β HOW TO Spin Yarn | Dyeing & Spinning Craft Tutorials β
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A Beginner's Guide To Using a Drop Spindle
If you knit, crochet, or simply want to learn to hand spin your own unique yarn, you've come to the right place!
Below you will find beginner's tutorials on spinning your own yarn using a simple wooden spindle, as well as instructions on how to then dye the finished yarn. It's a great craft to master, and if you want to progress further, you can then decide to invest in a spinning wheel. You can also get creative by designing your own art yarns.
I hope you are inspired to give this hobby a try :-)
Photo and yarn by Blissful Bee.
Below you will find beginner's tutorials on spinning your own yarn using a simple wooden spindle, as well as instructions on how to then dye the finished yarn. It's a great craft to master, and if you want to progress further, you can then decide to invest in a spinning wheel. You can also get creative by designing your own art yarns.
I hope you are inspired to give this hobby a try :-)
Photo and yarn by Blissful Bee.
Top Spinning Books & Tools
Handspun Art Yarn
Photo and yarn by Blissful Bee.
Brief Intro To Spinning
Spinning is the twisting together of loose fibers (such as wool roving) in order to create yarn. It is done with a drop spindle or a spinning wheel. On this page I will deal with the drop spindle, as it is the best way for beginners to start spinning (because it's portable and cheap). You can then buy a spinning wheel if you decide you would like to progress with your spinning hobby.
To learn to spin, you will need a spindle or wheel, carded or combed fiber*, and a length of yarn to use as a 'leader'. The leader is for attaching the fibers to the spindle in order to start spinning.
*Fibers are prepared for spinning by being carded or combed (you can buy the fiber pre-carded or pre-combed, or you can do this yourself with the right tools). Carded fiber is where tangles have been removed and the fibers have been neatened up, but not all of the fibers have been aligned - some are still going in different directions. The more fibers out of line, the fluffier and airier the spun yarn will be (best suited to knitting). Combed fiber is where all the fibers are aligned, therefore resulting in a smoother, more compact yarn (best suited to weaving).
There are 3 types of drop spindle; top-whorl, bottom-whorl and supported. Top-whorls are sticks ('spindles') with a disc ('whorl') at the top, bottom-whorls are sticks with a disc at the bottom, and supported spindles are not suspended in the air, but instead they are rested on the ground/table. The whorl/disc is the weight that keeps the spindle spinning.
Bottom-whorl spindles are better for plying yarns, and are best if you want to produce chunkier yarns. Top-whorl spindles are usually lighter and spin faster. They are better suited to spinning fine yarns.
To produce a yarn suitable for knitting or crocheting, you must also do a process called 'plying'. This is where 2 or more 'singles' (single lengths of spun yarn) are twisted together, producing 'plied' yarn.
Drop spindles can spin almost any fiber you want from, wool to silk. The fibers must be pre-drafted before spinning, which simply involves pulling the fibers to make the thickness you want to work with. So the less you slide the fibers apart i.e. the less you draft, the bulkier the fibers, and the chunkier the finished yarn will be. As you get used to spinning, you can draft as you spin.
To learn to spin, you will need a spindle or wheel, carded or combed fiber*, and a length of yarn to use as a 'leader'. The leader is for attaching the fibers to the spindle in order to start spinning.
*Fibers are prepared for spinning by being carded or combed (you can buy the fiber pre-carded or pre-combed, or you can do this yourself with the right tools). Carded fiber is where tangles have been removed and the fibers have been neatened up, but not all of the fibers have been aligned - some are still going in different directions. The more fibers out of line, the fluffier and airier the spun yarn will be (best suited to knitting). Combed fiber is where all the fibers are aligned, therefore resulting in a smoother, more compact yarn (best suited to weaving).
There are 3 types of drop spindle; top-whorl, bottom-whorl and supported. Top-whorls are sticks ('spindles') with a disc ('whorl') at the top, bottom-whorls are sticks with a disc at the bottom, and supported spindles are not suspended in the air, but instead they are rested on the ground/table. The whorl/disc is the weight that keeps the spindle spinning.
Bottom-whorl spindles are better for plying yarns, and are best if you want to produce chunkier yarns. Top-whorl spindles are usually lighter and spin faster. They are better suited to spinning fine yarns.
To produce a yarn suitable for knitting or crocheting, you must also do a process called 'plying'. This is where 2 or more 'singles' (single lengths of spun yarn) are twisted together, producing 'plied' yarn.
