I am just starting to learn to spin Flax after many years of spinning wool, silk, angora and cotton. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon this video which I consider the perfect lesson in dressing a distaff. Thank you so very much for posting.
You said "flax or cotton thread" but that method would only work for flax - or perhaps hemp or nettle. Cotton is a different beast, with a very short staple, whereas those other fibres have very long staples. That said, I wish I could have seen more detail of what the spinner was knitting while her (daughter?) dressed the distaff. And, to be honest, I was surprised at some of the details of the distaff dressing. From what I've seen these days, spinners will aim to keep the fibres more or less parallel when they dress the distaff, whereas this lady tucked the ends in. Finally, the daughter's head-dress looked like it could have been the subject of a video on its own, I wish the film had been in colour and with more detail visible. That was definitely a fascinating film, though and very valuable for anyone with an interest in any of the topics it showed. Thank you for posting it.
Amazing footage! I've managed to find another few flax spinning videos from Romania (or similar region) and they helped me a lot in learning to spin my flax. The 'waste' toe I spin up and knit...there is literally no other yarn like my toe yarn! It gets softer and softer as its washed and is a bit addictive haha The sharing of these videos is VITAL for the continuation of these wonderful hand crafts!
This film is valuable on many levels, demonstarting the complex dressing of the distaff as well as spinning technique. I happen to own a spinning wheel made in the 1850s or 1860s from a predominantly Pennsylvania German settlement, and it still had its reeling pin attached. As the restoration of antiques spinning wheels is gaining attention in the US, it's helpful to know how a reeling pin was used to transfer the flax from the bobbin to the winder. There are no other recordings of the use of this piece of equipment that I can find. Thank you for making this available. I am very interested to know in what region of Germany this filming took place, and the year. It doesn't look like 1930.
well, this is from the Schwalm Region, a region in Hessen, and this region is known for its long tradition of wearing costumes. It is a rural region and the costumes are still highly estimated. This film doesn't only "look like 1930" .. it is from the 1930s in remote rural regions...
I am trying to spin flax and I saw some hand techniques that just may help me. I also saw how to load a distaff. I will have to try this and really pay attention to how thin the layers are. I think that may be my mistake in trying to load my distaff. The fiber layers are way too thick.
Does someone know, how the little water cup, at the distaff ist called? I am very interested in historic spinning and would like to finde one for my own wheel but couldn't find the name of it so far. The German word would be useful too.
Whereas I was reminded of the bun my grades 8 & 9 maths teacher used to wear*. Hers was altogether floppier than theirs, we students did note its uncanny resemblance in shape to a cow pat. We also used to try to see how many paper pellets (shot from the end of a ruler) we could embed in it. I think at this point I should start to take the 5th amendment, even if it isn't a thing in Australia. * EDIT: This teacher was English - and I would guess she was born a couple of years or so before this film was made.
Ha yes wheel can move fast! If in USA... You might look up local “Spinning Guild” or even weaving Guilds. We call a spindle.. simply spindle. When we say “wheel” we are referring to the spinning wheel. Few spin flax these days .. especially on a spindle. Video abbreviates the time so fair warning spinners will likely charge a lot more than what you can buy very nice spun flax cones for at weaving supply houses.
One of the recommended videos for me after this was spinning flax on a hand spindle. If you’re looking for “spindle wheels”, search terms to check are walking wheel and chakra. Good luck!
@@jant4741 I spin flax on my DD Wheel and My Ashford with a Woolee Winder. I also grow and process flax from my garden. Working on making my own shirt. What Im looking for is a video of someone using a spindle (not drop spindle) spinning flax to linen. I have found you do need some good healthy twist to make some real strong threads. Properly retted is vital to a good quality spin. My DD Wheel works great as does my Ashford. Once I figured how to put mine on my distaff I can now spin rather quickly. I prefer hand spun over the industrial. fb.me/naturesyarn
@@thecraftycyborg9024 Not looking for wheels with spindles but videos showing people using the spindle to spin long fiber flax. I have a spindle for my ashford. I would like a good video to watch. Might have to figure it out for myself and then make my own video for others to see. fb.me/naturesyarn
Pete McWade Upstate NY one sees a few Great Wheels around. But one does have to be proficient handling fiber with left hand for the great wheel. Never seen with a distaff attached. Most flax rigs I’ve seen are distaffable spool wheels. My fav Kromski. I focus more on the wet spinning aspect.
I am just starting to learn to spin Flax after many years of spinning wool, silk, angora and cotton. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon this video which I consider the perfect lesson in dressing a distaff. Thank you so very much for posting.
You said "flax or cotton thread" but that method would only work for flax - or perhaps hemp or nettle. Cotton is a different beast, with a very short staple, whereas those other fibres have very long staples.
That said, I wish I could have seen more detail of what the spinner was knitting while her (daughter?) dressed the distaff.
