Will it Blend?

Unlike the famous YouTube Channel this blending is much less dangerous to one's health. Our group has been doing a bit of a project. From Ashford's The Wheel magazine  (issue 26, 2015) Raeleen's Wrap.

This project requires the blending of many Ashford slivers. Spun as singles and then felted. Other members have been experimenting with different colours, thickness, and needle size resulting in some beautiful results and also learning techniques in blending for the desired look. So this was my time.

Apparently, my throw everything on the board approach doesn't work

Mixture of the following Ashford Slivers
- Amethyst
- Aubergine
- Raspberry
- Chocolate
- Olive
- Butterscotch
- Green Tea
- Toffee
- Cherry Red
- Fern Green
- Cheesecake

So I separated the silvers into equal piles and went to work. As I wanted to avoid getting muddy colours I worked with long lengths of colours. So here are the lovely results.

Pretty Punis!

It felt lovely painting the fleece and getting such immediate pretty results.
I got to play with the tutors blending board, while I have my own it is quite old and needs to remain on the table and held down with a heavy clamp. The Ashford Blending board is a lot nicer and can be  placed in the lap.

My board carder, functional but UGLY

I'm slowly getting better at the skill. Ashford does a lovely video about how to blend. Much. Better than anything I could write here so I will link to them for a lovely visual (and colourful) lesson in blending.

Now to make sure I keep up with my colour theory!

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Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave When We First Practice.

Things have taken a turn to the weaving. My weaving stockpile has been evolving. What once started as a rigid heddle from Ashford, 8 shaft Kirsten loom and two old 4shaft looms. I now have swapped out my Ashford rigid heddle from a Kromski Harp Rigid Heddle of the same size (80cm), a 30cm Ashford Knitters Loom and my new pride and joy an Ashford 8 shaft loom (60cm). So right now I have 6 looms (one got sold already). So my Ashford Rigid heddle, 4 shaft and 8shaft Kirsten are all getting themselves put on eBay and awaiting new homes.

Curious Kitty wondering what new product is this mum?...

I'll do a review on the rigid heddles now I have had a chance to try three and also explain why I would still want a Majacraft Dynamic Heddle. I will also show my new baby in another post. However this time, I thought instead of equipment I would actually show the damn things being used!

So my Ashford Knitters Loom came with a double heddle block and extra heddles. So what does an inexperienced person who has only done two plain weave scarves do? Set up and work a double heddle and learn two new weaving skills!

A trial of patience!

On Ashford's site they have a pattern for a shuttle holder. So I'm still weaving it but wanted to share my progress.

The camera hides the flaws!

So many sheds!

This pattern not only required two heddle, but also two pickup sticks inserted behind the heddle to create two more sheds.

Brooks Bouquet being the fancy part!

This holder not only uses plain weave, but also two-layered weaving and Brooks Bouquet.

Hard to capture the bottom black layer being separated out

When it gets completed it will hopefully look similar to this ----------->
I am not doing the repeats of Brooks Bouquet, with just one between each section.





The pattern is fairly good, but I have found missing information about the desired length of the entire project or the length of each section. So I am just eyeballing it. I am making each holder the height of two shuttles and hoping for the best.

I am also working very very very! hard on my edges. As I am trying different techniques it is not 100% consistent though I am seeing progress. It is hard when weaving the bottom layer as not only is it slightly hidden by the top, but I used the suggested black which is almost impossible to see to check my edges. If I were doing another I would put the lighter colour at the bottom as the pattern is reversible so it doesn't matter.

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Whoops

In the Ashford Distaff adventures I am learning so much, and today's education was what to do with a vegetable oil stain on unsealed wood! My bag chocolate-coconut balls were leaned up against the wood and left this stain....

As was mentioned at the spinning group this is something that wouldn't be hidden with the clear stain I was considering to match my wheel. So being someone who has little idea about such things, but someone who does know how to google I spent last evening checking around.

A couple of Youtube with different products and even suggestions just to make the stain cover the entire product I was beginning to become dismayed. This Distaff was going to be the death of me!

Then as it is with most things the simplest suggestion came up, SANDPAPER. Knowing I have some sandpaper from my Ashford kits somewhere, I went looking at 1 am. I even googled how to sandpaper in case there was something about going with the grain etc. 

I started with one of the smaller stains and was so excited about how quickly it went. Then after a bit more intense rubbing on the bigger stain I am proud to present.

I know it is not perfect, but if you spin the entire product around the wood grain itself has many different and darker variations which match (like up the top is all natural colour variations. So it's more the shape of the colour variation is is slightly un-natural. However for anyone picking it up and once sealed you won't ever know! 

