Not all whims need to be indulged

[lauradi7dw]

I have registered to be part of a photo tableau at the end of the month, commemorating the 1769 spinning protest in which women of Lexington made a stand against the increasing taxes on imported fabric. This isn't a re-enactment. Most of us will be standing there wearing t-shirts, not clothing of the period, and only a few spinning wheels will attend. I had the passing thought: "I could order a kit, and make a spinning wheel." Most of the kits (or ready-made wheels) cost hundreds of dollars, but I found this and am intrigued - it's plans, not a kit, but the component parts should be easy to track down, except the fox tail, which is unnecessary.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/198762832/thrifty-fox-spinning-wheel-digital-pdf?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=spinning+wheel+flyer&ref=sr_gallery-1-2
I already have wool rovings in the attic. But I am not a mechanical person or carpenter, and after I made it, I'd have to keep it somewhere.
One might expect that my first thought would have been to make an outfit, but I know enough to realize it would probably take me more than a month just to make the stays.

Comments

[bitterlawngnome]

Drop spindle?

[lauradi7dw]

I have a drop spindle. I never got good at it, and there has been some research that implies to me that lots of people found it hard
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/abs/earliest-near-eastern-wooden-spinning-implements/62EB94470A7D6D9DC2EF10E2B2D62F19
I haven't tried the rolling on the thigh technique, but maybe it's the next logical step.

[bitterlawngnome]

I gather it's a matter of practice, but end of the month isn't much time.