i never learned to spindle.
when i learned to spin, i started right away on the wheel and never had a chance to learn spindling. and i never really felt any loss there. but recently, i’ve been thinking about it, and wondering if it’s fun, if it would really make spinning portable, etc.
and then wanda came along! she started leaving comments on my blog and we email about once a week. and then she casually mentioned that her husband, ed, makes knitting needles, so of course, i ran right over there to check it out. well, she and ed are a cool couple indeed, and after i spent some time reading her blog, i tripped over some information about spindling, which was somehow all connected to jo’s blog, and now i have a whole bunch of new penpals added to my list of “constant commentors”.
and, i now own this spindle.
i still don’t know how to use it, though. i got the book that wanda wrote about turkish spindling. and i plan on trying it in the next day or so. if it actually “takes” it will be a dream come true! i can spindle while i’m at my desk! not that i would ever abandon the sock knitting, but sometimes it’s nice to have a change of pace. and i can take i places that i can’t take my wheel (even my joy wheel is too big for some situations).
wanna see a closeup of the gorgeous australian myrtle burlwood ed found?
i know almost zilch about spindle action, but one thing i DO know already, is that this spindle is a very good machine. a good machine is one which is made to be as efficient as possible, and to produce the least friction between moving parts, or as it moves through space.
so, i tried spinning it on my desktop, and WOW! it just spins on and on and on. now, i find this kind of thing immensley entertaining and hypnotic (like watching a fire). if nothing else, i will always want to at least give it a turn or two at the odd moment when i need a brain blank, even if i don’t end up a spindler.
ed also makes crochet hooks, weaving tools, and is experimenting with a new design, inspired by a photo of jo’s, depicting a Ladakhi monk using a spindle.
in other news from the hinterlands, the fabulous kathy is just about done with her test knit of the wing of the moth shawl! she sent this photo of her piece, which looks to be quite close to the end
she also chose to use the douceur et soie (same as me) in the latte color. i’m sorry, but this yarn sure does beat kidsilk haze for glimmer and lushness.
here is kathy (far left) and her posse at the colorado rockies stitch and pitch where she worked on the shawl.
i dunno if those ladies are really having a good enough time . . . but they sure do have it goin’ on in the eyewear department.
so anyway, you know what that means, don’t you? the shawl pattern is nearly ready for release!
i am paranoid, so i’m going to wait for kathy to send me the final word that everything worked out, right down to the last stitch before i say it’s for sale. but dudes—get those needles ready!
meanwhile, leah, who started hers, but soon found the yarn was problematic, has restarted her test knit on the doll shawl/scarf with a different yarn, and is now zooming ahead to a fast-track finish with that. she says she will send pictures tomorrow.
now, one last item from this “knitting and spinning from afar” post. the nauties seem to have landed safely in new jersey at melissa’s home. i think she is saying they are good enough to eat
eeeuw—please don’t do that in front of the dogs melissa—we don’t want any gory scenes.
yeah, not so sure about using them as earrings either, but YOU look cute!
13 thoughts on “spindle-dee-dee”
Anne, welcome to the new spindle and congratulations to you. I can’t stop fondling mine which is its cousin really, both from Oregon. I’ve started spinning a merino roving on mine (yes, I know I’m supposed to get out into the orchard under the full moon with it, but have to have a test run first, don’t I, in case it goes wrong!) and I have to say it works beautifully. Put in plenty of twist to start, as otherwise it might break and that can discourage you if you don’t have a stern teacher standing in front saying, ‘Fine, rejoin and START AGAIN.’
The shawl looks absolutely stunning and another beauty to mark up to you. What is zis douceur et soie? Must ‘ave immediatement.
Jo
(currently starting seven new projects and it’s only 9 am here in Ireland!)
celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com
Forgot to ask. Is a Stitch & Pitch taking your needles to a ball game? If so, then perhaps I wasn’t so weird as I thought, bringing the socks to Croke Park!
Jo
celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com
I refused to have anything to do with spindle spinning at first. Learned on the wheel. I found sprindles daunting.
But I sort of kept buying the occational spindle cause it was purty and one day I discovered I knew how to work them. But it hasn’t turned into A Thing.
That’s a beauty though.
Oh, I’m so pleased that you got a spindle! And not just any spindle, but a big fancy one. 😉 Do you happen to know what it weighs? Turkish spindles always look so heavy to me, but I bet it’s just an illusion and they aren’t actually much heavier than the regular kind.
I don’t quite get how the crossbars come apart, expecially when you’ve got them wrapped thoroughly in wool and can’t actually see them. Please show us how that works, once you figure it out! 😉
I must say, that is one beautiful spindle.
I can’t wait to see what you do with the spindle! I don’t spin, but have thought it might be fun to give a spindle a try.
What a beautiful spindle! I’ve never tried a turkish spindle, or a bottom whorl for that matter. I’m sure you’ll have fun with it!
Hi – Your wing-of-the-moth shawl pattern is stunning, and I plan to purchase it when it is available. I already have the yarn, which I had bought for another project, but I’ll use it for this one instead. So a question: what is the approximate yardage, if you know it yet? Over or under 1000 yards? Yours seems wider than your wingspan. Is it a pattern you could small-ize if you had to, so you don’t run out of yarn? It looks like you could, both in the center and on the border …
Ohhhh I’m a spindle spinner and I love it I take my spindle anywhere…. I think you’ll enjoy it…. I know you’ll enjoy it… I’ve never used a turkish spindle but they seem fun I personally like top whorl spindles and I don’t know if they make turkish spindles in top whorl…. Looks like melissa is very happy with her nauties which seems good…
Great pictures! Spindling is hypnotic, and very addicting. 🙂
Love all of your lacework knitting!
Beautiful spindle you’ve got there! I’ve hardly spindled since getting my wheels, but I think they’ll be going to Montreal with me this weekend.
What a beautiful hand crafted spindle! I can’t imagine working with it. Just know you’ll be spindling in no time..OMG the shawl is….oh what the heck..words won’t do it justice!!! Hey Deb..your thoughts?
I want one!!!! I want to learn how to spin. This might be the best way for me to start. I didn’t have much luck figuring out how to buy one yet. Anne? Help?
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