A New Year To Learn Start Spinning Yarn!

A very Happy New Year to everyone! Let me introduce myself. My DH & I are owners of The Wooley Whale Yarn and Fiber. Our studio is located in the woods of Maine but not too far from the beautiful coast. We reside with our Maine Coon cat, Ginger, our old kitty, Tiger and our 15 lb. German Giant angora rabbit!  We see an occasional Moose or even a Couger in the area too!

My holidays were exceptional this year. Of course I ate too many goodies to the tune of 6 lbs. Do you realize how much I'm going to have to spin to burn that off :o) ? The chocolate fudge was worth it though.

Well now, those of you who either have a spindle, spindle kit or are contemplating learning to spin you own yarn, let the fun begin! I will do a series of spinning how to's from choosing a spindle to finishing your yarn.

The Drop Spindle:
   Before the invention of the spinning wheel, people used a weight at the end of a stick to put  the twist into fibers to make yarn or thread, the drop spindle! Sometimes a rock would be tied to a stick or even a stick would be pushed into a hard root vegetable like a potato or turnip for weight to make a crude spindle. But, they did the job!
   A bottom whorl has the whorl weight at the bottom of the shaft and spins slower which is good for heavier yarns which need less twist in them. A top whorl has the weight at the top of the shaft and spins faster which is good for thinner yarns and fine fibers such as angora, alpaca, etc. But, you can spin thin yarn & fine fibers on a bottom whorl but you have to spin it harder as well as you can spin heavier yarn on a top whorl but need to spin it slower. Sometimes, new spinners like the faster top whorl because it spins longer and gives more time to pull the fibers into the twist and you can also just roll the shaft across your thigh to put twist into the yarn, then hold the shaft between your knees while you guide the twist up the fibers to form yarn. I like to follow tradition though and spin the drop spindle. I personally prefer a bottom whorl because I find it doesn't wobble as much since the weight is on the bottom. Basically,they both spin yarn the same way and it is a matter of preference.

Next time, I'll talk about fiber and how to begin spinning.
Best Wishes,

Arlyne ~ http://www.thewooleywhale.com/