I’m having a blast with my new spindle. This is a most thoughtful spindle from an awesome friend and mentor.
Mongolian themed laser engraved spindle contrasted with a Kazakh shyrdak rug.
Spanish Peacock Mongolian themed laser engraved top whorl spindle and Kazakh shyrdak rug.
Made for me this past school year by my son. He made the bead and the bowl so I could spin with them and think of him.
A fellow spinning friend from Ravelry gifted me with this wonderful handmade spindle recently. She often walks in the woods and finds wooden treasures then comes home and releases the forms within creating whimsical, functional fiber tools. I’m so happy to give this little Phang a home. It’s right about 10 inches tall and fits in the hand perfectly. There is a warmth in it’s handcarved lines that make me think the maker must be a pretty special gal:>>
I believe we both became interested in Phangs during discussions on Ravelry. Tracey Hudson, who’s articles on her time in Ladakh were published by Interweave Press, was kind enough to share her source material and specifications which got us started on experiments.
If you’re intersted in real, visceral, authentic spinning then this is it. Spinning not as a hobby but to produce yarn for the weaving of daily use garments in the Himalayas.
Pics from the reenactments at our local Rev War battle site. The Great Wheel is descended from the spindle wheels brought back to Europe in the 1200s.
Continuing on with my weaving project for the warp weighted loom: 6.25 oz of locally grown Romney that I scoured, then combed, then spun with the worsted draft into lace weight singles. After skeining the yarn I wet finished it with hot water and hung it out, weighted down, on the porch to dry. I’m excited to have produced weaving yarn in accordance to the research presented from extant pieces in Greenland from the Viking era:)
