SPINNING WHEEL
(among other things)
Do you know, gentle readers, what this is? This is my spinning wheel. This is my spinning wheel that I built. This is my spinning wheel that I built with my own hands. I MADE A WHEEL. Okay, okay, I had help, and I used power tools, but… it’s my baby! And it’s not from a kit! We didn’t have a kit, or plans, or anything. Just lumber and something to copy.
Man, it’s so beautiful. I think it needs a name. I think it’s a boy, and I think it needs a name. Help me out here. It also needs a single pilot hole drilled in one of the treadle supports because the leather strap (a.k.a. my dad’s old belt) needs to be connected and isn’t yet (and I don’t want to split the wood (again)).
I’ve spent months on this baby, and it’s so wonderful. It’s smooth and it’s pretty and it’s cherry and it’s mine. In every sense of the word. It’s a “copy” of an Ashford Traditional, but it’s my creation.
I’m showing it off at school tomorrow, and I’m excited to use it for the first time. I want to spin on it (but I can’t, see above not attached treadle).
Ooh, man. I love it.
My favorite part is the maidens that don’t match. On the right you can see the maiden I bought at Sheep and Wool. On the left is the maiden fashioned as a substitute until I get another one that matches the one on the right. I think it’s so funny that one is beautiful and round and turned and one is SQUARE. It rocks. The flyer and bobbin I did not build. I did build the mother-of-all and the base, though, so they match the cherry wood.
Squee!
In related news, I have swatched for the Project Sweater. I think the 7s gave me the nicest fabric, so I think I might just cast on the final stage tonight!!!!
The yarn I dyed is ready…
(mostly…)
And I can spin and dye more as I need it. Oh boy!
Also today, I pulled this little bastard…
off of the roof of our house. Picture me hanging out my sister’s bedroom window for half an hour trying to lasso a kitten out of the gutter with my sweatshirt and the handle of a bag. I have bruises all kinds of places. Freak. I love him. He’s fine, by the way.
Help me name my wheel!
Jody said,
May 13, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Wow! I am so impressed that you MADE your own spinning wheel! You rock!
Good naming him - he is definitely a beauty! You could call him Hunky Hank!
hehe
Coleen said,
May 14, 2008 at 12:03 am
Holy Cow! You built a spinning wheel??? How cool are you??
I vote for Carlos. Just a thought!
How on earth did you build a spinning wheel??? My mind is boggled!
Catherine said,
May 14, 2008 at 6:25 am
WOW! Your wheel is awesome. You should be proud to have done such a thing. Looks great.
Much happiness to you using it !
LizzieK8 said,
May 14, 2008 at 11:56 am
Hepseba
Steven said,
May 14, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Wow, that is awesome! Maybe it would look good to stain it?
Doris said,
May 14, 2008 at 4:32 pm
What an awesome wheel! I am very impressed. Can’t wait to see what you spin up on it.
Eleanor (undeadgoat) said,
May 14, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Manuel, maybe?
P.S. Aren’t power tools awesome?
Jaime said,
May 14, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Dude. Your wheel is freaking AWESOME. I didn’t even notice the mis-matched maidens until you pointed it out. Are you going to stain it? And if you are, are you going to take the whole thing apart first? I ask because I want to stain Pearl, but I want somebody besides my mother to tell me it doesn’t require total disassembly.
Your yarn is so pretty. Is the final sweater going to use all of the colors you dyed? And did you spin all the wool already?! Jeezy Creezy.
PS - Wheel’s name should be Euripides. Rip for short.
susanwritesandknits said,
May 14, 2008 at 8:00 pm
It looks like something from a fairy tale. *Gasp* You should make it sparkly! Just kidding. Well, unless you want to, in which case I’ll totally back you up the idea.
Did you get a kit to make it, or was it from scratch? Either way, it’s impressive.
Coldfriday said,
May 14, 2008 at 9:01 pm
It’s -sniff- beautiful! I am so impressed I find it hard to stand.
jessalu said,
May 16, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Very nice! Great job with the building - that’s pretty impressive!
Jessica said,
May 17, 2008 at 8:48 am
OMG that’s so cool! You built a wheel?!?! Amazing! I’m totally bad with names but I’m sure you’ll come up with something great.
Imeverblu said,
May 28, 2008 at 6:53 pm
So, how’d you score the wheel? I’m having a terrible time trying to locate one. I figured I’d try making the pvc wheel, lack of power tools makes you do strange things…
What about Bob?