Archive for The Potting Shed A forum to discuss Crafts, Cooking, Gardening, Countryside, Livestock and Pets          The Potting Shed Forum Index -> All Other Crafts Cabbagepatch Spinning wheel At the wedding in London a fortnight ago, lloyd's uncle reminded me that they have two spinning wheels that belonged to his mother, and they need the storage space now. We really need to go and collect them before they end up in a charity shop which would be tragic. In the meantime, I have been gathering stray fleece from barbed fences to get ready for some practise. No idea where I'll start but looking forward to the challenge alison If you want a couple of fleeces I can put some by for you, before they go to the wool marketing board. Kathy Oh don't let them go to the charity shop, you are under strict orders to collect them poste haste! Cabbagepatch Lloyd has two days off now so is going to North Wales to collect the spinning wheels from his aunty and uncle I have a steep learning curve coming right up lloyd i'm off in Maureen in the morning with Toff. nanny if you need somewhere to store them, i am sure i can find a place for at least one......always wanted to learn how to do that Cabbagepatch nanny wrote: if you need somewhere to store them, i am sure i can find a place for at least one......always wanted to learn how to do that consider it a localised potting shed challenge Lloyd currently in North Wales communing with ancient family. I'm home alone after a 13 hour day of work (something like 8am to 9.15pm) so too tired to feel bereft of companionship. Actually finally this evening the house appears to be bereft of men, teenagers, children, dogs, cats and visitors. First time in a year or so. Feels very strange..... I feel one of my quiet and undisturbed meditation moments coming on..... lloyd Okay here in North Wales all is well. Maureen is loaded up with brass and copper and silver heirlooms, also two spinning wheels one very old indeed with the treadle worn down by generations of feet, the other a modern one. Also have a small supply of Jacob sheep wool for Cabbage to play with. Coming home tomorrow if Maureen doesn't die on me........Getting hard to select second gear. All for now, my cider is calling me.... Bovey Belle If you want proper lessons Nanny, I can give you Alice's number (she's the lady whose course I went on last year - 6 x weekly lessons). Hope you get home safely Lloyd. alison You could always store one in the caravan Cabbagepatch Spinning wheels Old spinning wheel that Lloyd's mother inherited. It's truly beautiful, the treadle is worn right down from generations of use. Modern kit thingy that lloyd's father bought because the ancient one wasn't very efficient. Guess which one I'm going to try and learn on.......... OK, so where do I start? lloyd Anyone got any tips for Her Cabbageness? Kathy I'm not a spinner (yet) but I'vwatched Mr Kathy. The first thing I would suggest is to get a book, The Ashford Book of Spinning is a good basic book. This would get you started but I would strongly recommend you look for a guild in your area, even a couple of visits where you can get "hands on" would help. This is the link, you'll be able to see if there's one in you area. http://www.wsd.org.uk/ Once you get going you'll love it. Cabbagepatch thanks for the link kathy, i spent an hour or so last night practicing treadling smoothly. lovely, a bit like tai chi or something......very calming! Bovey Belle What fun CP! There's a picture of the old one on this link: http://www.spwhsl.com/sampleart.htm I agree with Kathy - you really need someone to show you how, as it's very difficult to get the tension right when you first start, let alone attaching the wool to the existing yarn etc. You will LOVE it though once you get going. Your practicing with the treadle to start with is a very good idea, as some people find that the most difficult part, keeping a good rhythm going. Cabbagepatch Debbie recommended a neighbour of hers who does spinning workshops. I've just booked myself in for a day while we are in Devon. Oh yes, did I mention I'm on holidays now? lottie great will keep looking to see you progress having to type this one handed as hub brought me in a cornet and the top fell off and i am covered in icecream Cabbagepatch Icecream? You bad girl lottie Spinningfishwife Try this site...it`s American, but they`re very keen on spinning across there. The link has lots of good videos. http://www.ispindle.com/toc.htm Your modern wheel is an Ashford Traveller, if you don`t already know, and