14 years later here I am saying thank you for this video. So many just assume you know everything in the basics and get right into spinning. Thank you, just know this is still such a helpful video for newbies 😊
I had tried drop slindling before. I thought I was doing something wrong because my yarn kept kinking back on itself. This is the first demonstration I've seen that points out that it is normal for the yarn to kink back on itself! Thank you so much for that alone. I also like how simply and straight-forward your demonstration is.
This video was one of the first, if not THE first, videos that I watched while researching this before even buying a spindle. Now I have several spindles and a spinning wheel and I spin pretty much every day. I've knit many handspun items for my friends and family and also have handspun blankets in my house. It is my favorite thing to do and is almost like meditation at this point. Videos like these with clear, concise directions and motions help new spinners start out. Thanks, Abby!
Thank you so much for your videos! Thank you for taking the time to fully explain the process and things like staple length that so many other experts take for granted in these beginner videos. Thank you for not trying to impress us with how fast you can go, but taking the time to let us see the details. Thank you for not making beginners feel stupid for our lack of expertise and spinning jargon. Thank you for showing spinning for the beautiful art it is!
a priceless instructional video for this beginner who has a brand new first spindle and some top on his kitchen table, waiting to be spun. This video is clear, packed with all I need to know for now, and you make it look easy and do-able. Thank you very much.
That's an excellent question. What's most important is that you keep spinning in the same direction, because otherwise, your yarn won't hold together and you'll encounter lots of problems. If you have a specific direction you find easier, then go that way -- there's nothing wrong with that. Most contemporary yarn, and much yarn around the world through history, is spun to the right and plied to the left, but one may find a preference for the opposite for various reasons.
Thank you for a well done instructional video. Your instructions have given me a good idea of what is involved in this technique. I have a feeling that it won't be as easy as it looks to begin with.
Thanks so much for this new video. It goes step by step and helps so much if you're learning to spin with no teacher. I actually learned on a borrowed wheel first, but can't afford my own for some time and spindle spinning will have to do. Plus, I really like it but was having trouble learning that "walk back" technique.
This is the first info anywhere that's made drop spindling actually seem achievable. Loved the start where you go slow and demystify drafting. The article on your blog site with the old pic of you and your cave man drop spindle gave me courage to pick up the one that ambushed me on EBay at 3 am one morning. I still can't see what's going on with the yarn wrapping on the fingers. I'd love to see a slowed down close-up just of the yarn wind-up. I end up with a tangled mess.
This is THE BEST most informative video I have ever seen. Other videos make me feel not ready like steps are missing. This video makes me feel like I understand and can get started. All my questions are answered. Excellent teacher. It’s clearly old because of the camera but still extremely relevant
Thank you for this video!! I've just heard about spinning and had no idea what it was or how to even do it. You made it extremely to understand! Your video was straight forward it answered question before i even thought to ask of them!! This has to be by far one of the best tutorial videos i have ever seen. thank you!
That is an excellent question. Shorter fibers can be trickier to spin, but people have been doing it since long before building permanent settlements. However, it's more common to use a different kind of drafting technique with shorter fibers -- whereas the technique shown here keeps twist out of the fibers that are being drafted, then eases twist in, short fibers are easier to spin if you let twist in to start to catch as you draft. This can be trickier to learn [more]
heartfelt thanks for an excellent video :) nobody ever said that "kinking" is normal; that was my first problem!! your instructions are so clear; I received today my kit of beautiful merino and spindle; you have saved me hours of frustration; thankyou
oh, that maybe the spinning was important? ;) You know, drafting was the "AHA!" moment for me. I was almost ready to give up when I finally figured that out (I am 100% self taught. I wish your videos were here 18 months ago!) Thanks for sharing such great videos!
Really glad I've found your videos - have just ordered your book "Respect the Spindle" - use to spin on a wheel, but have not worked on this in years and have always wanted to learn the spindle method - thanks so much for your instruction!