So something new and something I will have to learn more about when I redo the project wheel. So a trip to Bunnings is even more imminent to get something to seal everything to avoid this again. Right no the distaff is in place on the wheel, so no chance of getting anything on it. 

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Some Assembly Required

This is one issue I do have with some wheels/equipment, the level of assembly required and the assumed tools. I realise it is cheaper to send items flat pack and Ikea it up. However, nothing diminishes the excitement of a long (very long) awaited package that you need to go out and buy stuff to use. And I'm not talking about having the wrong sized screwdriver you can pick up from your local or cheap store. My new part requires a drill and requires ME (who has never touched one) to drill into my expensive wheel to use my (not cheap) accessory.

So, on Distaff Day I decided I really wanted one and there was a distinct absence of handheld ones. So I splurged for an Ashford one during a sale and also got an extra jumbo double drive bobbin and tried to see if they still had any Wee Peggy tension knobs (they used to sell the wheel, you never know what they have sitting around). So over one month wait and my products arrive. The tension knob is just a standard Ashford one. Luckily I looked around and spied my old fixer upper had lost it's knob at some stage (might be in the car somewhere). So I guess that was a random win/lose. 

The bobbin is a bobbin, but as is my gripe with all Ashford products the only choice is unfinished. So now I have 2 bobbins, a jumbo flyer and a distaff I need to varnish. So either need to colour match it with my good wheel. Or find a colour I eventually want to paint my wheel and have mismatched items for awhile. 

The main issue I have is none of the sellers or websites seem to mention the need for such equipment and assembly. In fact, one website says it is quick and easy to assemble........ I'm sorry, but a bit of an assumption that everyone owns and has the ability to use a drill on their values wheels is a bit of an assumption. In the instructions all the wheels bar the traditional require this drilling to use your item.

Looks like I'm going to be asking either my spinning shop (I didn't buy  this from them as they were closed and this was on sale) if they may be able to drill two parts for me. Or failing that one of the spinners does a bit of woodwork and might be able to oblige. 

So instead of a post full of new item fun,trying out my distaff and putting the final piece of my Wee Peggy together I leave you with an unfinished bobbin....

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It's a sickness

Wheel 9. Yes it happened again. The Ashford Elizabeth is on its way to a new home and a new spinner. I hope she finds a forever home. I sat there spinning her for the last time and was thinking - maybe I shouldn't. After a little while the leg ache started up again and yeah. New home. Nothing against the Ashford Elizabeth, it's a mixture of my joints and angles.

So I sit down after selling Lizzy and go to all the sites I had her up for sale to take down the ads. So as part of my normal habit I do a quick search on gumtree and something caught my eye. It was a bad ad with just the Ashford logo and the word spinning wheel. So I check, low and behold it is a double drive traveller, albeit single treadle for...... $60. It also included 4 double drive bobbins (the exact bobbins my main wheel uses) and at $15 ish per bobbin so SOLD. A quick message to the owner and a few anxious minutes wait and I spent my Australia Day driving through our beautiful country about an hour away. I wish I could have taken photos of the area (but driving and all dangerous even without the double demerits for the holidays). Beautiful forests and the mountains were almost gone in some areas because of the massive rain clouds. Think scenes from Fern Gully.

Close enough!

Old and dusty, but still in good condition and spins

So Introductions!

Traveller 2! (Name to be decided as I have no idea about names for any of them)
Ashford Traveller, now this one is older than my current one and I have noticed some differences. The Ashford logo has changed from a close up of the drive wheel to a picture of wheel. I also noticed a very slight difference in the spokes on the wheels. One section has one groove in the newer version and 2 in the older ones. The other difference that isn't visual is the whorl screws onto the flyer vs the one twist version they have now (I actually kind alike the screw version because I kept dropping the whorl when changing bobbins). Right now I don't know the ages of the wheels as Ashford only does a timeline of Traditionals. I would say this new acquisition is circa 1985 and my newer one...90's something era.

Comparisons of Wheels. 

Old wheel spokes

Newer wheel spokes

Old logo on maiden

Newer Logo

But anonymous spinning blogger you already have too many wheels (pish tosh no such thing), you don't have enough feet or hands for these wheels (fair call), you already have the same type of wheel that doesn't need major parts (true), you don't even like single treadle, you just sold one for that reason so why?!

