Living on Treadle Power

Ahem, my apologies to Eric Clapton right from the get go. But there has been a lot of treadling going on here the last few days, of one sort or another. The treadle riser kit arrived from AVL for Big Sal and you can bet they were installed PDQ.



 What a difference  that little bit of extra height makes! I can sit a wee bit higher over the breast beam and move the stool back just a little too, all improving the ergonomics of weaving on this big loom for me. And since the right leg does all the work in lifting shafts on this loom, better leverage for those throws that have me lifting 8 or more.

For the last bit of weaving on Sal, I decided to go with two strands of 5/2 perle cotton in bright white and quite like the effect.



 I will do this as one long continuous piece. Might end up as towels or a simple runner or even fabric to cut and use in sewing.



 Would be pretty on pillowcases as a little border maybe. I do think the white and pink is quite nice and that's going some since I believe this pink to be one of the crappiest pinks I've ever seen. ;)

The Murphy loom has not been neglected either. I have been doing a little bit on the prayer flag warp each day.



 And remembering why I love this loom so much. I was extremely lucky to have found this one for a first loom. It has been a great student loom and still provides endless joy for all things done on 4 shafts and 6 treadles. It was a birthday present you know. My parents sent some birthday money, Gene kicked in some more to reach the final selling price and then went up to Seattle to fetch it for me. I can still remember how excited I was when he pulled in the driveway on a very cold wet day and we unwrapped the loom and hauled him into the house.



 The seller who was an experienced weaver had done a binder with her young son showing the warping steps in pics that came with the loom along with lots of goodies and a bench to get a new weaver going. Such a kindness.

Now I have bought and sold a number of looms (enjoying and learning from each one along the way), and other than the Murphy (which was purchased back from the buyer 18 months later), have never regretted the sales. But once in a while I do sell something I should have kept. The most recent case in point. I had a wild hair back in April I think and decided I really should move my Schacht Ladybug spinning wheel along. After all I had only been spinning a little here and there and I am a "use it or move it" kind gal. Well, slap me silly if that thing didn't have a buyer within like 5 hours of listing it on Craigslist and good-bye she went. And then the remorse set in. I like having a spinning wheel handy, I like being able to sit down if only for a few minutes a month and simply play with fiber, raw fiber. I missed my spinning wheel. So, the hunt for a replacement. I knew I didn't want another Ladybug. She was a nice spinner and a cute wheel, but Schacht products are pricey, upgrading is pricey and the wheel itself, heavy. Someday I would like a Matchless, but that day isn't here yet. I wanted a wheel with lots of goodies, portable and reasonably priced. In the world of spinning wheels reasonably priced these days is under $800.00 I have yet to figure out why spinning wheels command so much money. There really isn't much to them on the commercial manufactured scale. I ended up with a Lendrum DT,



 the whole nine yards package (fast flyer, bulky flyer, bobbin and head, lazy kate with 3 additional regular bobbins), and got a screaming deal from a new seller on Etsy. The box was opened but the wheel never assembled or used. And it is a nice wheel and we are getting on quite well. I love being able to take him out and spin on the deck.



 Now my proficiency at spinning needs to improve, but for now, me, the Lendrum and some lovely Romney roving are enjoying our mornings together quite nicely.



Parting shots: Sharing a drink.