So I pulled the Babe out of mothballs the other day and started spinning some merino top I bought a couple of years back. I knew I was rusty, but I didn't think I was that rusty, and I was having all sorts of issues. The wheel didn't seem to be turning consistently, I was getting over twist, the spun yarn wasn't winding onto the bobbin. Then the drive band just sort of sluffed off the wheel, all limp and stuff. It didn't feel "fresh", but sort of dried out. The drive band was a polyurethane band. Does polyurethane break down? Well, apparently so because you can buy replacement bands online.
I needed a quick solution. I had some Lily Sugar n' Cream yarn in the house (who doesn't) and it fit into the little groove in my bobbin. I took the limp noodle poly band off and tied the cotton yarn on using a surgeon's knot. I wasn't sure how the knot would perform going along the bobbin groove, but it was fine.
Oh my gosh, what a difference! The spinning is going smooth as silk now. Good ol' Lily's Sugar n' Cream!
