Stone Spindle

I did a demonstration with the SCA at the Fort Tryon Park Medieval Faire. It was so much fun! It was a PERFECT autumn's day. The sun was warm but not too hot.

I almost used up my ENTIRE stash of CD's. I was attempting to teach passersby how to spin with CD spindles. It was fun.

Oooh!! lookie! Alaric made another Viking stone spindle and I got to be the guinea pig!!
Yes, it's as heavy as it looks. But on the bright side I now understand how homespun was strong enough to support loom weights. If it's strong enough to support the spindle in the spinning process it's strong enough to support loom weights!

A close up!
I am spinning some carded Jacob roving I picked up at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. It's a little coarse, but wonderful to spin with. I separated all the different colors. I think I'm going to try for some fairisle or striped or panda-like SOCKS!! The fiber still has some grease on it, so the lanolin has been polishing up my spindle shaft up really nice and smooth and shiny!! It's even sort of making the soapstone a little shiny in spots. Ooops.

The whorl of the spindle pops right off. I wonder it they used the shaft with the cop, sans whorl, straight off a bobbin for weaving?

Hmm... must learn to weave so I can experiment.