I love that you discuss what you are doing, your goal, how to get there and that you don't fast forward your videos! I am new to long draw and noticed that you talk about spinning at a higher ratio and closer to the orifice. Can you elaborate a little on that? I am having problems with slubs quite a bit, what could I be doing wrong? I mostly spin corriedale and cormo roving. Thank you for such great videos and any help you can lend. 🐑
Hi! Thanks for watching! Spinning long draw is a woolen prep spin. That one is not close to the orifice to spin. Worsted spin is the inch worm technique and is closer to the orifice. You draft a little bit of fiber pulling it toward the orifice with your lead hand. It is a very good beginner technique. Woolen spin AKA long draw is a long backwards draw where your left hand pulls backwards away from the orifice. It is good for spinning a lighter fluffier yarn. As far as subs go there are a couple of potential causes. One might be your fiber prep. You said you are spinning from roving, which is a woolen prep meaning its carded so the fibers are all Willy Nilly, and It is possible that when the fiber was carded it broke. That can cause nepps in the batt or roving. Another way you can get slub is if the fiber is felted a little bit. You can fix that by either predrafting or steaming the roving. The other common way to get slubs is letting the twist travel too far up into your drafting triangle. This makes it difficult to draft and you end up pulling larger chunks of fiber and it gives to lumpy appearance. There are other reasons too. Too many to go into here. I would start making sure you have a good fiber prep, and not letting the twist go into your drafting triangle. Hope this helps! Spin Happy!😀
Where could I buy a guide like you use with grooves? Do you mostly spin high and ply low for a worsted weight? What you are spinning here is my default. It is harder for me to spin thicker. I use a 9.5 whorl to make a single and 5.5 to ply. I tend to ply at a 20 angle, so I need to work at bumping it up to 30.
You can get them at any fiber shop online. I got the plain rectangle one from a fiber festival, the cute animals I got from Fiber Sprite on Etsy and they are also on Amazon. I have some plastic ones that came free with purchases. Camaj Fiber Arts has a nice spinning tool and a very good booklet that explains how to use it. @CamajFibersArts There is nothing wrong with a 20 deg ply angle it just depends on what you want to do with the finished yarn. If you want a higher angle of ply slightly decrease your tension and get that extra treadle or two before drawing onto the bobbin.
With the backward draw, do you let the spin grab the fibers before you pull back. Or how do you keep from either pulling the fibers apart or having the spin grab all your fiber before you draft? Thanks
That is the trick! You have to have enough twist to have the fiber stay together, but you don’t want the twist to come up into the drafting triangle because then it will be too hard to draft. It will pull out and big clumps. I have a more detailed video on it if you look at my TDF 2024 playlist. I have them organized on my home channel. Spin Happy!!
In this particular video series it’s from Into The Whirled colorway Eating Grapes Off The Wall Paper. This is the second video of the series. I tell you about the fiber in the first one.
Beautiful yarn
Loved the video looking forward to seeing it once plied.
Thank you! It will be up this weekend!
Great video! Your wheel is beautiful!
Thank you! That wheel is a Kromski Minstrel. It is my favorite.
I love the tip to pull off your sample twist I will try that
Thank you for sharing your good work. I would like to know where you took your tools for measuring your yarn during spinning. Thank you.
I think you are asking where I purchased my spinning tool. The Fiber Sprite store on Etsy. Also on Amazon. Enjoy! Spin happy!
I love that you discuss what you are doing, your goal, how to get there and that you don't fast forward your videos! I am new to long draw and noticed that you talk about spinning at a higher ratio and closer to the orifice. Can you elaborate a little on that? I am having problems with slubs quite a bit, what could I be doing wrong? I mostly spin corriedale and cormo roving. Thank you for such great videos and any help you can lend. 🐑
Hi! Thanks for watching! Spinning long draw is a woolen prep spin. That one is not close to the orifice to spin. Worsted spin is the inch worm technique and is closer to the orifice. You draft a little bit of fiber pulling it toward the orifice with your lead hand. It is a very good beginner technique. Woolen spin AKA long draw is a long backwards draw where your left hand pulls backwards away from the orifice. It is good for spinning a lighter fluffier yarn. As far as subs go there are a couple of potential causes. One might be your fiber prep. You said you are spinning from roving, which is a woolen prep meaning its carded so the fibers are all Willy Nilly, and It is possible that when the fiber was carded it broke. That can cause nepps in the batt or roving. Another way you can get slub is if the fiber is felted a little bit. You can fix that by either predrafting or steaming the roving. The other common way to get slubs is letting the twist travel too far up into your drafting triangle. This makes it difficult to draft and you end up pulling larger chunks of fiber and it gives to lumpy appearance. There are other reasons too. Too many to go into here. I would start making sure you have a good fiber prep, and not letting the twist go into your drafting triangle. Hope this helps! Spin Happy!😀
Where could I buy a guide like you use with grooves? Do you mostly spin high and ply low for a worsted weight? What you are spinning here is my default. It is harder for me to spin thicker. I use a 9.5 whorl to make a single and 5.5 to ply. I tend to ply at a 20 angle, so I need to work at bumping it up to 30.
You can get them at any fiber shop online. I got the plain rectangle one from a fiber festival, the cute animals I got from Fiber Sprite on Etsy and they are also on Amazon. I have some plastic ones that came free with purchases. Camaj Fiber Arts has a nice spinning tool and a very good booklet that explains how to use it. @CamajFibersArts
There is nothing wrong with a 20 deg ply angle it just depends on what you want to do with the finished yarn. If you want a higher angle of ply slightly decrease your tension and get that extra treadle or two before drawing onto the bobbin.
With the backward draw, do you let the spin grab the fibers before you pull back. Or how do you keep from either pulling the fibers apart or having the spin grab all your fiber before you draft? Thanks
That is the trick! You have to have enough twist to have the fiber stay together, but you don’t want the twist to come up into the drafting triangle because then it will be too hard to draft. It will pull out and big clumps. I have a more detailed video on it if you look at my TDF 2024 playlist. I have them organized on my home channel. Spin Happy!!
Where can I find the fiber you are using in these videos?
In this particular video series it’s from Into The Whirled colorway Eating Grapes Off The Wall Paper. This is the second video of the series. I tell you about the fiber in the first one.