The bad news is that I have another cold - blimey. So, it's back to the hankies and Lemsip. This is quite ridiculous - roll on Christmas - this is my third month of various plague attacks.
The FABULOUS news is that I am getting a spinning wheel for Christmas from my lovely parents! I'm literally bobbing up and down with glee. For a rather clumsy, left-handed person with a propensity to RSI this could prove a disaster - but I remain ever optimistic.
Fiona's been helpful, as always, and helped me with all the initial considerations that I need to make and I've been browsing the complete set of beautiful Ashford wheels. Aren't they beautiful?
My mum, bless her, has been researching it too apparently (and she's about as interested in knitting/spinning as a biro) - and she likes the beautiful, traditional-looking Ashford 'Fairytale' wheel (right). I do too, but I need to think about other requirements too:
- Space: I still need to leave space for my sewing-machine, table on which to cut fabric, vast hoards of wool and all my other wonders (known by some as 'junk')...;
- Looks: it's important to cherish what you work with, isn't it? I love the look of the Fairytale and Ladybug spinning wheels but am not so in love with, for example, the Chair Timbertops wheel. Not really sure why not, but there we have it;
- Cost: a factor here (but many of them are around the same price in the UK).
- I seem to easily discombobulate those pesky limb tendons, if I use them more than once an eon, so it's probably best to have a double treadle so I can alternate legs;
- on a related note, I might choose to spin left-handedly...in which case I need the orifice to be in the centre; and
- I don't drive/own a car so I need to be able to carry it around easily if I want to take it outside the house, e.g. Spinning Guilds.
So, I think it's a choice between the easily-portable Ashford 'Joy' model with it's rucksac (right; also owned by Amy Singer of Knitty: so I can glean some tips from her) and the charming and lightweight Schacht Ladybug spinning wheel (top left; which has also just been purchased by Amy!). Both available from the Guildford stockist Fibrecrafts (but there is, somewhat predictably, a waiting list for the latter already!).
Chris' FAQ website on spinning wheels and her related Spindizzy site were helpful. I found some information on a shop called 'Spinning Weal' on the latter site. Spinning Weal is a new shop in Clevedon, Bristol - opened in May 2007 - that stocks Ashford wheels and look like they'll be able to help me. And, as a bonus, we'll be able to stop in the reportedly-wonderful Tyntesfield on the way!
I've been using this useful U.S. website too. And, if my eyes weren't big enough with excitement already - I've just realised there's a whole section of Knitty donated to spinning. Bounce, grin, bounce.
You are very lucky. It seems such a skill and I think I will be adding a wheel to my list of wants. However, Santa has already been, so I'll have to wait till next year - boo hoo!
Anyway, I have my fingers crossed that I may get a chance to play ... :)
Posted by: Helen | 26/12/2007 at 03:40 PM