You are amazing at explaining the process and giving meaning to certain terms. I just purchased a drop spindle with some fiber... waiting for it to come in the mail. This will be my first time ever making my own yarn and this video has been extremely helpful. Thank you
Thank you Abby for a very instructive video. I am practicing learning to spindle spin and took a class at our local fiber expo, but your explanation and video is the best I have seen so far!
Wow, I agree. If this is a preview of your book... I wish this video existed a few years ago when I started spinning b/c I did not really grok drafting or staple length. I still consider myself a newbie spinner and learned some spindling techniques which have already made my life easier (the loop/walking under tension to wind onto the shaft, you *don't* want to know how i was doing it but it did stretch my arms!)
Thank you so much! I just got a drop spindle last night and was confused about how to make a leader. Thank you for the clear explanation and demonstration.
Oh my goodness I've been watching so many videos trying to sort this out and nobody explained that the yarn kinking up was normal and a sign that it was working properly so I thought I was doing everything wrong. Thank you for showing that!!
It's a whole different way of spinning from the one I learnt that involves a low whorl spindle. I didn't even know high whorl spindles even existed, and I will try this type out!
You have awesome, clear, descriptive videos. I have been searching for good spinning videos. Thank You soooooo much. Please feel free to make many more, I am such a fan : )
Thanks so much for this video!! Outstanding job explaining what is going on and what to do. I was gifted a spindle and some fiber and tried following videos a couple of times and just gave up but I really feel like I understand better now and can try again.
Thank you for the vid. Very easy to understand and a simple method. I like how you mention you can use a crochet hook. I have some cotton I grew in my garden but no spindle. I have crochet hooks though! I’ll give that a shot.
Hi Abby, Yes, I tinkered with it a little over the weekend with just some fibers sitting around the house. Looks like twisting the yarn until it doubles over and then twisting 3 of those together starts to add lots of strength. Then maybe adding some whipping over the wear areas. No doubt flax looks like a great way to go if you have same growing nearby and have the time, LOL! Might starve before you got done though, LOL!
Wonderful. Thank you. You have experienced hands at spinning. I'm trying to understand it for a book I'm writing that takes place in 930 A.D. You have been so helpful.
thank you for this video! I have an interest in spinning using a drop spindel (spinnign wheels are so expensive!) but i was really intimidated when I started reading about it; seeing it be done and having it explained so well made me feel more like this is something I could actually do!
Angora rabbit hair is definitely a spinnable fiber, but in general I wouldn't recommend it for most brand-new spinners as it's a little slippery to handle. You can pluck it from your own rabbits if you have them, or buy it ready to spin or blended with other fibers, from a variety of sources.
I'm currently carding two different kinds of wool: Southdown and Shetland. The Shetland wool seems to be more like, well, hair. Is there anything I need to do differently because of the texture? I really appreciate your clear and concise directions and I'm looking forward to attempting to spin my own yarn. Thank you for taking the time to make your videos!
@flmason, most bowstrings are made out of gut. No fiber would stand up to the tension of the bow or the constant friction of arrows and fingers. (adding that modern fibers that include plastic can but I'm talking about home-made bows, here)
Bast fibers can take a month or so to get ready to spin and their length can make them hard to manage. You have to rot away the outside wood, break the waste away and get the good long fibers out, with repeated soaking, breaking, and other steps. Seed hair can be spun right from the seed, but it's not as strong as longer fibers and would wear quickly. Animal fibers are usually stretchy. This is why sinew is a traditional choice, though it also needs curing time.
Hi Abby, nicely done. :-) Suppose I wanted to spin a bowstring in the wild. Looks like I could carve a drop spindle pretty easy from local wood. But how well do shorter fibers, like say cotton or some natural "puffs" out there slice together? For example, suppose I tried to spin using cotton balls as a worst case, does it still work the same?
