This is the great wheel Dad restored for Garfield Farm Museum. (my photos might be odd for a while as the white balance on my camera is misbehaving - I even got out the manual!) I demonstrated spinning on it this Sunday at their Harvest Days event. Don't let the chair fool you there is a reason they call these walking wheels. I had a lovely drive down - about 2 hours - and got there with plenty of time to set up and chat before getting into costume. I also spun some more on it as I had only worked on it for about an hour after Dad finished it.
This is the view from my perspective, across the lane from me was a woman discussing tanning and Joseph (on staff at the Museum) demonstrating blacksmithing. He is working on a chain link fence to use in future demonstrations. I was using some East Friesan wool that I processed myself and dyed with staghorn sumac - which smells lovely during the dye making process - and I ended up with 3 skeins of yarn. The yarn is varied lace to fingerling weight and I am very happy with it.
I got Joseph to take my picture. That is the Tavern Museum behind me. The bag by the chair was given to me by a friend and fellow volunteer, it contains afghan hound fur she collect from her dogs. I also had drop spindles to demonstrate on and have people try to spin. It was a very pleasant day!
My breakfast table Monday morning. The yarn is wound on the bobbins there, winding was the only time a sat on Sunday's Demo, a Great wheel is all about walking aback and forth and one guest described it as the treadmill of the 1840's. Mouse is eating breakfast in the background and we have star anise & cinnamon apple butter and apple jelly in the jars.
My knitting. I am learning to knit from a chart and doing lace patterns. So I thought the great wheel yarn would be perfect. I am loving the knitting. This will be a lace neck shawl thing from Jane Austin Knits summer 2012 edition.
I hope your projects are bringing you joy!~ Julia
