The Woven Home: Spinning Projects: Spinning Wheel

This wheel is a saxony style.

I realized after my last post that I've neglected to properly introduce my newest crafting tool - a spinning wheel! It has already appeared in several photos, posts, and even in the new header design, but I have yet to tell the story of how I came to have it. Read on for the story...

In June, I tagged along with my mom to a meeting of the spinning group she recently joined. Once a month, they meet at a woman's home in Grand Rapids and just spin and talk (and eat delicious snacks). Just before we left to go, my mom pulled out a spinning wheel from her car. She'd bought it that day from the oldest group member who could no longer spin as often. Since my mom already had a wheel, she let me use the new one (which is actually older in years) to see how I liked it. As I've fallen in love with it since then, I consider it an early Christmas present. So I brought it to the spinning group that night and one of the ladies helped me get it going.

Having first learned to spin using a spindle, it was actually quite easy to transfer to a wheel. The drafting method is much the same, it's just a matter of learning how quickly the spin enters the fiber and how quickly the yarn is drawn onto the spool. With a little adjustment of the tension, this can be balanced out pretty easily. And it's SO much faster and less tiring than using a spindle. Although the spindle is great because of how portable and simple it is, I now prefer spinning on the wheel.

Some of the first wool I spun.

That night, the first thing I spun with the wheel was a little black/blue wool from my mom (not enough to do anything with). Then at home I spun some spare cream wool (also not much). THEN, I spun some purple merino, which will make its appearance in a post very soon!

And finally, I spun this bluish green 70/30 merino wool and silk blend. I got this fiber from a festival at Klackle's orchard in Greenville in May, and it was beautifull to spin. The long fibers twisted together nicely for a smooth, drapey, glossy yarn. I can't wait to knit a little cowl or hat out of it!