swift

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Published: 1980
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/40365

swift from the spindle and balled into large round balls, but that was single, therefore two of these single balls of yarn would be twisted as it was put back on the spindle again, and again this would be balled off. Putting it into skeins would be a job for the children, but as my sisters grew older the job was put off on me, naturally. In order to get this yarn into skeins a chair was placed upsidedown to rest on another chair, with the two seats together, and the yarn put around the three legs; this made it the desired size. Later my father made a swift5� and the yarn went on the pegs as you turned the handle. The chair legs seemed more substantial and were used more often. When the time came around for mother to knit the yarn we held it on our arms while mother put it into a ball again. When mother had the carding and spinning finished, then came a little more relaxing time for her for now she could sit and knit it into clothing materials. There were several articles of clothing my mother used to knit: drawers for my father, long socks, vamps, mitts, -> [Reverse] cuffs, scarfs, caps and sweaters. Mitts had one finger and a thumb, cuffs had just a thumb and gloves had all fingers knit separately. This pretty well occupied my mother for the winter months. Thus for the long winter days and nights mother spent her time carding, spinning, knitting, mending, sewing, darning and cooking, along with all the other household chores. Therefore the women were ___________________________________ 5� The swift was of wood construction about three feet high. The base was made of two pieces of board about fourteen inches long and crossed in the centre; a three by three inch post rested on this base. On one side near the top of this post was affixed a wheel with three pegs protruding to hold the yarn when taken from the spindle of the spinning wheel. A handle was attached to the opposite side of the post for turning the wheel. The wheel was approximately twelve inches in diameter. To steady the swift when turning the ...