Learn how to spin fiber with me

This video is all about learning how to spin fiber into yarn. Being a beginner spinner myself, I share my step-by-step approach of learning how to spin.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Learn how to spin fiber with me intro
00:34 Spinning wheel or drop spindle
01:50 Spinning wheels
03:23 Ashford Joy 2 spinning wheel
04:15 Step 1: Get to know your wheel
04:52 Step 2: Treadling
05:13 Step 3: Drafting & Spinning
06:50 Fibers
07:50 Step 4: Plying
08:32 Lazy Kate
09:11 Step 5: Finishing
10:23 Yarnitecture
11:01 Step 6: ply bracelet
11:50 Step 7: chain plying (3-ply)
12:55 Frau Wölffchen Sock Set
15:02 Step 8: fiber preparation
16:20 John Arbon Textiles Appledore
16:52 Woolen & worsted spinning

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Resources mentioned:

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Book Recommendation:

Spinning wheel review videos:

Helpful videos:

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Instagram: @rosemaryandpines

music by Julian Graf

#spinningwheel

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[eddavanleemputten]

There is, apart from a spindle or a traditional spinning wheel, another option: an e-spinner.

E-spinners are more expensive than a spindle, but depending on the model and brand, they can be a lot cheaper than a traditional spinning wheel. The advantage is that you can concentrate on your drafting because you don’t have to treadle. This also means it’s a valid option for people who for some reason or another cannot treadle. Due to a back injury, I can’t treadle for more than a few short minutes if I want to be able to function properly in daily life. This meant an e-spinner was my solution to being able to spin more and faster when I felt spinning was something I wanted to pursue further after using spindles.

An e-spinner also takes up less space than a traditional wheel, which is an element to consider. Depending on the model, you can use a battery pack to allow you to spin without a wall socket.

One thing I’d advise anyone who invests in a spinning wheel, be it a traditional one or an e-spinner: make sure you have enough bobbins. A minimum of three or four bobbins is, in my opinion, a minimum. It is possible to manage with one or two bobbins… but you’ll soon find yourself frustrated and ordering more anyway.

I learned to spin from YouTube videos and only started a little under a year ago. Recently I joined an online spinning group for Tour De Fleece and believe me, connecting with fellow spinners is worth gold. You get access to a lot of experience, tips and tricks, and lots and lots of inspiration. In the few short weeks since I joined, I’ve tried so much I was feeling hesitant about. If the group is more or less local it can also be a nice source of information on where to get good fibre locally, and if you’re feeling adventurous, free fleeces to process.

About those fleeces: in my area at least, a lot of people have a few sheep as pets, essentially lawnmowers with a heartbeat. Some even keep alpacas for that exact same purpose. They don’t know what to do with the fleeces because those animals need their yearly haircut. A lot of it gets thrown away. As soon as those people know you’re a spinner, and possibly willing to take fleece off their hands, they will be very happy. And you’ll be up to your eyeballs in fleece. A lot of it entirely free. Read up on sheep breeds, it’ll serve you well on which breeds are nice for spinning the yarn you like to spin. And free fibre is a wonderful way to lower the threshold when experimenting with techniques you want to learn.