Hi, Thanks for your videos. I have a satin angora bunny and we gave her a haircut for the heatwave. Now we have a lot of satin angora hair and need to spin it. We have a top whorl spindle and as soon as I have the courage, I'll try to spinit. I have visions of beautiful shawls, scarves and hats. But watching your how to spin part one can you suggest any modification fitting for satin angora?
If you're interested in learning to spin your angora, I would still probably start with wool to get the idea first. Angora can be slippery and take getting used to, and you'll need to get comfortable with how spinning works for it to work out well for you. In the long run, you also may find you prefer to blend the fiber with wool by carding or combing, in order to get more mileage for your fiber and avoid it being too warm in a finished garment.
For a bowstring, spinning one is a tougher job, because it needs to be resilient, not stretchy, and stand up to twanging. Plant fibers fall into two categories: seed hair (like cotton and other fluffs) and bast fibers, which are the long fibrous cores of certain stalky plants (like flax, hemp, and nettle). Bast fibers can be feet or yards long and are not stretchy, so they'd be good for bowstring, but they're time-consuming to process. [more]
Clockwise, or Z spin, or spun to the right, all mean that your spindle is spinning in a clockwise direction. S spin, counter-clockwise, or spun to the left, happens when your spindle is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction.
Hi guys ! I extremmely interested your video . It's very usful and make me understand many things that how to turn over fiber to yarn. But i have a question. Do you know any book that involves to wool spinning line ? PLZ Help me
A more approachable yarn weapon would be a sling, which can be made from anything and requires learning to do moderately complex braiding or twining. The sling can also be used as a spear-thrower, though I've never done that. Snares would be another hunting solution to consider. Lastly, spinning a bowstring would best be done using compound cable plying structures, and those might take some advance study to do well on the fly, though it's not impossible at all.
For those who have notchless spindles, try looking at the winter 2008 KnittySpin for one good solution. You can also try wrapping the yarn a couple of times around the hook -- that may do the trick for you. Some of this is covered in Part 2.
14 years later here I am saying thank you for this video. So many just assume you know everything in the basics and get right into spinning. Thank you, just know this is still such a helpful video for newbies 😊
I had tried drop slindling before. I thought I was doing something wrong because my yarn kept kinking back on itself. This is the first demonstration I've seen that points out that it is normal for the yarn to kink back on itself! Thank you so much for that alone. I also like how simply and straight-forward your demonstration is.
This video was one of the first, if not THE first, videos that I watched while researching this before even buying a spindle. Now I have several spindles and a spinning wheel and I spin pretty much every day. I've knit many handspun items for my friends and family and also have handspun blankets in my house. It is my favorite thing to do and is almost like meditation at this point. Videos like these with clear, concise directions and motions help new spinners start out. Thanks, Abby!
i still come back to these videos of yours whenever I need a review
what a great teacher! she explains everything very clearly step by step. cool.
much much clearer instruction than the first one pop up on my search. thanks.
I know this is an older video - but I wanted to say this is so helpful! Very clear, super beginner friendly and I learned a ton. Thank you!
I watch a few different videos, but this was the best one at explaining. Big thanks you!
Thank you so much for your videos! Thank you for taking the time to fully explain the process and things like staple length that so many other experts take for granted in these beginner videos. Thank you for not trying to impress us with how fast you can go, but taking the time to let us see the details. Thank you for not making beginners feel stupid for our lack of expertise and spinning jargon. Thank you for showing spinning for the beautiful art it is!
You have a gift for not only doing things, but showing how you do them.
Excellent! I will send all my newbie spindling students this video! Can't wait for the book!
a priceless instructional video for this beginner who has a brand new first spindle and some top on his kitchen table, waiting to be spun. This video is clear, packed with all I need to know for now, and you make it look easy and do-able. Thank you very much.
That's an excellent question. What's most important is that you keep spinning in the same direction, because otherwise, your yarn won't hold together and you'll encounter lots of problems. If you have a specific direction you find easier, then go that way -- there's nothing wrong with that. Most contemporary yarn, and much yarn around the world through history, is spun to the right and plied to the left, but one may find a preference for the opposite for various reasons.
