Stillmeadow ~ Vintage Spinning Wheels


Collecting spinning wheels is a bit of a passion here. As I grew into fiber crafts a fascination with wheel mechanics led me beyond mass produced tools and into the realm of the master craftsman.
In 1979, six years after my hand spinning interest began, my father Elbridge Hale Kinne chose to create a replica of an antique wheel for me, but with a custom designed bobbin & flyer.
After discovering "A Pictorial Guide to American Spinning Wheels" by Pennington & Taylor (1975), I asked him to build an Irish Castle Wheel similar to the photograph on page 14. Displayed was one made by Daniel Danner in Mannheim, PA in the 1830's. However, mine was designed to spin wool rather than flax. I was well acquainted with tension systems and drive ratios, and preferred spinning on a traditional appearing wheel, but with the option of soft twist. So, together we worked out the proportions of bobbin, flyer, and whorls and gave the wheel flexibility with Scotch tension.  An orifice of 5/8" coupled with drive ratios of 3:1 and 5:1 and a 16.5" drive wheel allow a variety of thicknesses and complex plies to be spun. The wide treadle accommodates both feet for ease of treadling the 44" tall wheel.  Crafted primarily of oak retrieved from our neighbor's fallen carriage house beams, this wheel holds many personal memories. 
 My first antique wheel with a 29:1 ratio !
Another wonderful gift made by my father, my Norwegian Saxony wheel
Back in 1972 I began to collect spinning wheels.
Never did I anticipate becoming so dedicated to
handweaving and yarn creation that I would end up with a flock of beautiful Finnsheep. The adventure will never grow old !​​