Frequently Asked Questions

 The earliest version of Sleeping Beauty is a rather gruesome tale that is quiet different from the well know version. As a compassionate mother, I would not want to tell my children most of the details. Suffice it to say , in that version she pricks her finger on a poisonous splinter hidden in the flax  that she spins.

In the well known version that has been current for the last few hundred years she pricks her finger on a spindle.  This leads us to speculate that she was using a drop spindle, the end of which has become sharp through constant  rubbing against the thread being spun.  If you want  Sleeping Beauty to use a spinning wheel, she must be using a Great Wheel (or  Walking wheel as the Americans call it) . This wheel has the spindle mounted horizontally on the left which is rotated by a belt that goes round the large wheel ,on the right, which is turned by hand. The fibre is spun onto the end of the spindle pointing towards us, which gets worn to a sharp point through use.

Your commonly seen treadle  spinning wheel has no sharp points upon which to injure oneself.

Meryl and Marion will - Contact Meon Valley Mill Phone 01489 878833 or visit www.meonvalleymill.co.uk

No sorry!   You could, if they are made of cotton,  try using Dylon dyes in your washing machine .  Be aware they will fade in the sun and will probably shrink in the process. Its easier to buy new ones.

First Try Ctrl key and number pad + together  (number pad - to make things smaller). If that doesn't work Try: if using Internet Explorer7- bottom right screen click on +100%;or Go to you your view menu (Alt V) look for Text size (Internet Explorer) select a large one.  Or, if using another web browser, search menus look for increase text size,  Zoom or similar word, to increase magnification. If it has no effect - go to tools menu (Alt T) select Internet options, click on accessibly click- to tick- on ignore font sizes specified on web pages.

This depends on the size of the jumpers, the size and usefulness of the fleece and the size of the sheep.
See Beverley's piece in the Golden issue Newsletter: She made a man sized sweater from 800gms of wool.  Golden issue newsletter pdf

 Hand spinners may want fleeces from your sheep / Alpacas- email Ann anntwizzle@yahoo.co.uk with details and I will let members know about them. Please tell us the breed of sheep, the colour and qualities of the wool.

You can always spin your own dog's combings and use it to knit a dog blanket but it will always smell of dog especially when wet . Cat hair may not be smelly but in practice most spinners are not looking for other peoples cat hair even though they may use their own.