Fabulous historical spinning videos
I know I haven't had time to write much. But I have literally either had a baby climbing on me ( like right at this minute) or have been spinning lots of yarn. I am proud to announce that Crafty Housewife yarns is now featured in two yarn shops in TN. Loopville in Knoxville and Atomic Fibers in Oak Ridge. While trapped under a baby I did stumble across a cool video seris on youtube. They appear to be the work of Lois Swales, who has a blog www.missingspindle.blogspot.com . It does look like it hasn't been updated in a while but she has a treasure trove of great info for any one interested in Spinning or Fiber Arts. I also admire her scene of humor. With out further a dew.
Me trapped under the little people
How to Use the Scottish whorl-less spindle for spinning woolen yarn. More at my blog: missingspindle.blogspot.com and Etsy shop: missingspindle.etsy.com. These Gaelic Dealgans, Fadsadh and Fairsaids are remembered as plying spindles, but they were used in the past to spin woolen rolags from sheep raised in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
Spinning in the English Middle Ages, using spindle and distaff dressed with wool. Spindles available at missingspindle.etsy.com. Spinster uses small spindles, such as re-creations of the Coppergate (York England) archaeological finds and spindles inspired by the Luttrell Psalter and the Decretals of Gregory IX manuscripts. The use of a round 'cop' is displayed.
How to Spin like a Viking Woman! I concentrate on the re-created tools for spindle sticks and removable whorls and whether they are top-weighted or bottom-weighted. I also introduce the use of the Hand Distaff dressed with wool. (Actual hand distaff in action here: http://flic.kr/p/qXRfAa ) Video includes recreations of the Oseberg boat grave finds from circa 825 CE.
Great Wheel wool spinning on an 1808 dated wheel. Also: be sure to watch the YouTube companion video: "Carding Wool like a Ghost". More Ghostly info on my blog at 'missingspindle.blogspot.com'. The wheel was discovered in the collection of a New York State (Wayne county) pioneer family.
