3 posts tagged “spinning wheels”

Hello Vox neighbors.  I hope the New Year is starting well for you.  After last year, anything would be better!! 

Today I acquired a new wheel, an Ashford Traveler
 

It was on Craigslist for a decent price.  I figured I could use it as a student wheel should I give lessons in the future.  Right now, I am trying to focus on getting my Level 5 Master Spinner workbook done.  The days have been so gloomy that I haven't had much energy.  But at least I've got an idea for my project.  I think I will make a miser's purse.  That means I have to spin up about 300 to 400 yards of cotton.  Anyway, Happy New Year to all. 
                              

This past week was spent in Spokane, Wa.  Particularly pretty in the fall.  I spent some time at one of my favorite shops, Paradise Fibers where I went looking for. . . ., well, just looking.  Instead of walking away empty handed, I found myself the new owner of an Ashford Country.  This is well, big.  The ratio is about 3.6 : 1 and I think I can put about 15 pounds (not really) of yarn on a single bobbin.  One of the things that frustrates me

in my spinning is the fact that I can only put half a bobbin full of singles on a bobbin and then be able to ply it to a full bobbin.  Or I'm left with a couple of dozen yards to ply and make a dinky little skein.  With this monster, I can spin up full bobbins of singles and ply to my hearts content.  I may put an insert into the oriface for smaller yarns, but the real reason I got this is to be able to make bulkier yarns.  My workhorse, the Victoria, is just too small and my back-up wheel, the Kiwi isn't much better.  That leaves me trying to stuff larger yarns and that is frustrating.  Now, I need to do a bit of fine tuning on the Country to get it running smoothly. 

Along with the Country, PF offers a $40 fiber coupon, so I got some more flax (not the strick that I was looking for, but the louet fine roving), some silk bells (can't have too many) and a bit of silk ribbon.  I also bought an extra bobbin for the Hulk.  Just in case.  

Other adventures in Spokane:  Sew EZ Too.  A great fabric shop that also carries yarn, embroidery supplies of all kinds and beading supplies.  They have some absolutely beautiful fabrics for wedding gowns and lovely lace insertions.  While there, I bought some Clover looms,  they're plastic and are like the daisy looms, but different sizes and shapes.  I can use these for tenerife lace, a cord maker, and some beaded bag frames.  I love making the little beaded bags. 

We also and I should say finally made it to White's Boots.  I think we finally found a pair of boots DH can get his foot into, I mean wear.  Not to mention the great Columbia wear sweater I found at 70% off!!!  Love it.

As far as the food goes:  First stop, of course, Italian Kitchen.  One of our favorite Italian eateries in Washington State.  The stuffed mushrooms are to die for.

The best meal by far was to be had at Milford's Fish house.  Very reasonable prices and the food is incredible.  I ordered "Salmon Bellies" for an appetizer.  Grilled belly meat served with sake and sesame vinegarette.  A salad of apple and fennel with cranberries and for the main course, Parmesian Halibut with cream cheese mashed potatos and brocolli.  Desert was creme brulee.  Wow.  We are going back there for sure.

Well, off to fine tune the Hulk. 

I went a little crazy this week.  I was looking at our local Craigslist ads and I found a listing for a spinning wheel for $50.  How could I not look??  What I found was a Canadian Production Wheel.

It has all of it's parts, including 1 cracked bobbin.  This is a 'double-drive' wheel.  That means the drive band drives both the flyer and the bobbin.  I haven't spun on it yet because I haven't got the flyer set up quite right.  When I do though, it will spin quite nicely.  The other thing I bought  from this lady is an old 'clock' yarn winder.  It is really old.  Not sure how old, but the case is held together with square nails and all of the uprights and such are held with wedges.  It is lovely.

This is my other purchase this week.  A complete Auto Knitter made in Canada.  It has two cylinders and two ribbers, plus the bobbins and bobbin winder!  I am really excited about this find.  I have been wanting one for a while now.  There are quite a few good youtube videos on this and I can't wait to receive it.  I found it on ebay and I think I paid an okay price for it.  I have seen these go for over $1000 and this one has all of it's parts, including it's original wood shipping crate. 

Time is counting down for Level 5 of the Master Spinners Class.  I will need to have over 300 yards of a cellulose yarn for dyeing during class.  I have done some linen and some hemp.  But I think the winner will be cotton.  You get to see the colors of the dye a bit more clearly.  I am looking forward to this class.  One step closer to my Master's Certificate!  After this, just one more level to go.