Vintage spinning wheel

On July 22, 2022July 20, 2022 By CarynIn Craft

Look what I found! An vintage spinning wheel!

Vintage spinning wheel found at a antique store in Michigan

When visiting family in Michigan, I found what an antique store called an antique spinning wheel. On the tag it also said “Works Great!” I tested the treadle in the store and it did indeed turn the wheel, but I knew nothing about how the flyer mechanism worked. It was also the first time I looked for a wheel and the first store I tried, so I walked away and did some online research as well as visiting a very helpful store in East Lansing called “Woven Art Yarn Shop.” They had three student spinning wheels and graciously let me sit and treadle them all, and showed me how the yarn hooks into the flyer. Armed with the feel of how modern wheels work, I went back and purchased the “antique” wheel.

I posted pictures on an historic spinning group and received the answer that this was a Befra Willy Spinnewiel made in Apeldoorn probably in the 70s or 80s. It has a single treadle, which I’ve read is better for ergonomics than a double treadle. It also has a bobbin holder on the side, useful for plying. The flyer mechanism uses Irish tension, which means the flyer has a brake that slows it down and the drive band turns the bobbin.

It was definitely a spinning wheel that was used; not only did it have a bobbin with spun wool, there is darkening on the flyer where a spinner would give it a little push to get going in the right direction.

Now to see how it spins!

Managing a center pull ball

On July 21, 2022July 18, 2022 By CarynIn Craft

Recently I read a blog by another crafter that advised against making center pull balls, with the reason that the end bits get irrevocably tangled. I love my nostepinne style center pull balls, but have experienced some tangling toward the end of the ball as the energy in the yarn twists the final wraps. I also have a knack for untangling most things, so just deal. But is there a way to manage the ball so there are no tangles? Yes.

By keeping the center of the ball open with a thumb or finger, the ball cannot collapse upon itself as you unwind. Here is a short video (with cat) showing how the two ends of the yarn come off the ball. This is particularly helpful when making a two-ply yarn from a single ball of single spun yarn.

It is important to recognize that each crafter is different, and there are many different ways to do almost everything. I personally can’t stand round wound balls, the way they skitter and jump as the yarn comes off, and inevitably roll across the floor to join the dust bunnies under the chair.

Spinning on the road

On July 20, 2022July 17, 2022 By CarynIn Craft

We recently returned from a long road trip, and on the trip I spun when I wasn’t driving. I love it. I can put it down with a few seconds warning, there are no dropped stitches when we go over bumps in the road, it keeps my hands busy, is productive, and calms my soul.

Using a drop spindle to spin prepared alpaca fiber on a road trip

Plying is also possible if I do a 2-ply and use both ends of a ball of single ply (inside and outside ends). I prefer a top whorl spindle to ply, which I happened to pack as my backup spindle. I did not rinse or set the twist with water for any of the spinning, instead relying on time to do the magic.

I love it so much, that I think I will keep fiber and a spindle in a shoebox in the vehicle, for those parked and waiting moments that occur so often.

For the love of spinning

On July 15, 2022July 12, 2022 By CarynIn Craft

I was testing a drop spindle while waiting in the car, and struck up a conversation with someone who had hoped to learn spinning, but didn’t get to due to the pandemic. I didn’t have any student spindles in the car. The horror! So I gathered up the spindles I made at home and paired them with some Shetland wool strips torn from a batt (these strips can also be called slivers).

The wool and spindles went into bags with a half sheet of paper filled with as many resources as I could think of to help a beginning spinner.

Fiber resource sheet to go into beginning bags

I have handed out a couple of these kits when I’ve been about town, and even gave a quick spinning demonstration out my car window. Spinning is not for everyone, but they won’t know until they try!

My first 3D print

On July 5, 2022July 2, 2022 By CarynIn Craft

I have downloaded the free 3D modeling software called Blender. The first thing I decided to build is a drop spindle of my own design. I know a local company that does 3D printing and I’ve been itching to create something. The 3D print came out exactly like my model (after I had some help with sizing), which is very exciting. The printer used an ABS like resin, which is less brittle than regular resin, which I appreciate.

I tried out the spindle with some alpaca yarn.

It works! But, the design could use some tweaking. The head, that looked so big in the software, was too small to securely hold the newly spun yarn, and the resin is more dense than I anticipated, so I need to address that. The possibilities of this kind of design are intoxicating. I could be dangerous.

Critters and Craft

Tag: spinning