Tools & Tips for Learning to Spin Yarn // Episode 164 // Taking Back Friday // a fibre arts vlog
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ส.ค. 2024
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Lately we’ve been talking a lot about spinning, and that is because right now in the School of SweetGeorgia, we are doing a Spinning Study Group. It’s a nine-week study plan all about helping people improve their spinning techniques; learning about the things that affect the yarn you create, and how to do a better job of making that yarn. But what if you don’t know how to spin yarn. What about if you’re interested in learning how to start, but you don’t even know where to begin. We talk a lot about fibre, we talk about wool, but what about the tool that you need in order to spin yarn. Join me on today’s Taking Back Friday vlog where I take you through my little collection of spindles - we’ll talk about what to look for, what to avoid, and what would be just fun to play with - plus how to get started with spinning yarn.
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00:00 Introduction
01:44 First experience with a spindle
05:08 Top-Whorl Drop Spindles
07:27 Turkish Spindles
11:51 Supported Spindles
14:22 Pre-drafting fibre before learning to spin
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I grew up on the Navajo reservation around my grandmother who wove all her rugs from scratch. She wove Two Grey Hills style using natural fiber colors from her flock so we didn't dye the wool. I was exposed to it that way but I never really did a lot but now I wish I paid more attention to her weaving skills. She used the spindle she would spin by hand everything. It was a lot of work but she supported her family with her skill. Years ago I tried a drop spindle class but I'm just now trying to learn how to spin. I don't think I'll ever be as good as my grandmother but it's a start.
What a wonderful story of your grandmother... I can only imagine, handspun yarn for handwoven rugs. Keep spinning!
What wonderful memories, thanks for sharing. You will gain in your skills and make beautiful things too. And may you pass it on to the younger generation. Happy spinning 💜
I would say for beginners, don’t compare your handspun to commercially milled yarns. Your handspun is going to have character; it won’t be perfectly uniform. It’s alright for your yarn to look like a real human made it, in fact, that’s the real charm of handspun!
Absolutely! That's what I love about handspun... that it has a beautiful, organic character to it. It feels real!
I've watched some videos of traditional spinners at work (one from Romania if I remember correctly and a couple from central Asia) and one of the things that I noticed was that they didn't appear to be trying to spin a "perfect" yarn. The videos only showed the end use of the yarn in one case, that yarn was taken and woven into a twill fabric that was then used to make a local style of men's hat.
So not only is a bit of unevenness evidence that your yarn was made by a real person (usually from real, natural fibres) but it is not a barrier to that yarn being suitable for a variety of uses.
EDIT: I am a wheel spinner, rather than a spindle spinner (at least for now). I aim at getting a smooth, even yarn but I don't worry about the odd slub - that's just character.
My No. 1 Tip is that using a top-whorl spindle, you can make a centre-pull ball right on the shaft of the spindle. Make sure you don't wind on too tightly. Then when you're done, pull it off, and and straight into plying without a pause.
About 10? years ago I was doing spindle spinning demonstrations at Christmas time at a church function, trying to get people interested in trying to learn to spin while waiting in line to view the creche. I used pencil roving specifically for that purpose because a first timer can get a very nice length of yarn relatively easily without ending up with a whole bunch of wool "garden slugs" as a result.
I am a knitter, crocheter, weaver, tablet weaver, bobbin lace maker, quilter ... I dabble a bit in (almost) all of it. Due to physical issues, my possibilities for fiber crafting are very limited at the moment, but I love to watch your content. When I was 12 or 13, I learned to spin on a spinning wheel, but I didn't keep at it for long and - naturally - un-learned completely. Once I get back in better physical shape, I would like to try and learn again with a spindle (I have very limited space and lots of craft supplies already) and start up fiber crafting again, no matter which one, as long as I can craft.
Thanks for your very informative videos which I only found this morning, I love your content and had to subscribe! Greetings from Germany, and have a nice weekend!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad to meet you too! There are so many things to make and do, and I have had similar challenges with space. Good luck!
Yes very curious to start spinning - I'm a complete newbie.
I started on a drop spindle, I told myself if I stuck with it for 3 years I could buy a wheel. Many spindles and several wheels later I can say I stuck with it and can’t imagine life without handspun.
As always great episode! Thanks for taking me back to my many drops of my spindle. It is magical walking, talking and spinning at the same time. I was delighted with myself when I accomplished this feet myself. Jenkins spindles are absolutely amazing and beautiful. I have two.
Definitely try a few spindles sometimes we don’t get along with them all 😂 I am pretty sure my first one was an ashford I got at my LYS with the worst roving I have used to date.
My only regret is not starting sooner in life. I was in my early 30’s when I took the plunge down the fiber rabbit hole. I crocheted and knit for years but a late bloomer to the yarn making.
