Potted history

It all started with a visit to a friend in Fife one weekend at the wet and windy end of last year. On my way home she took me to visit Twistfibrecraft in Newburgh. I was fascinated and bought yarn to knit a hedgehog bag, designed by Laura (who you can see in the photo on the shop website).












I used Rowan Bigwool and Sirdar Foxy for the spiky bit. When you knit it up it's twice the size and then you wash it at 60 degrees in the machine so the Bigwool felts, but the synthetic hairy yarn doesn't. I made several for gifts using various spiky yarns including Funky Fur and a longer glittery one, but the Foxy is definitely the best.












Of course I had to go back to the shop and this time Peter taught me to drop spindle, which I've been doing ever since. This is three itty bitty hanks of plain Corriedale, blended (carded) Corriedale, and Corriedale with turquoise Angelina blended in.














Then someone showed me how to use a wheel... well several people actually, at the Edinburgh Spinners, Weavers and Dyers Guild who also loaned me the Guild wheel, an Ashford Traveller ST. My main difficulty was that I have tiled floors at home so as soon as I got up any momentum with the treadling it became a game of follow my wheel as the traveller inched across the kitchen floor. I eventually managed to wedge it against a kitchen cupboard, but spinning facing a cupboard when the rest of the family are behind you isn't the most sociable of activities.
Of course by now I had to have a wheel, and after trying every wheel in the shop, found that I could make yarn on all of them.... so I bought the Ashford Kiwi.

1) It's a simple clean design (I hate twiddly-bits).
2) I like the solid MDF wheel. Ideal for painting.
3) It's a double treadle.
4) It was the least expensive, which means more £££ to spend on fibre and experimenting.
It is now painted, varnished and assembly is almost complete.
I also got a non slip under carpet thing to go under it from IKEA which I hope will stop the chase me around the room game this time.












I was back up in Newburgh this weekend for a Dye Walk, and picked up some dyed pencil roving which is for some socks for my other half, though I think I will do the heels and toes in proper sock yarn or I forsee many evenings of winter darning and reknitting this winter.