WELL....I like wheels, but it is more than that. My newer wheel was bought by my sister and is in lovely condition. One of my previous wheels I originally got with the aim of decorating it. For reasons back then (I forget why). I also have been meaning to learn how to stain a wheel and really disassemble and learn about wheels, wood, and wood burn decoration on it. One day I would love to make my newer wheel a darker stain, but too frightened to touch. So the $60 wheel allows me to do what I need on a wheel that takes up a smaller space. I can also eventually put a double treadle on this if so inclined. So this wheel is not so much bought initially for its spinning wheel capacity, but as a project wheel.

So the next step for this wheel after a brief clean I will disassemble and clean up all the big metal bits and prep the wood (sanding I am thinking - see I am learning!) I will even keep an eye out for maybe a second hand double treadle in a terrible state that I can steal the double treadle off.

Have a great day spinning!

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Wheel 8 - I have Issues

This is a very recent purchase and one I have agonised over. I noticed this wheel quite a distance away, but knew for the asking price what I was getting could be quite a steal and something I could clean up and sell on. The Ashford Elizabeth 2 is the most current saxony type wheel and is considered the high quality wheel over the entry level Traditional. What also came with this wheel is the Elizabeth horizontal Lazy Kate, an Ashford Drum carder, spinning chair and some wool. So once I agreed on a price I was happy with my spinning friend and I went on an Adventure.

A lovely 2hr drive up the New South Wales coast line and a brief stop for maccas pancakes and we were there. We came back with an entire car load of stuff!

First the wheel (picture taken after I waxed and prettied it up)

Ashford Elizabeth

As you can see she is a lovely dark wood well balanced. Near perfect condition except a small chip on the flyers whorl. That is purely aesthetic though. It also came with the associated horizontal lazy kate. While there are pretty and probably better for plying (as both bobbins are the same height) I really hate having to balance all on one rod. Also 4 lovely double drive bobbins.

Lazy Kate

The other big part was the drum carder. After much research I found out it was an older Ashford Mini Carder. It was missing a drive belt, but easy fix. So that got cleaned up and I got to learn how to install the band (which required sizing and melting the end of the plastic band and joining. Burn-y fun! This has already been sold on as I have a bigger drum carder already.






Not pictured are the heaps of extras also received. There was a nice spinning chair (this got gifted to my friend who helped organise buying this wheel and came along for the drive). There was also a metal swift and ball winder which I also gave to her as I had the exact same skiener and just bought an electric ball winder on sale. What I kept was the still in its pack ashford niddy noddy (mine is old) which I will try and stain or decorate something interesting. Plus a huge amount of processed and un processed wool. I have two overflowing huge black bin bags in my car of unprocessed fleece. I also have some mohair and other assorted stuff to play with.

While I like collecting wheels I have to also like them. My rule is I wont buy I wheel unless the price is at a level I could re-sell if I don't like it. Plus the new owner generally gets a serviced and polished wheel. So I gave this girl a try and single treadles just aren't my friend. Probably because of my bad hips. Compared to the traditional this has a much better spin and a little more weight behind the wheel. The size is fairly comparable as this isn't the bigger 30' anniversary wheel. It also have a much more refined look, even the little gold plaque with the brand on it just brings it up the next level. It is not as heavy to treadle as my Celtic was so more ability to control it. A beginner could use it, but I do consider it a bit more of a semi-intermediate (have the ability to do basic spinning without constant breaks over super thick). Due to it being a bit more expensive it generally wouldn't be picked up by beginners much anyway. It also is just beautiful! I just can't have a functional wheel sitting there without love as much as I want to collect. When I have my own house these types of wheels that looks great but might nit be the best spinners will be everywhere!

So this lovely is up for sale. So a brief stay in my home for this wheel. However it's sale might be used for the next wheel ;)

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Wheel three..and four and five!

The day of three wheels!

Rappard -Wee Peggy

I had spent a lot more time researching and drooling over wheels in spinning groups. After losing out on heaps of wheels on eBay and Gumtree (sometimes by seconds) all the sudden I had a windfall! Back during my first or second day at spinning/weaving class I also had a bid on another Ashford Traditional, but this one was a double drive! So I got to celebrate that I won it and show pictures to other spinners there! However during this time I had also decided I needed (yes need not want) a double treadle and double drive traveller and after some chats with lovely spinners on the facebook group I arranged to buy one and my sister paid for it for xmas.

Both wheels took a bit of coordination to pick up as they were both over an hours drive away. Luckily while far away they were both close to each other. During this time to coordinate pick up both on one day I came across a highly sort after Wee Peggy and was able to coordinate pick up on the same damn day!