And, to be honest, I was surprised at some of the details of the distaff dressing. From what I've seen these days, spinners will aim to keep the fibres more or less parallel when they dress the distaff, whereas this lady tucked the ends in.
Finally, the daughter's head-dress looked like it could have been the subject of a video on its own, I wish the film had been in colour and with more detail visible. That was definitely a fascinating film, though and very valuable for anyone with an interest in any of the topics it showed. Thank you for posting it.
Fantastic! So informative and yes it is definitely flax. What hard workers these women were and a crucial part of the textile industry.
I thoroughly enjoyed the detail in this video. Having never seen a distaff prepped before I found her process quite unique.
Amazing! So nice to see and share this!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for being a subscriber.
Amazing footage! I've managed to find another few flax spinning videos from Romania (or similar region) and they helped me a lot in learning to spin my flax. The 'waste' toe I spin up and knit...there is literally no other yarn like my toe yarn! It gets softer and softer as its washed and is a bit addictive haha
The sharing of these videos is VITAL for the continuation of these wonderful hand crafts!
This film is valuable on many levels, demonstarting the complex dressing of the distaff as well as spinning technique. I happen to own a spinning wheel made in the 1850s or 1860s from a predominantly Pennsylvania German settlement, and it still had its reeling pin attached. As the restoration of antiques spinning wheels is gaining attention in the US, it's helpful to know how a reeling pin was used to transfer the flax from the bobbin to the winder. There are no other recordings of the use of this piece of equipment that I can find. Thank you for making this available. I am very interested to know in what region of Germany this filming took place, and the year. It doesn't look like 1930.
well, this is from the Schwalm Region, a region in Hessen, and this region is known for its long tradition of wearing costumes. It is a rural region and the costumes are still highly estimated.
This film doesn't only "look like 1930" .. it is from the 1930s in remote rural regions...
Fabulous video!
After consultation, it has been agreed that this is flax being spun, not cotton. 🤔😉
Definitely. Cotton has a very short staple and needs a completely different approach. You might be able to spin hemp or nettle like that, though.
I am trying to spin flax and I saw some hand techniques that just may help me. I also saw how to load a distaff. I will have to try this and really pay attention to how thin the layers are. I think that may be my mistake in trying to load my distaff. The fiber layers are way too thick.
WOW
Does someone know, how the little water cup, at the distaff ist called?
I am very interested in historic spinning and would like to finde one for my own wheel but couldn't find the name of it so far.
The German word would be useful too.
I'm 3 years late to reply, but if you're still wondering, it's basically just a cup with a bucket handle on it
The buns they are wearing on top of their heads was probably where the modern hipsters got the idea.
Whereas I was reminded of the bun my grades 8 & 9 maths teacher used to wear*. Hers was altogether floppier than theirs, we students did note its uncanny resemblance in shape to a cow pat. We also used to try to see how many paper pellets (shot from the end of a ruler) we could embed in it.
I think at this point I should start to take the 5th amendment, even if it isn't a thing in Australia.
* EDIT: This teacher was English - and I would guess she was born a couple of years or so before this film was made.
That wheel is moving along quite quickly and imparting a load of spin on the fibers. Looking for someone spinning flax on a spindle wheel.
Ha yes wheel can move fast! If in USA... You might look up local “Spinning Guild” or even weaving Guilds. We call a spindle.. simply spindle. When we say “wheel” we are referring to the spinning wheel. Few spin flax these days .. especially on a spindle. Video abbreviates the time so fair warning spinners will likely charge a lot more than what you can buy very nice spun flax cones for at weaving supply houses.
One of the recommended videos for me after this was spinning flax on a hand spindle. If you’re looking for “spindle wheels”, search terms to check are walking wheel and chakra. Good luck!
@@jant4741 I spin flax on my DD Wheel and My Ashford with a Woolee Winder. I also grow and process flax from my garden. Working on making my own shirt. What Im looking for is a video of someone using a spindle (not drop spindle) spinning flax to linen. I have found you do need some good healthy twist to make some real strong threads. Properly retted is vital to a good quality spin. My DD Wheel works great as does my Ashford. Once I figured how to put mine on my distaff I can now spin rather quickly. I prefer hand spun over the industrial. fb.me/naturesyarn
@@thecraftycyborg9024 Not looking for wheels with spindles but videos showing people using the spindle to spin long fiber flax. I have a spindle for my ashford. I would like a good video to watch. Might have to figure it out for myself and then make my own video for others to see. fb.me/naturesyarn
Pete McWade Upstate NY one sees a few Great Wheels around. But one does have to be proficient handling fiber with left hand for the great wheel. Never seen with a distaff attached. Most flax rigs I’ve seen are distaffable spool wheels. My fav Kromski. I focus more on the wet spinning aspect.