[Blackbird]

 
Have just bought a spinning wheel through my local Guild of Spinners and Weavers. It is a Haldane Lewis and I spent a couple of hours at my spinning group getting to grips with it (couldn't get on with Scotch drive, so set up for double drive). Sadly, I dropped it taking it home and the bobbin felt out of place, so hoping I've set it up again properly as it's a month's wait to the next group meeting. Am spinning the fleece from my Hebridean/Lincoln Longwool cross wether.

My first sweater is a long way off! 

[SallyintNorth]

Great to have another join the fray  .  One by one by one by one... 

Haldane Lewis is a lovely wheel, you made a good choice there.    Do you have the assembly instructions?  If not, a Raveller has them copied on her Haldane wheels project page.

Shout if you need any help  .

Lincoln x Heb will be a lovely fleece to spin - perhaps not the easiest, but if you get the hang of that you will be well on your way!

[Bionic]

Great news. Enjoy your spinning 

[Lesley Silvester]

Happy spinning.   

[JulieWall]

My best wheel is a Haldane Lewis, I've been hunting for a jumbo flyer for it for years, Haldane are retired now Their Orkney wheel was a stunner too, a castle style. That's something else I would buy if I found one.

[SallyintNorth]

A friend yesterday was saying that she wished she'd never parted with her Haldane Lewis wheel.

Woodlands Turney can make Haldane bobbins to order.  They may ask for (one of) your existing bobbin(s) as a pattern; I think I've heard Joan say that there are variations, even between wheels of the same type.  Or I may have dreamed that.  

It might be worth asking them if they could make a jumbo flyer for your Lewis.

Orkneys do come up on eBay from time to time; one sold quite recently actually.  The sellers don't always know what they've got, of course.


Edited to remove unintended crossing out!

[JulieWall]

No use just having the bobbins and flyer it needs taller maidens too. I want the proper one for the wheel made by Haldane so it matches. I know a chap who could make a set up, but it's not the same, the stain never quite matches etc.
My blacksmith hubby made me a new lazy kate for my Haldane which holds four bobbins. It sits in the original holes but is angled for easy plying. I make a lot of three ply fine yarns for stitched tapestry work and knitting.

[JulieWall]

Wish I'd dusted off the alpaca fluff before taking that shot, lol

[Fleecewife]

Hi Blackbird and welcome to spinning 
 
Did you get your wheel fixed ok?
 
Let us know how your spinning is going and what the Heb x Lincoln Longwool is like - not a cross-bred fleece I've seen.
 
 
Had a look at the TimberTops website.  They've got darning mushrooms     I still have my Mum's one which must be at least 60 or 70 years old and is all scratched on the top.  A TT 'shroom goes onto my wishlist.
Some weird wheels though 

[Blackbird]

Thanks all - the Ravelry link is useful, thanks Sally. I think I've set it up as it was before I dropped it. Will have a go at spinning on it again tonight. Have washed my Heb x fleece (just got it dry on the line before the weather broke) - 3 paper sacks full - he is a BIG sheep! The fleece is lovely - long staple, good crimp and beautifully fine and soft.

[JulieWall]

Looks like nice wool very long neck wool too.

[Bionic]

He is a lovely boy 

[Fleecewife]

I like the fleece, and the sheep.  Odd he's black though as Heb crosses are usually white.  The parent must have been black dominant - luckily for you to have a lovely coloured fleece 

[Scotsdumpy]

I hosted a craft evening here in Aberdeenshire and Woodlands turnery came and demostrated their crafts. It was a very good evening and the family is  very talented!! I would recommend them to match anything turned. Pyrography and walking sticks are also specialities.

[JulieWall]

Something you might like to try out with a bit of your coloured fleece is dyeing with acid dyes. I find that white wool and dark, dyed in the same dye bath, come out as a dark and light shade which perfectly harmonise, it's great fun