Remind me again how much I love cats

Okay, I was trying to be a spinning convert. Rescued a wheel residing at
my DM's for some years after being purchased from our church garage sale.

I took it to a local fiber store to find out what I needed in the way of a
"belt." Purchased the given string/twine for the "belt" and some fiber to
start to spin.

Got it all home, set it up, and tried my hand at spinning. Worked okay,
except I had two helpers (6 month old kittens!) A couple of days later I
realized the "belt" was on the floor. Picked it up, only to find out one of
the DK's had CHEWED THROUGH THE BELT. No problem, easily replaceable.

Now,.......
A couple of mornings ago I came upstairs to find a bunch of the roving
strewn all over the living room. One of the DKs had to dig in a basket,
chew a hole in the plastic bag and pull the roving out! It is now in a desk
drawer for safe keeping as I've caught her since trying to do it again.

And finally.......
In spite of the fact I have asked them repeatedly NOT TO, my DDs were
spinning the wheel when the piece of leather connecting the pedal to the bar
that spins the wheel ripped from fatigue. After much finger pointing and
tears, I convinced my oldest DD (that was actually doing the spinning
"because sister told me to") that it was better it happened while she was
spinning it than if it happened while I was actually spinning.

So.........
On Friday, one way or another, I will get another piece of leather and
another "belt." I just need to figure a way to be able to spin without any
feline intervention. I'm about to take it back to my DM's house and only
spin over there! I have no door closeable crafting room, so it is a
challenge. Any suggestions? (kittens are indoor only!)

Thank you for letting me vent. I am starting to find the whole fiasco
amusing, but just starting.

JJMolvik

Got cat porters in which you take 'em to the vet? They also work well
for time-out...

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 17:15:09 -0800, "JJMolvik"
wrote:

Okay, I was trying to be a spinning convert. Rescued a wheel residing at
my DM's for some years after being purchased from our church garage sale.

I took it to a local fiber store to find out what I needed in the way of a
"belt." Purchased the given string/twine for the "belt" and some fiber to
start to spin.

Got it all home, set it up, and tried my hand at spinning. Worked okay,
except I had two helpers (6 month old kittens!) A couple of days later I
realized the "belt" was on the floor. Picked it up, only to find out one of
the DK's had CHEWED THROUGH THE BELT. No problem, easily replaceable.

Now,.......
A couple of mornings ago I came upstairs to find a bunch of the roving
strewn all over the living room. One of the DKs had to dig in a basket,
chew a hole in the plastic bag and pull the roving out! It is now in a desk
drawer for safe keeping as I've caught her since trying to do it again.

And finally.......
In spite of the fact I have asked them repeatedly NOT TO, my DDs were
spinning the wheel when the piece of leather connecting the pedal to the bar
that spins the wheel ripped from fatigue. After much finger pointing and
tears, I convinced my oldest DD (that was actually doing the spinning
"because sister told me to") that it was better it happened while she was
spinning it than if it happened while I was actually spinning.

So.........
On Friday, one way or another, I will get another piece of leather and
another "belt." I just need to figure a way to be able to spin without any
feline intervention. I'm about to take it back to my DM's house and only
spin over there! I have no door closeable crafting room, so it is a
challenge. Any suggestions? (kittens are indoor only!)

Thank you for letting me vent. I am starting to find the whole fiasco
amusing, but just starting.

JJMolvik

the DK's had CHEWED THROUGH THE BELT. No problem, easily replaceable.
snipped
when the piece of leather connecting the pedal to the bar
that spins the wheel ripped from fatigue. After much finger pointing and

I just need to figure a way to be able to spin without any
feline intervention. I'm about to take it back to my DM's house and only
spin over there! I have no door closeable crafting room, so it is a
challenge. Any suggestions? (kittens are indoor only!)

LOL- oh dear. Funnily enough this has been a recent topic on spindlers and
there were a variety of suggestions including spraying the cord with a
pheramone spray etc. I wonder if this still would happen with the stretchy
band?

With a bit firmness you can probably train them and it might help to find some
distraction for them (like the catnip mouse pattern on wendyknits, a felted
ball, a fishing pole toy with a feather...anything).

Finally as a completely novice spinner (so i might be telling you something you
know) have you been oiling your wheel- the leather bearings, the connections,
the wheel itself. I wouldn't have thought it but the seller of my wheel said
that i should oil it with neatsfoot oil (found at horse places) regularly, as
commercial spinners would oil their wheel every hour. That will stop the
leather from getting brittle and breaking. Just my 2p.

Regards
Sarah

Can you put the kittens in another room while you spin? I know that won't
keep them out when you are not there, but it is a start. Odd, isn't it, how
they instinctively know where they are not supposed to be? And then go there
and laugh at us? g
Katherine

I don't know much at all about spinning wheels, so these suggestions may not
be feasible. How difficult is it to remove and replace "the belt"? Perhaps
put the belt in a drawer when you are not using the wheel. Or make a cover
for the wheel to keep the kitties away from it. Drape a bed sheet over it
and spray the sheet with cat-keep-away-stuff (if you can stand it---the
spray used to give my husband a headache)


"JJMolvik" wrote in message
...
Okay, I was trying to be a spinning convert. Rescued a wheel residing at
my DM's for some years after being purchased from our church garage sale.

