Today I completed a project that required more of my carpentry skills. I needed a contraption I could use to measure my hand spun yarn. Most discerning knitters require the length of a ball of yarn instead of the weight. One used to purchase 4 50 gram balls of yarn to complete a project but now patterns say you'll need 400 metres to complete the project. I needed something I could measure my freshly spun yarn on and the back of the rocking chair (measures 18 inches) that sits out on the deck was the only thing in or around the house that came close. I searched both Walmart and Zellers for something useful that was 36 inches or 1 metre across but in vain so I decided to make my contraption. It required a 1X42 inch board, two screws, two BIG hooks, some sand paper and oak stain. Not counting the supplies we already had in the garage, it came to about five bucks.


My new yarn measuring board empty.

I even got to use DH's drill until I realized I didn't know how to use a drill. Do I apply pressure? What does it mean when the drill starts drilling faster and I didn't squeeze the trigger any harder? What if it hits a knot and the drill jumps and goes through my foot? Then I called DH to finish drilling the holes.


My new yarn measuring board in use. This skein was 65 yards in length.

I positioned the hooks 1 yard apart instead of 1 metre because it took up a little less room on my craft room wall and I would have to convert it to yards for the American knitters anyway.

I think it's pretty clever even if I am terrified of the drill.