P.S.

Our main update is in the post below, but Kate has shown me the pattern for her lovely moss-stitch baby bootees.  As it's copyrighted by Sue Goldthorpe, I can't reproduce it here, but I'm happy to provide the link to the Wool Shop Leeds:  http://www.thewoolshopleeds.co.uk
The pattern is dated 2009, and isn't on the website at present, but I'm sure that the Wool Shop will be able to help.  I hope we can have a photograph of the finished boots at some stage. 
A.C.

... and March

We've had a busy few weeks since our last entry on the blog.  Thanks very much to the Gwynedd Guild for their hospitality on their Friendship Day:  they were very busy in their temporary (?) home in LlanfairPG, and those Abergele members who made the journey had a good time.
Our twice-monthly meetings continue to be well attended, and we have all been spinning away like mad.  More thanks, this time to our Chairlady, for opening up her home on Sunday for us all.  It was a glorious Spring day, and we would have been tempted to sit outside if it hadn't been decidedly chilly despite the sunshine.  No cake pictures this time, as it disappeared too quickly.
The star of the event was undoubtedly Hilary's replica great wheel a.k.a. The Walking Wheel.  It really is too big to fit into one photograph.  It is in beautiful, working order and we have hopes that it may make a guest appearance at our own Friendship Day next month (if there's room!)

A very Great wheel, with two of its' smaller cousins in the background.  Interestingly, it appears to have a form of "Scotch" tension controlling the Sleeping Beauty-type spindle. 

Just to prove that it does work! (with apologies for the poor-quality edit, to remove someone's bottom from the shot).  Spinning on a great wheel requires a knack which is easy to loose when you're used to using both hands on a modern wheel.  Basically, you turn the wheel with one hand while drafting backwards with the other.  The thread "clicks" off the point of the spindle, as you walk slowly away.  When you've run out of arms you walk forwards to wind the thread on to the spindle.  A stick in the left hand, to turn the wheel, would help.

Another beautifully made piece of kit:  Yvonne's Turkish spindle (in pieces).  For some reason, I don't have a picture of it assembled and working.  Next time?

 

 

 

 Two more images from our last spinning evening in Abergele:  June's very smart blanket squares,

and someone making sure to keep her seat...

AC