by Barbara Nichols (a.k.a. Frankie)
So there have been a few glitches with our first newsletter but persevere we will.... Having said that, communication is the best way of making everyone aware of the accessibility of our new format for our newsletter. The executive and I thought that it might be a bumpy ride until everyone was comfortable with this new way of publishing our news. I have had some excellent feedback that people like the pictures and that seems to be, at this point, the highest recommendation.... so do send me your pictures... it's a great way to "see" what everyone else is doing. I would really like to publish all that you are doing and the great pictures of events and projects that everyone is working on. In the meantime if you are having no problems with access to this newsletter and somebody you know is not getting theirs, help them out until we are through this initial rocky ride.
At the April meeting I will have an instruction sheet that will help with any problems that might be occurring. The biggest problem was people just dumping the email with the URL information without reading the email.... maybe because I sent it from my email address and it might have been unfamiliar to everyone.... we now have our own email and I will be sending out the newsletter information from that email address from this point forward. Our email address is.... PeaceCountrySW@gmail.com Forth coming announcements about the newsletter will be coming from that email.
In this newsletter there are some great articles full of helpful information. Check out Marjo Wheat's informative article on Flyer styles on spinning wheels.... this article may help you to pick your next wheel. I have also included an article on Argyle Socks.... and I hope you find that interesting.... in the meantime there is some important information from Marion Walker on the upcoming Spring conference in Sexsmith, as well as information on the Jane Stafford workshop in the fall from Rene. And of course our ever enjoyable reports from across the region and regular Potpourri... enjoy!
President's Message
by Rene Giesbrecht
Hi everyone – happy ‘almost’ spring. The weather has been so beautiful these past weeks reminding us that spring is not far away. I am thinking that it is time to start some plants. I will be trying something new in the garden this year. I have purchased three different types of fibre flax seed and hoping to give that a go. As part of the master spinner program, this year – level four – there is a focus on flax. I’ll let you know how it goes. My cotton growing endeavours have not yet been successful as the seed did not germinate. To be fair though, the seed was not fresh so that is the next step – find fresh seed. However, I am not ready to give up and will try again.
The warps from Jane Stafford have arrived and are gorgeous. Five of them are designated for more experienced weavers who are confident warping back to front. Please let me know if you would like one of these (or I can designate too J). So if you are registered for the fall workshop be sure to pick one up at our April day at Saskatoon Lake. I am very much looking forward to the day and subject matter. As part of a March workshop our local guild is having there will be a seminar entitled “Creative Recycling for Handspinners”. I am sure we will learn lots to pass onto the larger group.
See you soon………….Rene
Reports
Beaverlodge
by George Henn
Hi there you Peace Country Spinners and Weavers,
Most of the looms are as they were, but a 60", flying shuttle loom will be warped in an overshot pattern to use up some of the rayon chenille, that is still on hand.
After this week's break the table looms will be busy with Grade 4 students doing weaving and some will also be busy in pottery. The young weavers are very enthusiastic and Lynn is amazed how much some of these kids can accomplish. Being able to take their own weaving home is another incentive. Hopefully, we get some weavers out of that.
I have woven up some Merino to make some plaid scarves, lovely and soft. Turquoise, blue, white and black. Towards the end I ran out of turquoise, and substituted some hotter colour, should have done all of it, it picked it right up.
Marjorie and I are puttering along, although her painting should not be referred to in that manner.
Hope to see you all in the Lake Saskatoon Hall.
Happy weaving !
Marjorie and George
Fairview
by Doreen Verschoor
The fall conference inspired our Fairview weavers to such a point that Loretta has finished her Theo Moorman sample. Maisie, Ellen and Doreen are continuing to work on their sample. Doreen finished her two baby blankets and Verla completed the third. We have a double weave rug on the rug loom and everyone has completed one except Maisie and Doreen. Their turn is next. Loretta has threaded a tube on one of the looms and we are all going to try our hand at making two grocery bags from recyclable materials. Loretta has almost finished her first one. It's a real keepsake and a useful bag as well. Doreen is starting to warp material that she is going to tie-on to the pattern that Loretta used for her fall conference contribution to the waulking. Loretta's write-up and pictures from this conference have been sent to the Artists of the Peace Magazine, to give our fall conference of the PCSW some free publicity! On Monday afternoons, studio 1 at the Fairview Fine Arts Centre is buzzing with activity. We are looking forward to the Spring Conference and all your grocery bag creations. Till then keep weaving! Doreen V.