Happy making everyone!
Years ago, I made my first top-whorl drop spindle by screwing a hook into the top of a wooden dowel and then pushing the dowel through a hole I drilled into the top of a plastic salsa jar lid. Easy-peasy and cheap!
I started learning early last year, and my biggest piece of advice is don't be afraid to ask a more experienced spinner if something seems even a little weird. I was struggling a lot with my first spindle (from a local woodworker), because the hook kept falling out. I asked on social media and got several responses no that's weird, so I bought another spindle (a schacht hi lo) and things went a lot better.
I recently completed Felicia's course on Spinning from Scratch AND Diana Twiss's course on Spinning with a Suspended Spindle in the School of Sweet Georgia...and they were both so amazingly helpful! I've only been spinning for a couple of years, and there were a few things I noticed that I was doing "wrong" - and these courses showed how I could do them better. My spinning technique really improved when I incorporated some of the techniques: controlling the twist, maintaining tension and slowing down! I found the troubleshooting module particularly helpful!
My other suggestion, to echo Bellbebell below, is to not make comparisons with commercial yarn, or with other spinners! You will improve every time you spin, and you'll never be able to make the first yarn again! Lastly, don't be afraid to use your "good fiber" to learn. Don't just save it for a special occasion, but take the opportunity to learn from something beautiful. After all, there's plenty of fiber out there! :-)
Thanks for all the information!!!
I definitely don’t spin enough, but when I’m done it’s going to be very special knitting up something with yarn I spun 💖💖
I started spinning ten months ago. My number one piece of advice would be to stay away from the so-called student spindles. As you said, they’re just too heavy. Like a lot of beginners, I got frustrated with the drop spindle… and I’d bought one on the lighter side. Little did I know that you can pre-draft. Because any experienced spinner knows : fiber prep is a BIG part of a successful spin. We naturally seek even, consistent yarn because that’s what we’re used to seeing. More: most commercial yarns aren’t bulky. Seeing lumpy, bumpy, thick singles creates a mental disconnect, we want thinner, smoother results. But when we draft out thinner, as beginners we don’t add enough twist and the single breaks. We still have to learn how to attach our fibre smoothly, which means another bump. And then most of us move on to spinning rope because we overcompensate. A lot of those issues are caused by the fibre being too compacted in places and loose in other places. If you don’t make that connection in your mind, it becomes hard to figure out how to spin consistently and not break your single.
Another little tidbit of wisdom: as a beginner I naturally drafted out and span to the thickness of yarn I wanted… forgetting I would need to ply those singles if I wanted something strong enough to use. Shoot for half the thickness, en up with something a bit thicker than half, and you’ll be good.
Last but not least: just… go for it. It’s fun, it’s addictive, and it yields something you can use. 😊
Such great advice, thank you for sharing! Yes the predrafting is so helpful!
When you held up the red 3D-printed spindle, I thought the shaft was a removable crochet hook. :) Which, now, I think might be a neat idea for someone to run with. Ply both ends from the center-pull "turtle" created, and then crochet something right up... all with a single tool. :)
I hope this video and your classes will attract many more people to spindle spinning. It has been a true joy in my life since the old Spindlers Yahoo Group days. Keep up the great work!
I'm a spindle spinner and usually recommend new spinners get a Turkish spindle because one can support spin on it as well as use it as a drop spindle. Also, if you only have one spindle you don't have to re wind all of your singles off before plying them together.
Yes! Those are all great points! Plus, they just look awesome too.
I went to my LYS for a class about 2 years after I'd learned to knit, and took a spindle spinning class! It probably took me about half a pound of fiber to learn how to control my twist and thickness, and I participated in Tour de Fleece for the first time that summer (2010). I spun SO MUCH on spindle, and then I got a wheel, rent-to-own, for Christmas maybe two years later? I prefer spinning on a wheel (or e-spinner...you talked me into getting the EEW 6!), but I have a few spindles I love quite a lot (I've also got a Turkish Delight by Jenkins), it's just hard to convince myself to work on them sometimes when my wheel is right there. Supported spindles, I never got the hang of! I've been using an improvised bowl, though, so honestly maybe I just need a better tool for the job. I think it's extremely valuable to be able to use different tools and discover what works for you. I tried to teach my friend in the same way I learned, but she learned better by using the wheel first, and now loves spindle spinning. People's bodies and brains work differently.
That puzzle design of the Turkish spindles is brilliant. I've never used one but can see why they are popular.
It's funny u r spinning...I pulled out my spinning wheel this morning because I want a specific color for a weaving project
I've recently learned to spin (thanks in large part to SoSG) and love it! However, years ago I took a drop spindle class with a live instructor and loathed the drop spindle. It turned me off spinning for years. To me, learning to spin with a drop spindle is like learning to cook on a campfire rather than in a home kitchen -- the simplicity of the setup actually makes things harder. The e-spinner let me focus on learning to draft, and that was the onramp I needed.
