Monday, March 26, 2007

Home again

Just got back from a weekend in Cardiff for the EDF cup semi finals. Lovely time and the boys won so that's at least one trip to Twickenham this year (out of a possible three).



I would be happier about this if I didn't hate going to Twickenham so much, it's one of the most soulless stadia I've ever been to. Still if the boys go, then I have to go too! Ho hum.



Used the trip down to take advantage of a chance to visit Get Knitted in Bristol. Now I know that I'm in Bristol every single week, but I'm on a bit of a tight timescale when I'm doing deliveries and unfortunately Not one single one of my customers is anywhere near where Get Knitted live, so to date I've not had the chance to go there.


However with an afternoon to kill on Friday Ro and I made the most of our opportunity and went wild. This is a picture of what I bought.

Fibretrends patterns for felted ballerina slippers and for a felted hat. Twilleys Freedom Spirit in varigated blue to make said slippers, two skeins of Celestial Merino in Rose/Green/Yellow etc to make a Clapotis as a gift (I think) and a skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk at the front to make a scarf.



Ro bought a skein of the sea silk too along with a pattern for a scarf and we wound hers earlier today. Have to say that it's just a wee bit scrumptious.



Finally I've bin and gone and bought another spinning wheel off ebay. This one's a Haldane traveller (if there is such a thing, you get the idea). Anyone out there got one? Think it may require a tiny bit of TLC and I'd like to get some close up pictures of the business bits, just to make sure it's all there.


Tuesday update. I think the wheel is called the Haldane Orkney. It's a portable wheel; looks a bit similar to the Ashford Traveller but is a double band wheel. My Elizabeth can be used as double band or single band with scotch tension and I usually use it as the latter. No problems with the double band on the Haldane though and according to the Ashford Book of spinning this method requires less adjustment as the bobbin fills than the scotch tension. Because the wheel is smaller than the Elizabeth it spins a softer yarn with less twist in it. I quite like it. tends to sqeak a bit so I'll have to get the oil out to it. I would like some advice on how to fine tune it so if anyone out there has any experience of one of these I would be grateful.




And finally, yes we did stay at the Hilton in Cardiff and very nice it was too. I was however shattered to discover that even there they have INSTANT BLOODY COFFEE on the hospitality tray in the room. Pretty poor show I thought.

6 comments:

Artis-Anne said...

Sounds like you had a fantastic time in Cardiff (posh paws ;-)staying at the Hilton no less )and a great yarn haul too ; love that sea silk , such lovely colours in it.
Re you Haldane I can't help but DH 's wheeel is double drive and very similar in lots of ways to the Haldane and its a great little wheel. For some reason I can spin yarn finer on that one but it still squeaks a bit even after oiling . Have fun with it:)

TutleyMutley said...

I still haven't made it to Get Knitted - but then, we do have a fantastic LYS on the doorstep in Bovey - Spin-a-yarn - I'm really very lucky. Instant bloody coffee?! Pah!

Anonymous said...

Hi Ra
Yes I have a Haldane Orkney and I love it. It's small enough to fit in the boot of a car and light enough to carry around (which I do to our local guild). Mine has a squeak too. A little oil does help but I find peddle moves along the bottom bar then rubs against the legs which can be a bit annoying. Mine didn’t have a spring for Scotch tension so I never knew it could do both until a friend bought the same wheel. The only down side is that Haldane don’t make them any more. They used to have bobbins in stock until recently but they’ve ran out although they have adapted Ashford bobbins to fit (they’re not as nice as the original bobbins). All in all I’m happy with my wheel. Hope you have many happy hours spinning on yours too.

PURLPOWER said...

Looks like you made the most of that Bristol trip but INSTANT COFFEE? In the HILTON? for shame!

Kath said...

I think all old wheels have little squeaks and such. Mine certainly does but I love it all the same! As for new bobbins the guy who I bought mine off got a wood turner to make some new ones up at some point as I don't think Westbury (my wheels makers) exist anymore so that's always worth bearing in mind if you struggle to get additional bobbins - I've a piece of wood rescued from the wood pile for that very purpose!

Kath said...

Oh yes - great haul BTW!!