Fort St. John
by Faye Eggleston
Always lots of activities with the North Peace Spinners and Weavers. After our January business meeting we watched a video on weaving in South Asia. It is a Maiwa production called Tana Bana- Wisdom Of The Loom. The fine silk threads and complicated designs made us all feel incompetent. We were happy to have Marjorie Allen back in our fold as she had been in Edmonton for a long time nursing her ailing husband. We are happy that Doug is on the mend.
The third weekend in February is the traditional time for our Blueberry Retreat. Ten members attended. Two more came for the day on Saturday. Mild weather allowed for snowshoeing, early morning walks and star gazing on Saturday night. Qigong sessions were new this year too. These activities did not interfere with the flurry of spinning,
weaving,
knitting,
and working....
Mary Brocke celebrated a Birthday with us (probably her 39th)
and her daughter Carolyn from Dawson Creek and her husband Leon surprised her with bouquets of roses
and platters of food and a Birthday cake. Speaking of the 4 cakes, including Linda Hawkes’ beautifully decorated cake,
that we had to consume, the food was as good and as plentiful as always. Friday night was pub night fare, sadly not including the beer. It was such a successful weekend there has been a request that next year the retreat be extended from Wednesday to Sunday.
A spinning meeting was held at the end of January at the home of Rene Giesbrecht. Carol Morrison who has moved to Ontario was our special guest. Our February spinning day was held at the home of Sue Clausen, 3 days after our Retreat. We are a dedicated group. Spinning days are special times of laughter, good food and spinning.
Our Artspost studio activities continue. Our successful shawl project has drawn to a close with 18 shawls, one of which can be seen here...
and 3 baby blankets,
to be presented to a women’s shelter in Fort St. John. Eleven shawls were woven at Artspost. Others were woven, knit or crocheted independently. Rene Giesbrecht and Jill Sutton have been weaving double weave wool blankets. Norma Currie and Faye Eggleston have been weaving thick and thin cotton blankets, seen here... 
Norma Currie and Krista Kienapfel are preparing a warp for a group project. Individuals will be able to weave an acrylic shopping bag in colours inspired by the rain forest. It will be woven as a double weave tube.
On March 6 a farewell party was held in Hudson’s Hope for Lizzie Hansen who is moving to New Brunswick. It is sad to say goodbye to Lizzie as she was a dedicated member of the Hudson’s Hope group. Members from Fort St. John and Hudson’s Hope were in attendance.
Trudy Korfman keeps our guild informed about her sheep shearing days and recently, three of our members purchased fleece from her.
A Spinning workshop is being held on the fourth weekend in March with Michelle Boyd. The Friday evening seminar is Creative Recycling for Hand spinners. The workshop is Spinning Superior Socks. 14 spinners are expected to attend.
So far, this has been the March we have always wanted and we hope the mild weather continues. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the PCSW Spring gathering in Lake Saskatoon.
Hines Creek
by Lorena Vass
There is not much news to tell from here. I’m still in the process of finishing my bag for the Spring Conference. When sitting in front of the TV, I am spool knitting! – with a project in mind, but have doubts about its success. I’ve also been doing some sewing.
The Clear Hills County Trade Show, Hines Creek Agricultural Society Fair, and Hines Creek Arts & Crafts annual Display and Tea will take place April 10 in the Dave Shaw Memorial Complex in Hines Creek – a big weekend for us.
Everyone seems to be anxious for Spring to arrive, but I am happy to continue with indoor projects for awhile yet.
See you at the conference at Saskatoon Lake.
