Drop Spindle Spinning

[cwatson]

I don't know if it is just me or what but I have been trying to learn to spin using a drop spindle and have had no luck at all. My roving turns into a knot. I have check multiple websites and even have a couple of books and it looks doable but I just can make it happen. Any advice or should I just give it up.

[Lynnkay]

If you haven't already visited this site, you might try www.joyofhandspinning.com

At a yarn shop a few years ago, I took lessons on hand spinning using a drop spindle, and it really helps to have someone to show you how. I'm not good at it yet, but I like the whole concept of 'spinning'.
Hope you get good at it, then you can help me. ;D

[cwatson]

Hi Lynn,

I haven't been to that site yet but I will give it a try. I would be reeeeaaaalllyyyy surpized if I ever got good at hand spinning but I just can't let it go. Now it is the challenge of learning it :D

[idris]

I made four of them, about '96.here is one of 'em, ready to roll: the cord is made of horse hair, found stuck in a wire fence. About as long as elbow to finger tips.
Used it on flax that I grew back then. Once it gets going, it just zips along. Used a big chopstick [stir fry] and a slice of old, dry branch.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq62/idris_al/Picture_0266.jpg

[cwatson]

mine still aint zipping nowhere much less along. I guess I will keep trying as long as I have roving :'(

[idris]

mine still aint zipping nowhere much less along. *I guess I will keep trying as long as I have roving *:'(
The trick is to let it do the spin part: don't do more of that than needed, our job is to keep the roving up to the ends as the whole descends, then roll it on & start again: as easy as that, but, practice is the key to getting the hang of it.

www.joyofhandspinning.com (http://LINKADDRESS)

www.handspinning.com/lollipops/spininst.htm (http://LINKADDRESS)

[idris]

Here are some very recent pix; was given some alpaca hair on Monday, to day is Wednesday: have not used one of these since '96.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq62/idris_al/Picture_0267.jpg http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq62/idris_al/Picture_0268.jpg


My adventure in getting these pix up shows that it is best to use photobucket.

And by Saturday:

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq62/idris_al/Picture_0269.jpg

[idris]

And much later: onto the second spindle with the third on the way:

just overlap the yarn and keep knitting.



http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq62/idris_al/H282A.jpg Note the little pocket on the lower left... it's a scarf for someone special.

[grams]

Make yourself a navajo spindle. That is what I teach people to spin on. It is the easiest way to get the feel of drafting and as it is slower it is easier to actually see the amount of twist you are putting into the thread.
After you master this type move on to the drop spindle or the wheel if you are so inclined.