Loading the latest stories…
Interested in spindle spinning but think you need the fanciest spindles for the job? Debbie Held is here to set the record straight.
Deborah Held4 min read
Are you interested in spindle spinning, but aren’t sure where to get started? Not sure if you have the “right” spindle? Let’s set the record straight—the best spindle is one you have easy access to and enjoy using.
I owe my love of spinning to a single spindle, which I borrowed from a friend and used religiously for two years before I could buy my own equipment after restarting my life in 2012. I’m partial to spindles because of this background, but I’m also dedicated to helping more spinners find their love of spindle spinning.
As a tool that’s been around for tens of thousands of years, there are a lot of kinds of spindles, and lots of advice for using them. Some of it is good, and some of it is helpful, and some of it isn’t true at all! Let’s clear up some of the more widely shared falsehoods about spindles so we can get down to spinning!
Not true. You can indeed mix suspended, or “drop,” spindles and supported spindles in the same spin without impact, so long as you’re mindful of your technique.
Here are some keys to success for mixing spindle types in one spin:
It’s perfectly okay to mix different styles and types of spindles in the same spin! Be sure to use the same draw throughout, and check your yarn against your samples for consistency in twist and grist.
You might have seen those gorgeous eye-candy posts on social media, with a sweater quantity of singles spun on an array of expensive and hard-to-find spindles. It’s easy to think that you, too, need multiple spindles to complete a full spin.
Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, it takes exactly one spindle to spin and ply your handspun yarn, no matter the yardage. Is it more convenient and eye-catching to spin across multiple spindles? Very much yes, but working within constraints teaches problem-solving and reasoning skills, like learning to wind off your singles when your spindle fills, and managing plying balls and temporary bobbins. It’s also more portable!
Working a single spindle helps build reasoning and other skills in spindling, including working with a plying ball or temporary bobbins.
A plying spindle has a longer shaft so it can hold a sizable amount of yarn, plus a large or heavier whorl for added spin time and stability. It may be as lightweight as half an ounce (14 grams) or as heavy as two (or more) ounces (57 grams), so there is no “correct” version.
Owning one or more plying spindles is a worthy goal but by no means a necessity for attaining outstanding results. While it’s true that the size of your end hank is limited by the amount your spindle can hold, there’s nothing wrong with knitting or crocheting from multiple, smaller balls of yarn.
Plying spindles are built to hold more plied yarn, and with a long spin time in mind. They can be lightweight, heavyweight, and everywhere in between.
Should my plying spindle be faster than the spindle I used for spinning singles? Not always!
Sure, there are times when it’s helpful to have a faster spindle for plying than the one(s) used for spinning the singles, such as when spinning a high-twist sock yarn. However, there are always workarounds, like adding ply twist twice to coax a higher degree of twist from a spindle that’s lighter than ideal.
A spindle is so much more portable and at-the-ready than any other spinning equipment, meaning that you can make use of it in snippets of time throughout your day. It’s such a straightforward spinning experience that most spindle lovers say they can produce a more consistent and greater quantity of finished yarn with their spindles than with their wheels.
While Debbie adores her spinning wheels, some of her most productive spinning comes from her spindles.
I have yet to meet the wheel or the spindle spinner who became proficient overnight, and I believe that the same patience and grace should be extended when learning all facets of this art.
The spindle has my heart. If you haven’t yet felt this same pull, maybe you haven’t yet encountered the style, weight, or spindle maker that’s right for you. Keep at it, keep practicing, take a class, and remember that you don’t need the most spindles. You don’t even need the most expensive or the prettiest spindle—you just need one that feels right to you!
Spindle spinning teaches us that there’s more than one way to it! What matters is what works for you.
More from Spin Off
Comments
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts.
Sign in to join the conversation — commenting is for signed-in members.