Tips for Spinning Consistently

Dani and Annie have a little chat about their favorite methods for trying to spin more consistent yarns in honor of The Woolery Spin Along! It's all about finding what methods work for you to achieve a more consistent yarn.

[draven]

Great spinners are worth their weight in gold, I'm a weaver and good consistent yarn is escentual for a great weave

[eddavanleemputten]

WhenI switched from my supported spindle to my e-spinner (can’t treadle, health issues) the most useful piece of advice I got was ‘start low ‘n slow, dial up as you go.’ Whether it’s the speed you treadle at or the rate your e-spinner spins at, don’t set it too high; similarly, keep your tension low. Once you’ve comfortable with that, dial up your speed and/or tension a little bit. Let your senses tell you where your comfort zone is for that consistent yarn. How does the fibre feel and look when you’re drafting? How does the tension feel? How does the resulting look and feel? Above all, don’t overthink it. Just look and feel. For some people (me included!) this helps to relax into the spin, not to have a death grip onto the fibre, and to settle into a rhythm that leads to an even spin.

It’s a bit how kids learn a lot of skills and learn them really, really easily and really, really well. It’s extremely useful if someone breaks down the steps, explains the how and why, but from there on, it’s often useful to take the child’s approach and just… absorb? Get into a zone?

The other golden piece of advice I swear by is about staple length. I prefer to work with combed top (lace knitter and fiercely fine spinner because of that) is that I never draft out more than half my staple length. That way I almost never have breakage because it dramatically decreases the amount of weak spots.

[categ]

Thank you! I was really struggling with the tension. Now I know why!!!

[elizabethpack]

Oh, how lovely! I just spoke with Annie today about wheels! I can't wait to get one of my own!

[lindamarie]

I love the metronome idea. I actually have one and will give it a try! Thanks for the great tips.

[maryanngorman]

This is so fantastic! Thank you so much. Really looking forward to this spinalong. :)

[Margaret-emuu]

Awesome tips and some great reminders too!

[terriesavage]

Just so, stretch of spring for tension, splitting if wool, working well.. thanks

[dawanariley]

Thank you. I’m excited to start. I have e- spinner trying figure out how to do wraps per inch.

[beckya]

Of course I was slouching like crazy when that tip came up.

[cinda]

I would love to see Danny demonstrate the niddy noddy. Having trouble with this.

[lesleyswan]

Hi.. You tell to stretch your hands and arms please don't forget to warm your ankles. I have done serious damage to my archillies tendon thru too much treadling...

[woolywonders]

My gosh got notifications that the ashford kiwi 3 is finally back in stock but no $ 😭

[stonehill]

Enjoying your spinning ideas... but is it possible to improve the sound quality? It's very difficult to hear with you so far away from the mic... I have the volume all the way up and still can barely hear you... Thank you!!