Freight Trains And Fat Yarns

Last night was an odd night. I was weaving a little on the tri-loom just before bed when there was a shift in the planets equilibrium. Suddenly I felt like I was going to drop of fatigue when only moments before I had lots of energy. I put down my hook and told Hubby, who was quietly working on the computer, that I was done and heading off to bed. I headed up the steps and that's when the freight train hit.

This area of the world is subject to what is known as Chinooks. Generally Chinooks happen in winter, but every so often you get an odd one at other times of the year. It is strange, for those of us who have experienced Chinooks, to think of them as such when they come at the other times of the year because they are so rare. What a Chinook is, is a strong wind from the west that signifies a huge change in the air pressure. When they come they usually bring a huge increase in temperature that only lasts as long as the wind does. Chinook winds are a welcome relief in the winter because the temperatures can increase from -40 degrees Celsius to +10 in a matter of a half hour.... and let me tell you that when you have been having -40 for a week, going up to +10 in temperature, is a lovely change. When these air pressure changes happen the wind is so strong that it sounds like a freight train is driving down the valley and is hitting the top of your house and peeling off your roof in an effort to take it along as it merrily goes on it way. It is quite scary and you really do wonder if the roof will lift off. It only lasts for a short time, about a half hour or so, before it dies down to a steady wind at about fifty or sixty mph. Still a strong wind but substantially less terrifying.

The Chinook wind of last night was odd since it is not winter and the temperatures have been absolutely balmy. That's why I know there was a shift in the planet's equilibrium. One good thing that came as the outcome of last night's Chinook, we now know that the roof, which was only attached in the spring, will stay in place in a big wind which pleases me no end.

All night I listened to the wind as I kept my window open a crack and listened to the leaves rustling. It meant for an uneasy sleep. I'm tired today and have decided to blow off exercise class as I would not be very energetic anyway. I may go for a walk in the forest later if I can handle the thought of a tree possibly falling over on me!

I have decided to work on the closet in my bedroom today, in and effort to try to get our room to the point where we can hang up more of the clothes that spills from boxes everywhere. The wind is still blowing this morning and Hubby says he heard a tree crack off late last night. It doesn't surprise me that we have lost a tree after such a wind. I'm amazed that we didn't blow away. But it means that it is a good day to work inside. And so onward to my closet is the name of the game.

The other thing of note is the fat yarns I have been working on lately.
I have finished three.... yes three.... different fibres that have been kicking around for the last few months. The first fibre that I tried to spin as a fat yarn was pencil rovings from Louet that I spun as a single and then plied with a gold thread. It turned out better than expected.

The next fibre I spun was Alpaca pencil rovings that I again spun as a single and plied with a variegated silver/turquoise thread.
It is soft and lovely but I liked the other one better. Yesterday I spun some Polwarth rovings in a variegated colourway this time I plied it on itself and am very happy with the results.

Once you have been spinning a while it is really hard to spin thick since your spinning technique becomes so refined that spinning takes on a life of thin, thin, thin. I was so happy this summer when my instructor for the level 3 taught us an easy method for spinning a consistently fat yarn.

One of the reasons for wanting to spin a fat yarn is because the tri loom takes fairly thick yarn for weaving. My first attempts would be considered a worsted weight and yes it is much too fine for the loom. There will be a great deal of shrinkage when it comes off the loom, I'm thinking. But that is ok as I will weave two triangles and put them together into a lap blanket. It really needs the equivalent of a chunky weight yarn. My next attempt on the tri-loom will be a shawl with a much thicker and puffier yarn in the variegated Polwarth. It should be lovely. It is simply fun to do these projects.

Yesterday was my day for working on the commission but that didn't happen as I spent most of the morning looking for the fibre that I needed. Then I spent the afternoon washing a bunch of it as the stuff I already washed back a while ago is not near enough. Today it is drying out side in the wind and sunshine. I think that this scheduling thing is going to work though as I am seeing progress in most of my projects..... lets just hope that no more freight trains come through my house and keep me awake all night long. I'm much more productive when I've had a good sleep.

After two days of following my schedule I'm not sure I can say it is a success. I didn't get much done on Tuesday on the level 3 homework and on Wednesday I didn't get much done on my commission. Both days I got distracted by problems or other projects. (Go Figure!) This is not an auspicious beginning. I guess I will see how today goes.

Closet here I come.