A Tale of Two Spinning Wheels: Albert and an Antique

摘要

I am a huge enthusiast for spinning in public. It's an opening for so many interesting conversations, and a great way to advertise this therapeutic, environmentally friendly occupation. Some viewers watch to work out the mechanism, whereas others are more interested in the finished product. I started this way, talking to a local spinner in our town market place. I was just interested in the yarn, but she suggested that if I learned to spin, the lanolin in wool fleece would be a solution to my cracked winter hands. As a result of her encouragement I joined her and friends at a Wingham Wool day, during which I was generously supplied with both samples and instruction to try out on my new drop spindle. It was such fun that I continued to use the drop spindle for many months before being lent an Ashford Traditional wheel. I joined local groups and spun in public, in company and at home, learning from the expertise, intelligence and creativity of those experienced in my new hobby.