Thursday, January 24, 2013

OOpsy!

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have posted comments and sent me emails. Unfortunately, I have accidentally deleted all of your comments and can't seem to figure out how to get them back! I am still working on this but am not sure if I can do it or not.

Also, I would like to welcome my new readers from Germany. Welcome!

I am still working on the St. Distaff's Day post but it should be done next week some time. I hope you all like it. I think some of you may be a bit surprised with what I have uncovered.

US 10 Knitters Stitch Markers

Meanwhile, here are some of my stitch markers that I make and sell on Etsy. They are glass beads and silver wire. I found I really enjoy working with the beads! I was surprised.


US 10 Knitter's Stitch markers

In blue glass beads.

Crocheter's Stitch markers

These are also of glass beads but with a lobster clasp for crocheting and little brass bells on the ends!


And of course, a little something just because.

Thank you for stopping by.
~Vickie


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Spinning Wheel Maintenance

In keeping with my cleaning and organizing theme, I thought it would be a good time to get the wheels ready for the upcoming year. January is the perfect time to do this since the weather keeps us indoors more often than not and why start out the new year with clean closets and a dirty wheel?
I have only been spinning for a couple of years so I had to do some research on the subject. I know how to keep my wood clean and happy but when it comes to oiling and waxing, I figured I had better ask an expert.


Oil Well in Ashford

So, I went to visit Ed, also known as Ed the Wheel Healer in Oberlin, Ohio.
Ed offers a Spinning Wheel Tune Up Workshop, which covers different types of wheels, all of their pieces and parts and what each one does, plus basic maintenance techniques. He also explains what noises are caused from what problem and offers solutions to those problems. Today, however, we are concentrating on cleaning our wheel and getting her ready for the upcoming spinning season.


Leather to wood on the Ashford

Ed builds Great Wheels, and repairs all sorts of wheels and has studied the subject in depth. He and his wife are also avid spinners and Historic Demonstrators. They can be found at Lyme Village in Bellevue Ohio during most historical events.
So who better to get a lesson from?
We started out the discussion at his workbench, where incidentally, he is working on a reproduction of an antique flax brake.


Fiber likes to gather around joints like these


“What people need to remember is fiber will get everywhere.” He said. “Any moving part of the wheel will draw fiber to it and it gets wrapped around those movable joints. That needs to be cleaned out of there periodically.”
Ed suggests using a pair of tweezers or what ever will work for you and pull the fiber out. Here are some places the fiber likes to hide.

Flyer Shaft
Bearings
Treadle hinges
Wheel Bearings

If you look closely, you can see fibers starting to cling on the arm.
Basically any joint that moves can collect fiber. One reason is probably because the oil acts like a magnet for it and it seems that once the fiber starts, more follows and the more it collects, the faster it accumulates! This can cause noises that, although Ed demonstrated to me, I just can’t seem to figure out how to spell!

Next, you will need to lubricate those moving parts. Some wheels have a reservoir here and there as in the photo above. Others will just need lubricating between all of the movable joints.

“I personally like to use graphite for metal to wood connections.” Ed says. “Graphite doesn’t contribute to damaging the wood on our antique wheels.”
But you may prefer to not use graphite. Ed suggests it can spread into your fiber. But there are a few more choices out there.

First off in his hand out from his class, Ed offers the following list of parts that need lubricating.

Metal Pins that hold the treadle bar to the front legs
Wheel Axles
Bearings on the maidens where the flyer turns
Bobbin on the flyer shaft
Footman at both the crank and treadle end
Wooden tension screws


He also notes that ‘in each of the areas above, there are multiple possible bearing materials that can be used’. He goes on to suggest the following table which he derived at from comparing several authors and their preferred usage:

Metal to Wood        Metal to Metal      Metal to Leather   Metal to Corn Husk        Wood to Leather
Heavy Mineral           Heavy Mineral
30wt Motor Oil          30wt Motor Oil
Light Grease              Mineral Oil              Mineral Oil              Mineral Oil                        Mineral Oil
Motor Oil
Petroleum Jelly          Lt Machine Oil        Lt Machine Oil                                                 Candle Wax
Lt Grease
Petroleum Jelly          Lt Wt oil                 Leather Conditioner     

Plastic to wood on my Ashford
Now, I am assuming when they refer to candle wax, they are probably thinking of parafin, not beeswax. Beeswax can be a bit sticky, in my opinion, and although great for candles, I don't think I would wax my skates with it!

