POP! Goes the Weasel!!

Every spinner has their supply of favorite equipment!  As a spinner, we keep our craft going  just with the purchases of handy dandy “stuff” that we feel is required to make a beautiful yarn!  One of those so called necessaries essential for my spinning is a weasel! 

 The tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel" likely originated in the 1700s as part of an English country dance, with the earliest surviving sheet music from that era. 

This is my “weasel” or skein winder.  A dear friend built this and it reminds me of him every time I use it. 

It is two yards around the spokes.  You can count the yardage by using this method.  When it makes a round, the weasel makes a popping sound!  

It’s not necessary to have this piece of equipment in your spinning accommodations, does come in handy.  You could use a hand held skein winder. 

The lyrics themselves appeared later, around 1854, and are thought to have emerged from street musicians who frequently played the tune. The phrase "pop goes the weasel" may have its roots in spinning yarn, where a "weasel" was a device that would "pop" when a certain amount of yarn was detailed breakdown:

• Here’s some info:

  The Melody:

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  The tune is a variation of "The Haymakers," which dates back to the 1700s and was included in a Scottish dance music repository. 
Early Sheet Music:
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In the early 1850s, sheet music for "Pop Goes the Weasel for Fun and Frolic" was published by Miller and Beacham of Baltimore, marking the oldest known evidence of the tune being associated with that title. 
Dance Popularity:
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By the mid-19th century, "Pop Goes the Weasel" was a popular social dance in England, even making its way into theaters and dance halls. 
Lyrics Emergence:
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The lyrics likely emerged later, possibly from street musicians who played the tune and added their own verses. 
Possible Yarn Connection:
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Some theories suggest the phrase "pop goes the weasel" might relate to a spinning device called a "weasel," which would make a popping sound when a specific amount of yarn was spun. 
Darker Interpretations:
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Some analyses suggest the lyrics might allude to themes of poverty, pawnbroking, and even the Eagle Tavern in London's City Road, according to a BBC article. 
And now, we’re off to learn how tales of old, play a big part in our lives!

It's That Time Again!

 Yelp!  It came quickly; or so it seems!  There it was--right in front of my face--Tour de Fleece! beginning July 5-- Someone posted, teams were being formed, instructions given—oil those wheels, prepare your fibers, join a team or not, create a challenge for yourself; think of any obstacles that you might face as you begin this journey of spinning your way into history!

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I have my handy dandy little traveling bag for fiber and of course, my lovable spindle included.  I opened the bag (as if I hadn't seen inside for months), there was the silky smooth luxury fiber that was spun some time ago--balled straight from the shaft.

The lovely colors of the silk fiber doesn't come through with a camera lenses--

you can barely seen my adorable spindle.  I must have 100 spindles (I kid you not) but this one is my favorite!

trust me, this is a bright color

Here is my handy dandy bag that contains two hanks of bombyx hand dyed silk--no, I didn't dye it.  

We did dye silk roving many moons ago--but that story is for another time==back to the bag--I received from my not so loved sister-in-law.  I thought to myself, what am I going to do with this!!

wonders never seem to amaze me--my brain kicked in and low and behold--a solution to carry my precious spindle and silk fibers.

And if you are working with silk, be sure include hand lotion--you think your hands are smooth as 'silk'--ha ha--those little rough nicks of skin catch in silk!

And here we are again!

 We've been on the road--traveling to visit with second daughter in Colorado.  How nice to see her and enjoy some cool weather..  Afraid we ate all the wrong foods, enjoyed rich comfortable leisure---making it double hard to come back to 'normal' life.  Since we did a road trip by car, we could stop along the way to see unusual sights--there is a road that bends when you reach New Mexico and from that bend in the road you see the whole Colorado front range--what a sight!  Snow capped mountains!  Cue the music--Ah, Rocky Mountain High!

Now, here we are--trying to settle back into a routine. not fun!  I want to continue in vacation mode; alas, there is unpacking to do, laundry, check out the mail, friends calling (that's nice, they missed us!) 

Visiting our Daughter's house, renews my mind of the quilts she treasures as they adorn the walls.

I forget about the ones that were gifted; always happy my handwork is enjoyed.

