This little beauty came carefully wrapped in gold paper and packed in a box along with a bit of already-spun fiber. It has a notch and a shepherd's crook style hook, lovely color and grain, silky finish, masterful balance, and a pleasant cedar scent. When viewed from the top while spinning, its little blonde spot seems to form a continuous gold rim around a moving reddish circle. I just love that.
I immediately tried it on some of the Blue Face Leicester roving I've been spinning. The amazing thing is there's nothing particular to note. I mean functionally, besides the visual beauty, tactile appeal, and ultralight weight of the spindle. Without any fuss, the Featherweight went to work spinning fine, even singles, twirling fast and long and dropping straight and true. There was no momentary adjustment to the idiosyncracies of a new spindle – it was as if I'd been using it contentedly for years. The spindle works the way spindles are supposed to work, and that excellently well, right out of the box. What's up with that?
What is particularly noteworthy is the cordial email correspondence I've enjoyed with Sheila Bosworth: prompt, unfailingly helpful, a minor education unto itself. Jonathan and Sheila offer an exceptional product and exceptional service. I'm definitely stopping at the Journey Wheel booth at Rhinebeck, 22 28.
Incidentally, in the month since the end of the Tour de Fleece, I've doubled the amount of finished laceweight yarn to 300 m (328 yd); about 400 m (437 yd) of singles is waiting to be plied. I'm eager to see if the Boss speeds production, allowing that fall is full of distractions.