Spinning on a dealgan - the Highland Spindle

#dealgan #spinningyarn #tourdefleece
Welcome to Ewe Sew You!
This week we are looking at how I use my Highland spindle, the dealgan (or fairsiad/farsadh).
Where to find me...
Instagram: @ewesewyou / ewesewyou
Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/u...
Kofi Shop: ko-fi.com/ewes...
Minerva Profile: tidd.ly/2KVZ2pN
Ravelry ID: ZozieM www.ravelry.co...
Ravelry Group: search for Ewe Sew You in the Groups tab www.ravelry.co...
Ewe Sew You Ravelry Store: www.ravelry.co...
Buy me a coffee at: Ko-fi.com/ewesewyou

[@pollydolly9723]

Very interesting Zoe! I always enjoy watching you work your different crafts.

[@eileenfb1948]

I wouldn't be surprised if you were to find that different parts of Scotland did things completely differently in each area. Brought across by settlers from other countries and cultures. Thank you for this.
I have just started to spin my first few yards on a Turkish spindle, and felt that even a chopstick should work as a spindle. Or a smooth branch of a tree with the bark removed. I love taking things back to basics.

[@EweSewYou]

Oh absolutely, there is likely to be variations (the two Gaelic words may refer to different styles of spindle, for instance) - historically Scotland would have been a collective of scattered communities. To the best of my knowledge there would have been far less in the way of incoming cultures than in England though so it may not be as marked an influence as in other places. There was definitely a Scandinavian influence, and there are close historic links to France, but the Romans, for instance, didn’t get all the way up Scotland. This has, of course, changed in modern times with migration becoming much easier.

[@mariondehennin6274]

I have tried a dealgan, it seems to wobble when spinning. Maybe just need to practice. Thanks for sharing

[@maryoleary899]

Very nice video thank you❤ Can silk fibers be spun on this? I need silk yarn for my wet felting

[@EweSewYou]

I haven’t tried pure silk on my dealgan yet, but I do have a slow silk project on a much lighter drop spindle - it’s slow because it is spinning up super fine and I need to focus a lot on it so it doesn’t get worked on often! I would say that a silk/wool blend would be fine on the dealgan, and pure silk should be possible in theory, but I suspect it will be tricky. I did a quick google and suggests a high centre weighted whorl to spin 3ply embroidery thread (so a top whorl spindle with a bit of a heft to it).

[@eileenfb1948]

The name shows up in Ireland - I couldn't tell if it was the spindle or a place name.
Dún Dealgan pronounced in Irish said as ' jel jalgan' from Ireland - wooo a bit more history
I'll give you a break and stop pestering you. I am so intriuged.

[@EweSewYou]

Interesting! Of course the Irish & Scottish cultures & languages are very closely related, so it makes sense that they would have the same or similar words for some things.