At Christmas time, when the family has gathered, I lay out the quilts made in the past year or two and offer them to whom ever wants to give them a home.  

This quilt was made through 'The Quilt Show"--remember that it was a monster to tackle, but so worth the challenge; especially when I see it displayed in her foyer!

In her guest bath she has my hand spun, handwoven hand towels--made from natural cottons.

I love drying my hands with this luxury!

Gives me pleasure to see and touch them!

As I sit in a hotel room, I work on my hat knitting--couldn't find the stitch marker but did see this piece of plastic; worked great for a marker.  Finished the hat too!  

Playing Catch-up!

 After I found the quilt patterns and fabric cut for BH ( Bonnie Hunter) quilt, I set to work to tackle one. 

This one is 2018!  Good Fortune from her China trip!

Since I’m behind doing these blocks, I’ll use BH 18 as leader-Enders. 

Block 4-5 are to be Christmas fabrics and Block 15 is using my hand dyed fabrics—here we go—trying to play catch up!!

One down!  I wasn’t too sure my choice of color placement would work—looks ok to me though

Sew With Me is my Christmas quilt—

Another Christmas block

One of 25 blocks used in BH’s 2018 mystery quilt 

Block #2 is here —excited to

Combine them for the quilt top! 

In the garden

 Yes, in the garden—grandmother’s flower garden—a lovely quilt technique loved by many!  My hands have tried these hexagons on several occasions.  It is definitely a long term, slow process but well worth while if completed.  once again, my interest was peaked while watching PBS Masterpiece show, Miss Austin.  A brief glance of one bed laid a beautiful Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt.  Is it possible this pattern dated to 1700? 

Research?  Definitely!  

"The "Grandmother's Flower Garden" quilt, featuring a floral motif made of hexagons, has a history dating back to the late 18th century in England, where the hexagon template and English paper piecing technique were popular. It gained further recognition in America in the 1930s, particularly during the Great Depression, when it became a symbol of frugal creativity and cheer."

Here is an example of Grandmother's flower garden from this website.  I would assume those who were producing Miss Austen series would want to be correct in their clothing and furnishings throughout the 1800's house.  

There are several sites that bring you to various ways to create your own Flower Garden and then you can call it "your name" flower garden.  I know my grandmother Never made a 
Grandmother's Flower Garden; in fact, she didn't even quilt!!

Here’s a guide to assist you on planting your flower garden!

Love this block—good way to build a quilt!

I'm loving these little bursts of flowers that I'm sewing together--maybe, some day these groups of flowers will become a full fledge garden to spread on my bed.

Grow your own garden--check out this site. or this one

History is still alive with our handwork!  sew on!

Studio Clear out!

 It's amazing what you find when you clean up the studio. There are fabric pieces everywhere--after all I'm in the process cutting sections for three different challenges, which I use as leader- ender  

• Lisa Bongean has a slow sewing project -- tiny little half squares that measure 1.5"  but not for me, I made them 3". 
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  Good use of scraps

So, when I clean off my cutting table I see a clear plastic box--well, what do we have here?  Out of sight, out of mind is the saying for not paying attention to the things around you.  Open the box to find

Not One

Not Two

but THREE Bonnie Hunter mysteries begun--all packaged up, some elements already cut and sewn together.  

Now, the goal is to work up these three projects before fall rolls around and another BH mystery will be revealed.

I say, I should clean my studio more often!!

Better Get To It

 Back to the loom please!  Can’t keep leaving the loom as a “catch” all!!  I know it’s convenient to just throw Stuff on the bench or the warp.  Gee whiz, after awhile you forget about it!  So determined to sit my fanny down to throw the shuttle.  Besides, I have bobbins of hand spun cotton ready to be warped for hand towels. 

Green cotton, brown cotton; singles on cone ready to ply with singles on bobbin

Few colored cottons intermingled with white, brown, red cotton—these will be a great warp but, first that red warp needs to be finished. Get to it Girl!!  

Pep talk over—here we go………..put on a book, plug in the ear pods and weave!!

What book are we listening to?  

Historical but fiction

Warp is perfect—no missing heddles, no crossed threads—ready to get moving on this warp

Thinking of blue weft—NOT!  Love the red crossing the warp!  Red it will be!!