Seabreeze Spinners

The Sunna Double Slotted Rigid Heddle is unique in that it allows the 13 pattern threads to remain in the center of the warp opening whether the heddle is in the up or down position. This allows the weaver to easily pick-up pattern “picks”.

I designed a “tape” or “band” with a picked celtic pattern in yellow on red in the center or the band with a blue, white, yellow and red narrow pattern on each edge. First I warped the planned design. At first I used a yellow weft thread but I didn’t like the speckled yellow on red background so I switched to red weft. All the thread is 8/2 cotton but I doubled the design threads, treating them as a single thread.

To manage the thread while I warped, I borrowed a iron rod from the apron of my 4/4 floor loom and spread it between the runs of the sides of an old oak babby crib that I’ve repurposed as a drying rack. I spread the sides to better accomodate the spools of thread.

The heddle was threaded; pattern threads in the short slots. I used a Stoorstalka threader which I loved to thread the heddle. My only complaint, lost one (threader) to the carpet. Despite getting on hands and kneeds, still haven’t found it.

To follow the pattern while I wove, I used a ruler with sticky magnets attached to the reverese. Used a dollar store metal message board and the ruler to move along easily and without worring if pattern would float away.

Wound the threads onto the cradle loom and began weaving. What a joy … The Suynna is truely linnovative and a delight to use! Was a tad too large for the cradle loom, but workable.

Great deal (FREE SHIPPING) for purchases through my Etsy site for a limited time. Deal applies to NEW Schacht Spindle Floor Looms ordered between 4/23/2013 and 5/17/2013. For details, visit my Etsy site HERE.

(Click on image below to go to Schacht Spindle web site to learn more about these floor looms.)

One more Sunna double slotted rigid heddle added to Seabreeze Spinners Etsy Store.

Be watching this blog where we’ll be reviewing and demonstrating accessories for rigid heddle weaving and tape/band loom weaving.

Announcing that nifty new threaders have been added to the Etsy store. While the Stoorstalka threaders that come 5 to a pack are perfect for double-slotted rigid heddles (LOL all those tiny holes) they work great for all rigid heddle application. The stiff thread is easy to thread and is kind to the yarn fiber.

Very excited to announce, a sweet shipment is on it’s way from Sweden. I’m now a distributor for Stoorstalka providing band – inkle – tape – rigid heddle loom weavers supplies.  Below is a sampling of what I’ll be selling here in the states. More will be added to the Etsy site as fast as my little fingers can add them.Visit the Seabreezespinner’s  Etsy Store to make your purchase.

The Connecticut Chair Wheel restoration was taken on after following up a Craig’s List sale for a chair wheel. Seeing the double treadles in the Craig’s List photos, I was certain it was a large contemporary wheel.  However, upon arrival I discovered a deminuative wheel, obviously old, wobbly and in great need of repair.

I had no idea what I had found until after I did some research.  The Spinning Wheel Sleuth was an excellent resource as a starting place.   Notice the offset alignment of the wheels which appears rather unique.  I found even more information in the “text” Spinning Wheels & Accessories by Michael B. Taylor.

Wheel as found and under restoration:

The dried wood responded to “spa bath” of orange oil and bee’s wax:

To stablize the wobble, bushings were fashioned from PVC to replace the damaged wood.

Tweaked & adjusted until all the wheels were in alignment.  Most troubling in the repair process was getting the excellerator wheel belt to work. I tried leather belting but it was much too stiff. Tried webbed belting, again unsuitable. Finally bought a length of belting from a local shoe and leather repair store. I worried about not having enough length; I needn’t have. The leather stretched and stretched and I had to keep cutting the belt shorter until it gained tracktion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The oiled oak footmen are a replacement. The dark wood is all original.

The “bird cage” was not restored … the distaff was missing arms and the bird cage would have had sticks similar to the bamboo stick I inserted.

The bobbin was missing it’s end cap.  To keep it as original as possible, an endcap was fashioned from plastic nut can lid.

Nuts provide stability to the wheel.  Ancient nut repair was left untouched; it adds character:

Completed wheels photos (click on photo to go to larger image):

 

During a conversation with Jerry Jensen at “The Spinning Wheel Shop” he told stories about this model. He calls it “the 18” wheel. It was the first wheel model that he built starting back in the 1960’s. It is based on his wife’s spinning wheel that he got for her in 1960. He said that he made refinements based on Elsie Davenport’s book.

Jerry said that he sold the wheels to JC Penny and several furniture stores in the Milwaukee area for $29.99 during the ‘60’s and 70’s. They sold them for $79.99. Some of us can recall that Early American furniture was quite popular then. One of the Milwaukee newspapers ran a feature about Jerry’s spinning wheels. The owner of the Sheboygan Chair company saw this article and offered Jerry the contents of his closed factory. So Jerry said that he borrowed an onion truck, and drove it to Sheboygan to collect chair spindles that would become wheel legs. He said that he made this wheel until the early ‘90’s. So this is probably one of the last of that type.

(click on images for larger view)
Used Gaywool Dye to dye hand spun 2 ply wool. Dyed natural wool hand spun yellow & pumpkin but then over-dyed grey hand spun for rich tones of chocolate , blue and cinnamon. Attempted to hand paint grey roving but didn’t like the results. Colors didn’t work. Over-dyed hand painted roving with purple and magenta with less success; it matted. But after going through the hand carder several times and adding a little bling … the roving was lovely and spun up beautifully.

Tropical Twister

(double click on photos for larger image) I took Spin-In magazine’s challenge to recycle outdated knitted items from your closet or thrift store finds. The sweater I choose was a closet find … “What was I thinking” … shoulder pads and all. The sweater was a wool, mohair, nylon blend. I’m thinking sock yarn. First, look for a sweater that has chain stitch holding the seams; the type seams that seal potato sacks and dog food bags. Once the seams were separated, I unraveled the knit and balled up the yarn. You’ll notice in the photo a mix of beads. I threaded one stand of fiber with mixed beads which would later be spun into the yarn. I’m thinking a little bit a beads on the sock tops. Then I spun a two ply yarn on my Timbertops chair wheel. The first yarn was skeined onto a sample niddy noddy. The first spun will be mailed off to Spin-In in answer to the challenge, the rest, socks ….

Found a detailed tutorial on-line HERE at craftsylish blog.

Tropical Twister

I’ve had inquires regarding my homespun yarn so I’ve begun listing it on Etsy HERE along with Rick Reeves orifice hooks/threaders.

Tropical Twister