This winter I’m working on getting rid of items that I’ve stuffed into closets and haven’t looked at in years. I've started going through all the of wool, yarn, fabric, knitting needles, and patterns to figure out which tools and materials I need to finish a smaller list of projects. I’ll sell or donate whatever I can’t use. I don’t like accumulating stuff, so I can be pretty ruthless when it comes to getting rid of it. Usually.
Join me below the over-spun strand of orange wool to read about the dissolve of my resolve.
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This year I decided it was time to sell the Ashford Traveller spinning wheel I bought shortly after I learned to spin and which I haven’t used in years. I’m a pretty decent spinner and used to spend hours at my wheel, but the last few times I sat down to spin, I became a tangled ball of frustration. Either I couldn’t get the tension right, or I hadn't prepared the fleece correctly, or I’d simply lost my touch because I wasn't spending the time with the craft that I used to. Spinning was definitely not having the same effect on me that it once had. I blamed the wheel and gave up, thinking maybe I would sell it and use the cash to buy a better one, or maybe just use the cash. I was feeling done with spinning, and the wheel was doing nothing but taking up valuable space.
The wheel in question. The books behind it are useful. Books are always useful.
The holiday season is a good time to put items up on Craigslist, so I got the wheel out of the cold closet where it has been hidden away and brought it in by the fire to warm the wood and the oil that lubricates the moving parts. That was the first step. The second and final step was going to be cleaning it up, but I discovered the belt on the wheel, a piece of nylon cord, had broken where I melted the ends together to form a continuous loop. The tension spring was so stretched out that it was no longer doing its job, either. The wheel sat in the living room (in the way and annoying me) for over a week until I had time to go find replacement parts.
There's a Lowe's not far from here that's quick and easy to get to, and a locally owned Ace Hardware further away and not as convenient. I opted for Ace, mostly because I know it has one aisle full of drawers of screws, nuts, bolts, hinges, and springs in every shape and size. No need to spend more money than necessary on packages with more parts than I was going to need. Once there, I was immediately reminded of why I like this Ace so much. The staff is more knowledgeable, and the store is smaller and easier to find your way around in than a Lowe's or a Home Depot, where I tend to get lost and struggle to find help. With a $3 ball of cotton twine and a $1.29 spring in hand, I headed home feeling confident that I would make back my investment.
First, I cleaned and dusted the wood thoroughly, then re-oiled the moving parts, replaced the belt, this time tying a small knot in the cotton string instead of melting plastic ends together, and put the new spring in place. It was time to get out some fleece and go for a test drive.
The tension spring: a sturdy little, locally-sourced, $1.29 piece of hardware
After a few minor adjustments to the tension, which was now much more responsive, the wheel began to spin smoothly. The nylon cord had a tendency to slip on the wood; the new cotton belt has more grip and worked beautifully. I’ve never been happy with the finish on the wheel, but looking at it this time, the dark honey color of the wood warmed me—it isn’t perfect, but the flaws seemed less noticeable. The muscles in my hand remembered what to do, pulling out the fleece and feeding it into the wheel's orifice to form a long strand that wrapped itself around the bobbin. I soon hit my stride and established a rhythm to my spinning The rain was falling steadily outside, the fire was going in the stove, and the cat was asleep in the chair next to me—I lost track of time.
I had found hygge.
Hygge, pronounced sort of like HYU-gah, is one of my favorite new words. According to the article where I first discovered it, this Danish word "has no direct analogue in English, and related words like "coziness," "togetherness" and "well-being" only cover a fraction of its nebulous definition." It's a concept that has more to do with a feeling and a frame of mind than things, though surrounding yourself with items of comfort (candles, home cooked food, warm blankets) can help with hygge, as does simply slowing down to appreciate what's really matters.
I'm on the go a lot these days. My house could use a revolving door. And I find myself turning to the computer to keep myself busy instead of creating things with my hands (my kids recently noted the same about themselves). It's not a way of being or a pace that I'm especially happy with, and I think the cozy feeling that I cherish in my home in the winter months suffers, too.
Taking the time to put my spinning wheel back in working order, deciding to go a little bit out of my way to shop at a smaller, locally-owned store, and rediscovering that meditative state that comes with spinning (when the fire is going and the cat is sleeping nearby) have all contributed to my well-being and reminded me of what I really value.
The money I might make on the Traveller for won’t pay for a better wheel; I’d have to save up to pay for the difference. Managing a Craigslist sale can sometimes be a time-sucking hassle that may or may not lead to a successful or satisfying transaction. Maybe I'll continue to spin on the wheel that I have and sell it later. Besides, the wheel looks like it belongs in the living room near the fire where it can make a healthy contribution to hygge in my home.
My cat totally gets hygge
May you find your own form of hygge this winter.
Your turn: What are you working on?
P.S -- If you know Danish and/or more about hygge, please do add to my knowledge in the comments.