Hudson's Hope
by Barbara Nichols (a.k.a. Frankie)
By now I hope you are all starting to enjoy less snow and warmer temperatures. Here, we are all working on different projects. Carol and I enjoyed joining the Fort St. John guild for their annual Blueberry retreat... we got lots done even if we didn't get much sleep. Anita is getting back on her feet after her bad accident in the winter and it is good to see that she is starting to get out and about again. She is currently spinning silk that she found in her stash from some time ago. Carol is spinning up a storm as she changes from her usual 6 ply for socks down to a 4 ply cabled yarn also for socks. Rene joined us a few weeks ago to teach Carol and I how to thread an Inkle loom. I have mine warped, though it took taking it off three times before I got it right. Carol is still trying to dig hers out of storage and when she finds it we'll be weaving Inkle bands every Tuesday... meanwhile I'm still plugging away at my jacket commission and have just the sleeves to weave after a blunder with 'fulling'. I also am spinning lots of cotton and silk for my Master Spinner program and hope to finish before I head back to Olds in June. I also am working on a scarf in merino and Brooks Bouquet and a pick up Huck Lace
and a shawl with alternating green angora rectangles and brown llama rectangles,
both of which are great carry-along projects. We are so happy to have a new member in our little group and have added Linde Gellert as our newest spinner. She is very enthusiastic about learning to drop spindle. Valerie and Fay still join us on the last Friday of the month for moral support and their own knitting and crocheting adventures. But we are sorry to see Lizzie Hansen leave as she is one of my founding members here in Hudson's Hope. She and her husband are departing the first week of April for greener pastures... grandchildren and New Brunswick are drawing them away from us.... we wish her lots of luck in her new home and happy spinning. Meanwhile, I can't wait to see y'all in April.... it's been ages...Saskatoon Lake
by Mae Trelle
With the sunshine and the warm weather, spring can't be far behind. The birds and squirrels certainly think so.
Our group has been busy with tea towels, hard towels, afghan, beautiful shawl, scarf, and our recycle project for the Annual Meeting April 24th.
Verna May's shawl, in blue, black, and pink with mixed fibres is beautiful. It shimmers.
Marion is working on a scarf in two tones of red. Very attractive.
The tote bag project using recycled material is progressing well. Everyone's is different and the results are surprising.
Joan is weaving a sample in preparation for a bedspread, Interesting.
Mae is weaving a play blanket in many different colours.
Gudrun is winding a warp for tea towels.
Shanon is weaving her tote bag.
We look forward to seeing everyone on April 24th. Happy Weaving.... Mae Trelle
Potpourri
by Joan Yates
Greetings all you fibre artists. As the days get longer and spring draws nearer, I have drifted into the land of whimsy.... It may sound like I've fallen into second childhood. No matter; see if you can sort it out.
I know I'm a senior now, because I can no longer weave my way through a crowd like I used to many years ago, when every adult seemed to loom over me, dominate me. Sometimes, amid the boots and belt buckles, there was hardly even a beam of sunshine to lead me out into the open. Don't children have a tough time of it?
Like the time my parents and I were looking at a wonderful castle (in England where we'd gone for a holiday) across a lake and little five year old Joan got a reed up her nose. Another time, a little neighbour came to visit me and put a huge dent in my new doll's face. That made me very cross, so I retaliated by making her stand in the draft of a doorway, where the winter wind would give her a cold!
However, life goes on, and I got a new lease on life as I grew older. I was allowed to go out to a barn yard shed where the colts hung out. The shed was old, and the boards rather warped, so I could peak through the holes between the boards and watch the smaller pigs shuttlefrom trough to trough when the bigger ones gave them the shaft.
Then, many years later, life changed again as it always does. I grew up, married a neighbouring farmer and raised three children. But strangely, threads of the past followed me into adulthood. There were pigs and horses in that phase of life, too. The horses often had their harness on, and gave the family many a jolly ride.
This yarn now shifts into another phase as life continues to do. The children grew up, and Joan moved on, to discover weaving! Soon, she was the owner of a loom, and a participant in weaving lessons. Then, a lot of words that had been familiar in childhood and early adulthood took on new meanings. Words such as loom and shuttle became nouns instead of verbs. Harness had nothing to do with horses. A beam was solid, not like a ray of light. A reed had many dents in it. Cross was not how a person sometimes felt, it was something you put in a warp!
Did you guess the first half of this yarn, where I was going? Words are strange things, fascinating though eh? I think Joan is a word smith. Eh?
PCSW Spring Conference 2010 Hosted by Saskatoon Lake Weavers
submitted by Marion Walker
April 24, 2010: "GOING GREEN"
Shopping Bag Exchange: We would like to encourage everyone to make a shopping bag made from recycled materials to exchange at the conference. If anyone has any other items made from recycled materials, would you please bring them for 'show and tell'.
Conference Costs: Members fee is $20.00, Non-members fee is $25.00. Please confirm your attendance by April 1, 2010 to Shannon Nelson; email is carlshom@telusplanet.net or by phone 780-532-1472.