I took it to a local fiber store to find out what I needed in the way of a
"belt." Purchased the given string/twine for the "belt" and some fiber to
start to spin.

Got it all home, set it up, and tried my hand at spinning. Worked okay,
except I had two helpers (6 month old kittens!) A couple of days later I
realized the "belt" was on the floor. Picked it up, only to find out one
of
the DK's had CHEWED THROUGH THE BELT. No problem, easily replaceable.

Now,.......
A couple of mornings ago I came upstairs to find a bunch of the roving
strewn all over the living room. One of the DKs had to dig in a basket,
chew a hole in the plastic bag and pull the roving out! It is now in a
desk
drawer for safe keeping as I've caught her since trying to do it again.

And finally.......
In spite of the fact I have asked them repeatedly NOT TO, my DDs were
spinning the wheel when the piece of leather connecting the pedal to the
bar
that spins the wheel ripped from fatigue. After much finger pointing and
tears, I convinced my oldest DD (that was actually doing the spinning
"because sister told me to") that it was better it happened while she was
spinning it than if it happened while I was actually spinning.

So.........
On Friday, one way or another, I will get another piece of leather and
another "belt." I just need to figure a way to be able to spin without
any
feline intervention. I'm about to take it back to my DM's house and only
spin over there! I have no door closeable crafting room, so it is a
challenge. Any suggestions? (kittens are indoor only!)

Thank you for letting me vent. I am starting to find the whole fiasco
amusing, but just starting.

JJMolvik

Katherine Burgess wrote in message =
...
Can you put the kittens in another room while you spin? I know that =
won't
keep them out when you are not there, but it is a start. Odd, isn't =
it, how
they instinctively know where they are not supposed to be? And then go =
there
and laugh at us? g

How about a childs play pen whilst they are still little?

Sarah
--=20

You've had some good suggestions about how to keep your kittens away from
your wheel, but I don't know about covering the wheel with a sheet. My cats
are even more inquisitive when there is something draped over something
else. They play peek-a-boo with me and each other. ;-) The pheremone
spray helps a bit. I would think that they would jump out of a playpen. Of
course, there is always the spray bottle/water gun. If you are at the wheel
and they don't let you spin, just mist them with the water and say no!
Hopefully, they'll get the idea.

Janise


"Sew-Sew Lady" wrote in message
. ..
I don't know much at all about spinning wheels, so these suggestions may
not
be feasible. How difficult is it to remove and replace "the belt"?
Perhaps
put the belt in a drawer when you are not using the wheel. Or make a
cover
for the wheel to keep the kitties away from it. Drape a bed sheet over it
and spray the sheet with cat-keep-away-stuff (if you can stand it---the
spray used to give my husband a headache)

The play pen might work if you upended it over the kittens, otherwise they
will just climb out. Or if you don't have a playpen, how about a laundry
basket upside down?

--
Star love,
Norma
"Janise Ross" wrote in message
...
You've had some good suggestions about how to keep your kittens away from
your wheel, but I don't know about covering the wheel with a sheet. My
cats
are even more inquisitive when there is something draped over something
else. They play peek-a-boo with me and each other. ;-) The pheremone
spray helps a bit. I would think that they would jump out of a playpen.
Of
course, there is always the spray bottle/water gun. If you are at the
wheel
and they don't let you spin, just mist them with the water and say no!
Hopefully, they'll get the idea.

Janise


"Sew-Sew Lady" wrote in message
. ..
I don't know much at all about spinning wheels, so these suggestions may
not
be feasible. How difficult is it to remove and replace "the belt"?
Perhaps
put the belt in a drawer when you are not using the wheel. Or make a
cover
for the wheel to keep the kitties away from it. Drape a bed sheet over
it
and spray the sheet with cat-keep-away-stuff (if you can stand it---the
spray used to give my husband a headache)

JJ,

I don't mean to laugh, but it is funny thinking of all the things kittens can
get in to. How about having your DD's play with them while they all watch you
spin?

Hugs,

Nora

How's your Dad doing?

Even thought the kittens are my DDs' kittens, the girls are as good about
trying to keep the kittens away from the things they're not supposed to be
in.

I like the idea of the upside-down laundry basket! Mostly I just wanted to
vent. I will figure a way when it becomes more important to me to be able
to spin.

As for care of the wheel, I know in theory it need to be oiled. However,
the leather was very pliable still, it just ripped due to fatigue. Easy
enough to replace all parts.

Thank you for all of your suggestions.

And Nora, DF is doing well. Too much the pacifist as always, but doing
well.

JJMolvik