Aww that's so wonderful! I'm so glad you got going with the e-spinner... I think your experience is like mine and that using a wheel or e-spinner allowed you to focus on drafting. That campfire cooking analogy is perfect. Thanks for watching!
I feel the opposite. I’m glad I learned to spin on a drop spindle first.
Although, I have to employ the “park and draft” method of drop spindle spinning. Had I not been taught that method, I would never have continued to spin my own yarn. I now like to drop spindle spin, as well as I like spinning on my Ashford wheel.
This is a great overview of spindles. I have an spinning for a year (drop spindle and a wheel) and I learned a lot. I love your enthusiasm for the Turkish spindles - now I want to get one. Thank you!
Thank you 🙏
My first spindle was actually over 4 oz and it drove me insane. Same problem you had. I unfortunately had no one to teach me and the resources online in 2000 were much less than now. But a Spindlers bulletin board group told me get something lighter. Well I went completely the other way and got something less than an ounce. Yeah that didn't go much better but at least I could make yarn not broken fluffy bits.
I found a fellow that back then was making spindles and selling them on eBay. I discovered through is beautiful but relatively inexpensive ($35) cup spindles that I tended to like between 1.1 and 1.3 ounces. After that I was off to the races and never looked back.
Now many years later I find I can spin on very light spindles as I have always made a very fine thread. Really heavy ones still are a no go. I am exploring out into other sorts of spindles turkish, supported in general and Tahkli.
I knit a lot and would love to learn how to dye and spin my own yarn.
Since I watched this video for the first time I've gotten a drop spindle and have spun three spindles full. Admittedly what I spin was already predrafted fiber so all I had to do was concentrate on my spin! But I'm loving it!!
I bought my first drop spindle at a fibre arts festival this month on Vancouver Island. I have spun a foot or two of yarn doing park and draft but need to commit some time to learning how to continuously draft and spin. I am very excited to check out your colour course - I was wondering about many of the things you highlighted referring hand dyed rovings. So looking forward to diving deeper. Very glad to have found your channel!
I am so glad I found your instruction series. I am interested in spinning and my husband did purchase a nano is spinner. At the time it was and still very confusing on how to get started. After discovering your videos on how to spin I am excited to try again now I just have to go find the machine. No in all seriousness I have always wanted to learn how to spin but never could find anyone near me that had any experience in this field. I’m excited to start learning how to spin and thank you for taking the time to make these videos.
Such timing...Earlier today I was given about 1250 grams of gorgeous merino fiber in 4 different colors. I have no experience spinning or felting or doing anything with fiber that's not made into yarn yet, so have been looking for things I could do with it. next thing I know this video pops up... I suspect a spindle will be on my Christmas wishlist this year :-)
Oh wonderful! Yes, a spindle would be great for learning to spin, but I would suggest learning with another fibre like Corriedale to start... then when you're feeling confident you can dive into that merino! Good luck!
@@sweetgeorgia thanks! I guess some Corriedale fiber will be on the wishlist as well! ;-)
I've been very interested in learning to spin. I wet felt and needle felt so I have lots of fiber to begin with. I even have a black fleece I've owned for almost 50 years. haha But I never knew where to begin. Plus I knit and weave so that keeps me busy. But it's time to learn this craft as well. I'm excited to get started.
Very helpful - curious about spinning but overwhelmed by all the spindles for spinning out there. Curious to get insight onto how to pick a wheel, as $ wise one wants to make a good first choice
I’ve been learning. Bought a drop spindle in Oct 2019 and had a brief lesson. Played around with it sporadically, getting into it more seriously a few months ago. I have ordered a n Ashford Kiwi wheel and am borrowing my friend’s starter wheel until it comes because it’s backordered a while.
My advice as a beginner is to try different sizes. I found that I prefer a lighter, smaller spindle and use my bigger spindles to ply. Beginner spindles are often bigger than my preferred size.
I am very interested in starting to spin! I have bought a couple of top whorl spindles and some roving. I have watched many tutorials, and so very excited to find yours Felicia. I really found this tutorial very helpful and love your enthusiasm. I am so excited to look into your classes I can’t wait to start spinning!! 😊
Good luck with your spinning adventures!
oh this was so helpful!! i’m looking into getting into hand spinning and i loved learning and hearing about your experiences. thank you from a fellow felicia!
Glad it was helpful!
I have talked myself out of taking up spinning so many times this past year. One day I'll take it up, as I love the look of fiber braids and hand spun, but until I work down my yarn stash to almost no stash. But one day I'll buy a drop spindle or a wheel and go down the spinning rabbit hole
I am a brand newbie want to be spinner. I have a Turkish spindle but I don't practice with it enough, I go through little spurts of ooooh spinning then forget about it for ages. I just need to set a small chunk of time aside everyday to do it. Thanks for sharing though, you reminded me about it. I will look into the classes fir School of Sweet Georgia though.
