Today is day one of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge. I’m diving in, because it’s at this time every year that I find myself without clothes for the kids. They sprout up all summer long, but I don’t really notice because they’re in shorts. Then, the dreaded fall weather arrives, and suddenly we have wrists and ankles poking out from clothes everywhere.

B, in particular, is a skinny kid. Every once in a while we’ll find a slim fit pair of pants to fit him, but it’s not too common. So, I’m going to find out how far I can get on a pair of pants for him this week. The challenge stipulates working an hour a day, but I imagine I’ll end up doing a bit more than that just to get somewhere.

Of course, I made it a bit more challenging for myself by making this the first pair of pants I’ve ever made with a yoke in the back. And pockets. And a zipper. Oh, and I’m making it my first pattern from Ottobre, too. Yes, I might be in a bit over my head, but I’m sure to learn something along the way.

Day 1:

• Got B’s new measurements (he’s 10, so it seems like they change hourly.) Checked them against the Ottobre slim fit pattern measurements, and they are the closest fit height- and waist-wise that I’ve ever seen for him.
• Dug out denim from the stash that I bought years ago. Determined that it’s definitely not 10-year-old-boy-pants denim. It’s thin and soft, and he’d have a hole in it within five minutes. Two, if he was outside.
• Ran to the store, found heavy brown denim on sale. B loves it (whew.)
• Found correct pattern sheet (see photo, above.) After recovering from the initial shock, found out via Google that I’ll be adding my own seam allowances. Cool, except for I don’t know which parts actually need them, or what that interesting flap thing is on one of the patterns. Must be the fly that covers the zipper. Hrmm.
• Found pattern tracing paper in the closet, gathered everything together, and called it a night.

So, does anyone out there have any advice about sewing for kids? I’m all ears.

Although I love my wheel, it has its limitations. I have a hard time spinning a fine single on it – I can’t get the high-speed whorl to do its thing well.* I spun my two-ply sport weight ridiculously slowly to get enough twist to be thin, so it took a LONG time. In addition, my wheel is a traditional, so it’s not the easiest thing to transport to spinning meetings or out and about.

I bought this little spindle to address both of those issues. Well, it doesn’t really address being able to spin a fine yarn quickly, but at least I can spin a fine yarn. I’m hoping to get a three-ply sock yarn going. It will only take me a few years to get a pair of socks, I’m sure.

What’s cool about the Turkish spindle is that the middle rod slips out, and then the crossbars slide out leaving you with a nice neat little ball.

This particular beauty is made from Big Leaf Maple by Ed Jenkins of Jenkins Woodworking. He writes the weight of each spindle on the bottom! If I were to buy this one over again, I’d probably go for a slightly heavier spindle.

I’m very happy with this little spindle. I bought it back in June, and have taken to spindling for a few minutes here and there while I’m waiting for things to happen. Now that the weather is finally cooling down, I might even take my fiber outside.

I’m ashamed to say that my wheel has been neglected for the last month or two. It’s time to sit back down to that for a while! But, its nice to know that now I have a portable way to spin, too. How about you? Do you spindle at all?

* Anyone out there have advice on getting an Ashford Traditional to spin well on the high speed whorl?