Drop spindles can spin almost any fiber you want from, wool to silk. The fibers must be pre-drafted before spinning, which simply involves pulling the fibers to make the thickness you want to work with. So the less you slide the fibers apart i.e. the less you draft, the bulkier the fibers, and the chunkier the finished yarn will be. As you get used to spinning, you can draft as you spin.
Natural Dye
Natural plant dyes from dahlia flowers and onion skins were used to dye this yarn. The variation in colour was created by leaving the yarn in the dye bath for different lengths of time, different strengths of dye, and different yarn weights.
Photo and yarn by Baumzger.
Drop Spindle Instructions
Handspinning For Beginners
Starting off with a drop spindle is the cheapest and easiest way to start spinning, so that's what I will be mainly covering on this page. It's a great way for beginners to learn the concepts and techniques of spinning, and it's portable too so you can practice anywhere!
If you would then like to move on to using spinning wheels, there are useful books, classes and other websites you can use to learn.
Good luck, and have fun!
If you would then like to move on to using spinning wheels, there are useful books, classes and other websites you can use to learn.
Good luck, and have fun!
- Step-By-Step Guide
- A brilliantly clear pdf file on drop spindle spinning.
- Instructables
- Great collection of how-tos on carding, spinning and making a spindle.
- Types Of Drop Spindle
- Have a look through the sidebar on the left for more excellent information.
- Spindle Advice
- The types, woods and weights available.
- Spinning With a Drop Spindle
- A three part spinning tutorial masterclass.
- Learning to Spin
- Dyeing, spinning and fiber preparation lessons, plus projects.
- DIY Spindles & Much More
- Thorough guide on fiber prep, homemade spindles and wheels, plus lots more.
Dyeing Your Own Yarn
Using Kool-Aid as the dye!
Photo and dyed yarn by Silje RΓΈe Hagland.
More Beginner's Guides
Further Information On This Creative Hobby
- Turkish Spindle
- How to use this style of spindle, plus a spinning glossary.
- Carding & Plying Yarns
- A few videos showing you more drop spindle techniques.
- Masses Of Useful Info
- This page gives you a grounding in the basics, plus spinning wheel types.
- From Fleece to Yarn
- The journey from sheep fleece to hand dyed yarn.
- Recycled Cotton Art Yarn
- How sweaters were recycled on a spinning wheel.
- Fiber Art Videos
- Mostly wheel spinning, but there are also ideas on what to do with art yarn.
- All About Spinning
- The history of drop spindles, plus current tips and techniques.
- Illustrated Instructions
- Diagrams and drawings of different spinning steps.
- Winding Your Own Yarn
- How to use a fun gadget to wind your yarn into a hank.
DIY Hand Dyed Yarn
As well as using commercial dyes, you could also use Kool-Aid colors, or food dyes - as demonstrated in these tutorials:
- Crock-Pot Dyeing
- Creating variegated yarn with Kool-Aid.
- Kool-Aid Ice Cubes
- Using the heat of the sun to dye your yarn in multicolors.
- Handpainting Yarn
- Brushing acid dyes directly onto the yarn.
- Tie-Dye Yarn
- Using yarn that has been reclaimed from an old sweater.
- Self-Striping Sock Yarn
- Stretching the yarn across the room looks like fun!
- Hot Pour Method
- Multicolored yarn made with food dyes.
- Kool-Aid Dyeing
- Lots of photos and experimenting with different colors.
- Easter Egg Dyes
- This technique produces some really nice color combinations.
Natural Wood Spools
Photo and yarn spools by La Wendula.
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miaponzo
Feb 19, 2012 @ 4:28 am | delete
- I love spinning and wool and this is a great lens! Thanks! Blessed!
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- Great lens! I've added this lens (and others of yours) to my "50 Craft Ideas for Adults"!
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- Spinning yarn an enjoyable process
- I reasoned that I don't have a good reason to learn how to spin. My twin sister is a very good spinner of 14 years. So, I already have lovely, handspun yarn in my stash. I didn't feel the need to increase my burden of guilt and lack of time by learning ...
- Ellcot Spinning Mills Limited
- ... Ellcot Spinning Mills was established in 1991 and is listed on the Karachi and Lahore Stock Exchanges. The Company has an installed capacity of 54528 Spindles with related process machines. It produces high quality yarns of 100 percent cotton, ...
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