I have a drop top spindle, and I love it. I would get an e-spinner but I don’t process that much fiber.
We got 3 Icelandic sheep last year and I need to figure out how to go from sheep to yarn! Have tried the drop spindle but it is very slow going and frustrating. I’m going to have a lot of fleece, though, so it sounds like I should invest in something easier.
Interested in learning the drop spindle
I still like to comb my roving out into a really loose rolag, full of air, so I can choose the weight of fibre I'm spinning.
I have been interested in spinning and have watched a few of the lessons on SOS. I recently purchased a drop spindle and ordered a Turkish spindle. I also bought an e-spinner.
Woohoo! Sounds like you are full on your way!!
I’ve spun fiber once on a spindle.
wish had spinning classes in uk
I am very interested in learning to spin with a spindle of some kind, but I have no idea further than that!
I got an Ashford drop spindle and am struggling. I've done the splitting and pre-drafting, but boyo is it hard to get and keep tension in my fiber.
Thanks for all the info! Can yarn roving be spun, or is it too different from bats of roving?
I just got a my first spindle, it arrived last night, but I am feeling like I am missing the step between spin and weave.. PLY? do I need to ply? how do I ply? Thanks for all your amazing videos, I am excited to be joining this wonderful world!
Common remark I've received from onlookers while spinning with a Turkish spindle: "What is that, is it a grappling hook, or something?" ha.
😆
I have a Turkish spindle and would love to learn how to use it.
Hey, What weight is your spindle please? Thanks for the awesome videos. 😊
I tried a drop spindle and could not get the hang of it and went out and got a wheel and learned to spin. I still have not got the hang of a drop spindle but really want to.
I just purchased a top whorl drop spindle from my local fibre festival. Managed to spin yarn somewhat decently as a total newbie! Do you recommend what type of fibre is best for beginners, and what fibres to avoid as a beginner? There is so much to learn! Thank you.
Start with middle of the road fiber like corredale or Falkland. Something nice to the touch but probably not merino. Very soft fiber like merino tends to have shorter staple length and will be more likely to keep breaking as you draft. Bluefaced Leicester is a soft longer wool- a favorite. Also remember that thick yarn can handle less twist, but the finer the yarn, the more twist you will need to prevent breaking. And of course, that tendency to break is why you may find your drop spindle may be ….. dropping too often.
@@sleepydrJ thank you. I started with merino batting! I was able to get fine thread but it was a lot of work as drafting was the hard part for me. Short staple length would explain that! Thank you for your response!
@@kathyr7490 yeah, supported spindles are great for fine thread, since gravity isn’t pulling on the weight of the spindle and breaking the thin draft of fibers as they accumulate their twist.
I think merino is (sadly) given to beginners since it is so soft and popular. On the other hand, you want a fiber that feels nice to work with, to keep new spinners engaged and happy as they learn: hence BFL as a nice starter.
@@sleepydrJ I definitely needed to do the park and draft technique! I will look for a different fibre as a beginner. Thanks again 😊
I started with Merino and don't recommend it for beginners. A middle of the road wool would be easier to spin. Corredale is a good choice.
Hello fellow BC'er. So glad I found this video. I've been wanting to learn to knit and crochet. And then I stumbled upon spinning videos and fell down the yarn rabbit hole. Do you have any recommendations on a good starting fiber for someone who is sensitive/allergic to lanolin? Will all wool types cause a reaction for me?
Hi Amy! Glad you found us! For sure, there are fibres that are not wool and have no lanolin that you could try… alpaca is animal fibre but does have lanolin. The fibres I can think of would be like silk or cellulose fibres but those might be more challenging to spin and more expensive too. There was a book called “No Sheep for You” by Amy Singer that listed all the different kinds of fibres that would be good for people who are allergic to wool. Might be a good starting point! Good luck!
@@sweetgeorgia Alpaca has been suggested to me a lot by friends. I will take a look for that book thank you so much! I make have to take the time to play around with different types of wool and keep notes on if I react to anything
you did not mention in the video but the yarn stored under the spindle is called a cob and the Turkish spindle makes a center pull ball called a turtle, my question is how much yarn ( or yardage ) can each spindle hold before you have to start another cob/turtle ? before plying
I typically put 30-50g. But it really depends how the spindle behave for you. They also come in different sizes so you can load different amount of fibre on each of them. Once I have a hard time spinning because of the spindle being loaded with fibre and become too heavy, I will stop there.
Struggling with my drop spindle
What issues are you having with it?
Hi. Tgif.