Her name is Teresa Clayton. She refers to herself as, “The Treadler, a spinstery super-hero of the woolen world”. And, she speaks of herself in the third person (as in it is me who is ‘she’ telling you about ‘her’). Most importantly she will not / CANNOT stop tinkering with wool!

Teresa’s Alter ego, The Treadler, naturally made entirely of wool.

Should you stumble across the path of this oh-so-public spinner perhaps in a waiting room, on a bus, in an elevator, at a festival or fair, or simply notice her sprawled out alongside a pile of fluffy fibers in some darkened alleyway don’t ask her why she’s twirling that spindle or pumping that treadle. Don’t ask her because she will answer and she’ll talk your poor ear off about the joys of spinning and the pleasure of homespun worsted, woolen and novelty art yarns. Just ask her husband who knows only too well of her affliction and has been documenting her decline – although not as fervently as she documents each and every one of her fiber projects.

The Treadler’s Personal Diary

Teresa’s husband knew her back when she was but a recreational user of fibers, back before their living room became an “action-packed” fiber studio, or what she refers to as her “fortress of solitude”, when there wasn’t a drum carder permanently attached to the dining table, before she had dreams of joining a graffiti knitting gang or insisted that he address her as “my wife, The Treadler” when in public and “mild-mannered Teresa Clayton” when alone together at home.

One small corner of their living room where a television once resided.

There was a time when he believed there might still be hope for his wife. He even considered the potential healing qualities of a planned family intervention. But, now “the family” includes 500 silkworms and he is completely outnumbered.

One of 500 adorable domesticated insect pets due to spin silk sometime next week!

Besides, let’s presume he were to have her committed, which would be easy enough to do (just take a look at her blog: http://thetreadler.blogspot.com), he’d be safely rid of his crazy-spinster-silkworm-woman but stuck with all her paraphernalia! And, what would he possibly do with the great many spinning wheels, dye stock solutions, looms, spindles, silkworms and that tremendous stash of wool?

Oh! The fiber stash! No. It’s best to simply ignore that fluffy 500,000 lb elephant in the room.

Editor’s Notes:

You can find more of Teresa’s funny and playful musings, as well as her lovely fiber art on her blog, Etsy shop or on Ravelry.

Blog: http://thetreadler.blogspot.com

Ravelry: thetreadler

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/thetreadler