Having a spindle is so-much- fun!
It’s the easiest way to make yarn, and to learn the whole process involved!
Spindles can be made pretty much out of many things, I even read that you can make it out of a knitting needle and an apple!
I wooden straight stick a hook and a CD can make an easy spindle, although a little wobbly as the CD (the whorl part) doesn’t really have a considerable weight, and the weight of the whorl is a relevant part of choosing a spindle.
A beginner spindle can be a random one you find at a shop, where the whorl is placed at the top (usually an inch from the hook), or a bottom whorl (an inch from the bottom).
Some spindles will spin with the support of a spinning bowl, some will need to be placed on the floor and will spin with the help of your thigh, and each one will have a specific technique… and I so want to learn them all!
Here on the side you can see a Russian Spindle and a its Bowl, the way it is spun is the same of a top or bottom whorl, but the spindle can spin for longer or more smoothly thanks to the bowl.
Turkish spindles allow users to wind up the spun wool into a pull from the middle ball of yarn and thanks to the removable X whorls.
The beauty of the spindle, no matter where it is traditional of, is that it can make wonderful yarn, fine yarn or thick yarn, and it does it by simply spinning in your hands!
I have had a great learning curve with the spindle, and although I am 4 hours into learning how to use a spinning wheel, I do think I will not stop using the spindle for a long while.
I have recently received a Turkish spindle (pic on the right) and a Navajo Spindle, and I can’t wait to use them! “I received”… who am I kidding? I bought this Turkish spindle from this seller.
I strongly recommend reading a bit about them, and consider also that if you have a friend with a 3D printer, they can print a test one for you, thingiverse.com will probably help!
The wool preparation is similar to the wool preparation needed to spin wool, but of course the process is way more physically involved, I find myself often standing up with a hand waaaaay over my head while the spindle spins and gives my yarn a good longed twist!
Once again, I am no professional and these two pictures you see in this posts are found via Google search. I feel mine are nowhere near “decency” for a spun yarn to be captured just yet, unless I am overwhelmed by an unexpected confidence!!
‘Till next time!