SPINNING WHEELS – FROM FAIRY TALE TO FIBER ART

September 29, 2021

Spinning wheels, for me, have become the quintessential symbol of the ‘older ways’. The traditional wooden wheel, with spokes and spindle, treadle and bobbin. The images I have conjured in my own mind over the years, of the mother of the household, sitting by the ﬁre, long after the children are asleep, spinning wheel in motion. She spins thread, yarn, that eventually, will be woven into fabric on her loom, and later used as material for creating clothing for everyone in her home.

Spinning Wheels Embody Magic. Creation. Timelessness.

I have had an afﬁnity for spinning wool since my son was 3 years old. He is now 21. I learned from a pack of creative women called the “Fabricators”. At this time many years ago, I felt like I was living in a fairy tale. In truth, Hornby Island was for me, back then, an absolute ‘story book world’ on the west coast of British Columbia. I loved everything about my spinning wheel, the setting, surroundings and the magical moments I seemingly melted into. Up till then, I had tried my hand at the sewing machine, a far more technically complex tool and one that did, in truth, cause me much frustration! That being said, I did create a few quilts back then for my son, that still remain in my home. But onward from that, I began my life as a ‘spinner’.

Spinning wheels come in many forms and styles. I acquired my ﬁrst wooden wheel from my mentor and boss at the time, an amazing French Baker, named Helene. She became a dear friend to me, and though I learned spinning technique elsewhere, she taught me much about the art of baking. I mentored under her and she set me on a good path as a Baker, which is a job I have kept for myself over the years, on the side of the work I have done on my spinning wheel.

My First Spinning Wheel was a Style Referred to as the Indian Head Spinner.

While this name has always felt awkward to speak, as I stand vigilant to using compassionate and loving language, that is as ‘politically correct’ as possible, I have found no alternative description in my research for this style of a wheel. My understanding is that the West Coast Salish tribes used this type of wheel for spinning thick, chunky, super warm, bulky yarns for knitting their traditional Cowichan sweaters. The bobbin on this type of spinning wheel is honestly huge. Which has always worked for me, as I have a seemingly eternal inspiration to spin very chunky, funky, textured, thick and thin novelty art yarns.

Other Traditional Spinning Wheels Often Have Considerably Smaller Bobbins.

That style would be used for spinning the yarns reminiscent of the mother at the hearth, spinning very ﬁne threads to fabricate textiles. Nowadays, many spinners create amazingly ﬁne yarns that can be used for knitting socks, sweaters and the like. What type of yarn do you want to spin? Let that lead you in the direction of your ﬁrst spinning wheel!

I have purchased, and inherited many spinning wheels now over the years. I think my collection stands at 6 in total. My favourite wheel these days is my Ashford double treadle “Kiwi” model. I like the action of having both my feet involved. I LOVE spinning novelty art yarns as mentioned. I LOVE dying wool. I gravitate to rainbow colors, blended in a myriad of ways, creating unique and one of a kind works of Fiber Art.

I like creating something that others can use as a supply for their own works of ﬁber art. It is an incredibly rewarding feeling to create a material for others to use for themselves in their own ﬁber works. Different than simply creating yarn for myself to use, which is a practice I continue to do as well.

Sitting at a Spinning Wheel

Sitting at a spinning wheel is an act suggested by Mahatma Gandhi himself, as something everyone should try. At the time, he suggested the ideal would be daily! This is a valuable practice I personally attempt to maintain as a regular daily discipline. Though it is my work also,so there’s that. But the lessons from the spinning wheel remain timeless. The simplicity. The rhythm. The ritual. The quiet. The off grid-ness. The solitude. The meditation. The connectedness.

Spinning a balanced yarn takes practice. Not too much twist (overspun), nor too little twist (the yarn has no ‘integrity’ and breaks very easily). It has become something I can personally do with little effort, that is second nature. I can watch movies with my son and carry on conversations while i spin. It has become prayer to me. It carries weight. It captures moments. Many a movie with my son, I have combined colours and sat at my spinning wheel.

When I have completely loaded the bobbin and taken the spun yarn off the spinning wheel, I can triumphantly exclaim “This is the ‘Return of the Jedi’ skein!” I‘m speaking lightly here, but in all seriousness, it has become a deep way for me to encase many of our shared moments.

This Summer There Were so Many Wildﬁres Near Our Home.

I prayed for water daily. I would prepare wool to spin that I had hand-dyed and intentionally choose colors that to me represented my prayers for water at the time. I would sit at my spinning wheel and spin my prayers. Literally. This ﬁnished product becomes SO very sacred to me.

What is art? Good ol’ Merriam Webster dictionary states..

“something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings”
Spinning wheels are tools of creation. Personally, my spinning wheel has become my vessel for expression. It has become a way for me to create a supply or material for others to express their imagination, through simple crafting or potentially through a deeper practice of Fiber Art. I think, most importantly the spinning wheel has become a crucial ingredient in my life~ for a more peaceful headspace and personal daily practice. It has become a way I can deeply connect with the ‘older ways’. It is a mechanism whereby I can transport myself into a fairy tale, into memories of long ago, a timelessness and an expression of myself through my Fiber Art.

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