If you want to make very consistent and good quality thread, you have to understand the different processes involved in spinning. Spinning has been available for thousands of years, and the traditional methods are still very much used today by expert spinners and weavers. You can start the activity as a hobby right in your own home without much trouble or cost.
To Spin Fiber
The beginner or intermediate spinner can choose wool fiber that is coarser, because this is easier to spin and draft. They will find that extremely fine wool fibers are very slippery and might be harder to control until they get more experience. The twist may also be hard for most beginners. To start, you will need a spinning wheel and fiber. A lot of spinning wheels have 3 or 4 bobbins. These are generally used to ply yarns. Three bobbins is the least you need, so that you can create a 2-ply yarn. A lot of spinners can keep several bobbins so that you can go back and forth from one spinning project to the next.
Materials Required
You will also need to wind the yarn spun and plied into a skein. You can then count the number of yards of yarn you have spun. You can spin the right amount for your needed work. The twist of the yarn can be set with the aid of a handheld steamer. You can refer to the internet and a number of books to get more tips on spinning by hand.
You do not need a distaff to spin flax. A distaff is generally used for long line flax. The flax fibers are very long, reaching 1 yard or so, and will need meticulous preparation and dressing on a distaff before you spin. You can spin commercial flax top without using a distaff. This can be spun dry for a hairy result. Using a subtle sheen, you can also spin it wet to get smooth yarn. Linen yarn usually gets softer and more pliable if worn out.
How to Spin
To make socks, you need about 4 ounces of fiber, for a vest, you will need 16 ounches, and for a sweater, you will need around 24 to 32 ounces of fiber. The fiber amount needed will change depending on the type of fiber, design of the garment and the size of the garment. The knit and length cables can be quite handy in adding to the number of fibers you need to complete the work.
Vital Preparations
Draft the fibers beforehand, so that these will become easier to handle. You will find that starter spinners will need to predraft and loosen the wool to create evenly spun yarn. There are also hand-painted wool fibers that can be spun in different ways to get various color patterns. Ply the same wool fiber independently using the right plying technique so that it changes color every few inches. Preparation is very important so that you get consistent and quality results every time.
The drop spindle is one of the most basic tools for spinning and weaving. To successfully make thread, you need to use the drop spindle correctly. There are different mechanisms for using the device, depending on what you are trying to achieve. You can spin using various types of spindles too. Some individuals may choose to make their own drop spindle.
How to Use
A beginner can successfully learn how to handspin by using the spindle correctly. These are very inexpensive and are quite easy to make. As soon as you have mastered the spindle, you can expect to have already learned the steps to successfully spin using the spinning wheel. You can draft out the fibers, twist the fiber to form a yam and wind up and store the spun yarn.
The First Steps
The first step is to tie the leader on. Link the leader to the drop spindle by tying a piece of yarn measuring around 18 inches long to the shaft just over the whorl. Take the yarn to the side of the whorl, then loop it around the shaft located below. Loop back over the whorl's side and secure the end to the hook. Start spinning by leaving the fibers at the end of the leader loose. The spindle should hang under your hand hanging by the leader.
More Fiber
The spindle should be held by the right hand, while the left hand holds the leader. Spin the drop spindle away from the shaft in a clockwise motion. This is the same direction you will be using to successfully spin the yarn. You should start practicing to rotate the spindle correctly. Continue the process of spinning in the same direction until the time the leader starts to take in the twist. Leave some fiber at the end to join on more fiber.
On Winding
You have to maintain tension on the freshly spun yarn to let the twist run into the freshly drafted fiber. As soon as you let go of the tension, the twist should not travel up. Repeat the process a couple of times and observe if there is adequate twist before you proceed. If the yarn separates or becomes very slack, you should spin the spindle again to store additional twist. Once the yarn is long to allow the spindle to touch the ground, the yarn should unhook then wrapped around the spindle base right next to the whorl. You would have spun a single by now. Provide enough yarn to slip the hook back on using two inches to loosen the end fibers.
Joining the Fibers
You can overlap the wool some inches just over the fibers to catch and twist into the leader. Let the twist run into the joined fibers. You can add more twist by turning the spindle before you make new lengths of yarn. You can provide another twist to the spindle. Twist the spindle another time and provide your right hand back to where the left is holding the yarn.
Move the left hand back 3 inches, the pull and draft more wool fibers to let the spindle turn around. Let go of the yarn using the right hand and the twist should move up into the fibers. More fibers should be pulled out from the mass of the fiber by tugging the left hand. The twist should run into the fibers being drafted.
This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse, you agree to our Privacy Policy