Favorite spindles

Teaist wrote

on Feb 10, 2009 4:08 PM

Although I have many different spindle maker's spindles... for the last couple of years my favorites have been:

Thomas Forrester's spindles -  that I get from Amelia (she's a member here - Hi Amelia!)   www.thebellwether.com

and without a doubt: 

Steve Paulsen's Spindlewood Spindles - www.spindlewoodco.com  

Spindles are such an amazing addiction.  How wonderful to have something work so exceptionally well for it's purpose and yet be such an incredible item of beauty? 

I also own/use/enjoy my other spindles - Kundert, Golding and on and on....

I have so much more control of my drafting and overall yarn quality when I spin on a spindle.  When I'm at my wheel I still, after five years, sometimes 'step on the gas' and act like it's a race.  My spinning quality suffers every time.  I have to concentrate and slow down.   But, with spindle spinning I'm much better paced.  And even so, no matter how fast I get cranking out the yardage... I still manage to have much more control.  I've always done the exact same thing when I'm sewing.... hand sewing = no problem.  Get behind the wheel of my sewing machine... and look out pedestrians!

askthebellwether wrote

on Feb 10, 2009 9:23 PM

Hi Bonnie :) nice to see you here too.  Your observations on wheel vs. spindle are interesting.  For years I felt my  fine spinning was better on a spindle than on a wheel (and, it was).  But also over time I've found my spindle experience helps my wheel experience, and vice-versa.  The tahkli was instrumental in my being able to spin on a charka (and to spin cotton).  Lately I've been spinning very fine yarns on my wheel, and I'm happy with the results so far -- which makes me realize my old mantra (I spin fine better on a spindle than a wheel) has now gone by the wayside.  My fine spindling has improved my fine wheeling ... a very happy place to be!

Phyllish wrote

on Feb 11, 2009 5:45 PM

My favorite drop spindle is a wooden top whorl that I purchased from Wildcraft in the UK.

ingrid_in_sweden wrote

on Feb 12, 2009 10:38 PM

Hi Amelia, that has also been my experience! I'm stil not able to spin a thin nice lace single on my wheel that compares to what I make on a spindle. However I keep on trying :) and the JW helped a lot.

Smiles form Ingrid

StrandedYarns wrote

on Jul 14, 2009 4:53 AM

My favourite spindle, of the quite sizeable collection I now have is this one from IST spindles..

 Oak Bur on Sycamore with Ash shaft. Rim banded / weighted  and it is 28 grm.    I now carry it with me everywhere and am spinning medium weight yarn with it...

http://www.thewoodemporium.co.uk/dropspindles.php

spinkitty wrote

on Aug 12, 2009 8:47 AM

That's a beautiful spindle, StrandedYarns.

I have two favorite spindles right now out of about 10 or so that I own.  The first is a Tom Forrester Orchard spindle.  I don't remember what the wood is, but it is reddish & has neat depth to it.  That's the spindle in my avatar with my cat, Mosaic.  My other favorite is a Golding Tsunami in purpleheart & weighs about 14 g (1/2 oz).  The Tsunami spins for a smoothly & for a long time.  I can spin very, very fine yarn on my Tsunami, think thread.  The Orchard may not spin as nicely, but still spins extremely well.  I spin slightly thicker yarn on it than the Tsunami.  Each has their own purpose & I enjoy spinning on both of them.

GlitterLady wrote

on Oct 2, 2009 10:30 AM

My favorite spindle is one i bought in July/August from Kevin Rhodes http://www.whorldropspindle.co.uk/shop/ it is made from Sumach wood with an Oak  shaft, i use it constantly.  Kevin also custom made a beautiful Ebony spindle with a  purple wood shaft  for me.

Pammi

rubyplaid wrote

on Nov 4, 2009 9:40 AM

My favorite spindle is a Golding 1.5 oz-weight with a cherry whorl and an enamel inlay with a Celtic design.  It's beautiful to look at and spins wonderfully.  I'm waiting for another Golding in the mail, which will be a little heavier.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it will spin.

emilytabitha wrote

on Nov 6, 2009 2:20 PM

This may be odd but my favorite spindle is a turkish spindle that I modified by putting a small cup hook on the bottom and turning it upside down to use as a top whorl spindle. Despite it's size it is very light and I use it mostly for 3 ply sock yarns.