Look at all the progress I have made on my waffle weave dish towels. Yep, if you look very closely, you will see I have exactly one pick of purple cotton above the yellow header. Ok, so it may not look like much progress, but after having a huge sleying error, resleying, and then finding out I needed to add two more threads for a floating selvedge, it really is progress! Or should I say, it will be progressing now!
After I resleyed the reed, I saw that I had only left one thread on each side for the floating selvedge. I had to add another thread to each side. I wrapped the thread around an intarsia knitting bobbin and weighted it with hemostats.
I have finally had time to sit down and write a blog post! Things have been pretty crazy around here the last few weeks. The shearer came and sheared the Cormo. All the fleeces have been skirted, packed, and mailed. I have sent the uncoated fleece (the fleece that is not under the coat) to the mill to be processed into top and should have it back in a few months.
Fleece on the HoofSkirted Fleece (coated)
I have kept a few fleeces and will have some washed and dyed locks in the online farm shop soon.
After all the shearing was done, I spent the rest of the day vaccinating, coating, and trimming hooves.
I heard rumors. Yeah, there were quite a few stirring around about a year ago. Rumors that Schacht was coming out with a portable wheel. The rumors are true and Schacht is now in the final stages of production for the new Sidekick portable wheel.
I pre-ordered a Sidekick from Spin to Yarn. I was contacted recently and told my wheel is scheduled to ship at the end of June. I am so excited! Schacht posted some videos of the Sidekick in action on their website. It just looks like and awesome travel wheel.
Here are some details from the Schacht website:
The Sidekick is Schacht’s newest spinning wheel. She’s designed to fold easily, yet be a solid spinner. Here are some of the Sidekick’s features:
Folds to 21 1/2″ h x 8 1/4″ w x 15″ d.
Integrated storage of bobbins, flyer, and whorls for transport.
Lightweight at 13 pounds.
13 3/4″ drive wheel allows for ratios from 4.25 to 15.25.
Long, comfortable treadles.
Uses the same bobbins, whorls, and flyer as the Schacht Matchless and Ladybug wheels.
The Sidekick can be purchased without the bobbin-flyer assembly.
25″ orifice height for comfortable spinning.
Employs Scotch tension with precise control knob.
The drive wheel spins on ball bearings. The flyer turns on self-aligning bearings.
Drive band tension adjuster allows for all whorls to be used with one drive band.
The Sidekick comes with 3 travel bobbins, fast and medium whorls, threading hook, and adjustable carrying strap.
Also available: The Sidekick Bulky Plyer Flyer Package can be added at any time.
So really, what else could a spinner ask for in a travel wheel? Looks like they have covered just about everything! I will be posting a review after I receive my wheel!!
