I recently inherited a spinning wheel from my grandmother, and it is in need of some TLC. I'm trying to figure out how old it is and what company made it (there's no logo I can find) because I'm pretty sure I'll need to replace several parts. Spinning is still very new to me, and this is my first wheel. As far as I can tell, the connector to the footman is leather and everything else is metal. Pretty sure it's a single drive scotch tension?

From the side:

Head-on:

mother of all:

... which hinges down, I guess to adjust tension on the drive band?

Maidens rotate to allow bobbin/flyer removal:

Every piece of metal on this wheel is rusted and I can barely get it to turn, and it needs a new drive band and brake band. The bobbin and flyer in the photos are the only ones that came with it, and though my grandmother had several spinning books (with copyrights back to the 70s) and an Ashford brochure, we couldn't find anything about the wheel's purchase.

Ask and ye shall receive! Here's the chart for those who asked:

When I heard that the theme this month was Scrooged, I knew I had to do something couture for cheap - it would just be too awesome.  I'd charted the Luis Vuitton monogram pattern a while ago for a different project (never completed) and knew it was perfect.  So I headed out to my local craft store and scoured for cheap-ass yarn.

First things first, the receipt:



I bought 2 skeins each of Redheart Coffee and Cornmeal.  Redheart is cheap enough but I got it on sale to boot! I wound up using just over 1 skein of the Coffee and less than 1 of the Cornmeal.

This thing took me for-freaking-ever.  I've worked charts before but never for the entirety of a project. O.o  Never. Again.  If I'd had more time and more patience I'd have worked another repeat of the chart, as he scarf turned out shorter than I wanted.  But oh well.  It's done!!

In action:


Monogram pics:




Side note: I switched the positions of the L and V so it's not technically copyright infringement

One more:


Enjoy!

[edit]
Some of you wrote to request the chart I used.  Here ya go:


I used 4 vertical reps of the chart total and the width of the scarf is only one.

[UPDATE]

Ahh, not only my first EVER challenge entry anywhere EVER, but also my first knitted object of this size and complexity.    I used this 1962 pattern I found on Glamarama here.  I loathe and despise ponchos (no offense to those who love them, they just look terrible on me) so I sewed it into more of a sleeveless sweater.  Someday I'm going to add a front kangaroo pocket but I'm quite pleased with this. I added a broken heart to it (hence the name) to make it a little more modern and less blah, and put some safety pins through it. I used iron-on patch stuff to make it after my sewing attempts failed.  All in all it took me about 2 weeks to make and used just over 3 skeins of Plymouth's Encore.

The Hoodie:


From the side kinda:


With the hood up:


Hood from the side/back:


UPDATE
After a rip through the washing machine, the iron-on patch heart, er, separated from the rest of the hoodie.  So I did a little work and here's the update:





The heart is now surface-crocheted onto the vest.  I like the right half better than the left    But at least I don't have to worry about it coming off!

Since I'm now getting into yarn dyeing, I found myself in need of a swift.  Rather than go out and spend bajillions of dollars on one, I followed these instructions and built one.  Er, okay, well, my dad built it for me because I'm not to be trusted around power tools, but still...



It spins very very smoothly and the pegs pop out to fit hanks of different sizes.  Yaaaay!  

I took a break from Christmas socks this week (yes, I know, it's after Christmas, so shoot me) and knit myself a pair of Knucks.  I used the Rowan Felted Tweed recommended in the pattern in "Dragon."  I also ordered a ball of "Carbon" since I couldn't decide, and since my mom is now begging me for a set, it turned out to be a good idea.  I don't know what I want to write on them yet, or rather, I have too many ideas. SNOR GLE! is one, or YARN WHOR, or DIET COKE ... those are my top 3 in no particular order.  Feel free to recommend!

Work in progress, shortly after joining fingers together:


Work in progress, finishing up the thumb gusset shaping:


Finished!


Close-up of the textured cuff:


 

I just couldn't wait so I put all my other crafts on hold and whipped out a hat!

Front:


Back/Side:


Can't wait to see everyone else's!

Some of you may be familiar with the iPurr kitty iPod case I made last year.  I would like to introduce the first of a limited edition animal-print series: the pink iPurr leopard.  She has all the features and huggability of the original iPurr but in a sassy new pink variety.

She's a prototype and has a lot of flaws, enough that I wouldn't sell her as-is, but her descendants will be swunderful. 

What a precious faaaace!


The back, with full screen viewable and click-wheel accessibility through thin vinyl:


Opening in the bottom so you can charge or update your 'Pod without removing the case:


And of course the headphone hole behind her ear:

I finished this project months and months ago and am just now getting around to posting it: Cleaves from Knitty.com.  Knit with 3 skeins Encore Chunky in colour 235 Turquoise Blue.  I think they took me about 6 weeks total to knit, but I went through periods of intense, ferocious knitting followed by periods of "meh, I'd rather play video games."

The second pic shows the bind-off at the "top" of the cowl.  I used an i-cord bind off instead of a straight bind off, because I tend to CO way too tight.  It took forever to do it that way but I like the effect, and that it's just stretchy enough without falling off my chest.

Comments/feedback much appreciated!



Close-up of the i-cord bind off


Back view: it shows off my tatt quite nicely *squee*


Also, a question:  This yarn is 75% acrylic and 25%.  Since it's stretched out a bit since I made it, how would I go about getting its shape back?

{edit}
Pic of my tattoo for those who are interested.  They're tattered fairy wings.

My knitting needles were in need of a cozy home, and in a fit of inspiration I made them one.  I basically followed the pattern from Stitch'n'Bitch but got inspiration from bessie-s here as well.  I wanted to make a second layer of pockets for my DPNs like the case in that post, but I didn't get enough fabric. Considering how inept I can be with a sewing machine, this thing is a freaking miracle.

The pics don't show it but the case is actually black and neon green with polka dots.  And I loooove her.





Now I want to make a million more as gifts or to sell.  *toddles off to order fabric swatches*