The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Greenerlife on June 06, 2013, 02:34:19 pm
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With my newly acquired fleece, and dye and carding combs in the post via internet - just wondering if there are any experts here with a drop spindle? have to have a go.
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I'm an expert at putting the drop into drop spindling. :roflanim:
Give me a wheel any day.
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Yep, give me a wheel any day too.
I can spin on a spindle, but learned on a wheel first and to be honest, I think I'd have given up if I'd learned on a spindle first.
You can get a secondhand wheel (Ashford traditional is a good, solid bet) for about £100, it's easier to learn (easier mind, not easy) and then once you get going it's way faster too.
The spindle is quite good for spinning at sheep auctions and similar, but I find I never use one at home, in preference to my wheels.
Ashford spinning wheels currently on eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=Spinning+wheel+ashford&_sacat=0&_from=R40). Take your pick!
Whereabouts are you, is there one of us spinners nearby who could help?
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I spun for the first time yesterday on a drop spindle and again today. I found a few really good vids on youtube. I just sat with my stuff in front of the laptop and I've got the hang of it really quickly!
Theres 3 parts to it but it teaches you in the second!
Making Your Own Yarn - Learn to Spin with a Drop Spindle: Part 2 - Tutorial - Expertly Dyed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtBLIg4JhNI#ws)
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I'm absolutely no expert - but I do love it and prefer to my wheel. Only thing is that I cant get the hang of plying with it. The best thing is that it is SOOOO portable. There are some great vids on http://handspinner.co.uk/ (http://handspinner.co.uk/) that's how I learnt. If you want to spin a jumper - maybe a wheel - but if you just want to spin for smaller projects (I use them in the woods with children a lot and then we use the wool for crafts) - no better way - it really helps you understand what is happening. Recommend 'Spin it' book (also on above website - wont find it on amazon). Enjoy!
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D'you know - I cant seem to find a copy of spin it for sale anywhere - maybe out of print. Happy to lend you mine if you PM address.
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I'm definitely not a spindling expert but I have a large collection of the things as I love them ;D
You need to match the weight of your spindle to the fibre you are spinning. I find some are easier to use than others, for example I prefer top whorl to bottom or centre whorl, except for Turkish spindles, where the whorl is at the bottom but they are wonderful to spin. The Turkish spindle spins straight to a ball which then slips off the shaft for plying or using as singles - magic ;D
I did learn to spin on a wheel and have three of those. Initially I believed that I would never be able to spindle, but after some brief tuition from Pete from Spindlers2 I 'got it'.
I do spin at shows and so forth, both on a wheel and with a spindle, but I also spin elsewhere with the spindle, often for sampling fleeces, or if I am walking or travelling. I find it's best to prepare your fibre into roving, then wrap it loosely around your wrist before spinning.
Don't be put off by the others' comments :innocent: you can do it, and a spindle costs about a tenth of the price of a cheap wheel. It's also even more like magic than a wheel :yippee: :yippee: :yippee:
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I agree with fleece wife. I have tried to spin on several spindles but the only one that works for me is the Turkish one which is so aero- dynamic that is just spins and spins, also the advantage of having the ball of yarn ready wound. Hmm, my English sounds clumsy but I think the meaning is there.
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Thanks for the replies - i am very excited at this! Hillview - that must be the only youtube tutorial I haven't watched today and is excellent! Off to the craft shop tomorrow...(and I might sneak a peek at those ebay sales too)
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Can you get to Woolfest? I bought my most loved spindle there. Spinning with it is in a different league from the others I'd used.
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/bc2aba85a19abb55726fc5f001db45fc_zps1622d3b9.jpg)
It's from The Wood Emporium (http://thewoodemporium.co.uk/dropspindles.php), who also sell online.
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And Spindlers2 will be at Woolfest too; I bought my lovely Damson there, after being recommended to them by Fleecewife.
I wish I could come up with more reasons to spindle; I absolutely love it, and I love that spindle.