So a lovely Saturday morning rose and I drove to pick up the first wheel. The Wee Peggy, which happened to be only a street away from spinning group! I wish I had more time to talk to the lovely lady who had quite a story about the wheel (which was more furniture, but loved) and found a connection between her and the main aim of my PhD! Got her settled into my car and went for the long drive over the lovely rural Australia.

The Wee Peggy is made in NZ in Otago (where I was originally going for another PhD offer!) and every spinner I have spoken too says "if you find one grab it!". She is single treadle and double drive with an onboard Lazy Kate and and orifice hook. She is missing a tension knob to allow you to use it in scotch tension. So while not essential does reduce choice of drive type. I am trying to track down one jut for completeness. I put new shiny hooks on her with a new drive band, oil and wax.

Ashford Traveller

Wheel two was picked up at a Macca's parking lot! We must have looked funny as most people don't really see spinning wheels. Got to chat to a lovely lady who I had got to know and still chat to on the facebook group and add the wheel to my car.

This wheel is kinda the everything wheel! My first double treadle and my favourite type (over one foot). This wheel also has the ability to be set in single or double drive and has an on-board Lazy Kate. I love this wheel and it will be a forever wheel as it was a present from my sister and later one my father got my the jumbo bobbin (wider and bigger) for xmas. So this wheel is literally part of the family.








The last pick up was my Ashford Traditional double drive, another non-spinner seller who I think was a bit weirded out about the fact I had two other wheels in the car. A lovely drive back and I even stopped at a second store just to see if there was anything hahah.

This wheel is a work horse and was great. Like my first wheel, but this one had the ability to go double drive as well. She did get sold later for an xmas present to a new spinner. While I liked her these big saxony style wheels are hard for me to cart around and didn't offer anything new or interesting. I was thinking of decorating it back in the day (paint of wood-burning) but never got around to it before selling.

Family Picture! Minus my first wheel which got sold before this photo was taken

L-R: Wee Peggy, Celtic, Traditional, Traveller

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Hello Crafters!

Welcome to Spins and Weaves! A site on my adventures in crafts and also the occasional post of my adventures in a new town doing my PhD.

My name is Kira and I started my craft adventure back in 2006 when I was recovering from my second brain surgery (of three so far) and I joined the rest of the family doing cross stitch. Since then I spent many years doing cross stitch only. Last year for no reason in particular I decided to try my hand at knitting. Then this year I picked up three crafts including crochet, spinning and weaving!

Over the next few posts I will be introducing the different history of my crafts. Today will be an introduction into spinning with my first wheel!

I have no idea what made me decide "I need a spinning wheel". I had never seen anyone outside of tv spinning or tried hand spun yarn. So maybe as I later joked when brining it home, I am cementing my spinster-hood. So onto gumtree I went without much (any) knowledge and within a week I was driving to pick up my first wheel! If only I had known then what I know now!

Ashford Traditional 7/15

With more education I found out this was a single treadle, single drive. It also came with a niddy noddy (seen attached to the wheel). The bag also came with two spindles a dog comb (yes you use that in spinning) and some bobbins. The seller didn't really spin, but had the most amazing house and other crafts and enough musical instruments that I wanted to set myself there to live despite it being so difficult to find on a hill with tight streets. I would say this was a crica 1975 wheel due to the spokes and where the tension knob was.







After I got this home I tried the old YouTube catalogue of "Learn to Spin". I eventually got something that looked like yarn from some fibre I got from spotlight.

Pretty thick, but I miss being able to spin thick easily now!

It was within a week or so I went to my first class at Petlins at Rhodes, Sydney, Australia. I signed up via the site for both the loom weaving and the spinning class as they ran one after each other. I arrived nervous and a little late. I entered a small shop and couldn't see any people doing classes! After a chat to the owners I found out that the site did something funny with my classes and being me I was ready to leave rather than put someone out. The lovely lady, Linda, started pulling all the tables and everything out to get started. So after that small hiccup I spent a good number of hours weaving a scarf while people turned up with wheels and the footpath outside of the shop started to fill with the sound of chatter and flashes of beautiful fibre and yarn. I elected to finish my scarf during the spinning time instead of the lesson. By the end of the day I even got to try a wheel and learn how to start spinning properly.

This is a lovely first basic wheel that gets highly recommended to any new spinner. This is due to being able to easily get cheap second-hand ones and the quality of this NZ made wheel.

This lovely first wheel did get sold onto another spinner when I got other some other wheels which I will mention in my next posts!

However this was the beginning of the end for my bank account!

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