Agenda:
8:30-9:00 am: Registration and coffee
9:00-11:00 am: SLW group presentation on 'Going Green'
11:00-12:00 pm: Karen Loberg's presentation as the Scholarship winner
12:00-1:00 pm: Lunch, Bag exchange and Door prizes
1:00-1:30 pm: PCSW meeting
1:30-2:30 pm: Shannon with demonstration on making 'Tamari Balls'
2:30 pm: Show and Tell
-the conference is being held at the 'Saskatoon Lake Hall' which is located on the Wembley/LaGlace highway. The Wembley/LaGlace road is right at the west entrance to Wembley (where the four lane highway to G.P. ends/or starts depending on which direction you are coming from) and runs North to LaGlace.
Sept. 17, 18, 19, 2010 Workshop with Jane Stafford Update
submitted by Rene Giesbrecht
Plans are coming along nicely. The class is full with 16 participants. Warps have arrived and will be distributed. Northern Lights College is booked and confirmed as the venue. We will not know about the use of residences until August, hopefully before the newsletter goes out, so we can include that information.
Jane has asked that in the event of a problem with a warp or the warping to feel free to contact her by phone (250)537-9468 or email at jane@janestaffordtextiles.com It is very important to have the warp on the loom and everything in place for the workshop.
Any questions? Please contact me………Rene
FYI
There are two articles this newsletter that made it into our FYI section.... hope you enjoy them.
Arrrgggyle Socks
by Barbara Nichols
I was given for Christmas a pair of navy socks with wee Scottish Terriers and Argyle style diamonds on them. I started to think about Argyle socks and decided to look up a little bit about their history.
I began my research by looking up on Google "Argyle Socks: a history". Since I knew that there was a Duke of Argyle, I thought that perhaps they were first developed, in part, due to him. Boy did I get an eye opener. Here's what I found out.
Argyle socks, the name, is a modern invention, since they weren't called that until around 1928 or so, but in actuality, Argyle socks, the thing, have been around in different forms since possibly ancient times. In order to give you a little information about them I have to back up a little and give you some information on the history of Scotland. Please know that I am not a Scottish historian and so there will be gaping holes in this brief history but remember we are trying to sort out Argyle socks, not the history and relations between Scotland and England which quite frankly are so tangled, it looks like a spider web that fell out of a tree and survived a hurricane! It would take someone better than me to untangle that mess.
During the 1700s there was an ongoing political battle between Scotland and England. The Stuarts, who had sat on the throne in England since just after the death of Queen Elizabeth the first, and were of Scottish descent, had lost the throne through conflict between the catholic and protestant church. Queen Mary and her husband William of Orange, took the throne of England and King James, who was a Stuart, was ousted rather resoundingly.Scotland became divided in their support of the new king. Most of the lowlands of Scotland slowly came to support the new king of England and protestantism (through the influence of the Presbyterian church mainly) while most of the Scottish highlands remained loyal to the Stuart king and catholicism. The Highlanders began to collect money among their people in the early 1700s in an effort to encourage the Stuart's return to the thrown. The ex-king's son, who we know as Bonnie Prince Charlie, was being supported by Rome and France and the monies collected in Scotland. There were great hopes that the Stuarts would re-invade England through Scotland, with the help of their supporters, called Jacobites. Jacobites could be found all over Europe and the Stuart cause was supported by many in the European community. But Bonnie Prince Charlie was no true leader and was in fact a drunken fool, spoiled and thoughtless when it came to his own desires. He had no regard for the people who followed him. In 1746 there was a horrific battle in the Scottish highlands at the site of Culloden following several successful battles on the part of the Jacobites. However, worried about the outcome of the battle Bonnie Prince Charlie turned tail and escaped leaving the highlanders without a leader. At Culloden, the Jacobites were resoundingly defeated. The result of this battle had much to do with the subsequent affects on the dress of the Scottish highlanders.
In an effort to break the spirit of the highland clans, the King of England instituted the Dress Act or de-kilting act where all dress of the highland and even the highland pipes were banned. As a result of this act much information has been lost as to traditional Scottish Highland dress. The kilts of today and the Argyle socks that are used now are actually a re-creation of the original, and like all clothing has developed to the point that modern science has influenced much of how the highland dress is worn. It has changed greatly since the days of yore when kilts were worn as everyday dress.
So how did Argyle socks develop and when were they first used?
