Re: RakeStraw Spinners !

I dont think there is any such thing :) I have tried an electric and didnt like it much, they take too much speed control away from you. This little spindle looks neat though, might just have to try one. I could understand though with arthritis, it would be hard to use. ~~Becky

I dont think there is any such thing :) I have tried an electric and didnt like it much, they take too much speed control away from you. This little spindle looks neat though, might just have to try one. I could understand though with arthritis, it would be hard to use. ~~Becky

Wooly I have a bulbky electric spinner, but it is just not the same as sitting behind my Lendrum with the wooly winder.

Els

Oh yes indeed, Becky, there are electrically driven spinning wheels. We had a Guild member with osteoporosis, she used an electric spinning wheel.. The big fly wheel is gone, and replaced by a motor and a foot paddle similar to the one you use on a sewing machine. I would think that the continuous motion with the spinning hand is very hard on the wrist, and certainly would be a problem for me if I did a couple of hours of spinning.

Els

I meant there is no such thing as as a cheap electric spinner! LOL I mentioned above I have tried one, but didnt like it much....

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:13:51 GMT, Wooly spun a fine yarn

If you'll talk to ME about a cheap CSM! LOL!

Seriously, regarding that Rakestraw spinner, what I think is bad-marketing on their part, is that they have the video and pdf file available right there for anybody... if it were MY product, the video and or pdf would be available with purchase. As it stands right now, anyone can download the video and pdf, and then just make their own version of the rakestraw style...y'know? ;) Noreen

Right I missed that, part of the sentence.....LOL We write like we talk and sometimes I don't get that half of the sentence still hanging in cyber space.

I do think that there are cheap electrical spinners about, you just have to search for it. The bulky one I have is home made and was given to me when someone cleaned out her garage. I would use it if I was a production hand spinner, but for me the motion of feet, and hands coordinated is the beauty of it.

Els

Still, for those who have problems I think an electrical spinner could be a good thing. I bet someone handy could make one using the motor from an old sewing machine, which would already have the foot pedal speed control.

=Tamar

Tamar, I think that the one member in our Guild who used a electric spinner, had her husband make it from an old sewing machine setup. The bulky one I have is also made from bits and piece of an old sewing machine. I am sure that for some people it is the solution. Joan had sever osteoporosis, and this worked well for her.

Els

hi Els, I made my own electric spinner, with a sewing machine motor and a mother of all...works wonders. However I did find the pages Noreen put up interesting.

higz Cher

Oh yes indeed Cher, you are right, it is a very interesting way of spinning and plying. The plying part is Andean plying which you can do with the use of your hand. Doing this with the aid of a the board spinner is an interesting version of that. The spinning board to spin a thread is also interesting. They are all variations on a theme. I passed this information on to the Guild member who is the coordinator for spinning lessons for beginners. We teach spinning on a tube or empty toilet roll. I was shown that in the seventies by a woman who had traveled to Ireland. Your Thumb is the spindle the tube the bobbin. Your hands do the rest. With this method you can spin Z and S twist, and also ply by using left and right hands alternately.

Els

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 17:56:36 GMT, Els van Dam spun a fine yarn

Els, I am curious, do you think the proprieteer's of the site give too much information, as Cher and I do? Noreen

hi Els, well this is interesting, I can't say I've ever seen anyone do this with loo roll inner tubes but sounds interesting...now you'll have me fiddling about trying to do it.

I did some K/braiding last night and made an interestingly coloured key fob like the one you sent me, but using hand dyed and spun yarn...I like it. It seems to have a pink them, so I started by pushing a matching bead onto the end, having first folded half the number of threads I needed so that I doubled them, worked up in an evening. lovelyl

Higz Cher

I do not know Noreen, maybe it is not important to them, or it is more imortant that people see how it works and to get them interested in this kind of spinning. Not everyone is handy and will copy it, there may be lots of people out there that will contact them and buy one. I did not look to closely at the complete website, do they give a price for the board...?? I thought that the little videos were well done and very clear in showing how it works.

Els

Hello Cher, I like the sound of painted warp ends for your braiding. I have not done that, but you give me a good idea of doing so this summer.

My brother just bought a video camera, maybe He can practise on making a video of spinning on a toilet roll. I find that it is wonderful, because it is so portable and you winde you yarn up right after you spun it. Just like spinning on a walking wheel, of the tip of a spindle. I have some pictures made for a friend of the tube spinning (one of the members in our Guild thought we should call it tube spinning, toilet roll spinning did not sound right to her....LOL, Cher lets exchange pictures of your braid for some pictures of toilet roll spinning....LOL

Els

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 22:29:00 GMT, Els van Dam spun a fine yarn

Oh, Els, I agree, VERY professionally done video AND well-done pdf booklet! Tis true, they might be so enamoured with spinning, and enabling so many who might not otherwise be able to, to 'ust do it' as the Nike adverts say! :D Noreen

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 22:34:48 GMT, Els van Dam spun a fine yarn

Nothing like a couple of spinners to lighten the mood here! Thanks, Cher and Els! Hugs, Noreen

Will take some pics today (sunday) and send them to you Els, thanks for your pics they are lovely albeit a bit confusing for my little brain to work out how you get the twist into it, or do you twist between thumb and finger and then roll it onto the roll...

confusia he say...lol

higz Cher

Well thats cos, I for one, love talking about spinning and weaving projects Els herself is an amazing person like a walking encyclopedia - what she doesn't know, isn't worth knowing.. higz Cher