One evening recently, a good friend of mine popped over. When I say ‘popped over’, you need to understand that both she and I are knitters/crocheters, so there is no version of ‘popping over’ that ends quickly or without a drink, a gossip, and a spot of knitting. It was good to see her. (I’m sure you two would like each other if you met.)
Amongst several reasons for her visit, she wanted to meet the new addition to our household. Look!
This beauty was a joint birthday-Christmas gift from several branches of family, and to say that I am ridiculously excited and grateful scarcely even begins to describe the situation. (It’s an Ashford Traditional Double Drive, with Double Treadle kit, fact-fans, and it’s nothing short of splendid.) Much as I was enjoying using the drop spindle…
…I craved the speed and possibilities of a wheel. And wow, is it fast.
Yes, I am very much a beginner. Yes, I can see you sitting there thinking, “What? She hasn’t even managed to [insert name of skill that I’m not even aware that I lack]”. But we all have to start somewhere.
As I said, my friend visited. For the purposes of this blog post, we’ll call her ‘Jo’ because… well, because that’s her name, and it seems a pity to waste it. (You’ve met her before, so I reckon that you’re probably on first name terms by now.)
Jo admired the spinning wheel. Jo and I chatted about the spinning wheel. And then Jo asked the crucial question, “What have you named it?”
Egads! I hadn’t even thought of that. I’m not sure why I hadn’t thought of that, given that I’m prone to naming everything else. Our fruit bowl is called Fergus, and the sieve is Zeldin III. (RIP Zeldin I and Zeldin II, who were long ago dispatched to the great kitchen drawer in the sky.) We’ve even named the children.
But the spinning wheel had no name.
“Jenny, maybe?” suggested Jo, but half-heartedly, because that’s a name that’s probably already been bestowed on a lot of spinning wheels. We pondered for a while, and sipped our drinks. But neither Jo nor I could think of an alternative name.
Are you currently experiencing that uneasy feeling that you’re about to be asked a favour? Well pay attention to that feeling, because it’s accurate. Please will you help me name my spinning wheel? I wouldn’t have troubled you, but I’m so new to spinning that I can’t even tell whether it’s male or female, let alone whether it’s a Miranda, or a Hieronymus, or a Sid, or a Clementine, or a Jane, or a Sir Archibald Mangelwurzel.
Any suggestions would be very gratefully received. Then possibly, we should have a vote. Thank you.
And no, I’m not going to call it Spinny McSpinface.*
∗ (BBC News story here, in case you missed that one.)
The much loved MrsB suggests Sally or Wendy??
My favourite go to name is Bunty
Have a good weekend x
You have my favorite wheel. I have had mine for just over 13 years. Congrats
I’m afraird I’m out of suggestions, maybe a name for yarn in a foreign language that you like. However, I have a friend who collects sock monkeys. Only they don’t always tell her their name on arrival. Some of them have been there for years and have not told their names. I hope the spindle shares her name soon.
Umm . . . How about Addie? Ashford Double Drive and it’s certainly an addition to your skill set and fibre-related gear.
I know, originality, where art thou?
The first name that popped into my head was Martha.
However, with another 30 seconds of thought…Aurora (and in case you aren’t up on your Disney, Aurora is the princess in Sleeping Beauty)
Though Aurora’s experience with the spinning wheel ended badly…
I second Aurora or Sleeping Beauty 🙂 That’s what I immediately thought of 😀
I quite like your Hieronymus!
I’d go for an uncommon name… maybe historical or mythical?
Is there a character in a story, film, book, legend, etc that appeals to you, either because of the sound or due to its traits?
For example, my cat was Judith (from Judith & Holofernes). Another was Ester (because I liked the sound). I also like Clara.
Máni could be an interesting candidate: personification of the moon in Norse mythology (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Máni) ; the Moon also representing the female side of the universe.
Or maybe Gwendolyn, Guinevere?
Here you can find some inspiration: https://www.babble.com/baby-names/girl-names-that-start-with-g/
Have fun!
I think Rapunzel would be cute. you and she together can let down all kinds of golden hair!
Maleficent?
Carabosse is the name of the wicked fairy in the village panto Sleeping Beauty next week ( have you got your tickets??). If I hadn’t already got a spinning wheel lined up I would be asking if yours wanted a starring role. But that might be asking too much of your precious new gift. Does she want to be understudy?
Producer, Harwell Village Panto.
When I saw this blog post I immediately thought of suggesting Carabosse or Spindleshanks. Good luck with your panto Janice. Our ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is next week too. Dress rehearsal tomorrow.
Assistant Producer, Secret Pantomime Society, Pibrac (near Toulouse)
I’d go with Rumplstiltskin myself (but I’m a fairytale tragic!) though I do like the idea of spinning straw into gold (yarn!)
Poppy
I think that she looks exactly like a Mabel. I have no earthly idea why, but I do. Should you happen to loathe the name Mabel, maybe Hettie? I am sooo happy for you and maybe just a teensy weeny bit envious!
I too am on the fairy tale kick. The name of the daughter that has to do the spinning for Rumplestiltskin is Hope. How about Hope? Afterall, you will be spinning straw (or cotton or wool, etc., ) into gold.
How about Charlotte as in Charlotte’s (spinning) Web
Oh you got there before me! I second this suggestion as it’s what I was going to say!
And it has to be said… She is utterly beautiful
“Charlotte” was the first name that came to mind, but I had no idea WHY. Now I know! Let’s all vote for Charlotte.
I feel drawn to her. She’s a she, and a Sara or a Sarah. Weird that I am suggesting my own name but I feel it somehow .
Vera, after my nan who was possibly the greatest knitter who ever lived.
Algernon Spinburne perhabs?
My favorite!
