Spinning and Spinning Wheels - How to Get Started

You will be taught to spin much faster if you have an excellent spinning wheel and employ the proper form of wool. The worst method to start when you find yourself learning how to spin is with rubbish wool with an old spinning wheel with a lot of problems. This is the way many people start and, and in addition, quit. Avoid falling into this trap, begin with good wool and a good wheel and you will soon turned into a confident spinner and create beautiful hand spun yarn.

Easy to Spin Wool

Somebody trying to be useful may give you a bag of wool that's been lying in the back of their cupboard for a long time or you might obtain a free fleece from the back of a sheep, brimming with vegetable matter, faeces and incredibly likely somewhat felted. Beware Greeks, or gods, bearing gifts! Accept the wool and fleece if you want to be polite, place them in your compost, and go and buying some prepared wool tops from a great supplier. If however, you were sufficiently fortunate to get be given a excellent fleece, wash it and save it for when you are more capable.

When you might be experienced, you can purchase good fleeces and discover how to sort, wash and card them. But when you find yourself just starting, you might be far better served by quality wool tops. It is also much simpler to learn how to spin wool than silk, cotton and other vegetable fibres. White wool could be simpler to spin than dyed wool, as dyeing can felt or compact the fibres slightly, an issue you will possibly not want if you are learning.

You can be a good idea to chose medium length wool, as both long wools and short wools are more difficult to spin. I like Blue Faced Leicester wool; it has an excellent length, lots of lustre, and takes natural dyes well. Don't be afraid to invest money buying wool tops, 100 grams of wool costs you less than a fantastic walk.

Spinning Wheels

There are few things more disheartening than using a decrepit spinning wheel that requires constant oiling and tension readjustment. Your fibre will either feed in to the bobbin too fast and breaking, or it won't feed fast enough and finish up in a tangle of corkscrews, surrounded by swear words.

Buy the perfect wheel within your budget, or purchase a drop spindle and cut back for a fantastic wheel. Be brave and overlook the cheap wheel in the car boot sale. A travel wheel is a good choice for any beginner. Travel wheels are light and easy to carry, and quite a few of which fold to your compact configuration. A folding spinning wheel is likely to make it more convenient for you to definitely attend meetings and study from other spinners, as well as taking a smaller amount space in your lounge.

Your First Drop Spindle

Those of you who have good hand and foot coordination, e.g. the nice dancers and drivers, could find it easier to start learning over a spinning wheel. I am a little clumsy and located it better to start spinning on the drop spindle. It took me about four months to figure out how to spin a great yarn, but I could have learned much faster if I had started with a great drop spindle, good wool and good instructions. A top whorl drop spindle having a hook towards the top is a great choice for a beginner, a sturdy plain drop spindle will handle falling on the floor a large number of times.

Starting to Spin

Before you commence to spin, it may help should you split your wool top into strips regarding the width of one's finger. The alternative is pre-drafting, accomplish a search on Google on 'pre-draft wool' and you will probably find several videos that can show you exactly what to do. You can then start spinning.

When you spin, you put twist into fibres in order that they hold together to form a continuous thread. If your wool keeps breaking or your drop spindle repeatedly falls on to the ground, you almost certainly should add more twist in your fibre, either by letting the drop spindle turn a few more times before you decide to draft again, or by treadling the wheel a few more times.

Many beginners fill the drop spindle with hand spun wool then look for that they have no idea of what to do next and throw in the towel! Do looking online for 'Andean Plying' and you may soon see exactly what the next step is. Alternatively you could do what I did, buy another two spindles, set two of them in holes in a very shoe box, and ply the yarn with all the third spindle.

Learning to Spin

You may well not find an excellent tutor close to you, or within reasonable driving distance. It is very likely your local library don't stocks books on spinning. Do not despair; the net is an excellent resource. I found it easier to learn by watching videos than following photos in a very book, anyway.

You can begin with free YouTube movies, and then go onto buying a professional DVD. You may be lucky to possess friends that can spin or you could possibly join a nearby band of spinners. Having a travel wheel can make it more convenient for that you go to spinning groups and learn tips business spinners. You will soon be able to make the most wonderful yarn exactly the way you would like it making many friends along the way!

Hi! I’m Carmina, also known as Nana. I love Diy projects, parties, crocheting, and traveling. In this blog I share patterns, recipes, Diy projects, pet tips, party ideas, and travel tips.