Discover spinning with a drop spindle
Here you'll find the answers to some of the most common beginner questions. Make sure that you have download the starter instructions and use these for your practice for a while. Just keep practicing and you'll soon get the hang of it!
How do I join more fibre?
You'll need to join fibre if the fibre supply comes apart, if you have used up all your fibre supply or if you want to join a different colour. The technique is the same. You simply use the twist to join the drafted fluff of the "old" fibre to the drafted fluff of the "new" fibre. Lay the drafted fibres on top of each other and spin your spindle to allow the twist to join them together.
Why does my spindle keep dropping?
You must spin your spindle in the same direction every time. If you inadvertently spin the spindle in the wrong direction the twist that you previously inserted will untwist, the fibres will come apart and the spindle will drop. This can also happen if you allow the spindle to "back spin" - the park and draft technique can help to prevent back spin happening.
Why does my fibre keep coming apart?
If you pull too much fibre forward when drafting the fibres may come away from the fibre supply altogether. Be sure to pull no more than about two-thirds of the staple length with each draft. Also, if you continue to draft fibre when there is no twist (energy) to use up the fibres will not hold together. Insert more twist by spinning the spindle again.
Why can't I draft my fibre?
Learning to draft properly and consistently is key to spinning yarn. There are a few reasons why you may have problems drafting your fibre. Your hands may be too close together and they are trying to pull the same fibres in opposite directions - move the hand holding the fibre back a little. You may be holding the fibre supply too tightly - beginners often use a "death-grip" on their fibre whereas they should be holding the fibre supply as if it were a baby bird! Also, make sure that your fibre supply is not twisted - twist holds drafted fibres together to form yarn but if that twist gets into your fibre supply you will not be able to draft it further. Pinch the yarn at the front of the fibre supply and manually untwist the fibre supply until the fibres are running straight.
Why is my yarn so hard and twisted?
Most beginner yarn is, if anything, over twisted. Use the park and draft technique to help you continue to draft and use up all the twist from each spin before you wind your yarn onto the spindle and spin again.
How do I achieve a more even yarn?
It takes practice! Over time your fingers will build up muscle memory and you will instinctively achieve a more even yarn. The key to consistency is to repeat each action exactly the same - the same amount of spin, the same length of draft taken from the same point at the front of your fibre supply and the same length of twisted fibre - over and over. If you want to spin a thinner yarn, you draft from the very tip of the fibre supply and pick up less fibres; if you want to spin a fatter yarn, you draft from further into the fibre supply and pick up more fibres.
What about plying?
Plying two or more singles together is the way to get a balanced yarn. Your spun yarn can slide off the shaft of the spindle and onto a knitting needle or chopstick or you can wind it around a toilet roll tube. You need at least 2 sources of yarn to ply. Plying two different colours together will give you a "barber pole" effect yarn. Plying a thick yarn with a thinner one can produce a pretty spiral style yarn. The possibilities are endless!
How do I progress?
Most drop spindlers progress onto a spinning wheel which speeds things up and enable you to spin even more yarn! Contact us if you would like some private tuition or for help choosing your first spinning wheel.
Enjoy!
Gai x
