A Spinning Wheel

Santa Claus brought me a spinning wheel for Christmas this year.  Aren't I incredibly lucky? and grateful!

This one is called an Ashford Traveller and it has a double treadle so I can treadle with both feet. I also received some lessons to be able to use it.  Since I am only here til the end of January, I received my pressie early, so I can already use it, although I still consider myself a learner.

So now I can turn this 'roving'

into this yarn...

and when I have filled two of them, I can ply them together and get...

this lovely yarn to knit with. 

This is something I've always wanted to do.  It isn't easy, as I found out and there were days when I thought I'd never master it.

I saw this idea in a book about spinning. You put the two spindles in a shoe box and secure them with knitting needles through the middle to hold them steady.  Larry suggested brass weights in the bottom to keep the box from jumping around and the scrumpled up paper balls keep the spindles moving smoothly. Alternatively you can buy a lazy Kate, but I quite like this idea. It works and it's easy.

Larry got some cosy slippers...

This is a cushion cover I made with my first attempt at creating yarn.  As you can see, if you look closely, the tension is changeable, but the colours work well together and it is very warm and snuggly.  I am proud of it because it is the first thing I made all by myself.

So as you can see, I have been busy over the last few weeks.

Now for the thank you letters.

Star