Here's (http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/uk-spinners/2480210/26-50#47) the full story of my buying Damson - actually, Woolfest is a lot like Diagon Alley, now I come to think on it ;)
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;D Had to Google Diagon Alley, but now am having to go to Woolfest! Blimmin miles away too! Still - nice holiday (although not sure my other half will appreciate it)
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There are buses into Cockermouth, where there are very good real ale pubs, if the animals etc at Woolfest don't capture the interest of non-fibery other halves.
There's a group on Ravelry about Woolfest, for more info.
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Just done the AA directions to Woolfest - 6 hours exactly driving. Eek! Hmmm...better find one of those nice pubs to stay in I think...
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Or there's a Travellodge just across the road from Mitchell's auction mart, which is where Woolfest is held.
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Only done spindle work as quick 'have a go' spinning. Even used a potato on a stick once. It was fun. My friend used to do lots when we did our medieval re-enactments as most wheels are too modern. (the another friend made her a walking wheel, beautiful and span well.
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OK if I wasn't too excited before - I am now! Got my first fleece washed, and my carders arrived this morning. Have watched so many youtube clips of carding and every single one of the people does it differently! Made loads of mistakes rubbing stuff up the wrong way and having the carders upside down or not facing the same way or opposite - great fun. Really enjoying the experience. Some of the wool has gone a horrid grey colour though. I seem to remember them saying the first lot may do this as they are brand new, but wondering how long before this doesn't happen?
Really looking forward to Woolfest now and seeing how to spin.
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Glad you're enjoying yourself.
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OK - went to woolfest today. Had my very first go at using one at one of the stalls. Don't know if it's true, or just salesmanship but I took to it immediately and the girl who 'taught' me didn't believe it was my first time! Anyway it worked - I ended up buying two! one plain lightweight, and one Turkish weighted one. Lovely things. Can't wait to get home and play with my new toys.
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OK - went to woolfest today. Had my very first go at using one at one of the stalls. Don't know if it's true, or just salesmanship but I took to it immediately and the girl who 'taught' me didn't believe it was my first time! Anyway it worked - I ended up buying two! one plain lightweight, and one Turkish weighted one. Lovely things. Can't wait to get home and play with my new toys.
:excited: :excited: Lovely! Wish I could have gone! Id like a Turkish spindle, so you'll have to let us know how you get on and what the difference is....
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I bought a Turkish spindle too from the chap who turns his in all sorts of beautiful woods - sounds like the same stall as you got yours greenerlife. I think it's the daughter who helps there? This is about my 6th Turkish spindle - I love them. My new one is in tulip wood and really well finished so the shaft is shiny as well as the arms - bliss to use. I am spinning an alpaca/silk mix on it, spun quite fine and it's going really well. No idea what I will use the yarn for, maybe a scarf.
I do hope you have fun using your two new spindles - keep us updated.
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Yes - definitely the same stall fleecy! His daughter gave the lesson (on carpet just in case I dropped the spindle - but I didn't! Smug :excited: )
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Yes - definitely the same stall fleecy! His daughter gave the lesson (on carpet just in case I dropped the spindle - but I didn't! Smug :excited: )
:thumbsup: His spindles spin so beautifully - a real craftsman
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do they sell on the web? Must have a look! Did you see the Kate humble wild shepherdess episode in peru last week - drop spindles being used whilst shepherding just as they have been for thousands of years - fab.
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Yes they do sell on the web, although it's good to able to try one before buying.
I have been watching the Kate Humble proggies. It always embarrasses me seeing a huge team of tv programme makers descending on a really poor community and apparently taking advantage of their natural hospitality, when they have so little. I just hope they make worthwhile reparations.
At least Kate was attempting to interest the big buyers in their fibre.
The spindling was great - all done quite casually and with an easy skill. But awful to hear how little they get for their yearly production of fibre :o And so many mouths to feed.
