So what's a swift, Harper?

[kniteracy]

Lots of people have asked this question after reading about my Saturday.

I admit, the sheep tape measure distracted me for a minute; it was on the web page where sdorn went to make sure he knew what a swift was after reading that entry. I had actually gone to that page to see if I could get a good picture of a swift to show you when the sheep used their mind control on me and made me post their picture in this journal.

So, just for informational purposes, here is the URL where you can find a picture of what appears to be exactly the swift I found on Saturday. It's at yarnforward.com, which seems to have an impressive selection of fun stuff. Scroll down from the sheepies to see a photograph of the swift.

Comments

[jhayman.livejournal.com]

Heck, when I had that question I just did a web search... and found the identical item. You still may need to explain what it's used for. I have (un)fond memories of winding balls of yarn.

[telynor.livejournal.com]

Yarn that comes in hanks (long twisty hanging type bundles) rather than skeins (wound-up bundles) can be fitted around the swift, which expands or contracts depending on the size of the hank, the way your mom or grandmother used to have you hold it in your hands. The expandable part of the swift turns easily, so once you find the yarn-end, winding yarn into balls or skeins either by hand or with the help of a ball winder is a breeze.

I will mention that when Joe heard I'd gotten the swift, his response was actually disappointment, because he likes helping me wind yarn. I promised him we could still wind it together sometimes.

swift & ballwinder

[msminlr.livejournal.com]

yup; my mom had one each of those too. She did afghans; some knitted / some crocheted. She would ALSO have had one of the sheep tape measures if they'd come out in the catalog while she was alive. She had that kind of sense of humor. (So now you know where _I_ come by it!)