet still sits in a music box he gave me. I don't keep many memory items, but I kept those. :)
Posted by Janice in GA | September 20, 2006 7:00 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 19:00
:)
Such prettiness.
I think I've got to get myself a wheel.
Tadpole is slowly getting bigger. She'll fit into that cutie sweater one of these days!
Posted by kate | September 20, 2006 6:52 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 18:52
What a great story. He's definately a keeper!
Posted by shell | September 20, 2006 6:27 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 18:27
I LOVE it! And I really love that he asked to try it. What a guy. :)
Posted by Amanda | September 20, 2006 6:00 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 18:00
he made a little tiny monster yarn!!!
Posted by maryse | September 20, 2006 5:59 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 17:59
awe!!!! thats soo sweet
Posted by pixie | September 20, 2006 5:23 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 17:23
Yeah he is!
You're no slouch either. You tried to teach him to spin, and you let him use purple roving to practice with! Now that's love.
Posted by Leah | September 20, 2006 4:58 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 16:58
I've been waiting to see Leospun all day. It looks suspiciously like the first Juliaspun did, so there's hope yet! It will be a cold day in hell before Moxie spins, and even if he did I think he'd do it secretly. He wouldn't want to give me the satisfaction of knowing that he was interested!
By the way, that is a big bobbin you have there. No wonder he's called Matchless!
Posted by Julia | September 20, 2006 4:55 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 16:55
HA! So cute. I love it!!
Posted by Nonnahs | September 20, 2006 4:27 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 16:27
Wow- he is a keeper! He tried the spinning wheel AND let you blog it? Leo rocks!!!
Posted by Mary-Heather | September 20, 2006 4:12 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 16:12
That is the BEST story!! I feel warm and fuzzy just reading it!
Posted by Kitty | September 20, 2006 3:54 PM
Posted on September 20, 2006 15:54