Vancouver 2010 - II

Blogging about trips contains a balance between what was interesting to me, and what is relevant to a knitblog.  The incredible beauty of the inlets and bays contains no fiber.  But we are patient.  I know that you skip quickly past the journey on the ferry to Vancouver Island, to see the next picture of the yarnbombed window. 

I am always amazed by discoveries that travel allows. 

One cannot visit Vancouver without encountering First Nation art motifs.  They are evocative, appealing, compelling.  Mr. E and I wander art galleries.  The art makes me smile, then relax inside. 

One gallery, less well-advertised than some, had an unusual item by the owner's desk.  We asked him about it.  All he knew was that his sister gave demonstrations on it occasionally.  Origin?  Use?  Provenence?  No clues.

So of course, it is a spinning wheel.  The flyer is huge.  The attachment from the drive wheel to the bobbin was missing.  (You can see the holes for it on the right side of the wood base.)  He said it was leather strap that had broken.  The base was an old treadle-driven sewing machine.   I assumed it was a one-of, made by a mid-prior century craftsperson on the cheap.

 Well, probably yes.  But it appeared to have been a more widespread solution to how to transition from spindles.  At the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, we saw a less well-preserved flyer that mimicked the gallery's version.  The Museum's inclusion gave it the stamp of a legitimate variation in spinning history in the Pacific Northwest. 

During our visit there in 2007, our pictures were without flash, and they were barely marginal.  If you don't ask, you don't get.  We walked around, taking more miserable pictures without flash, until Mr. E asked a guard about flash.  He gave us a big grin, and a thumbs-up, so we retraced our steps and took better pictures. 

This year, the Museum had a Cowichan sweater on display.  That answered the question of what they did with the handspun. 

A picture of a Japanese spinning wheel is included.  It, alas, was locked away in a room that was only open limited numbers of hours per week.  I cannot see from the picture how this wheel functions, given the issues of orifice, take-up, drive.  I see elements of charkha.  Next visit.

Our trip to Vancouver Island ended with a walk around Victoria.  We had a snack.  We do love our oysters.  The sign says it all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Manise]

Fascinating finds as usual on your travels. Yummy snack indeed. :-)

[margene]

How incredibly fascinating! The bicycle might even get me to ride again...it's major cool. And so are the mystery wheels. You have a good eye for spotting anything fiber related. Your blog public appreciates it, but I wouldn't mind a few shots of the beautiful Victoria! How many bucks did you spend on sucks?

[Anne]

I love those wheels. They are sort of steampunk in their own way. Tres fashionable'.

[Carole]

I'd like to know more about both of those wheels. That's a great price for oysters!

[Cheryl S.]

Fun!
I love the sweater.

[elizabeth]

That is so cool! I love going along on trips!

[Lucia]

That is a huge honkin' flyer. I think of trying to fill it with laceweight and despair. Then I realize that even if I owned it, I wouldn't have to fill it with laceweight.

[Marcy/Habetrot]

Ah, but it's your blo-og, and you'll blog what you want to! Rilly, L, we'll go along with you anywhere you go.

The Japanese wheel? Works just like a great wheel, only it's smaller, sits on the floor, and has a hand crank. Here's a lovely pic of one in use: http://tinyurl.com/27x74xt

[Caroline M]

You can show me all the holiday photos you like, the top one today (or one almost exactly like it) has been on my staircase since 1997. My photo has the ferry that is making the return trip just coming through the gap on the left.

[naomi]

I like the scenery, too. It's a lovely change from what I see here...

[Teyani]

that "spinning wheel" looks like it was an old sewing machine base adapted by some ingenious woman who wanted to spin ;-)

Buck a shuck?? whoa. great price. how many shuck wouldda knitter shuck if a knitter could shuck for a buck?> (giggle) wouldda been a pile for me!

[sarah]

Our favourite Japanese restaurant is in Victoria (sad, that). Daidoco is tiny, near the Bug Zoo (also worth a visit) and not so much a restaurant as a diner/deli. Excellent small meals of extremely fresh seafood with lashings of green tea.