Thank you for a well done instructional video. Your instructions have given me a good idea of what is involved in this technique. I have a feeling that it won't be as easy as it looks to begin with.
Thanks so much for this new video. It goes step by step and helps so much if you're learning to spin with no teacher. I actually learned on a borrowed wheel first, but can't afford my own for some time and spindle spinning will have to do. Plus, I really like it but was having trouble learning that "walk back" technique.
The most informative and detailed video on spinning I've seen so far! This helps a lot. Thank you!
Thanks for this clear explanation of the basic principles.
Very well explained. Wish I had found you first. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial. I am very new to spinning my own yarn. This will definitely come in handy!
This is the first info anywhere that's made drop spindling actually seem achievable. Loved the start where you go slow and demystify drafting. The article on your blog site with the old pic of you and your cave man drop spindle gave me courage to pick up the one that ambushed me on EBay at 3 am one morning.
I still can't see what's going on with the yarn wrapping on the fingers. I'd love to see a slowed down close-up just of the yarn wind-up. I end up with a tangled mess.
This is THE BEST most informative video I have ever seen. Other videos make me feel not ready like steps are missing. This video makes me feel like I understand and can get started. All my questions are answered. Excellent teacher. It’s clearly old because of the camera but still extremely relevant
Thank you for this video!! I've just heard about spinning and had no idea what it was or how to even do it. You made it extremely to understand! Your video was straight forward it answered question before i even thought to ask of them!! This has to be by far one of the best tutorial videos i have ever seen. thank you!
This makes so much more sense now. Very clear instructions.
That is an excellent question. Shorter fibers can be trickier to spin, but people have been doing it since long before building permanent settlements. However, it's more common to use a different kind of drafting technique with shorter fibers -- whereas the technique shown here keeps twist out of the fibers that are being drafted, then eases twist in, short fibers are easier to spin if you let twist in to start to catch as you draft. This can be trickier to learn [more]
heartfelt thanks for an excellent video :) nobody ever said that "kinking" is normal; that was my first problem!! your instructions are so clear; I received today my kit of beautiful merino and spindle; you have saved me hours of frustration; thankyou
oh, that maybe the spinning was important? ;)
You know, drafting was the "AHA!" moment for me. I was almost ready to give up when I finally figured that out (I am 100% self taught. I wish your videos were here 18 months ago!)
Thanks for sharing such great videos!
Really glad I've found your videos - have just ordered your book "Respect the Spindle" - use to spin on a wheel, but have not worked on this in years and have always wanted to learn the spindle method - thanks so much for your instruction!
You are amazing at explaining the process and giving meaning to certain terms. I just purchased a drop spindle with some fiber... waiting for it to come in the mail. This will be my first time ever making my own yarn and this video has been extremely helpful. Thank you
Thank you Abby for a very instructive video. I am practicing learning to spindle spin and took a class at our local fiber expo, but your explanation and video is the best I have seen so far!
Thank you for using a non-white fiber! So much easier to see what is happening.
Wow, I agree. If this is a preview of your book... I wish this video existed a few years ago when I started spinning b/c I did not really grok drafting or staple length. I still consider myself a newbie spinner and learned some spindling techniques which have already made my life easier (the loop/walking under tension to wind onto the shaft, you *don't* want to know how i was doing it but it did stretch my arms!)
Thank you so much! I just got a drop spindle last night and was confused about how to make a leader. Thank you for the clear explanation and demonstration.
Great video, thanks for the info. I just made a drop spindle today and didn't have the faintest idea to use it. You explain it perfectly.
Oh my goodness I've been watching so many videos trying to sort this out and nobody explained that the yarn kinking up was normal and a sign that it was working properly so I thought I was doing everything wrong. Thank you for showing that!!
