I've finished spinning the mohair and wool blend roving...shown here with my new nostepinne that Fred Hatton made.
The nostepinne tool is Scandinavian in origin...and I believe if you translate the word it means "nest stick". I have been learning how to use it..but most of my center balls come out looking rather oval in shape..so I guess I need some practice. The Nostepinne was made by Fred in his workshop. The wood is Padauk. There are three species of this tree, all are in the legume family and have the Latin names of Pterocarpus soyauxii, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, and Pterocarpus dalbergioides. Mine is a beautiful color of red now, but will most likely darken with age.
Speaking of "practice"...I have been trying to get a block of time each day set aside for me to practice spinning on my Great Wheel. Fred just made me a new spindle, and it works wonderfully. I decided to try the tip that Sharon Peffer told me about this past summer. I am referring to the use of corn husks wrapped around the spindle shaft. I found that this is helpful to the structure of the cop. Without it, my cops lose their shape and don't hold together very well, once I have taken them off the spindle. With the corn husk, they seem to be sturdy enough to ply. I tried putting them on my lazy kate, but it did not work very well, they were a little bit to long for that. So I just put them in a bowl, and plied from there.
This picture of my finished cops reminds me of Pyrometric Cones reaching temperature in the kiln...but it gives you an idea of how the corn husk gives the cop stability.
6 comments:
Love your nostepinne, Cyndy. James has promised to make me one for Christmas (yay!) from a piece of spalted birch that I found in the woodpile. I've been using a piece of closet rod for winding balls, and I think it's time for something a bit more professional. :)
Spalted birch! What a found treasure! It will be beautiful, and an heirloom piece when he is finished (see if you can get him to sign and date it for you too!)
I saw some lovely turned bowls in spalted birch at the craft fair last weekend. Very unusual.
What is the fiber you are spinning on the great wheel? Do you mind standing while spinning, does it feel as relaxing as a smaller wheel? Course being relaxed was not the goal when people spun on great wheels years ago! I am sure it feels like learning an entire new set of coordination.
Cindy
Hi Cindy!
Yes..spalted maple is beautiful too...each piece unique unto itself.
The fiber I am spinning on the walking wheel is some unknown breed (possibly Finn), but it is superwash. I am using it not only because I have at least a pound of it...but because it is so beautifully prepared. Half the trick to spinning on the Great Wheel is fiber preparation...I love standing/walking-you get a rhythm going like dancing! You also seem to get much accomplished in a shorter time span.
Thanks for sharing your progress with the Great Wheel! Makes me want to dig mine out. Looks like you're doing some lovely work. The mohair/wool blend looks lovely, too.
At least someone is getting some spinning done. I just sat down and spun for the first time in about two weeks or more. Looking forward to the end of the job and the coming snow to become a hermit and get more done! :^D
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