This is my second version of a flight-mode drop spindle and it was a great success. The makings are simple: a bamboo chopstick and a small plastic wheel. My friend R put it together for me. Not only did it keep me happily occupied for most of the flight, it gave me the opportunity for some friendly conversation with my neighbour--an embroiderer and knitter--and the various staff members who stopped to ask questions. Now I'm staying with friends, in the thick of wedding preparations. It appears that there will be no shortage of textile tasks to keep me occupied here. I'll keep you posted.
Showing posts with label airport security. Show all posts
Showing posts with label airport security. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Flight Mode
I had a two hour flight yesterday evening. As the flight attendant went through the usual speil about turning off electronic devices etc, etc, etc, I smiled to myself. Then I pulled out my personal in-flight entertainment:This is my second version of a flight-mode drop spindle and it was a great success. The makings are simple: a bamboo chopstick and a small plastic wheel. My friend R put it together for me. Not only did it keep me happily occupied for most of the flight, it gave me the opportunity for some friendly conversation with my neighbour--an embroiderer and knitter--and the various staff members who stopped to ask questions. Now I'm staying with friends, in the thick of wedding preparations. It appears that there will be no shortage of textile tasks to keep me occupied here. I'll keep you posted.
This is my second version of a flight-mode drop spindle and it was a great success. The makings are simple: a bamboo chopstick and a small plastic wheel. My friend R put it together for me. Not only did it keep me happily occupied for most of the flight, it gave me the opportunity for some friendly conversation with my neighbour--an embroiderer and knitter--and the various staff members who stopped to ask questions. Now I'm staying with friends, in the thick of wedding preparations. It appears that there will be no shortage of textile tasks to keep me occupied here. I'll keep you posted.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sharp Spindle
Here's the photo I couldn't upload this morning--I just found another slot for my camera card on the main computer box. My USB slots are still waiting for their handsome prince, or my call to the relevant help desk, whichever comes first:)
Now there's something I wouldn't try to get past Airport Security!
Now there's something I wouldn't try to get past Airport Security!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
This One Can Really Fly
Here's another drop spindle from Rob. I think I've started something!
He took my suggestion of using a chopstick as a spindle and he's turned the whorl out of some plastic. The exciting thing is that he's shaped a beautiful little hook out of the bamboo itself, so it should be airline friendly. He brought it along for refinement. We moved the position of the whorl down a little, opened up the hook a little more and added a groove on the whorl to hold the yarn in position. It's a surprisingly sweet little spindle to use: very light and it does want to keep spinning--which after all is the essential thing. It's a much truer spindle than my original "flying spindle" made from a button. Watch this space for more exciting instalments.
He took my suggestion of using a chopstick as a spindle and he's turned the whorl out of some plastic. The exciting thing is that he's shaped a beautiful little hook out of the bamboo itself, so it should be airline friendly. He brought it along for refinement. We moved the position of the whorl down a little, opened up the hook a little more and added a groove on the whorl to hold the yarn in position. It's a surprisingly sweet little spindle to use: very light and it does want to keep spinning--which after all is the essential thing. It's a much truer spindle than my original "flying spindle" made from a button. Watch this space for more exciting instalments.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Flight Report
Here's the fibre I bought to accompany me on my trip. Wool-silk (50/50) hand-dyed in brown-purple. This half is more brown and the other half is more purple, but all of it is gorgeous:
I chose this fibre because I figure a little bit of it will go a long way in terms of effect. I can see lots of positive attributes in my tiniest safest spindle of all, but efficiency of production is not one of them!
Here's a pic of the fibre with the little Pax Spindle. I've put a 50 cent piece next to the spindle whorl to give an idea of size--that's an Australian 50 cent piece:
The flight was fine--delays, turbulence . . . who cares! I had my fibre and spindle with me. I wore the little spindle as a shawl pin onto the plane to circumvent any concerns with the XRay machine. Then I found I was sitting next to a member of the airline staff in the plane--on her way home after a day's work. After a moment's hesitation I just went ahead and started spinning. It's more of a hand-spindle than a drop spindle, but it works fine. The first comment I got from my neighbour was, "that's a smart way to get around it!". No-one seemed at all concerned and I'll happily do it again on my next flight.
I chose this fibre because I figure a little bit of it will go a long way in terms of effect. I can see lots of positive attributes in my tiniest safest spindle of all, but efficiency of production is not one of them!Here's a pic of the fibre with the little Pax Spindle. I've put a 50 cent piece next to the spindle whorl to give an idea of size--that's an Australian 50 cent piece:
The flight was fine--delays, turbulence . . . who cares! I had my fibre and spindle with me. I wore the little spindle as a shawl pin onto the plane to circumvent any concerns with the XRay machine. Then I found I was sitting next to a member of the airline staff in the plane--on her way home after a day's work. After a moment's hesitation I just went ahead and started spinning. It's more of a hand-spindle than a drop spindle, but it works fine. The first comment I got from my neighbour was, "that's a smart way to get around it!". No-one seemed at all concerned and I'll happily do it again on my next flight.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Airport Security Pax
I'm making a flying visit to Queensland this weekend. I can't leave until after Weaving class tomorrow evening, and I need to be back in Melbourne early next week. It feels almost as though I'll be spending more time at the airport than with my friends!
I don't much like airports. And being forced to sit without doing any craft work feels like a significant imposition on my personal freedom. Of course, declaring any form of opposition to such security is the last thing I want to do--that's a recipe for trouble. On this trip, though, I will be happy to offer the hand of peace to any airport official, because now I have the tiniest safest drop spindle:
Here's my recipe for Airport Security Pax:
I don't much like airports. And being forced to sit without doing any craft work feels like a significant imposition on my personal freedom. Of course, declaring any form of opposition to such security is the last thing I want to do--that's a recipe for trouble. On this trip, though, I will be happy to offer the hand of peace to any airport official, because now I have the tiniest safest drop spindle:
Here's my recipe for Airport Security Pax:- Take one large coconut shell button and a small "chopstick" closure from the accessories department at my favourite knitting store (it's about half the size of a real chopstick)
- Carefully shape the two with a stanley knife until they fit together.
- Add a dab of glue
- Carve a notch in the side of the button.
- Shape a hook in the top of the chopstick
- Allow to settle and adjust as necessary until you develop a suitable balance
- Add a small amount of suitable fibre, sufficient for the length of your trip.
Enjoy in any airport lounge, plane or other secure location!
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