Last Sunday I went to the medieval for to be part of the demo at our local Medieval fair. It is always fun.
Here I am spinnign some of the rolags I told you about in this post.
It looks like I was saying something very interesting to Bernadetts Who was carding on the hand carders and spinning on her wheel. She was Dressed as a Moorish house slave to some a Dutch family. She would not go get us Coffee though. 😉
In the picture above you can see Judy spinning on a medieval spindle and using a distaff to hold her wool. Below is a video of me trying to learn and not doing a good job.
It’s a different action then using a suspended drop spindle like I usually do. You have to spin and control the spindle with your right hand and draft off the distaff with the left. My right wants to drift up and help my left draft. I need to practice much more. If you look at a medieval painting of spindle spinners you will see how they have one hand at there side and one up by the distaff.
We were close to the stage so we had entertainment most of the day. Here we are watching the dancers and musicians. but notice I am still demoing and not slaking off. Another great reason to use a spindle.
Then this happened, and we had to pack up quick as the heavens opened and we all tried to stay dry.
All in all a fun day with friends and fiber.