If you have wood to wood joints, bar soap is suggested but not specific to a particular kind. I would have to venture a guess at something that is simple such as ivory.

Lastly, be sure to wipe off excess oil. You wouldn’t want it soaking into the wood and making a dark mark. Ed also suggests not over oiling and make sure you wipe off all excess oil as you go.

Darkened wood from years of oil.

When it comes to keeping your wood beautiful, I like to wash my antique and older wheels with Murphy’s Oil Soap and follow up with my Formby’s Lemon Oil. I like the way the wood loves it, it brings out the grain, and I like the smell. That’s why I use it. But you can choose what ever your favorite wood treatment is.



These are all methods that have been used throughout the years at one point or another by one user or another. I don’t think there is a particular material or method that is more correct over another when it comes to maintaining your wheel. I think if you just follow the few guidelines that Ed gives us and use your own good judgment, you should be alright. Or, there are also the instructions that came with your wheel! Don’t forget, the people who made your wheel will probably have their own ideal solutions to lubrication and wood preservation.


Commercial Spinning Wheel Oil

Don’t be afraid to ask another spinner for suggestions or help. After all, that’s what experience is for….sharing.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief little tutorial and I certainly hope it was helpful. I'd like to thank Ed for taking time out to help me with this subject.
Next time, I will be looking into St. Distaff’s Day.

All my best,
~Vickie

Friday, January 4, 2013

A Blustery Day at Home

    

More yarn for my Aunt. I need to start over, it is just not right.


     Well, here we are. Another year has passed and a new one is blossoming. I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and of course what ever my thoughts are, they always seem to lead back to fiber of some sort.
     As I was thinking about rearranging my living room I found my mind wandering from "where should I put the TV" to "I wonder how long it would take me to weave some curtains for that window?" This of course lead me to the loom room where I started to look through my stash to see what materials I have to weave it with and what colors I should use and of course, I decide I could design the whole room around what ever color material I use to weave the curtains with, and there starts the fantasy about recovering my couch and how grand it would be to actually weave the fabric for that project and then I would of course have to make a complimenting color for the little chairs so they don't feel left out, and then the rug! The wonderful rug I could make! Oh, what a wonderful room, new paint will top it off just nicely.....3 hours later, I realize I need help! I don't mean help around the house, although....I mean help with this habit my brain has about flitting off on it's own during an actual important task and I have to go running after it, partly because I am nosey and want to see what it is getting into, and partly because I don't want it to hurt itself!


Ornaments for the Spinner's Tree

     You'll notice a new look this year on the blog. I like it a lot better. What do you think? Also, for those of you who emailed saying you couldn't post comments, I have taken care of that too. Post away.


View from my Loom Room New Year's Day 2013


     New Year's Day was a blustery and cold one. I like it like that on occassion though. It gives me a legitimate excuse to just contemplate things and maybe get into a project or two, take a nap.
    Someone told me once that what ever you are doing on New Year's Day is what you will be doing for the rest of the year. So, I planned my day carefully. I decided to do a little of this and a little of that and be in a good mood with positive thoughts.
   

Gift Baskets for the Fiber Lover

    On New Year's Day, after chores, I was able to do some productive work. I got a lot of simple cleaning done and started in on my loom room. Which, incidentally, is open to my living room so you can imagine my problem when it was torn apart. And although I planned on doing something crafty, I just couldn't decide on what to start on.
     So I baked.

MMMMMMM!

     I don't know why, but this year, you will probably see a lot of moons and stars around the shop and my house. For some reason, I am just in the mood for these astronomical phenomenons.



          Next time, I will be doing a piece on Spinning Wheel Maintenance to get you started into the New Year. I think January is a great time to do things like this. I will be talking with Wheel Maker/Repairer, Ed Rowe from The Wheel Healer. Please be sure to stop by.



Thank you for visiting,
All of my best,

~Vickie