9 Out of 10 Doctors Recommend….

More fiber in your diet! So I’m following my own advice. Yes, I came home yesterday with a lovely wheel, and a whack of pretty blue fiber. After trying both the Schacht Matchless and the Kromski Minstrel, I wanted both. I indeed had a difficult time making a decision*, but in the end the Schacht came home with me. Here are some photos.

That’s Elizabeth fixing my overspinning and all the little pigtails I put in the fiber.

Really, I was having fun. I was just concentrating.

In the car, on the way home.

I’ve discovered that spinning on a wheel blows through miles of fiber much faster than a spindle. This can mean only one thing. I need to clear out more space for stash.

Isn’t that a beauty?

First yarn!


On the niddy-noddy. I just love saying niddy-noddy!

Hanging up to dry on the deck. I’ll get a better photo of it once it’s dry. I wasn’t going to ply this stuff in all it’s craptitude, but what the hell. You only make your first yarn once. I might even knit something out of it.

Here’s my second yarn.

That’s a merino-tencel blend. I appear to have been in a blue-violet mood this week. This stuff is a bit slippier to manage than the Ashford Colonial wool, but it’s awfully pretty. I might have a few more bags of fiber on the way.

The Schacht doesn’t have a name yet, but I think it’s trying to tell me that it’s a boy. We’ll see. Do you all name your wheels? What does he/she look like to you?

Have a good weekend, everyone! Guess what I’ll be doing?

*Any bets on how long I’ll hold out before the Minstrel comes to live here?

Author: Lorette

My name is Lorette. I learned to knit in 1999, and took up spinning in 2009. I'm a physician specializing in internal medicine, and live in the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy my blog!

27 thoughts on “9 Out of 10 Doctors Recommend….”

  1. Beautiful first skein of yarn! You’ll be surprised how lovely it knits up. I made a hat out of my first skein. It disappeared at school one day, someone has a nice warm hat and must love it as much as I did! I too love the merino/tencel blend. The fiber is so soft, shiny, and lovely to knit and spin! Enjoy your spinning weekend! Cheers!

  2. LOVE LOVE LOVE your wheel – my Matchless is still my favorite after 9 years πŸ™‚
    And save that bumpy first spin/ply… I made a fabulous woven table scarf with all of mine. (and it was my very first weaving effort, so the piece is very sentimental)
    I’ll give you about 4 months til you have that second wheel. You got this spinning bug as bad as the rest of us! (and now you totally understand how delighted I was that I can finally spin again!!)
    Congrats on your new family member – you two will be doing lots of miles together.
    and yes – naming a wheel is a cool thing! Tell your dear hubby that there is nothing quite as wonderful as knitting with handspun, and by next year this time (or maybe even sooner), you’ll be making him something from it.

  3. Oh, and it looks so nice by your new kitchen!!! Congratulations on the new wheel.
    (I can’t help you with the name. I’m name -challenged.)

  4. You are right about first handspun once. It’s self evident, but still very funny the way you phrase it. I’d give the Minstrel about a month. I, biased that I am, think you made an excellent long term choice with the Schacht. I named one wheel. I haven’t been able to find good, non schlocky names for the others.
    Oh yes, that stash. Just WAIT til the fleeces start to appeal. It isn’t even a slippery slope, it’s a precipice you never see coming until it’s too late. But it is SO much fun and so relaxing. Your first handspun is good. A hat is an excellent idea.

  5. Roving takes more space than yarn. Yes you do need more space. You’re first handspun is very nice! I named my wheel Emmylou, because she sings so beautifully.

  6. Although I totally saw you getting a wheel – I honestly didn’t think it would be that fast! And I have the same wheel – it’s amazing and has been my favorite to spin on since the first day I had it. I can spin even faster with it now because of the Wooly Winder I have on it – amazing that you don’t have to stop and move the yarn to another hook. Have fun. I won’t even venture a guess on the second wheel πŸ™‚

  7. Congratulations.! I’m glad you decided on a wheel and love it. Happy spinning.
    I haven’t named my wheel… can’t find the right name.

  8. OMG – that’s too amazing! BTW, I’m glad to see it wore its seatbelt in the car. I’m glad it has a home in your brand new kitchen. The kitchen looked great, but it was missing some personal touch… like a new spinning wheel. Squeeeeeeal! Have fun. (I’m betting 7 days before #2 comes home to roost with you)

  9. Congrats on getting a wheel! I’m so happy for you- Yay! (the Matchless is my Dream Wheel…someday…)It’s a beautiful wheel-and you’re going to have so much fun spinning on it.

  10. I give you six weeks, but I think you made a great decision. I love Schacht wheels, they are so smooth and luxiourious.

  11. six months till you buy that second wheel….. I have the first version of the Schacht since my son was a baby (said baby is now age 18)

  12. Great first yarn. First yarn is always just so special. I kept mine to pet on occaision. Reminds me of how far I’ve come. Of course I name my wheels. I have Babe, and Sheila. They are begging for a little sister. We’ll see…

  13. I like the name Seamus (pronounced Shey-mus) for the new wheel. Seamus translates to “substitute” as in a time substitute for knitting. P.S. Check your Ravelery for a message from me!

  14. Congratulations. And do knit that yarn – it’s so much fun to make something with yarn you’ve spun yourself.

  15. Congratulations on your wheel. I get a lot of vicarious pleasure watching what others spin up. It looks as if you’re very accomplished for a new spinner.

  16. What a beautiful wheel. I agree that it looks like a boy. Are you thinking a classic name or something more modern. It seemed a little like a Chester or a Benjamin to me. I really have no idea why though.
    After a year or so I have finally named my Kromski Sonata, Claire.

  17. Congratulations! Beautiful first yarn. I recommend getting a WooLee Winder next for the Schacht. You’ll love it!

  18. It’s a beautiful wheel! Congratulations! I’m glad to hear you plied your first yarn. I still have my first yarn and take it out every now and again to admire and chuckle. πŸ™‚ You’d be surprised how nice it looks knitted up though.

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