I’m also a gear ho. So it wasn’t surprising that, when I recently visited the Chelsea, MI-area spinning guild — The Spinner’s Flock — that I’d be trolling the tables of fiber and goodies for sale to see if anything was there that I couldn’t live without.
There is a lot of wool. Beautiful 9-month-preganant-belly-sized balls of woolly roving, elegant braids of hand-dyed merino/tencel [from my friend, Carla, which is why I remember the URL], and lots of equipment. Obviously the wool stayed put.
On a second pass through the hall, the spindle shown above caught my eye. Ooh, pretty colors! But more interestingly, the top of the shaft doesn’t have a hook — it has an integrated pigtail. I thought it was neat. I gave it the spin-in-the-palm-of-my-hand test [which means nothing likely, but it seemed zippy], and since it was a whopping $14, I bought it.
I took my new prize back to the circle of friends I was spinning with, and attacked my silk roving, expecting nothing much. Within minutes, I realized this thing was a gem. A keeper. Possibly my favorite spindle. And by this time, the vendor had packed up and gone home. I hadn’t taken a business card. No, really — this IS now my favorite spindle. [I have going on 20 spindles, and they all cost more than this one. Oh, the irony!] Light, spins like a full-on dervish [double rainbow!], and the pigtail is sheer genius.
MUST. HAVE. ANOTHER.
Can anyone help me find my holy grail?
Waiting with bated breath to see where it came from cause I would really, really like one too!
Me too! I hope whomever made it is prepared for the rush of orders.
I, too, must know. I can’t believe it was only $14. Gorgeous!
I’ve posted it on the Spindlers group on Ravelry – fingers crossed they can identify it – I want one too!
Call the guild, ask who brought the spindle with the curly tail.
I answered via Rav. There are only around a handfull of members that deal with spindles with this particular guild. Scroll down on the website and you’ll see a buyers guide. This has the members. I’d try Bob and Deb Cline at Maple Row first. If it isn’t one of theirs they may possibly know who’s it is. I wish I could see the photo
okay it’s not a Spindle from Maple Row, but they may still know who made it.
Oh I want one if anybody can find out if they are available.
I’d love to know too. That’s one gorgeous spindle!
I WANT one!!!!!! :o)
Want. Want Red.
Well, I’ve got an extensive spindle collection and I’ve seen hundreds, nay, thousands of photos of other people’s spindles, and I’ve never seen one like that. The whorl reminds me of a Desko spindle, but he uses metal hooks, not carved ones like that. It’s wicked cool. Let us know once you find out who the maker is. They’ll be bombarded with orders.
Have you contacted the organizers of the market and asked for contact info for the vendors?
There is a picture of one like it in “Respect the Spindle” on page 79. It is part of Linda Ligon’s, of Interweave fame, collection…
Not a spinner (yet) but my resolve is weakening. Love the aqua “toy”. 🙂
Oooh,I’m sure I could convince my wallet to part with a few bucks for that beauty!
I was hoping someone would have found this out by now. I want one.
I’d love to see a video of this spindle in action!
I have been shopping around for a spindle- that’s what I want! Where oh Where???