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

February.....

From our members:

Our Sunday winter tour continues apace, with a meet at our members house in Betws yn Rhos.  Smaller than a draughty hall it allows for a cheerful buzzing atmosphere where spinning, drafting and knitting can take place in the warm.  One of our new members, Haf brought with her a hand made wheel in oak, for our examination. A beautiful piece of furniture but was extremely heavy and didn't spin well. Not one for a beginner, so a trusty Ashford traveller was called for and this allowed for great spinning for the rest of the day. 

Plans were made for our Friendship day in April which completed a very successful day.

J.F.
and:
spinning Texel, Shetland, Border Leicester; 
knitting homespun into elaborate bedspread squares; 
domino knitting of homespun into a jacket; 
drop spindling; 
dog patting; 
horse watching from indoors;
spinning practice - although you could say all spinning constitutes practice;
pooling ideas on twisted fringes; 
turning down (sadly) the chance to see the sheep due to wrong shoes, leaves on line, etc..
B.T.

Haf's new wheel?  - on loan.

A dark & damp Monday in January.....

....but light and warm in Abergele for our monthly evening meeting.  Val kindly showed us her wonderful (and wonderfully catalogued) collection of dyed samples, using an eclectic variety of dyestuffs both vegetable and mineral.
Our next meeting will be on Sunday, February 9th at Jenni's house:  please contact her for details.  There is still no definite news about the Llanfair TH Community Centre, but the new committee are hoping to be able to take over near Easter.

A shining example of "how to do it":  careful documentation of experimental dyeing by Val -

- and the raw material.

Sunday Spinning in January

Many thanks to Bryn and Steve for having us to stay for the day today in their house:  nine of us fitted nicely into the lovely living room, with a solid fuel stove keeping us warm from the outside, and tasty vegetable soup keeping us warm from the inside.  As ever, the day was nicely balanced between spinning (or knitting - and even tatting) and eating:  cake is a very important part of any treat, after all.  We all got lots done and caught up on each others' New Year News.
It looks as though we will be well occupied as a Guild during 2014, with Friendship Days to visit - including our own - and opportunities to spin in public throughout the year.
Although our LlanfairTH venue is out of action until the heating is fixed, our Abergele meeting place is in fine order, and we will be there again on the fourth Monday evening of the month.  Our next Spinning Sunday will be held courtesy of Jenni F., and details are available from her, or via the Guild email at the right hand side of this blog.

From a bright and sunny morning....

....to a rather grey afternoon.

The usual variety of wheels, yarn and work in progress, and not forgetting the essentials: 

 See you all again towards the end of the month!
AC

Happy 2014 and notice of temporary change of venue (again).

A very happy New Year to all our readers.

It won't surprise you to hear that the hearing has not been fixed in the LlanfairTH Community Centre.   We have therefore decided not to met there this Sunday, and Bryn has kindly offered to host our Spinning Sunday at her house.  Directions are available from her., or via the email address in the side bar.