Finally!

Yep. You’re seeing what you think you’re seeing.

The new drivewheel is ON the wheel, and the old one is resting, saying its farewells, poor thing.

Really, it’s kind of sad . . . especially since it’s been working very hard lately. I mean, honestly. Believe it or not, ever since the new wheel arrived, the one that was ON the Little Gem has been behaving perfectly.  You know, like it was hoping that I would decide to keep it after all.

Sneaky, huh? Just a couple weeks ago, I literally could not spin for more than a minute or two without the driveband slipping off. And then, the replacement shows up and she starts behaving. Suspicious. Very suspicious.

I haven’t actually SPUN on this new “wheel” yet. After the tension of trying to fit the new wrench (bought on my way home from work) and doing the actual exchange, I really wasn’t up to sitting at a bobbin of laceweight cashmere/silk, you know? I’ll test it later, after it’s had a chance to settle in, or whatever new drivewheels DO.

It sure is pretty, though. I love how the wood grain is almost perfectly symmetrical.

And the wrench? I stopped at the local hardware store on my way home . . . which, really, I should have done in the first place. Not only did the one I buy cost me half of what the one I bought online cost, but there was no shipping. Shipping which, in fact, cost just about the same as the wrench did . . . and which is non-refundable . . . and I’m responsible for paying for sending it back. I admit, I sent a rather snippy email back to them saying, “Well, thanks. How very lovely that I get to pay $15 or so for the privilege of purchasing something from your company that was completely unusable. I’m touched, really. I’ll be telling all my friends. Let me know when youv’e got that return authorization number. I can’t tell you how eager I am to get this expensive transaction over with.”

Do you think that was too harsh? I mean, by my usual, civil standards, that was a little obnoxious, but it’s not like I just decided I didn’t want it. I couldn’t use it for the purpose for which I bought it. I mean, really…

My other purchase of the day? A do-it-myself Lazy Kate for when I do finish those (hopefully) laceweight singles. The Rag Shop is going out of business, and I figured this made a good time to go buy some straight knitting needles. That, and a basket. (And, some tiny, little terracotta pots perfect for baby African Violets, just for good measure.) Because, well, everything was at least 40% off.

And, I’ve got to tell you, that store was hopping! I dashed in at my lunch hour and it took me longer to get through the checkout line than it did to browse almost every aisle in the store. Interestingly, their stock of knitting needles was pretty untouched, but the wall of (cheapish) yarn? Practically completely wiped out. This basket might not be exactly what I was looking for, but for $4, it was worth taking the chance.

Heck, I still paid less on the needles, the basket, and those terra-cotta pots put together than I’m going to end up spending on postage for a wrench I couldn’t even use . . .

Have a good weekend, everyone. I hope everyone enjoys Chappy’s lucky birthday tomorrow!

And for heavens’ sake, stay cool. And dry. But not too dry….

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning // 6 Comments »