This is the best video I've seen yet, and the first time I've really understood the mechanics. Thank you so much!
It's a whole different way of spinning from the one I learnt that involves a low whorl spindle. I didn't even know high whorl spindles even existed, and I will try this type out!
Excellent explanation!
I enjoyed watching - thanks!
You are a very good teacher :) thanks so much for this
You have awesome, clear, descriptive videos. I have been searching for good spinning videos. Thank You soooooo much. Please feel free to make many more, I am such a fan : )
Thanks so much for this video!! Outstanding job explaining what is going on and what to do. I was gifted a spindle and some fiber and tried following videos a couple of times and just gave up but I really feel like I understand better now and can try again.
Thank you for the vid. Very easy to understand and a simple method. I like how you mention you can use a crochet hook. I have some cotton I grew in my garden but no spindle. I have crochet hooks though! I’ll give that a shot.
Hi Abby,
Yes, I tinkered with it a little over the weekend with just some fibers sitting around the house. Looks like twisting the yarn until it doubles over and then twisting 3 of those together starts to add lots of strength. Then maybe adding some whipping over the wear areas.
No doubt flax looks like a great way to go if you have same growing nearby and have the time, LOL! Might starve before you got done though, LOL!
Very clear and precise video. Thank you for showing us this. It looks very doable.
Wonderful. Thank you. You have experienced hands at spinning. I'm trying to understand it for a book I'm writing that takes place in 930 A.D. You have been so helpful.
thank you for this video! I have an interest in spinning using a drop spindel (spinnign wheels are so expensive!) but i was really intimidated when I started reading about it; seeing it be done and having it explained so well made me feel more like this is something I could actually do!
Thanks for the video. One of the best tutorials I've seen, simple and informative. (Also liked the comments from the survivalist!
WooHoo this video is an awesome find! Thanks for putting it together! Can't wait to try it!
Best spinning tutorial I've seen. Thank you!!!
you are brilliant! what an excellent teacher!!!
i agree, great teacher, i feel so warm just watching it ;-)))
Wonderful tutorial!
Very easy to understand :)
Angora rabbit hair is definitely a spinnable fiber, but in general I wouldn't recommend it for most brand-new spinners as it's a little slippery to handle. You can pluck it from your own rabbits if you have them, or buy it ready to spin or blended with other fibers, from a variety of sources.
I'm currently carding two different kinds of wool: Southdown and Shetland. The Shetland wool seems to be more like, well, hair. Is there anything I need to do differently because of the texture?
I really appreciate your clear and concise directions and I'm looking forward to attempting to spin my own yarn. Thank you for taking the time to make your videos!
Excellent video, thank you so much for taking the time to make it!
thank you so much for making this! i am trying to learn to spin & this has been so helpful!
Such a great vid!! :D thanks for all the help!!
That is neat, I always wondered how this was done. Does series get into actually making something, like a blanket, out of the wool yarn?
So well explained. Thanks.
Thanks! I got a spindle today and the instructions were too abstract for me. Your video enabled me to get started.
@flmason, most bowstrings are made out of gut. No fiber would stand up to the tension of the bow or the constant friction of arrows and fingers.
(adding that modern fibers that include plastic can but I'm talking about home-made bows, here)
Bast fibers can take a month or so to get ready to spin and their length can make them hard to manage. You have to rot away the outside wood, break the waste away and get the good long fibers out, with repeated soaking, breaking, and other steps. Seed hair can be spun right from the seed, but it's not as strong as longer fibers and would wear quickly. Animal fibers are usually stretchy. This is why sinew is a traditional choice, though it also needs curing time.
Hi Abby, nicely done. :-)
Suppose I wanted to spin a bowstring in the wild. Looks like I could carve a drop spindle pretty easy from local wood.
But how well do shorter fibers, like say cotton or some natural "puffs" out there slice together?
For example, suppose I tried to spin using cotton balls as a worst case, does it still work the same?
