Finnish Travels - Pt.3

As someone that has spent her life making textiles, I would have to say that I am in love with my tools.  Tools are such an important part of the process of knitting, weaving and spinning.  They can even make a difference in the quality of the finished product.  Not to mention that a beautiful, well made tool is a joy to use!

This post will mostly be a photo essay of some of the amazing textile tools I came across in the Ostrobothnian region of Finland.

Painted spinning wheel at the Ostrobothnian Museum in Vasa

Several spinning wheels at Stundars Museum in Solf

Spinning wheel in the priests house at the Korsnäs Hembygdsförening in Korsnäs

This upright wheel was on display at the Ostrobothnian museum in Vasa.  The sign said it was an early 18th century wheel from the town of Karijoki.  It was the only wheel of this type that I saw in the local museums.  I would like to have had a closer look at it.  Based on my own experience with upright wheels, this appears to be missing its flyer.  The distaff also appears to be in an unusual location.

I was really awed by the painting and chip carving used to create a number of spinning tools.  Here are several images that are from the Ostrobothnian Museum in Vasa.

Distaffs and a lazy kate from the late 1700's at the Ostrobothnian Museum in Vasa.

The lazy kates in this image date from the early to mid 1700's.  Note the beautiful pulleys used for a counter balance loom.

This display at the Ostrobothnian Museum in Vasa included several unique distaffs as well as a rigid heddle for band weaving that came from Voitby in Mustasaari.

This exquisite, carved distaff at the Ostrobothnian Museum in Vasa was made by Anders Andersson Bäck from Kronoby as an engagement present for his future wife while he was working at sea as a ship's carpenter.

I loved all of the detail carved into this lazy kate and the one behind it that I saw at the Korsnäs Hembygdsförening in Korsnäs.

This skein winder/counter is also known as a 'clock reel'.  This too was located at the Ostrobothnian Museum in Vasa.  It is the first one I have seen with a clock face painted on it!

This pulley on an old counter balance loom at Stundars in Solf caught my eye.  I am in the process of restoring an old 19th century American counter balance loom and was impressed that such care went into making this small part.

On a visit to a Vasa antique store shortly after our visit to Stundars in Solfs I came across this loom pulley. I couldn't resist bringing it home. It is a real treasure for me to have!

A short note/observation:  I was surprised to find several very old, carved and painted distaffs, loom parts and spinning wheel parts in the local antique stores.  While visiting my relatives in Molpe, I was pleased to see that they had a spinning wheel in the entrance of their home.  They told me that it was quite common for people to have one in their homes.  However, most people do not know how to use them.