New Spinning Wheel Finds

Yes. Last year right around Valentines Day I got This . Her name is Cassandra, quit a lovely little spinning wheel. I had a time of it trying to use my feet. Had no idea I was so clumsy.

Here is another awesome bike wheel. The Thrifty Fox Spinning Wheel
This is a PDF download and just so you know it's 11 bucks and 25 cents. On sale baby, on sale. She uses a bike wheel and it's also a spindle wheel.

Now, should you be interested in spending more and are an amazing woodworker you have this.
The Zephyr 40 bucks people. This is not a spindle wheel. It has the whole whorl and bobbin thing. Looks very well crafted.

A lot of folks are looking for the DragonKeep plans. That web page has fell of the face of the earth. She had the free plans. She left us. We are sad. But 7 and 11 pesos is not so bad, right?

I have lately been thinking about crafting up plans. Wonder if I could even bend my brain that-a-way but here is the thought. Well some back ground first. I found a wheel chair someone threw away. I grabbed it. We, dear HB and myself, broke it down and was left with 2 big wheels and 2 small. I do believe you may see where my bent brain is going.

In the olden days they had the Great Wheel. Later, in the olden days, they added another smaller wheel. Ah hem. The Minor's Head. AKA the Accelerator. Check this link out...

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEff12/KSFEATff12glossary.php

You will see pictures of 2 spindle types here, neither of which our fav inventors have created. They have used the simplest of designs. Just a spindle.

The first pic is the "Bat's Head" spindle and the second is the "Minor's Head". The speed machine of the Great Wheels. Well, so, yes, I have lately been thinking of crafting up plans...with those wheel chair wheels....

A Spindle Wheel On YouTube: Link below

Kinda cute. Kinda clunky. An option for someone...

And now. May I introduce the new addition to my fiber family.

                                                                      
                                          Ain't he a beaut.
This is a Brother Drum Carder . Has the lowest price far as I can see. It works good. Not used it for a bit cause I've been spinning from the (tangled) locks.

                                          Wanna see something amazing?

                                                  
Now that is gorgeous. My genuis husband made it. A true MacGyver it. But sadly the nails were too close up and down and all around. He took it away. I did say it didn't work. I think I may have hurt their feelings. I do hope he tries to make another lovely some day.

                                         Look at those teeth!
You can see where I removed some of the nails hoping it would help. But alas...

To the person searching for free box picker instructions, here's a Link for a picker already made. I have one but I seem to have forgotten to take a picture of it. Not to expensive. Something like 140 -150 bucks. (For those not in the US it's the shipping that kills ya. But a girl's gotta have what a girl's gotta have, right?). I have not found free instrux for a wool picker anywhere online. Yet. (Mumbles to self, "hmmm, maybe the husband will scratch one up....")

Well, looks like my camera cord has up and walked away. Hiding out. Really? No. I put it somewhere safe. Yeah. Must'a thought it was a good spot. Anyway, I wanted to share some pictures of the lastest batch of yarn I'm been working on. Some was dyed with marigolds and some with sunflowers. Again I will say this is so fun. I guess I'll have to force my lazy butt back online another day and post some pics. I'd rather do a bit of spinning, but then again I do want to share about my (how slow can ya go) progress.

Time for bed...

I'm Feeling Brain Dead

The problem... was... no computer... near the end of last year. But that has been resolved (my son's baby's mom gave me one as a gift). And so much has been happening and so much new things have been learned (sweet delish fiber goodness) that I do not know where to start. And with no computer lying around I did not use a camera just got lazy and well the brain is overloaded with it all.

Spinning. Yes, on my pvc pipe and bike wheel spindle as pictured elsewhere on this blog. I guess I am an over spinner.  But I'm learning...

Dyeing:  Very interested in natural dyes. Funny thing is they are hard to understand and woe. So far I've tried poke berries, blueberries (those both very light coloration), and of course good ol' onion skins (very deep color). Lets see, what else? Oh yeah, red cabbage. That was a beauty. Light purple; lilac. It was a color to dye for. Problem was it did not take. Lovely color in the pot, not a drop on the yarn. Dern it. Have heard a lot about mordants. They are sooo very important:
    "Simmer/boil with wool for an hour, cool then wash/rinse...OR
    "Simmer/boil with wool for an hour, let cool in pot overnight, then wash/rinse...OR
    "Simmer/boil with wool for an hour, let it sit overnight, stuff into a plastic bag and set aside for 3 or 4 days...
After performing one of the possibilities listed above you then move on to the dye pot. I'm, like, thinking natural dyes are fickle. I haven't tried the extended rest version yet. That will be next. Because really, I love those natural colors. Can't give up.

Buying: A bit of fiber, a bit of yarn, a fiber tool here a fiber tool there a fiber tool wistfully everywhere. I try mostly to buy localy. Me and my sister found a nice place near her. "Apple Tree Acres Alpacas" run by Ed and Karen Rogers in Utica, Illinios. They welcome visitors but plesae call first! Sis bought some alpaca fiber for my (2010 June) birthday. A beautiful gift. But it's a real terror to spin for a beginner. Like me. Of course you need real fiber combs. Time to move up from the doggie brush. Will break the bank (75 bucks!), but what can ya do? Take the plunge my friend. Take the plunge. Yes, a few other small treasures: a top and a bottom whorl spindle. I try to feel no shame.

Knitting: Ah yes, knitting. Lots of such. Especially with the stuff I've spun. It's all one ply. Some of the kinks don't come out after the finishing stage. Chuff, chuff.

Crochet: My default when I can not stand any of the above one moment longer. Kinked up tangles. Fibers not binding. Not dyeing. Rip it. Shread it. Hair pulling hissy fit.

Sure. Some folks think anyone acting like that is messed up.

Naa. Really, in the world of fiber, it's normal.

A note to those of you who stop by to check out the "Aran Sweater" and "Pvc Spinning Wheel" post, a quick thank you! This encurages me to get back to posting updates on things of interest. And there a some who come by to look for free knit and crochet patterns. I will shortly get to posting on some stuff that I've been up to. Nothing special. It's all fun.