Ep 1; Ashford E-spinner review & Gansey knitting
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.พ. 2023
- I've been spinning yarn for 42 years, and have an Etsy business called Highland Colours where you will find my natural plant dyed yarns, dyed fibres, and locks for sale. This is going to be more of a vlog where I just talk about what I'm doing rather than a tutorial how-to video series, although hopefully I will be able to explain things clearly. Filming is all done by my my very-amature-self with the exception of the drone footage.
In my first vlog episode, I'm looking at the Ashford e-spinner. I'm also starting a new project following Beth Brown-Reinsel's book on 'Knitting Ganseys' to start the Eriskay Gansey. Channel cast on, knitting in the round, what kind of needles, and the 'knitting belt'. Links to all products below;
Highland Colours www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Highland...
Ashford e-spinner www.ashforduk.co.uk/products/...
Knitting belt. www.lisasleatherworks.co.uk/k...
Gansey knitting book. www.amazon.co.uk/Knitting-Gan...
Addi needles www.laughinghens.com/knitting...
Frangipanni yarn. www.guernseywool.co.uk/
Music: 'Growing Up' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
I feel like I'm in heaven when I watch your videos. I am so grateful that I found you.
You’re a fiber artist after my own heart! I love your yarn and projects, and your informative, gentle presentation style is very enjoyable to watch. Thank you for sharing!
Been sitting on the fence, as I have been a start and stop spinner for 45 years, but your demonstration is the most comprehensive I have seen yet! Thank you.
Thanks for your feedback. I intend to do an update to this review pointing out a few more things about the e-spinner that I think need to be said. It's a great workhorse, and I find it's really helpful to me, but I want to talk in another video about 'If I only have ONE wheel, which would it be, electric or foot powered?' I feel there are some additional things to consider that I didn't go into in this video.
@@highlandcolours7675 I have three me powered wheels, none with a ratio higher than 14:1, all taking up quite a bit of real estate, with different ergonomics. But I also live in an area with a mild climate on small acreage with almost year round gardening, and prefer to spin in daylight, to be able to better see and control singles grist. So most of my daytime spinning happens in summer out of doors. The idea of a small, quiet, easy to set up and go wheel appeals to enable me to spin in the evenings under good lighting with british mysteries on the tv.
@@nonifidler4547 Sounds great!
…and you can’t use an e-spinner when there’s no power. (We get quite a few power outages).
Ashford used to do a battery pack, but these are very hard to find here in NZ.
@@nz-nz That is very true, you can't. This is a draw-back, but then you probably can't see to spin either, unless you have some oil lamps. So I think it's good, but yes I can see there would be limitations sometimes.
I have the 2nd version of this e spinner and i just love it! Total lil workhorse!
I am looking forward to follow you on a regular basis. I am a spinner in Alberta Canada. Merry Christmas and the Best 2024.
Awesome! Thank you!
This is the first really helpful video on Gansey knitting. I have the book and just starting the process of preparing. I am about to attempt to knit my husband a traditional Gansey. I wouldn’t say I’m an experienced knitter but consistent. Just going to check out part two. Thank you this was a brilliant watch . Xx
Thanks! I haven't finished the Gansey yet. I'm planning to revisit it in another video. There's a lot of knitting...
I’ve only been spinning for 6y, and I started on an Ashford Traditional, but I have a leg injury and the constant treadling really affected me. So, I HAD (!!🤣) to change to an e-spinner….. and I LOVE it!
Mine sits on the end of my breakfast bar and i can spin while I’m waiting for a pot to boil.
It works for me to keep the foot control on the countertop and use with my hand.
I’m really enjoying your videos (think we are of similar age…?)
Hi sorry for delay replying, i need to check this more often! Yes I think you are right, this is going to be a very versatile tool for many situations. It has it's draw backs, but it's a great piece of kit for your sort of situation. Thanks for writing in!
Just purchased an 8 shaft loom from Ashford I also own a Kiwi 3 with the super flyer but I’m so tempted to buy the e-spinner once I have the funds available since I want high twist lace weight yarns
I have the 3 wheels, Jumbo country spinner which is the go-to for locks and chunks, the kromski, which sits out in my workshop for various jobbies, but the e-spinner is now my very much go to spinner for anything very fine (lace weight to double knit) because it just keeps up the pace hour after hour. That can get tiring, but lets face it, as much as we all love spinning wool, lace weight takes a loooonnnng time to spin, so the electric wheel really helps knock it out faster. But I appreciate that's not everyone's goal! I tend to think the e-spinner is going to be a second wheel for folks rather than the 1 and only. I wouldn't hand over my treadle, but I'm thankful for electricity sometimes!
Can you change the motor brushes when they wear out?
Hi, I'm sorry I don't know!
Perhaps because you are demonstrating it looks to me as if you are twisted.
Curious to know what about knitting with a circular limits your time.
I'm not familiar with a channel cast on. Interesting. I would likely do an i-cord cast on for an extra edge.
I would probably knit a gansey from the top down. Do you foresee any issues with that
You mean the knitting on the gansey is twisted? No it isn't I'm glad to say!! (or it would be very depressing!). I'm not sure I would do a gansey top down. I think it would make more work when it comes to the shoulders. If you google channel cast on there are lots on youtube, so I didn't go over it. I-cord cast on could work but be careful you don't end up with a stiffer sort of 'ring' around the bottom of your sweater. If you are talking about the shawl, yes that could work I expect. Good idea. Circular needles are possible too with a gansey But the weight of the whole sweater is heavy as you get going, and the knitting belt helps with that. It's personal choice I guess. Circulars important on the shawl because of width. Thanks for watching!
@@highlandcolours7675 not the knitting, your torso.
@@robynknits oh! hmm..not sure why that is!