pop goes the weasel!
you never know what will turn up at “show and tell”
a member of the Victoria guild brought this wonderful piece of equipment last week
what is it?
a clock reel or spinner’s weasel
a skein winder with a gearing system that measures yarn length 
generally 2 yards to a rotation, 40 turns equals 80 yards
when set correctly the mechanism makes a loud POP when the 40 turns are completed
the inspiration for the folk song “Pop goes the weasel”
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/spinner’s_ weasel
the verse I remember from my childhood is;
A penny for a spool of thread
A penny for a needle –
That’s the way the money goes
Pop! goes the weasel.
…and working on my handspun stash
another scarf/shawl is finished
the fibres are silk, wool and a silk/cashmere blend
that led to even smaller amounts of yarn
good for weavette flowers
in preparation for November’s studio tour
the stash does not appear to be shrinking!
www.onesmallstitch.Wordpress.com u 
Thats fascinating, you learn something everyday. Love the scarf
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my mother sang it to me , but her version said that’s the way the story goes!
stashes never ever shrink,ask me about it.
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Neki – I love these little snippets of folklore, they hold memories for many people.
Debbie – textiles and fibre have so many interesting facts/stories to learn.
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Oh, Jean, that scarf is so gorgeous!!! If no one snaps it up at your sale, I will put my name in for it. The only reason I hesitate at all is that I too have a huge stash and the ability to knit, and that frugal voice in my ear says, “You know, you can make your own.” But will I ever get to it?
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Velma – ok, so it’s really, really BIG things. any ideas?
Heather – you can come and visit it. you may have lots of time to knit if this weather keeps up.
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i always heard the money…and i think your stash will only shrink if there’s a catastrophe, which i wouldn’t wish on anyone! or you start weaving really really big things!
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We always sang your version, except that we sang _that’s the way the monkey goes_. Of course your version makes more sense!
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Alice – my older cousin sang the monkey version to try and scare me. I wonder if the “monkey” is a weaving reference or a part on a loom?
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Thank you for that explanation of the old folk song…interesting how many expressions have their origins in textiles.
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Lorrie – there are many different verses to the song. my mom was a sewer so that one must have appealed to her.
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Beautiful piece of equipment. I wonder how they made that wooden gear. I think all stashes are prone to clandestine reproduction.
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Kristin – the gear is hand cut just like some on old looms. I swear, my stash reproduces in the night.
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