Permaculture in Action

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Yarn Along- Spinning up a Storm.




A long time dream of mine has been to make myself  a garment from homespun. I started spinning around 10 years ago on a wheel made by my dad.



 He built it as a challenge not entirely sure that it would actually spin. It won first place at the local show and I took on the delightful job of testing it's spinning capabilities. I was very pleased to be able to tell dad that yes indeed it did spin. I spun enough yarn to make a pair of booties. But it became increasingly difficult to get the wheel to spin consistently and in the end it would  not draw in at all. A case of balance I was told. It would appear that the wheel would continually become unbalanced and not spin. I was devestated with the idea that the wheel wouldn't spin and  I became a little disenchanted with the whole thing.

In the mean time I was gifted a fleece and of course it reignited my interest, so Mark took on the task of finding me a wheel on ebay. He found a beautiful Ashford spinning wheel. At that time we had Mark's daughter and family living with us and his daughter commented on the fact that she was waiting for an item on ebay to finish. And I said ''Funny so is your father''. You guessed it they were bidding against each other on the same wheel.What a hoot.

Anyway I got myself a new hardly ever used wheel.



I still wasn't very confident with spinning as my dad's wheel wasn't easy to use so I put off spinning for over a year. Last month after seeing this shawl over at soulemamas I was inspired to dust of that spinning wheel and get on with it and here's the result. 





And once I got started, well I just couldn't be stopped. I saw  this vest that Lori made and just loved it and thought some homespun would do for that. I liked the stripe that Lori added so I too added some stripes of blue (cause I do like blue) with yarn from my stash.


I'm just a little pleased with myself. I've managed to card the fleece, spin it into yarn and then knit it into garments. The vest is a little big but it will be fine over other clothing in winter. I'm still trying to get the guage right. Of course I should have done a tension square and didn't in my eagerness to get cracking.  And with all that busyness I have managed a little reading. the shorter days get us inside earlier, with dinner that little bit earlier there's more time in the evenings for some extra knitting and reading.

 At the moment I'm reading "Edge of The Sacred - Transformation in Australia"  by David J Tacey.  
''The cure for our ecologically disastrous abuse of the earth and our culturally debilitating racism is the spiritual renewal of consciousness.''
 
I have only read a couple of chapters but it resonates beautifully with me. How can we care about the earth and any of it's inhabitants until we have revised our sense of identity to include the natural world.
Tacey talks about how our tough macho Australian image is a defence aginst the harsh unfamiliar conditions that faced early white settlers. We have carried this image with us ever since. He talks about the sacredness of the outback and the mythic bond that exists between this land and its indigenous inhabitants. He talks about recovering the sacred in Australia. A very thought provoking read.

Looking forward to seeing more yarns over at Ginny's



18 comments:

  1. Oh wow! That shawl looks just beautiful on you! I saw it on Soulemama's blog, and yours looks just as beautiful on you as Soulemama's does on her.

    Your spinning is just amazing. I'm looking forward to living closer to you so you can teach me!

    And you're marvelously productive on the knitting needles, M'am! So much knitting! It's taken me three evenings, and three gauge swatches just to get my tension right -- and I haven't even started my jumper yet! Dreaming of my Radical Homemaker's life when I have more time to knit.

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  2. Wow, beautiful shawl and amazing vest. Just the things for cold Winters.

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  3. Wow, that is one awesome storm pic Kate.......I love it, hope you got some rain out of it and there wasn't any damage done in it's wake.
    Your dad must've been one very clever craftsman, what a lot of work in that spinning wheel.....
    Love your shawl and vest....the blue stripes have come up a treat. Must be very satisfying to be able to make knitted garments from scratch and great photo of you without your hat too......

    Claire :}

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  4. With all that you have to do, you did these in a month?

    Both look lovely. That shawl is beautiful. The book sounds a good one, too.

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  5. It's just beautiful Kate. What a joy it must be to know you started that from beginning to end.

    Did someone teach you to spin or did you learn on your own? Mike and I have been talking about me learning to spin, but since I don't live in a wool needed climate there is no one around here who spins. If I want to learn to use a wheel, it will be on my own.

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    1. I went alog to a spinning group for a few months but was very frustrated with the wheel and then didn't go again for many years. Once I got my new wheel I had some difficulties with tension and very nearly gave up again. I looked up a few tuts on utube and then just kept going. Once you get the rythym and the feel of turning the wheel with your foot and allowing the fleece to pull in, it just takes practice to get it more and more even. i still have a long way to go to get the yarn even but it's getting easier every time I use the wheel.I think you should give it a go. I know you'll just love it.

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  6. I love this post. I am hoping to in the future spin our wool as I am learning every aspect of our farm life and time is the key as well as patience when planning goals. You have inspired me and oh the sweetness of them both bidding on the same item. You are indeed cherished for this kind gift that they both wanted for you. I pray you spend much time relaxing, reflecting, and spinning!

    Jennifer

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  7. Just beautiful Kate. Now the days are getting shorter I will be dusting off my spinning wheel!

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  8. www.piskycoveblog.com

    so glad you returned to spinning and the garments look fabulous...your father's wheel looks wonderful. I too have a craft made wheel in my collection and it certainly has a mind of its own and I am glad of my alternative Ashford wheels that are 'tamed'!

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  9. I love the vest! You're so clever - I haven't spun for ages but this post makes me keen! Ans that book sounds great. Is it an old book or a recent one?

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  10. This is so cool, being involved with your garment at every step! Such a great goal to achieve!

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  11. Pop was amazingly talented and you mother are too! Again, I am so inspired. You are a very resourceful, creative and talented lady. Sarah. xx

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  12. Oh and you look stunning in your shawl!! sarah

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    1. Thankyou, my sweet sweet girl.Oh I do miss having you girls around me!

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  13. Oh wow, Kate, you have been BUSY!! Your handspun garments are gorgeous!! Glad to hear you are enjoying his craft after waiting so long. :)

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  14. Kate, this post is just lovely, so awesome about your wheel and that your dad, made it. what a treasure. And your handspan wool is amazing, I love your shawl and vest, the are beautiful and so are you. I think I need a shawl like yours now. :)
    Thank you for the inspiration, I know I'm late here but glad still.

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  15. I owned an Ashford wheel at one time, but wasn't using it, so I sold it. I had put it together and finished it. They absolutely are workhorses. The wheel your dad made is fantastic. If you can find a local spinner or guild, it would be worth taking it to a meeting to see if they've got an expert who can spot and fix the problem. It looks as though he bought a set of plans (though maybe not), but if so, there is probably something minor that can be adjusted to get it to spin properly. If he bought the plans, it is also possible it was not built to be a working wheel, but primarily a decorative article. Hopefully, that is not the case.

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  16. Wow that shawl looks great. My Nan is a keen knitter and spinner and she is leaving her spinning wheel to me. I am not sure what brand it is but one day I will have one of my own.

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