Spinning yarns have been around for centuries. Raw wool or fiber is used in a spindle or a wheel to produce strings of yarn. It can be tricky to spin unless you know all the right moves. Here is a step-by-step guide to spinning perfect yarn.
Step-by-Step Guide for Spinning Your Own Yarn
Step 1: Selecting the Material
You need to select the material you would want to spin. Almost anything fiber-like is spinnable. Some of the most common fibers are sheep’s wool, silk, alpaca, and angora. Sheep’s wool is almost a day-to-day item that you would find easy to spin.
If you are a beginner, then it’s better you try rovings. The sheep’s wool that you would need is roving. You can find it in any local yarn store. Rovings need washing to remove the excess lanolin or grease.
Step 2: Selecting the Apparatus
Now you need to decide whether you want a drop spindle or a spinning wheel. Both have their fair share of pros & cons. Considering this is a beginner guide, we will be going for the drop spindles. Once you master the spindle, you can shift to the wheel for a faster spin for yarn.
A spindle is a stick with a weight at one end. There are two types according to the weight or whorl location. There is the top whorl & the bottom whorl. The top whorl drop spindle is better to start with. It has a hook on the top & is sturdy enough to be dropped on the floor.
Step 3: Drafting the Wool
You have to break a piece of the rovings. For a beginner, this can get a bit tricky. Pull a piece of the wool & see how long it stretches out. If it breaks off, it’s okay.
Go with the bigger half. At one point you will find that the roving no longer stretches.
Step 4: Handling the Fiber
Such long strands of fiber can be hard to maintain. So the easiest way would be to wrap the roving around your left wrist. It’s better to have a bracelet to tuck the end of the roving. This would be a smart way to maintain the roving.
Step 5: Preparing the Leader
You have to scrap a piece of yarn to the shaft of your spindle. The leader needs to be around the edge of the whorl & under the hook.
Spike out some fiber from the roving & hold them together with the leader. Give a clockwise spin & let it hang. The fiber would set the twist onto the leader.
Step 6: Start Spinning
Spinning is not that hard. You need to maintain the right amount of tension on the spindle. Hold the spindle between your knees & leave both of your hands-free.
Maintaining enough twists can be a challenge. You wouldn’t want the yarn to break in the middle or to get the yarn knot up. The right rand should go up to meet your left one. Pinch where the twist ends.
The fiber that is between your hands is the drafting triangle. This amount determines the thickness of the yarn. If you want the yarn to be thinner, you need to increase the drafting triangle. When you get the right amount of thickness, maintain the right tension when spinning.
Repeated the process of moving your front hand forward to the new end of the twisted section. Move your left hand back & twist a drafted fiber.
Step 7: Adding more Fiber
If your drafted fiber breaks or ends, you’ll need to join it with a new batch. Now you are joining the existing fiber left.
Step 8: Practice makes a Man Perfect
You will never get it right on the first run. Sometimes your yarn might break due to high tension. There might be thin or thick yarn in the process. So it’s best to practice alone until you get a fine batch of fiber from your spindle.
Once you have mastered the drop spindle, you can shift to the wheel for faster spins. If you want to do it professionally then shifting to the wheel would be the better option for you.
FAQs
How do you prepare the wool for spinning?
If you are buying wool from your local yarn store, it needs very less preparation. But soaking it in soapy water for half an hour would do great. gently squeeze the water out properly before you start the spinning process. Do you like to know how to store and organize yarn?
How do you keep the tension steady while spinning?
It’s all about practice. But be sure to keep the pull of your hand constant while you are spinning. Finding the right tension is important for the perfect amount of spin.
What to look for when buying fiber?
In addition, there are terms used to describe how the fiber was prepared when purchasing fiber for spinning. Fleece that has just been sheared from a sheep is referred to as raw fleece. We wash and pick the raw fleece to remove dirt, grease, and plant matter from the fiber.
In another case, either combed top or roving can be made, as the fiber can be run through a drum carder. There are times when people refer to all prepared spinning fiber as roving. Since roving describes a specific preparation, it is not quite accurate. There is also the option of buying fiber that has been processed through a drum carder, referred to as batts. Do you want to make yarn at home? Read this article.
Conclusion
Rome wasn’t built in a day. You won’t learn the art of spinning yarn in a few tries. You need to give your best effort & time following the steps. The rhythm of spun yarn will become apparent once you grasp the concept.
Last but not least, if you get truly some interest in yarning, have a look here.
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