Last night when I finally made it over to B’s I finally ripped open the boxes to revel in the glory of owning a spinning wheel and to check out all my cool little extras. Behold.
- 1 unassembled wheel with a full set of extra little pieces
- 2 extra drive bands
- 5 bobbins
- 4 oz of roving
- 1 bottle of lube (heh heh. lube.)
A couple hours later after a few wax hand jobs, some vigorous buffing and following the instructions with the utmost of care, I had a completely waxed and assembled spinning wheel thanks to the help of B (Help as in he kept doing most of it and I was a little pissy about it because I wanted to do it. He called it a “conflict over the same interest” as we both like to build things. But honestly, I really did appreciate his help.) I was tired and excited (and no longer full of chik-fil-a) and jumped the gun and tried to start spinning without trying to get to know my wheel. I made a little bit of yarn, but not much. It was kind of like trying to have sex on the first date without any foreplay and then prematurely ejaculating (hypothetically!). Anyway, I need to work on my foreplay.
B even sat down and treadled on the wheel for a bit. He said it was for “research” and because he wanted to test out what he built.? He said he wasn’t going to make any yarn. Personally, I think it’s just a matter of time.
March 7, 2007 at 9:48 AM
The ladies in the guild are all about treadling, treadling, treadling for-ever, until you get the feel of the wheel. No thank you, I was ready to spin! I found the thing that made the most difference with how my wheel worked was the scotch tension. Too loose, and the yarn becomes a snarly mess. Too tight and it’s pulled out of your hands before you can even draft it. It has a hair trigger (going along with your “premature” reference) and it takes practice to get the up-take juuuust right.
Give yourself time. And keep Barron off your wheel! Hee! (JK Barron, you spin anytime you want. Especially if the wheel is going to be hanging out at your house. See that big pile of pretty dyed roving in the corner? Yeah, that’s yours. Help yourself. Grace won’t mind.)
March 7, 2007 at 10:25 AM
I think my biggest problem last night (other than what was previously mentioned) was trying to get the scotch tension right. It’s EXTREMELY sensitive.
And no, he CANNOT spin that yarn, Elizabeth, what on earth are you thinking? He can spin some of the practice roving, but not the good stuff. Not yet.
March 7, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Too late, I got up early and tried my hand at it with that fancy wool stuff. I guess I don’t really have it all figured out yet because I made a wreck of that whole roll of stuff. Maybe if we put it in reverse, we could unspin it back and salvage a little bit or something.
March 7, 2007 at 10:34 AM
Really?!?
No wait, nevermind. I know better. You haven’t touched it out of fear of losing manliness points.
March 7, 2007 at 11:14 AM
unfair. my wheel did not come with lube. or handjobs. or vigorous buffing.
what a great post. this is the best write up on a new spinning wheel EVER. i hope b got some lovin’ last night. treadle this, honey.
March 8, 2007 at 12:15 AM
I’m speechless. I need a martini.
March 8, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Very pretty! You are so patient to wax yours. I know you’re supposed to, but when I got my new treadles I couldn’t wait, it was late and I didn’t have any wax. I’m going to do it eventually…
March 10, 2007 at 12:33 AM
Maybe you need some porn to loosen yourself up.