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When people think of Shetland they often think of wool and Fair Isle sweaters. The price of wool for the local crofter is so low they hardly make anything when they sell it. But, if they happen to have brown or black sheep there is no market at all. Tom, the lighthouse's caretaker, has an assortment of brown and black fleece that he cannot sell. I decided this was a terrible waste and decided to do something with the fleece. Not knowing how to knit or spin wool, I was off to bad start. Never being one to let lack of knowledge stop me I set out to buy a used spinning wheel to spin the wool.
A day later I got an email from the person who had put the wheel up for auction saying the highest bidder had backed out and would I be interested at the last price I had bid. The answer was a definite yes. During the correspondence related to payment for the wheel I asked if it possibility had come from a Morrison family. The information on the wheel had mentioned it has been in the same family for five generations. I am a Morrison by birth and thought it would be super if the wheel could stay in the family. She said a Morrison had not used this particular wheel. I was disappointed but thankful I had my beautiful wheel. A couple of days later I got an email from the lady on Lewis saying she had convinced a Morrison who had a working 1840 wheel to trade for the one I bought if I was interested. This particular wheel had been in the Morrison family for five generations. Wow, now I was going to have a spinning wheel that was part of my clan's history. This was really exciting. As I write the wheel is in the post on its way to the lighthouse. I cannot wait to see it. I suppose you are wondering now that I have the wheel what am I am going to do about Tom's fleece. Two weeks ago I started spinning and knitting lessons. This is a subject for another whole letter but at this point my spinning product looks like rope with bumps in it more than yarn. Hopefully I will get better or the only use for my yarn will be to make a nubby rug. One thing for sure it will definitely keep me busy on stormy days at the lighthouse. The Spinner,
Sharma You can contact me by email at sharma@eshanesslighthouse.co.uk You can find more articles in the archive under Island Miniatures/Lighthouse Letters. If you are interested in a video with Sharma and Eshaness Lighthouse on it you can a good one here. You can find more articles in the archive under Lighthouse Beacons From Scotland. Book Signing If you order from this web site I will sign my new book for children, Moonbeam Cow, and "Scotland - The Complete Guide and Road Atlas", a beautiful book for which I did the text. |
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