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You don't need to spend money if you ant to try out a drop spindle. I didn't demo the actual spinning process here because it as to show how to make a spindle. I did do one on spinning with a dolly peg though which shows the drafting of the fibres at a pace which is easy for learning
making a recycled drop spindle. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0elmg-X5QE#)
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Funnily enough, I saw someone spinning with one of these at Woolfest - was it you? Whilst I am really enjoying the drop spindle, I am also in the process of buying a spinning wheel, because I simply cannot do 12 fleeces all by drop spindle! (well I could, but I don't have 20 years)
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Nope it wasn't me. I don't claim to be the inventor of that idea, just one of the sharers. They are really nice to spin with but I really only ever use a drop spindle to teach people with as it enables you to see the drafting of the fibres at a slower pace. It's a nice thing to stuff into your bag if you're going away and think you might get bored, especially as you can dismantle it quickly.
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There were loads of the CD-spindles about at Woolfest - maybe one of the stands was selling them?
When I wanted to start drop-spindling, I bought one of the Ashford spindles, which are only a few pounds, just to see whether I would be able to do it and would enjoy doing it. Once I knew I could, and wanted to, and was passed the dropping it every 30 seconds stage, I bought a lovely, more expensive spindle, one which just spins forever and is a delight to use. I only use the Ashford one now to show beginners, or occasionally to sample a bit of yarn I've spun.
The thing about spindling vs a wheel is to use the spindle when you can't use a wheel. You get very little yarn in 10 minutes, but over time you build up yarn you wouldn't have had if you hadn't had your spindle. A friend of mine spindles as she walks about the village... she says she can't spindle on the way to see her sheep, as she's carrying cake for them, but she spindles on the way back, with the empty feed sack folded up in her pocket. ;)
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If anyone wants to try their hand with spindling I have two Ashford spindles I will happily give away just for the postage. I have so many spindles now and tend to use the smaller weight ones, so the Ashfords are lying idle. Anyone?
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I got really lucky a week ago because on the local freecycle a man was giving away a bag of rubber gromits - just the thing for making the spindles :excited: What an odd thing to find though.
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Are lamb castration rings too bulky? They are perfect for all sorts of things and cost barely anything.
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The thing with grommets is they have a grove in the outside edge which is perfect for holding the cd in place. I guess you could cut a grove into an elastrator ring, it would be fiddly but not impossible.
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Ah - I was thinking of one above and one below but I can see that a grommet would be neater, if you have them.
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Ah - I was thinking of one above and one below but I can see that a grommet would be neater, if you have them.
Oh, I'm going to try that ;) I use castration rings all over the place - I just sold a spinning wheel with one doing sterling service as the e-clip that holds the crank in place :D! (I gave the new owner an e-clip as well, in case they preferred it. :))
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They're great aren't they :thumbsup: We have used a line of them on the catch of the back gate to stop it rattling in the breeze and setting the dogs off at night.
I usually have some in my pocket - you can always tell the shepherds in the supermarket when they are looking through their pockets for small change - out come the castration rings in amongst the fluff and bits of old baler twine :roflanim:
We hardly use them for their designated purpose any more as we leave most of our tup lambs entire and we don't dock tails, so there are several half-used packets about the place.
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Never thought of using castration rings for anything else. You can only buy them in big packs and we only did 4 lambs tails so have lots left. It sounds like a few deserve a place in my pockets along with my bailer twine :)
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There's a topic for a 101 uses for thread, lol.
Hubby gave me a handful of those disks that protect the bottom DVD in a multi-pack and asked if they would be any use. At first I thought they might be a bit floppy but after giving it a wee think, I reckon being see through, there's scope for making customised drop spindles by sandwiching nice paper or fabric between them. I'll give it a try and see how it goes.
A couple of nice things about the cd/grommet/dowel spindles are that they dismantle for popping into your bag when going somewhere boring with a bit of something to do, and that slipping off the CDs makes it easy to slide the spun wool off as a ball to pop into a jam jar for easy plying.