And so to spindles

The amount that I use my spindles varies. I always have some spindling on the go - by the computer, for instance, if waiting for chat, downloads, watching catch-up tv. And there is usually something downstairs as well. For various reasons, I am upping my spindling activity just now - I did consider reverting to my former philosophy of having a spindle project in every room, but have settled instead for several projects in two or three rooms.........



These have been the two ongoing downstairs spindles for some time now. Two different silks from Royale Hare, a little Golding spindle and one that for ages was known as "spindle of unknown origin" but I have now found its tag and know it to be from Asciano. Quite lovely to look at and to use. I very much enjoy spindle spinning silk, and this will continue to be a work in progress.

I have added more luxury fibre to the mix, though.



Cashmere, on a Greensleeves Damsel Monique. I really like these spindles, too, and this one never made it in to stock on the pretext that it had the very slightest wobble, probably due to the wood - Masur birch, if memory serves, with an irregular grain, which would, of course lead to a small imbalance. Yeah, right. This spindle runs for such a long time that cashmere is easily spun with an extended draw on it with no problems of too little twist. Fun.



And just to prove that I do complete projects, not merely start them, here is the plyed merino(?) from the Extended Coven Project, and the new cd case spindle from Etsy with some rather nice dyed fibre unearthed from the stash, probably originally from Freyalynn.



Now, these two. Look carefully! Yes, that's right, your eyes do not deceive you, one is a bottom whorl. For various reasons, and I will write it all up in time. Meanwhile, I am enjoying spinning a lovely merino/tencel/bamboo blend from Royale Hare. And yes, I do know that tencel and bamboo are both rayon, but this one uses the nicer, rather more matte and almost but not quite "fluffy" bamboo that makes a gorgeous soft yarn.



This next is a new spindle, from a new UK spindle maker. Very, very pretty, very well made and first impressions are leaning towards favourable. I need to give it a good workout, and that might take a while. For now, I shall mainly sit and admire it.

Speaking of new spindles - and indeed of the aforementioned top/bottom whorl project. I decided that I needed to do it with a properly matched pair. So I have on order two Golding 2" ebony spindles of the same weight, one each way. Now, that really is going to be fun! As they are quite small and light, I need to think what to spin on them - I have some superfine merino, or a merino-silk blend that might do nicely.....

And no - I have not given up wheel spinning!



Three ply merino/bamboo for socks, fibre from Bonkers Originals.