The spinning Jenny was invented by James Hargraves, so perhaps Hargraves would be a good masculine name. Then Richard Arkwright invented the water frame….so maybe James, or Arkwright.
Or maybe Catherine because she is the patron saint of spinsters…hence Catherine wheel. Just a thought. ( spot the pragmatist…no fairytales hear!)
I second dcdinoto’s brilIiant suggestion of Hope – I think it’s perfect for all her reasons plus Hope can help bring into being all your wonderful creative woolly related dreams 🙂
Proud Mary – as in the song by Ike & Tina Turner. “Big wheel keep on turning,
Proud Mary keep on burnin’,
Rollin, Rollin, Rollin on the river”.
Proud Mary is/was a paddle boat down in South USA.
Enjoy! Sf
Yes, I think this is perfect!
Yes!-and remember Mary had a little lamb…
Beatrice, not sure why!
Dizzy
She is, of course, female and so deserves a proper feminine name. Or feminist? How about Eleanor? Or Guinevere? Both those ladies of lore would have spun cloth. I envy you your double drive! Have lots of fun!
Rumplestiltskin!
I just see her as Sara. No particular reason, just that when I first looked at her, and she is lovely, I thought Sara. I hope you have loads of fun with her.
Michelangelo because it creates beautiful things
Or Emily (Emily carr artist female)
Ash or Jenny.
Jenny … as in Spinning Jenny? It’s a lovely name and very apropros
I was looking for “Goddess of Wine” and found she was Hera. then I found Hestia and her attributes:
In Ancient Greek religion, Hestia (/ˈhɛstiə/; Greek: Ἑστία, “hearth” or “fireside”) is a virgin goddess of the hearth, architecture, and the right ordering of domesticity, the family, the home, and the state. In Greek mythology, she is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea.
Enjoy, she says through gritted teeth, still saving up for one!
Arachne. The spinner of Ancient Greek gods and goddesses?
Actually I just googled it and Arachne was a mortal who challenged Athena and was turned into a spider. But a spinner nonetheless.
If you wanted the name of the fate who spun the thread of life it was Clotho.
If I had a spinning wheel, I’d call it Zelda.
Spinderella? Just to shake up the fairy tale thing a bit 🙂 Or Hank – he might make a few of them. Or Yasmin Yarnmaker. S/he is lovely anyway.
Are you planning to wave with any of the yarn? If so – Sigourney..
I saw a wool shop once called the Spinning Weal – weal being an old English word for well-being.
Sybil sprang to mind. She’s a beauty whatever the name.
How about the name “Tweedle” for your splendid spinning wheel.
I think Ashlyn Victoria…no reason, she just looks like one.
Joy, because she will bring you lots of it
I’d like to suggest Irene. Not only Mom’s middle name, but it means “Peace”, and a session of spinning leads to inner peace, right?
Whatever you name her/him please be careful not to overdo spinning so as not to incur “spinner’s foot” – mentioned in an earlier comment and with reference to others who have actually had to cope with bodily pains due to repetitive motion experienced by knitting, crocheting or spinning! Just go at it slowly and be sure you’re introducing this movement into you body gradually. My “knitter’s elbow” is still asking for rest periods with applications of heat then cold after I retired and began knitting for hours every day (and loving it). That said, I congratulate you and wish you endless joy of her/him (I can’t help but think female).
Algernon Spinburne is my choice!
Yikes, I hadn’t realized that this was a risk. Thank you for the warning. I hope your knitter’s elbow settles down very soon.
I see a physio regularly and she does wonders with any kind of repetitive strain injure. She also advises me how to change things or improve my technique. For instance she recommends an upright mouse if you spend hours on the computer, which as a writer I certainly do.
Since she is an Ashford, she has deep New Zealand roots, so why not a Maori name? ‘Aroha’ means love; ‘hurihuri’ means spinning; ‘huruhuru’ means wool’ ‘hipi’ is a sheep; to knit is ‘te piri’; ‘wharanga’ is the act of weaving (which you may do with the results!)!
If not, I love ‘Algernon Spinburne’!
Yay, that’s exactly what I was about to write in a comment 🙂 Aroha ❤
For no particular reason I’d like to suggest “Markov”.
Whatever you name it, it might be good to remember how of spinning is shoving things up the wheel’s orifice, and name it appropriately!
My suggestion is “Wheely Soft”
Because your beautiful new wheel is an Ashford so originates from New Zealand (my home), maybe a Maori name like Kereru or Kowhai might be appropriate
I like Alice. First, because it was my mother’s name, it’s short, it makes me think of a very resourceful woman who taught me to crochet but couldn’t knit. Second, just because I like it! But whatever you name your wheel has to speak to your relationship with what it means to you.
I’d call him/her Laine… X
Millie. the sotory of Rumpellstillspin invloves a Miller who said his daughter could spin straw into gold. His daughter has no name, but it could be Millie the Millers daughter, and I am sure you will soon be spinning gold from your wheel.
But actually I reckon you will end up calling her the name you said you wouldn’t . Mrs Spinny Mcspinface, ask the twinage to choose!
My drop spindle is named John, after the guy who taught me the basics. If I get any more, they’ll al be named after a specific set of characters from a book
His name is Woody BarrelsOn
????
Lana Turner. A very glamorous actress & ‘lana’ is the Italian word for wool.
Or Jason, the hero of Jason & the Golden Fleece in Greek Mythology, although a spinning wheel seems to be a feminine object to me.
How about Tizzwazz – all of a spin! especially as you are excited about your beautiful present.
How about Jolie or Joline maybe both Jolie Joline
Perhaps Hope, it’s a lovely female name and I’m sure you hope to quickly spin some wool so you can get started on your next creation. X