In ancient times the Celts were spread far and wide across the European continent eventually spreading to the British Isles. They brought with them a rich culture. But as Roman influence moved ever northward much of the Celtic culture was lost in mainland Europe. On the British Isles, however, Celtic culture remained in tact and unchanged especially in remote regions such as the Scottish highlands. The men of the highlands were shepherds, farmers and hunters. They would have been exposed to the elements since most of their activities would have been out of doors. From very early etchings the Celtic garb included short skirt-like garments in tartan, similar to the Roman kilt (so just long enough to cover the bum) over form fitting leggings. The leggings were probably made from leather originally, and were tubular in shape and would not have covered the nether regions... ; } thus the short kilt.
I am not sure when weaving became the practice for clothing but it was relatively early as we have examples of weaving from as far back as Egyptian times and probably earlier. Perhaps the Celts brought the practice of weaving with them when they came to the British Isles, however, for whatever the reason, we know that by medieval times short woven kilts were being used over leather leggings. Perhaps because leather was stiff or perhaps because leather was harder to tan and prepare than was woven material, but eventually the leggings were made from woven fabric sometimes with leather on the upper inner leg area probably to help the material withstand the rubbing of the legs together, or horse back riding might have been a factor for the leather. These leggings were called truibhas (a Gaelic word pronounced trews) which were the precursor to trousers. They were form fitting by being cut on the bias so as to fit the form of the leg better, and they also were cut from the same material as the tartan kilt.
Since being cut on the bias turned the grid pattern (sett) of the tartan on the diagonal it was the original Argyle pattern. For some reason the fashion of the kilt began to change and slowly the kilt became longer and trews became shorter. There seems to have been two types of trews at one point where there was an upper trew (which eventually were changed from form fitting to quite loose and are the beginnings of those God awful plaid golf knee length pants that we saw in the early years of the last century and are still around today as men's walking shorts) and a lower trew, (now known as Argyle socks) held in place by a garter either on the upper leg or the lower leg.
Eventually a sock or foot was knitted and attached to the bottom of the lower trew, either plain or in the same pattern. This was the precursor to modern hose (now known as Argyle socks).Ok so now we need to look at the kilt for a moment. By the 1700s there was in use, the garment called the great kilt among clansmen, and depending on which clan you came from the kilt could be worn in many different ways. It seems that the technique for wearing a great kilt varies depending on what part of Scotland you are from and to this day is the basis for much debate. There is no one way to put on a great kilt. The great kilt was actually a large piece of material usually 25 inches wide by about 9 meters long for a large man. sometimes this would have been cut in two pieces and sown together to form a rectangle 144" x 50". The most common understanding which might be wrong, says that it would have been laid on the floor or ground and pleated or gathered by hand and then wrapped around the body and belted into place with a leather belt to which might have been attached a knife and sporran (leather bag for holding things).
Some people think that the fabric had loops on the inside through which a belt would have been drawn to form the pleats. Either way, the upper part would have been folded over the belt or thrown over the shoulders or used to keep the upper body warm in some manner. It could also be folded in a way for the excess material to form pockets. We all know the joke about what a man wears under his kilt.... nothing! This may be true but the legs would have to have been kept warm and this was done with trews.
You can see with the changes in trews over the years, how they led to trousers, short golfing pants, the modern day kilt with its lower hose and eventually Argyle socks.
I was really interested to know that the original Argyle socks were trews that were cut from the same material as the kilt and then turned on the bias for the stretch that was needed to shape the hose to the configuration of the leg. I was also interested that eventually some woman somewhere in the highlands got the great idea to attach a knitted foot to the woven trews. This was the precursor to the modern Argyle Sock.
Those who wear Scottish dress now wear kilts that are pleated with stitched pleats and knitted Argyle socks sporting a diamond pattern that matches the pattern of the kilt they are wearing. The first knitting machine was developed in the 1500s when the demand for hose was high. Prior to this, Argyle socks were knitted by hand and were not easily come by. By the mid 1600s knitting machines were much more common and so, knitted hose with diamond patterns were easier to come by. I imagine for warmth of the legs of the men who wore the kilts, these socks would have been knit with quite a heavy yarn from the typical highland sheep, possibly the Scottish Black Faced sheep which would have been the common sheep of the highlands at that time. After Culloden and the Dress Act or de-kilting act of the 1700s, traditional highland dress was not worn and so much information was lost. It was only after King George IV in 1822, visited the highlands that kilts and hose were re-instated for military dress only.
