Seabreeze Spinners

(double click on photos for larger image) I took Spin-In magazine’s challenge to recycle outdated knitted items from your closet or thrift store finds.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.

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Recently traveled from Florida to Dallas for a holiday visit and some “picking”. I brought with me my recent Craig’s List find, a Norwegian Princess Spinning Wheel, and along the way, in south-east Texas, I picked up an eBay pick-up only auction win, a Rick Reeves frame wheel.

I traveled light, a small bag with clothes and a large tote with spinning accessories, niddy noddy etc. and a large box of fiber … plus of course the two wheels. I picked up my daughter from school. The large college parking lot was resplendent with older white four door cars and as she scurried ahead of me, I said “look for the white car with two spinning wheels in the back seat.” She didn’t bat an eye, just gave me a knowing smile … who doesn’t travel cross country with two full size spinning wheels.

Found a sighting in Paula Simmons book, Spinning and Weaving with Wool, on page 68 a picture of the Norwegian Princess (much better shape), which apparently were imported and sold by Robin and Russ Handweavers, McMinnville, Oregon. The wheels were reported made of Beech with a lacquer finish. Originally the wheel came with 4 bobbins and had flyer ratios of 1.33 and 1.66. A very fast wheel. My wheel came with a new flyer and several new bobbins.

The Rick Reeves was in need of a major cleaning. The Norwegian was in less need of cleaning but it’s leg came off and it appeared there had been an old super glue repair. Super glue doesn’t work on everything, but Elmer’s? … Used white glue to repair the leg, and all was well. She spins beautifully. More regarding the Rick Reeves Frame Wheel in previous post.

I had forgotten my lazy kate and don’t tend to like on board kates so I improvised; who doesn’t carry knitting needles on trips, just in case?

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When planning my trip to Dallas over the holidays, a Rick Reeves hand turned chair wheel appeared on eBay, “pick up only”. I won the auction, adjusted my itinerary and made a swing through southeast Texas to pick up the wheel. I was already traveling with a “Norwegian Princess Wheel” snagged from Craig’s List and delivered by FedEx days before I left.

The Rick Reeves wheel was made in 2000 but had never even had a drive band on her. The purchaser had planned to learn to spin but health issues arose that kept her from learning. The wheel sat untouched. And I mean “untouched”; it had better than a decade of dust, kitchen oil residue and roach droppings layered in a thick coat of grime.

I used a Mr. Clean Magic sponges, 3M green scrubbers, denatured alcohol and degreaser to scrub her ’til all of the grime and most of the Danish Oil Finish were gone. Rather than run the risk of reassembling the wheel and having parts freeze, she rode home “naked”. Once home, I disassembled everything that easily removed and coated the various pieces with several light coats of Datco Danish Oil. After leaving the disassembled pieces several days to cure (the wheel was dry the first day but the additional curing time made sure the finish was hard and the parts wouldn’t stick after being reassembled), I coated the pieces with Goodies Wood Beams, a vegetable, lemon, cedar wax concoction which smells wonderful and makes the wood gleam.

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The Rick Reeves Norwegian Spinning Wheel had sold and has arrived at it’s new home in Washington State … quite the trip from Florida. The wheel had to be partially disassembled for the trip but was loveingly waxed and reassembled.

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SOLD

Beautiful, rare handmade Rick Reeves Norwegian Spinning Wheel for sale. The wheel has been well cared (as you can see from the photos) and is in perfect working order. This is a dream wheel. The purchaser will also get handmade Rick Reeves Lazy Kate and a total of 4 bobbins.

Lots of photos below … click on thumbnails to see larger images.

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My newest and so thereby, my favorite wheel. Completely collapsible LOUET S90. This “old wheel” was purchased from the original owner who had received it as a gift from her hubby but never learned to spin and never used the wheel. It is pristine and while a bit stiff, fun upon which to spin.

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These two photos display oak, SIGNED, unfinished spinning wheel threaders I am planning to list for sale on my Etsy site. I am no longer accepting direct sales but will make all future sales through Etsy.

I have a very few people who previously contacted me directly through Ravelry that I am working with before listing the spinning wheel threaders on Etsy. I expect to complete those sales before weeks end when I again will be listing these unfinished threaders for sale. (The threaders can be purchased unfinished or finished.)

Currently, Rick Reeves is engaged in another project and is not turning threaders. He will be away from the lathe over the summer but promises more threaders in the fall. He may even be able to send a few before his summer hiatus. Will keep you posted on this site.

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Unfinished oak threaders, newly hand turned by Spinning Wheel Craftsman Rick Reeves, in photos have been sealed/finished with “Golden Oak” Watco Danish Oil. You’ll notice the unfinished threader lurking behind the can and the finished threader in the foreground. For more about threaders, please read previous posts.

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Above, eye candy; included in the last batch of Rick Reeves Spinning Wheel hooks for a while are several signed hardwood hooks. Rick has another project and then will be away from the lathe for the summer. I’m posting photos to give everyone an idea of what will be listed soon. I will be listing some on eBay and some on Etsy.

There are SIGNED, unfinished oak hooks that have the tab that fits into the hole in the spinning wheel. They are unfinished so that they can be finished by the buyer to match their own spinning wheel. I will finish the hooks with Watco Danish Oil upon request.

SOLD There are initialed oak hooks finished with walnut stain (very light); note they also have the tab that fits in the hole in the spinning wheel:

And then the beautiful hardwood hooks … exquisite … nothing more to say:

Will announce on this blog when and where they will be listed for sale.

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SOLD out 3/19/2011 More will be posted next week.

I’m selling newly hand turned oak and brass threading hooks on Etsy. The hooks were turned by Rick Reeves, Spinning Wheel builder, master craftsman.

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