Posted by Sue Maness on Saturday, 1 June 2002, at 1:10 p.m.:
In Reply to: Books on Spinning? posted by Val on Friday, 3 May 2002, at 1:46 p.m.:
any of the wheels would be good for 18th century reinactment. The best of the books would be Amos Alden. Spinning and Spinning Wheels will give you the history behind all the various types of wheels. My favorite is the Great Wheel. It is also known as the Wool Wheel, the Walking Wheel, and several other things. Grandma, my Great Wheel is an authentic 18th century wheel. These things were used up until very recently in most of Europe and the USA for spinning wool. You don't have to do many exercises if you use a Great Wheel every day. My wheel excites people when we travel to Fairs and Faires. I also take it to schools and libraries. Everyone can see just exactly how wool turns into yarn. Using a book by Katy Turner - The Legacy of the Great Wheel, I learned to use the thing in only 6 months. I spin just as fast on it as my son does on traditional or castle wheels. If you have good experience with drop spindling, you can spin on great wheel spindle. I think the ladies of old used goose quills cut off to the proper length for the "quills" or bobbin on their spindles. I use "trash" paper from the mail cut into 4" squares then wrapped from the corner around the spindle, taped then trimmed. I do not own any geese, only sheep. ISBN 910458-15-4 on Katy Turner's excellent book.
Do try loving a Great Wheel. They own you after they catch your heart. They travel well as they peg together or just drop into holes in the bed. The largest part of a Great Wheel, broken down is the wheel itself. Mine fits very nicely in the back seat of the truck and gets seatbelted in the same as Grandchildren.
ENJOY GREAT WHEELING!!!!!