The Duke of Argyle (which would have been Clan Cambell) made popular, modern Argyle socks, around 1928 when hunting grouse was popular. The greatest area for hunting grouse was on and around the Argyle estate in Scotland. Part of these hunting weekends would be the country's national sport of playing golf. The typical golfing outfit would have been knee length pants (developed from trews) in a tartan pattern with socks (hose) of the same tartan. Thus the name Argyle became popular only after 1928 or so when hunting weekends among the elite were frequent on the Argyle estate.
Oh.. and by the way the kilt was worn by men only.... and there were hunting tartans for each clan that were drab colours to blend into the wild. Dress tartan would have had brighter colours. Women could only wear the clan tartan as a shawl or shoulder throw, pinned with a brooch that would have had the emblem of the clan. Funny how things change since tartan is sold in every shape imaginable now. And Argyle socks?... "weel, mine have wee Scotty dogs to sprrrruce up the diamond pattern.... "
So the next time you see that Argyle diamond know that there is a wealth of history behind them. Hmm... maybe you should consider knitting or weaving some nice Argyle patterned trews... socks.... leggings.... or the like.
Arrrgggyle socks!!! Whose up for a round of golf??!!
Mechanisms of Flyer Wheels
by Marjo Wheat
The development of the flyer-bobbin mechanism revolutionized hand spinning and greatly increased the efficiency of the work of the spinner. There are two types of flyer mechanisms:
Bobbin Lead
Flyer Lead,
And there are different ways the flyer mechanism can be driven:
Single Drive
Double Drive
Bobbin Lead (Irish Tension)
In the bobbin lead flyer mechanism the drive band turns the bobbin. The yarn linking the bobbin to the flyer band turns the flyer around. The flyer is held back by an adjustable brake band which allows the yarn to wind onto the bobbin. The spinner builds the twist by restraining the yarn from winding on. This type of wheel is best used for bulky yarns. It is the type of mechanism I have on my “Indian Spinner” which is a large flyer-bobbin mechanism set on the base of an a sewing machine treadle. The drive band goes around the wheel, then the bobbin. Holding back on the yarn as it is spun helps put the twist into it. There is a small string with a rubber band that I can put on the flyer mechanisms if it needs braking. This spinner makes the thick “Indian Sweater” yarn.
Flyer Lead (Scotch Tension)
In the flyer lead mechanism the drive band turns the flyer through a separate whorl at the bobbin end of the flyer shaft or a whorl built onto the orifice end of the flyer. The bobbin is dragged around by the yarn and is held back by a brake band (Scotch Tension) on the bobbin. The brake band can be adjusted to vary how easily the bobbin can slip and twist can build up on the yarn. Relaxing the pull on the twisted yarn allows it to wind onto the bobbin. The brake tension may have to be adjusted as the yarn build up on the bobbin. Scotch Tension can be easily learned by the beginner spinner and is a flexible system.
Single Drive
A single drive wheel has a drive band that goes once around the wheel and the flyer and has a separate brake on the bobbin or the flyer. This is known as the Scotch tension braking system.
The Ashford traditional wheel is an example of the single wheel drive. The drive band goes around the wheel and then around the flyer. There is a scotch tension brake on the bobbin. The Scotch tension consists of a string with an attached rubber band that is attached to the maiden on either side. On some wheels a small spring will replace the rubber band. It can be loosened and tightened to provide the type of tension needed. This is a great wheel for beginners learning to spin as it is easy to operate and the Scotch tension system is simple to use.
Double Drive
A double band wheel has a drive band that goes around the wheel and the spinning head twice in a figure 8. The bobbin and the whorl (attached through the shaft to the flyer) are each independently turned. The bobbin pulley is smaller that the flyer whorl or pulley, thus the flyer pulley spins faster, twisting the yarn and winding it onto the bobbin. The amount of twist in the yarn is dependent on the ratios between the pulley of the bobbin and the pulley of the flyer as well as the amount the bobbin is allowed to slip by the drive band. (Slippage of the bobbin will, however, alter the ratio between the flyer pulley or whorl and the bobbin pulley or whorl.) No brake is used. Whorls may come in different ratios to give the spinner more flexibility in the preparation of yarns.The double drive gives the spinner good control over the draw-in and the twist of the yarn and is particularly good for fine yarns. Some double drive wheels can be converted to using Scotch Tension giving the spinner greater flexibility.
