Yarn Spinning

Yarn spinning is the craft of twisting loose fibres, such as sheep's wool, into a continuous thread that can be knitted, crocheted or woven. By hand, it's done with a drop spindle or a spinning wheel. The twist is what holds the fibres together, turning a fluffy handful into strong yarn. It's simple to start and oddly mesmerising.

People have been spinning by hand for thousands of years. For most of history, every thread in every piece of clothing was spun this way, which makes it one of the oldest crafts there is.

A drop spindle is a simple wooden stick, called a shaft, with a weighted disc, called a whorl, near one end. You spin it, let it hang, and the weight keeps it turning while the twist runs up into the fibre. A top-whorl spindle has the disc near the top, and a bottom-whorl spindle has it near the bottom. Both do the same job.

It's the classic beginner tool, because it's cheap, portable and teaches you exactly how twist and fibre work together. Many spinners go on to try a spinning wheel, but plenty stick with the spindle for good.

You start with prepared fibre, often called roving or tops, and a short length of ready-made yarn tied to the spindle, known as the leader. Gently pull out a thin wisp of fibre from the roving. That's called drafting. Give the spindle a spin, let the twist travel up into the drafted fibre, then wind the new yarn onto the shaft and go again.

Beginners often use the park and draft method. Spin the spindle, then park it, holding it still between your knees, while you draft. It takes the juggling out of it. The result is a single strand, called a single. Twist two singles together in the opposite direction and you've plied your first yarn.

It takes a little patience, but the basics click faster than you'd think. Your first yarn will be lumpy and bumpy, and that's absolutely fine. Some spinners even make chunky, textured yarn on purpose and call it art yarn. Your Activity Leader shows you each step, and before long your hands find a rhythm. Warning: this is how hobbies start.

You might also like Basket Weaving, Macrame and Rug Tufting.

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