It keeps un-spinning!

lindyloop · It keeps un-spinning!

I have succumbed to the fibre lure and have just had a go with a drop spindle and accompanying U-Tube videos to help!

The thing is (apart from it being really hard to do Confused

) the spindle won't spin for long at all. It goes a few turns then goes back the other way, which makes drafting the fibres out impossible. I am pre- drafting them and then trying to spin.

Help! Why won't it stay spinning like in all the videos?

I have a top whorl spindle and some merino fibre.

Lin x

n

You do have to give it a bit of "welly".

Are you doing Park and Draft?

Spin spindle, allow it to take up twist on fibre. Park between your knees to hold it still. Draft next section. Remove from knees, spin, park, draft etc etc.

n

lindyloop

Thank you n, yes I am park and drafting. this is what it looks like, I don't think that I am drafting enough as it just looks like twisted roving?!! Or is it meant to look like that?

Lin x

n

I think you aren't drafting enough. To be honest, I think everyone starts off like this, I bet all the spinners on here will look at it and say "I remember doing that!"

This is how to do pencil roving....

Click here.

If you need to look at it again it's on the Links page on the website in the Spinning section.

Other rovings aren't that different, but with the pencil roving you need to take the twist out before you draft.
You could unwind what you have done if you like and restart... or just keep going.

n

flower

I'm trying all the little whatsits, just for fun!

lindyloop

Thank you! I think that I will un do and try try again!

I can't stop, is it addictive?!

Lin x

n

Very!

And cool as beans!

n

craftybernie

Another Noobie into the spinning fold!! Yay! Welcome!

The spinning will get easier! Your wool does look quite thick in the photo so you should try to thin or draft it out a bit more. It will go further this way!

Once you get the hang of drafting the wool and get used to giving your spindle a good old flick, there should be enough energy to create the 'twist' you need.

I tend to roll the spindle along the ouside of my right thigh towards me (knee to hip) and then let it go. This creates enough twist for me. Once the twist travels up the drafted wool, I pinch it to stop it travelling up any more, wind the spun yarn onto the spindle and spin again. Sometimes I've got enough twist in the wool that I only have to spin the spindle every 2nd or 3rd time I wind the wool IYKWIM.

I've also found that the thinner the drafted wool, the farther the twist will travel.

Commercial tops really 'tight' and need a fair bit of teasing to loosen the fibers. I started by tearing strips off the length of the roving to spin from that, drafting as I go. I've also used managed with 6" lengths which I fold over and spin from the fold.

Good luck and stick with it. You'll get there in the end.

lindyloop

Oh yes! Its definately in the drafting, your tutorial is spot on!! I am making yarn! (Well sort off!) Very Happy

I will practice all week and show you how I am getting on!

Thank you.
Lin x

n

You just need to be able to Andean ply now and you are totally self contained. I'll look for a YouTube thing later for it. You can ply off two spindles too of course, but Andean is easier IMHO.

n

sunny

lindyloop

What???

Lots to learn about! I should be reading about philosophy today .... Laughing

Lin x

n

Try this.

Not Andean, but done on your hand.

n

lindyloop

There you go!

I heed lots and lots of practice but it has certainly given me an idea of whats involved!

Thank you so much N for your help, and Crafty bernie, your blog has great pictures of your spinning which inspired me to try!

Lin x

craftybernie

YarnAddict

I agree with CraftyBernie, there is no wrong yarn. And your yarn looks gorgous. I did draft and park when I first got my drop spindle but after a couple of weeks it was easier to draft while spinning. You do get better at spinning it around as time goes on too. Try swapping hands too to see which hand feels better when spinning the spindle.

lindyloop

Just over a week of practice each day for about 20 minutes a time , I can now spin it so fast by rolling it on my leg its amazing!!!

Its a bit of a rubbish picture today but I have tried wenslydale at the bottom, merino roving in a lovely blueberry colour , alpaca in the orange which is so hairy I was covered! And it is hard to do so I will leave that for a bit, and my favourite which is on the spindle and I have plyed a little of it to see, blue faced leicester.

I am still parking and drafting but am understanding the fibres a bit more now.

I am going to try and spin a decent amount now to make something, don't hold your breath though as it could take some time!!

Very relaxing spinning, I almost crave doing it when I am stressed!

Lin x