Spin me!

Today I was a chaperone for a "field trip" for Kit's class to the local Hysterical Society (sorry, I mean HISTORICAL society).

I found it thoroughly enjoyable. It's a little old house that's been there since 1736. I learnt heaps about how the people lived back then. I particularly enjoyed the kitchen with the enormous fireplace.

And there were the most equisit textiles upstairs...quilts and some weaving on a loom and a 4 poster bed with a pelmet and curtains embroidered like this one to the left. I had been asked to take some photos of the kids, but I would have been quite happy to just take them of the fabrics. I snuck this one in when I was the last out of the room.

After our tour, our little group went down stairs and the kids got to card some fleece and have a go at spinning. I was helping the kids heaps and ended up giving a tutorial as the woman instructor is not actually a spinner. They asked me if I'd like to come and help out...they have my phone number and will give me a call when they do their scheduling after the summer. Wouldn't that be a fun little gig?

As you can see, Kit's getting to the stage where he's happy to try and ditch the sling. He couldn't really do this...but some how he managed to spin a bit on his own and was asking if I'd show him how to do it at home.

They also had a go at making a linen thread from flax...or at least preparing it. This was all new to me and I was dying to have a go myself!!!! I'd love to try and spin it. The weaving on the loom upstairs was linen and it was so fine.

It was really nice to be admired for a skill I have as I'm sure half the time most people think I'm quite eccentric. Kit's teacher was even talking about me coming into the class to teach them knitting (she wants to learn too).