Suzy Beggin, Shepherdess

                                                                                                                                            Suzy@SuzyBeggin.com

 

 

 

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Balls of Yarn
Isn't Wool Scratchy?
Simon the Llama
Fred the Lamb
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Other Fun Links:

 

1858 Historic Ball

A historic dance in celebration of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debate to take place on August 30, 2008.

 

Suzy's Doozies & Suzy's Musings

My book and weekly articles.

 

Galena Historic Dance Society

A fun group to practice and learn 19th century dance.  We meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the ARC in Galena.  All are welcome!

 

Stephenson County Fiber Art Fair

A marvelous celebration of fiber.

Text Box: Yarn Balls: How Do I Use my Wool

Text Box: My wool is sold in traditional skeins.  You can unwind the skein using a skein winder, the back of a straight-back chair, or the arms of a good friend.  If you have a wool winder, winding the yarn into a center-pull ball makes it very easy to use.  But a traditional round ball is, well, more traditional.    The wool winder used to create center pull balls was invented about twenty years ago, while wool yarn has been rolled into round balls by hand for centuries.  If you are going to use your yarn at a historic site, museum, or historical reenactment, your impression will be more authentic with traditional round balls in your basket.      "Worsteds (yarn) in use should be neatly wound in small balls, about the size of an orange.  In knitting, keep the ball in the pocket, or in a bag hung to the arm, or a basket, and do not allow it to roll on the table or floor, to get dusted."      The Workwoman's Guide, by A Lady, 1838. Hand-winding your skein into round balls at an event is a very authentic activity.  If your site or event includes children, this is an especially good and authentic activity for them.  If your site invites the public to participate in hands-on activities, you could even entice the public to help in the tedious chore in the same way that Tom Sawyer convinced his friends to paint the white picket fence!