Questions and Answers

 

I had a couple of questions yesterday about my wheels so let me explain. I bought this one first in 2007, before I even knew how to spin. It's an Ashford Traditional. It was used and traveled all the way from New Zealand. It was an impulse eBay purchase and was very inexpensive considering the shipping involved. That was a very long time ago so I doubt you can get those kinds of deals now. 

When they offered me the Traveler with the same deal, I jumped at it. Now I could work on several fibers at once without pulling bobbins on and off. It's sheer laziness that made me want more than one. 

Then in 2011, the kids surprised me with this brand spanking new Shacht Ladybug as a retirement gift. Compared to those two other old rickety wheels, this one spins like a dream. I only use commercially processed fiber on this one to keep her clean. The wonky fleece goes on the other two.

I was also asked about my spindles. Goldings are hard to come by these days but if you look for a 2" whorl weighing between 0.4 oz to 0.9 oz, you'll have what I would consider the perfect size and weight for a beginner. I also recommend staying away from Merino or other soft, slippery fiber when you are first learning. Get the woolliest woolly wool that you can find. It will slow you down until you have good control. Don't forget to pre-draft. Practice pulling that wool apart until you can see how the fibers line up just before they drift apart. It takes a bit of practice but knitting something from yarn that you made yourself for the first time is a feeling you'll never forget.