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merrileemakesI've been working my way through the bits and pieces that came with the loom and spinning wheel I picked up just before Christmas.
Here's some bobbins and the two niddy noddies post-bath and before conditioning.
It's nice, soothing and repetitive work to get everything scrubbed, oiled, dried and reoiled. There's a nice sequence to it, and not a lot of planning involved (except working out when I can and can't leave things out to dry thanks to the endless storms this summer).
After a week of chipping away and this project I've cleaned, conditioned, de-rusted and done some minor repairs to a whole bunch of wooden tools. Most of these are home made and it's lovely to get them back in to useable condition. I ended up binning two bobbins but that still leaves 10(!) for this wheel to use. Interesting point - the home made bobbins lasted better than the 'professional' bobbins stamped with the wheel maker's mark!
Look at all that glowing, hydrated wood!
Even my feline supervisor was impressed.
Now that I'm comfortable in what I'm doing it's time to start working on the wheel!
Here's some bobbins and the two niddy noddies post-bath and before conditioning.
It's nice, soothing and repetitive work to get everything scrubbed, oiled, dried and reoiled. There's a nice sequence to it, and not a lot of planning involved (except working out when I can and can't leave things out to dry thanks to the endless storms this summer).
After a week of chipping away and this project I've cleaned, conditioned, de-rusted and done some minor repairs to a whole bunch of wooden tools. Most of these are home made and it's lovely to get them back in to useable condition. I ended up binning two bobbins but that still leaves 10(!) for this wheel to use. Interesting point - the home made bobbins lasted better than the 'professional' bobbins stamped with the wheel maker's mark!
Look at all that glowing, hydrated wood!
Even my feline supervisor was impressed.
Now that I'm comfortable in what I'm doing it's time to start working on the wheel!
Go you!
Date: 10 September 2025 11:34 pm (UTC)This project makes me think about continuity in crafts. There are often two big challenges:
* Potential newcomers are stymied by the difficulty and expense of obtaining the necessary tools and supplies.
* Older crafters wind up with SABLE problems -- and all too often, their precious goods sit in an attic for years or, worse, are thrown out by descendants who don't know what to do with the stuff.
This is where a craft club or community comes in handy, because putting the two together solves both problems. Many older crafters have kept beginner tools they no longer need because they've upgraded, and may also have a stash big enough to share some good learner materials. That clears up closet space, gets the newcomer started, and hopefully makes connections between people who may become friends.
Re: Go you!
Date: 11 September 2025 07:31 am (UTC)The spinners and weavers group I'm a part of has a very active recycling room. We get lots of donations, especially from older members who are no longer able to craft. A young person came in today with a wheel he'd bought from us, I helped him get started spinning and gave him some fibre to go home and practice with. It was really lovely to see his enthusiasm and the way his spinning improved even in the short time he was there!
Re: Go you!
Date: 11 September 2025 07:51 am (UTC)I've seen people put together beginner packages to hand out -- fibre and a drop-spindle, yarn and crochet hook or knitting needles, etc. plus an instruction booklet.
Re: Go you!
Date: 13 September 2025 02:54 am (UTC)Re: Go you!
Date: 13 September 2025 06:34 am (UTC)