Thank you for this! It is a wonderful tutorial.
I finally understand this. THANK U!!!!!
Great tutorial. Thanks!
Hi,
Thanks for your videos. I have a satin angora bunny and we gave her a haircut for the heatwave. Now we have a lot of satin angora hair and need to spin it. We have a top whorl spindle and as soon as I have the courage, I'll try to spinit. I have visions of beautiful shawls, scarves and hats. But watching your how to spin part one can you suggest any modification fitting for satin angora?
If you're interested in learning to spin your angora, I would still probably start with wool to get the idea first. Angora can be slippery and take getting used to, and you'll need to get comfortable with how spinning works for it to work out well for you. In the long run, you also may find you prefer to blend the fiber with wool by carding or combing, in order to get more mileage for your fiber and avoid it being too warm in a finished garment.
oh, now i get it. this vid is HELPFUL!!!!!!!!!1 can u do this with yarn scraps?
Hello Abby! Thank you for the great video! Where would you suggest purchasing a drop spindle? Any beginners tips in what I should look for? Thank you!
Very interesting. Thank you for posting.
@flmason, most bowstrings are made out of gut. No fiber would stand up to the tension of the bow or the constant friction of arrows and fingers.
For a bowstring, spinning one is a tougher job, because it needs to be resilient, not stretchy, and stand up to twanging. Plant fibers fall into two categories: seed hair (like cotton and other fluffs) and bast fibers, which are the long fibrous cores of certain stalky plants (like flax, hemp, and nettle). Bast fibers can be feet or yards long and are not stretchy, so they'd be good for bowstring, but they're time-consuming to process. [more]
Great dear... best I've seen!!! THNX
AUGH! You make it look so easy! I'm trying to learn how to spin but my "yarn" ends up looking so ugly and uneven! :(
@afranquemont There was a large angora production facility at Auschwitz. They used the fur as insulation in aviator's jackets.
You have done an excellent tutorial on this! Thank you for sharing! (-:
Clockwise, or Z spin, or spun to the right, all mean that your spindle is spinning in a clockwise direction. S spin, counter-clockwise, or spun to the left, happens when your spindle is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction.
Hi guys ! I extremmely interested your video . It's very usful and make me understand many things that how to turn over fiber to yarn. But i have a question. Do you know any book that involves to wool spinning line ? PLZ Help me
amazing! people pay 60$ for this ! your wanderful thank you so much !
A more approachable yarn weapon would be a sling, which can be made from anything and requires learning to do moderately complex braiding or twining. The sling can also be used as a spear-thrower, though I've never done that. Snares would be another hunting solution to consider. Lastly, spinning a bowstring would best be done using compound cable plying structures, and those might take some advance study to do well on the fly, though it's not impossible at all.
Awesome teacher !! The video quality could have been better, but this will certainly do..
I always wonder why certain people (most from my experience) prefer a top whorl spindle. I learned on a low whorl and that's what I prefer.
Where did you buy your spindle?
For those who have notchless spindles, try looking at the winter 2008 KnittySpin for one good solution. You can also try wrapping the yarn a couple of times around the hook -- that may do the trick for you. Some of this is covered in Part 2.
That's skill there!
I looked for butterfly knives and this was the first video that came up?
That was awesome...thanks!
Wonderful!
When i finish the string is very kinky. How can i do for correct that?
i looked up poi for beginners. this came up.
Very Cool !
this was really helpfull
5:39 mad funny guy running in the corner
Arrazoou❤
The guy in the backround at 5:43
WHY IS THIS THE TOP SEARCH WHEN I TYPE IN BALISONG KNIFE TUTORIAL!!!!???
Great video, however you make this look WAY too easy!! Learning how to spin so I can eventually use my angora's fiber:) THANKS FOR SHARING!
See reply below.
My spindles dose not have a notch....
The explanation is fantastic, but the bad video guality is highly distracting. Audio, blurry, half bright, half dark lights.