Rain on Me

A couple of weeks ago, Cassie was talking on her blog about how she expressed an interest in learning inkle weaving, and the next thing you know the universe was dropping inkle looms in her path every time she turned around. I know how she feels. I took the tiny, tentative step of learning to spin on a drop spindle, and suddenly spinning accoutrement are raining down on me.

Dan noticed a bulletin about an estate sale last week in the Bay Area. The goods of an avid fiber artist, spinner, and weaver were being sold, and I thought that sounded intriguing, but I hate to drive, so I was vacillating about going. Then Dan's schedule changed, and he was going to have the morning free, but would need to be in the Bay Area in the afternoon so he offered to drive me to the sale, and then I would attend his administrative hearing (he was the attorney, not the defendant) in the afternoon. We got up really early and drove on over to the sale, arriving right on time. As I entered the house and saw the stacks of looms and piles of fiber, I thought it was a cautionary tale about the evils of stashing. Except I got some really, really good deals, so if you stash excessively in this life, when you are gone chances are that another fiber enthusiast will be very, very happy to have your stuff. Stash for the next generation, folks.

Here was one of the most exciting finds of the day:
This is a Patrick Green drum carder (Beverly model) in perfect condition. It even has an extra drum. It is missing the drive bands, but I have contacted Pat Green and we are working on getting replacements. I know virtually nothing about processing fleece, but hot damn, I have a drum carder. Please don't hate me. I will use it, I promise.

I also found a stack of books:
Why yes, that is the June Hiatt "Principles of Knitting" book, big as life. Dan said I whipped it off the shelf so fast he was afraid someone might get injured. There was also Alice Starmore's "Charts for Colour Knitting," among other lovely finds. Those are both books that weren't even on my Holy Grail list since I figured I would never, ever be able to afford them.

I also snagged a box of brand new hand cards, wool combs, a box of old Spin Off magazines, a box of acid dyes, and some roving. I won't tell you what I paid for all this because it would just annoy you, but I will say that I could afford it, which should tell you that I got a ridiculously good deal. The seller (the daughter of the fiber artist who died) knew perfectly well what things were worth, but I didn't even have to bargain for the goodies - I just meekly paid the price that was asked and gave the woman a big hug on the way out the door. She told me that what didn't sell would just be donated to Goodwill anyway, so she was pleased that someone who would love these things was taking them. I wandered around for the rest of the day with a stunned, deer-in-the-headlights look on my face, but the universe wasn't done showering me just yet. More tomorrow.

Comments

[ann]

A fantastic drum carder?? well, that's one thing, but June Hiatt??!!!

if I didn't love you, I'd hate you.

[Cara]

Seriously. The June Hiatt alone. I hope the woman doesn't check ebay.

Karma baby. It's all about the Karma.

[Jo]

Hi, Julia, popped over for a visit and immediately became green with envy at the sale you got to. These things are never accidental, they're meant to happen, and you were obviously earmarked as the next owner of these things. Wish we had sales like that here in Ireland!

I once passed by a secondhand store in, I think, Texas hill country, and the owner was just putting a huge carton of old knitting and crochet magazines outside at closing time. 'Take as many as you like,' he said. 'They'll only get thrown out.' I did and was slightly overweight on the luggage coming home in consequence. But aren't things you find like that even more delightful than buying new?
Jo
celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com

[Sonya]

Wow! Principles of Knitting?!? Amazing. The fates are smiling on you.

[Rob]

Wow. Oh wow. Oh wow. .... wow.

[Rhonda]

What a great story and yet sad at the same time. Happy for you tho. Wow, it was meant to be for you, you, you ... it was fate! I don't mind leaving my stash & books behind for someone like you to give them a good home. I just need to clean out the JUNK before it's too late!!

[Lynne E.]

Special congrats on the Hiatt and Starmore acquisitions. As a knitting book collector, I purchased both books at publisher's retail prices. However, I always wonder whether people who buy CHARTS FOR COLOUR KNITTING on eBay are disappointed when the costly book arrives. Do you have any plans to actually use it?

[Katia]

:-)))))))))
Oh, I a soooo happy for you.
Greetings from Switzerland, Katia

[Jessica]

Is it okay if I hate you just a little?

[Carrie K]

What? Where?!

And there's more? MORE? It's good to be you!

[Lazuli]

Wow, that looks like you had some really wonderful finds!!

[vanessa]

you must have some seriously good karma!

[Marina]

Wow, this more than makes up for the "bad luck" you've had. Can I be a bit green?

[Lavender]

Congrats on your wonderful finds! I have a Beverly as well, with all three drums and I love it! I just recently got the Triple Picker from Pat Green. They are really wonderful people.

Enjoy your haul! :)

[JC]

I am on the hunt for one of the original publications of Principles of Knitting for a friend - she is dying to have the book - as clearly so many others are. May I ask - what year was the one you found at the estate sale published and by whom? When I look the book up on the web - I only find copies from 1988. . . .

Help!

Thanks.