New Business
You knew it was coming. You probably didn't think it was coming this soon, though did you? Well, neither did I.
Max woke me up on Saturday to tell me about a sign he had seen for someone selling a used Ashford Traditional wheel. We went to check it out yesterday and bought it. I really planned to wait and test out a number of different brands before buying, but everyone has such good things to say about Ashfords, and I got such a good deal on it, I couldn't pass it up.
The wheel is definitely older. The woman who sold it to me bought it used eight years ago, but she's added the double treadle and it's in good condition. I got it for only $200, so I think I got lucky.
Luckier still, we stopped by the yarn shop on the way home, and even though she was about to close up, the owner, who continues to surprise me, told me to bring in the wheel and she'd have a look. She set me up with a new drive band and showed me how to oil everything. She keeps trying to sign me up for her spinning class in January. After trying the wheel out last night and feeling utterly frustrated, classes don't sound like such a bad idea!
I'm pretty sure I'll have an easier time with prepared roving, so I'm ordering some from Homestead Wool until I can find a source closer to home that I can feel good about ethically.
posted by Elena at 4:26 PM
6 Comments:
Wow. That *was* fast. Well congratulations, because that is a nice wheel. I borrowed a Traditional from a friend for over a year when I fist learned.
I like the farm you got your roving from...they seem to be a good fit for you ethically, and I'm sure you'll find a place like that closer to home. It's also nice to hear that your experiences with the yarn shop are improving.
You really did it - you've gone to the dark side. Well, there's no turning back now. *grin*
Nice wheel; you did get a great deal. The gloves look lovely, too.
PS Sorry I haven't answered your PM yet. I will.
Fabulous work on the gloves and congrats on getting a wheel. I would sign up for the classes if I were you, but then, I am a bit of a class addict! Good luck with sourcing some ethical spinning material.
I just got a spindle as well, and reading your post gave me some encouragement (in not being good at it, that is) ;o) and not giving up.
Wonderful find on the wheel! The class sounds like a good idea - January really isn't that far away. If I had a place within a 'reasonable' drive of the boondocks I live in, I would take one!
Wow, you go on with your spinnin' self, sister! Looks like a very fun new toy!
...When the maiden showed the Queen the empty rooms, and the great heap of yarn, she gave orders for the wedding, and the bridegroom rejoiced that he was to have such a clever and industrious wife, and praised her mightily. "I have three aunts," said the girl, "and as they have been very kind to me, I should not like to forget them in my good fortune; allow me to invite them to the wedding, and let them sit with us at table." The Queen and the bridegroom said: "Why should we not allow that?" Therefore when the feast began the three women entered in strange apparel, and the bride said: "Welcome, dear aunts." "Ah," said the bridegroom, "how do you come by these odious friends?" Thereupon he went to the one with the broad flat foot, and said: "How do you come by such a broad foot?" "By treading," she answered, "by treading." Then the bridegroom went to the second, and said: "How do you come by your falling lip?" "By licking," she answered, "by licking." Then he asked the third: "How do you come by your broad thumb?" "By twisting the thread," she answered, "by twisting the thread." On this the King's son was alarmed and said: "Neither now nor ever shall my beautiful bride touch a spinning-wheel." And thus she got rid of the hateful flax-spinning.
Grimm's Fairy Tales - The Three Spinners
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