it`s one of the two most commonly owned wheels in the UK, I would think. An excellent wheel to learn on. If you want supplies of fibres, this is one of the best.... http://www.winghamwoolwork.co.uk/ HTH! Spinning is fun, and addictive, belive me. And I hope your relations remembered to give you the rest of the spinning paraphanalia that undoubtably went with the wheel, like bobbins and carders? mogs this is my wheel..... i bough it for £40, ( bargain ) and i have spun loads of fleeces with it.....it is a Haldane, and although they are not made anymore, spares are still easily found....i had to replace the mother of all and needed a couple of spindles too....easy. Jellycat Is a nice glass of red essential to the spinning process? nanny it is if you visit this site................... mogs but of course.......hic.... lloyd CP will be along in a mo to report back on the course she did......... Cabbagepatch Well, it was an interesting few hours...........I can sort of spin now..........managed to produce some um......."novelty yarn". mogs lol.... you will get the hang of it......once you can spin well, you will be able to make ' thick and thin ' yarn and knit fantastic jumpers with it. i was looking at T&T yarn in a shop a few months ago....£7 for 100 gms !! Cabbagepatch The tutor did say once I could spin well, I would struggle to create quite such a "textured" yarn again! It's soooooo frustrating though, just as it all seems to be going well, the yarn snaps, I forget to treadle, I forget which hand is doing what nanny ah so it is eye-hand co-ordination that you need to brush up on can you play those computer games that kids like? that would require eye-hand co-ordination get yourself a play station next, that is the answer Cabbagepatch nanny wrote: ah so it is eye-hand co-ordination that you need to brush up on can you play those computer games that kids like? that would require eye-hand co-ordination get yourself a play station next, that is the answer No flippin comment mogs can you use a sewing machine? or drive a car? if you can then you are ok...lol...you have foot hand co-ordintaion. try just practising using the treadle......keep rocking it.....and then try reading a mag, or drinking a cuppa at the same time.....dont try spinning yet....you will soon get into the rhythm of the wheel....and if you stop, remember to give the wheel help by starting it off with your hand, then pick up the treadle motion with your feet....some people find it easier to use both feet, some one foot....( dont have music on at this point, because you are tempted to go with the music beat....lol.) then when you are ok with that, have another go at spinning... dont worry about breaking the yarn, just join it.......and practise, practise, practise....it will all fit into place soon....just keep the rolag in one hand and tease the wool out with the other.( i find it easier to have the rolag tucked under my left arm, i am right handed ) once you can spin you will be able to do textured wool....honest...it is like anything, once you can do it well you can fool around and try new tecniques....... Libby So is someone going to do a pic demo for us??? Cabbagepatch Good idea Libby, but I don't think I can just yet Thanks for the tips mogs, I'll keep at it! Cabbagepatch i've managed to track down a local spinning/weaving group so going to pay a visit next week. Libby Oh well done! Hope it goes well Kathy Great stuff CP, you'll get lots of help there. Cabbagepatch Naturally I'm not in the least bit nervous! Kathy Did you ever go to this CP, I can't remember if you posted about it in the daily thread. Thought it would be a good idea to resurrect the post for Cookie Cabbagepatch Sadly no Kathy and something which keeps niggling in the back of my mind.  I so want to master it but there just doesn't seem to be enough time especialy now with Saphie needing so much time, the allotment and all the rest. But the shorter evenings will soon be here and then less "outside" things to be done after work so who knows...... If only I didn't have to work fulltime   Kathy I'll watch this space then CP shall I!   Cabbagepatch No pressure then         cookie I agree CP, I think that the spinning wheel will be a winter hobby, the work garden and the allotment are taking all our time at the mo. Luckily, I got a big bag of bits, and also two books about spinning.And according to one of the volunteers at the Art Centre, there is a lady in Ilminster who teaches spinning.        The Potting Shed Forum Index -> All Other Crafts Page 1 of 1