My ridiculously thoughtful neighbor pal gave me the most beautiful antique spinning wheel I’ve ever seen.
I’m not a spinner–yet–so I really don’t know what I’m doing, but I wanted to show you how pretty she is.
The fly wheel seems to be in great shape, all the spokes are pristine.
The flyer is intact, the whorl looks good. It came with several bobbins.
The mother of all and the maidens are good. It has a birdcage distaff (almost intact) and a great tensioning screw.
All that I can tell is missing is the footman, which should be simple for me to replace.
The treadle is strong but nicely worn by much use and is a pleasure to rest my bare foot on.
Now all I need is some sheep or a field of flax.
It’s beautiful! You must learn to spin. I am learning now.
Wow, that is a beautiful gift. You are so lucky. 🙂 Enjoy.
It is beautiful! Where would one even go to learn to spin? I’m looking forward to hearing about your exploits with this fabulous machine.
Oooooo it’s gorgeous!!! I don’t know how to spin but I would LOVE to learn. Congrats on such a wonderful gift and wishing you lots of happy spinning!
How neat for you and what a nice neighbor!
have you heard of “Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm” ? fiberfarm.com I look at her site nearly every day…inspiring! She has plenty of fleece for you!
carol–No, but I will have to check it out.
Ms Daisy and clan have been the most wonderful neighbors – allowing me to stay in the guesthouse while my house was being destroyed and reconstructed! She is such a blessing giving me a port when the was one heck of a storm, sharing her garden bounty with me and accepting me into the fold as if I were family. The spinning wheel is just a small token of my appreciation and thanks but truely does not even begin to pay her back for all she has done for me and my Precious. I am so blessed to have a sister/neighbor who was cut from the same mold as I. I still need to get her to use power tools more though! LOL
What a blessing! What a great gift! What a great neighbor! LOL I think you should invest in a pair of alpacas! Alpaca wool isn’t itchy.
You know what is best about this post? Imagining the person who got this spinning wheel originally. I’ll bet she (maybe he but come on. She!) got the same sort of oohs and aahs from her friends and neighbors.
And I’m fascinated to learn more about Mother of All and the Maidens!
I know nothing about spinning wheels, but that looks like a beauty! You are very fortunate….Enjoy it!
Lisa Mertins–I had never thought of that until you said it, now I think I will always think of her, whoever she was, every time I see this wheel. Thank you.
G–Oh, yeah. Don’t mess with girls with power tools!
Alisha Hauser–I would if I could, believe me! Wouldn’t that be a sight over the neighbor’s fence. . .
What a fabulous find! And in such great condition. There are lots of great resources out there for spinning. You’ll love it. Just sit at your wheel for a while once you get her up and running and get to know her. Treadle this way, that way, stop, start. And give her lots of good yummy lightweight oil. (Yummy for her, of course.)
I love to imagine all the stories old wheels could tell if they could just talk….
awesome! My aunt is sending me her spinning wheel and I can’t wait. I already have my sheep and I need to know how to shear, card, dye, spin, and knit by spring when their coats are ready. It will be a busy winter!!!! Stevie@ruffledfeathersandspiledmilk.com
Beautiful!!!!! I need to pull my spinning wheel out of the closet and play with her 🙂
That is so beautiful!!!
Alpacas – first it was Sheep – now Alpacas! Would love see those little faces over the top of the fence each day! Of course Precious would not know what to do with herself – she had a bad enough time trying to figure out the Horse down the street “Mom – it looks like me but it is HUGE!”
Oh yeah Daisy – did you see that the Horse farm/house is up for sale? 🙁
Hey D – go to this link – is this your wheel? I tlooks awfully similar! http://thewoolmerchantsdaughter.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/anatomy-of-a-spinning-wheel/
G–You would, but you’re not the average neighbor, unfortunately. Yes, hopefully they will find someone who wants to keep it in horses.
G–Very similar!
Another Link for the Saxony Wheel
http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/wheel-styles.shtml
Love it !
Your wheel is lovely. once you replace the footman and start using it you will get much pleasure
The only problem with spinning is it is addictive.
Anne in Dunedin NZ
You will no doubt spend a heap of time on YouTube for spinning lessons, you may not know about knitty.com which has spinning e-mag as well. Of course you will have found by now the fibre artists Mecca which is ravelry.com
Enjoy your new tool!
Wow!! what a beauty! Great neighbor!
There is a new yarn/spinning shop in Griffith, Indiana.
It is called Spinnin’ Yarns.
Nice, friendly shop.
check it out…
That is something that fairy tales are made of! I love it. What a great reason to get some angora goats or rabbits….or maybe not. 😉
Mary–It is a classic shape, isn’t it? And don’t think I haven’t thought of goats. Or sheep. Grr. Want them all.
That is quite the beauty! I would love to send you some hand carded rolags…
It’s beautiful! Do you know who is the manufacturer and year of it? I have one similar that is missing some parts and in order to get the pieces I need this information. Let me know if you know. Have you spun any yarn yet? 🙂
Laura–Unfortunately, no, I haven’t id’d the mfg. or year. Still no yarn. One day.
Since you wrote this post have you learned anything about the history of this wheel? I’m currently restoring a wheel that I think is by the same manufacturer–the wheel spokes match and the other turned pieces look extremely similar. Our wheel is not in as good shape–it needs some replacement flyer hooks, has larger chips on the bobbin and whorl (and is missing the inset whorl nut), and is missing the distaff. I’d love to exchange notes on how this wheel has worked for you, what sort of care and upkeep it has needed, and where you found replacement parts.
Patrick–I haven’t learned anything new about it’s provenance. I did make a new footman out of oak, stained close to the same color as the rest of the wheel. Since it was so intact, I haven’t obtained any replacement parts. I simply dust it. Because it’s a flax wheel and I don’t spin flax as a rule, it hasn’t gotten more than a little recreational spinning. Although it’s functional, I mainly appreciate it for its beauty. Hope you are able to find more resources. There are great forums and groups on Ravelry I would try for advice and connects to other spinning folks. Best of luck!