I bought an Ashfor Traditional spinning wheel yesterday. There was no belt ( easily fixed) and no Bobbins. I'm sure that I will eventually find some locally, but I was wondering if there was something I could substiute so that I can spin RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!! The wheel came with about 5 lbs. of alpaca, beautiful stuff. I don't really expect to get an answere, but you never know. I'm just ready to dive in. I have learned to spin on a drop spindle, thanks to the barter board, I'm really excited about learning on the wheel.

I also have a floor loom coming this week. It was given to me, and all I had to do was pck it and pay for the shipping. Boy am I going to be busy!!!!! I am thrilled to be learning something new and something that is a whole new avenue of self expression. Anyway I had to share with you all my good news. Thanks a bunch, Susan in Tn

-- Susan n' emily in Tn. (animalcrackers55@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002

Answers

My first wheel was an ashford traditional and it is still my favorite.

I don't have any ideas for a bobbin substitute, sorry. They are easy to find or you can order them. I got the high speed flyer for mine a few years ago and love it.

Suggestion, for the drive band, use a cotton string and run it through a beeswax candle before you put it on your wheel. It makes it a little sticky so it doesn't slip. Woodland Wool Works out of Oregon sells stretchy elastic drive bands, they are great. Take the time you have with out a bobbin and just sit and treddle. Get used to the feel of the wheel. Practice going as fast as you can and as slow as you can. Oil it well, and practice some more. A good book is Lee Raven's book, Hands On Spinning. I learned the basice from a friend and the other stuff I learned from the book or from trial and error.

Have fun!

Susan

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 15, 2002.

this may be a really silly suggestion, but for some reason it strikes me as a possibility. The cardboard "bobbins" that large quantities of yarn are wrapped on might work as a cheap substitute if you can find someone (or a store) with an empty one. Wheels are so different that it may not fit on your Ashford... also, Ribbon or trims come on tall cardboard bobbins at walmart. Maybe you could hit their sewing department to see if they have an almost empty one that would work. Just a suggestion.....

-- Laura in Pa (lbaumgardner@blazenet.net), April 16, 2002.

laura, thanks for the idea, I was looking all over walmart last night for something I could substitue,no luck. I finally called the woman I bought the spinning wheel from and asked her if she knew of a local source,she said that she had one that she had ment to give to me. She said that it was in storage and she would go find it today. yeah!!! Also I learned last night that my Loom is arriving today!!! so many things are happening at once. Happy,Happy,Happy. PTL!!! Susan

-- Susan n' emily in Tn. (animalcrackers55@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Here's a source for Ashford bobbins amulet@istar.ca), April 18, 2002.

Third time lucky! I'll try that link again The Woolery

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), April 18, 2002.