One of the greatest acts of self-reliance outside ofgardeningandpreserving your own food, is becoming crafty to the point you can knit, crochet, and weave all that you need not buy from the store. When the chores are done for the day and you have made yourself comfortable on the homestead, it is time to sit back, relax, and create!
Skills to process wool and plant fibers have traditionally been passed down from generation to generation, but more and more people are learning the basics online, and then applying them to real life.
Watchingvideos on how to spin wool是很容易的。教你的手指如何有效地执行各种技术是比较困难的。话虽如此,尝试不同的天然纤维还是很值得的。如果你碰巧在你的土地上养绵羊或山羊,每年剪羊毛是你工作的一部分,为什么不从你的羊毛中获利呢?
Related Post:Raising Goats
Some spinners prefer to work with raw (unwashed) wool while others will demand that it’salready carded into batts, and ready for nimble fingers to produce yarn for bags, clothing, even rugs. There is a market for just about everything if you can find a unique way to sell it.
Which comes first, the fiber or the tool to spin? It is actually curiosity that takes center stage when learning how to spin — along with the desire to craft your own clothing or home furnishings.
We no longer need to spin fibers out of necessity. We do it for fun as a leisurely pastime. The industry has created amazing machines to do all the “tedious” work of making fabric for us, though there always remains an issue of quality. Items that are lovingly made seem to last longer, so choose a tool and let’s get started!
Some Spinning Terminology
When you’re new to spinning, some of the terminologies can be a little overwhelming. Before you get started, here are some important terms to know.
- Low whorl versus high whorl: These terms refer to spindle physics, or why some spindles and wheels spin faster or slower. The speed of the whorl depends on the position of the whorl whether it’s on the bottom or top.
- Bobbin: Also known as a spool or a reel,a bobbinis a cylinder used for holding yarn and thread on a spinning wheel.
- Wool pickers: A machine with strong teeth that separates wool locks to prepare the fiber for carding.
- Hand and drum carders:Hand carders are brushesthat align small amounts of fibers before spinning.Drum cardersmay be mechanical or electric and align the fibers to create a batt.
- Batt:Hunks of fiberproduced after being processed through a drum carder.
- Skein:A length of thread or yarn, that is loosely coiled and knotted.
- Hanks: A length of yarn that’s wound into a large circle and then folded. Hanks need to be wound into a ball before being used (similar to skeins).
- Niddy noddys:A simple toolused to make skeins of yarn. This allows you to easily measure the length of your yarn.
- Ball winders: An alternative to hand winding,a ball windermakes center-pull yarn balls.
- Yarn swifts:A tool that opens like an umbrellaand holds a hank of yarn before it is turned into a ball for more convenient knitting and crocheting.
For even more spinning terms,click here for a helpful glossary.
Spindle or Spinning Wheel?
Spindles are simple handheld pieces of either wood, metal, or plastic that consist of a rod and a weight. Spindles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, all intended for different types of fibers.
For instance, a bottom whorl drop spindle, in particular, is a suspended spindle best suited for spinning thicker, heavier yarns. Nowadays,the most popular spindlesare bottom low whorl drop spindles and top high whorl drop spindles. Check outthis helpful guide to spindlesto learn more.
Related Post:How to Rent Out Your Goats
Spinning wheels, on the other hand, are larger spinning units that can become a piece of furniture due to their size. Portable and foldable wheels are also available if space is a concern.
The spinning wheel was introduced during the Middle Ages, though spindles have been around for at least 9,000 years (possibly longer) making them the most low-tech tool for spinning yarn. They survive to this day, and the choices are seemingly endless when you are just getting started.
Adrop spindlecan be low whirl, high whorl, or even rim-weighted. Rim-weighted drop spindles spin longer at a slower speed, as opposed to a center-weighted spindle, for when you want to spin long lengths of yarn before winding. If you are new to spinning,a simple bottom whorl drop spindle是一个很好的选择,因为你学习速度和旋转控制。
One obvious advantage to learning how to spin with a spindle is the price. It doesn’t cost much to get started and see if you enjoy the process, and then you can always move up to a more costly wheel.
相比之下,一个高效的、制作精良的纺车的价格通常在数百(或者数千,如果你愿意的话)。无论哪种方式,这个终身爱好的代价都会增加!
A hand spinner who truly enjoys the art of using a spindle may choose to invest in several types depending on the wool or plant fibers they wish to spin. You can evenmake a homemade spindle.
And then there are other tools for processing fibers by hand: Wool pickers, hand and drum carders, niddy noddys, ball winders, and swifts to name a fewessentialaccessories required to hone your craft.
Learning to Spin on a Spinning Wheel
If you are wanting to spin for the sake of production, then starting with a spinning wheel is the best choice. Here, the options are truly endless, so it helps to know what type of fiber you plan to use. Will it be the fairy tale Saxony, a castle spinning wheel, or an electric spinning wheel that works for you?
Whenchoosing a spinning wheel在美国,如果可能的话,最好亲自试用,而不是在网上购买。它是舒服的吗?它旋转得太慢还是太快?不用的时候可以放在哪里?思考所有可能的问题并找到答案,以避免未来的失望。
Related Post:6 Reasons To Raise Sheep
在我纺车之旅的开始,我投资了两家阿什福德乡村纺车公司。我正在纺匈牙利拉卡羊的又长又粗的羊毛,用来做袋子和地毯出售。
The large bobbins hold 1 kilogram (2 pounds) of yarn, and the orifice is big enough to spin bulky yarn for weaving and plying which makes it the ideal wheel for art yarns. It also happens to be a double treadle which is kind on your lower legs.
The Basics of Spinning Wool on a Wheel
一旦你买了轮子、线轴和梳理过的羊毛,是时候坐下来休息一会儿了。熟悉纺纱轮的所有部件(纺纱轮、纺纱轮、纺纱轮等),把速度调到最慢,这样纤维就不会飞出你的手。
Thread your starter yarn through the orifice and tie it to the leader that’s attached to the bobbin. Hook the string around the first hook on the flyer, and get ready to treadle. Start by drafting some fiber (drawing out a thinner amount from your batt) and spin the wheel clockwise to set it in motion. Once the bobbin begins to spin, your starter yarn will twist together with the drafted wool.
Spinning is all about the twist.Keep this idea in mind as your hands and feet work together to produce the smoothest yarn possible. Draft the fibers, let them twist as the motion pulls them onto the bobbin, and draft more fibers as the process continues.
将正在生长的纱线沿着纺纱钩移动,使其在筒管上保持均匀平衡。虽然这在语言上很简单,但在现实中却很难做到。也就是说,最终的结果可能是惊人的!所以要坚持下去,学会为手头的工作选择合适的纤维。然后转移到另一项自力更生的编织活动(这是冬季的一个伟大的业余爱好),找到一个完美的织布机来制作包袋、布料和地毯。
要查看这个过程的一个很棒的教程,请查看下面的视频。
More About Choosing Fibers
尝试用不同的方法纺羊毛也会有帮助。Topis a fiber that has been run through a wool comb with fibers going in the same direction and very little air between them.
Roving羊毛经过商用梳理机后,大部分纤维会向同一个方向排列。粗纱比粗纱更蓬松,虽然它更容易纺纱,因为你不会处理纤维缠结。
Battsconsist of fibers that have been brushed and blended and are perfect for bulky and weaving yarns.
Rolagsare similar to batts as they’ve been blended using hand cards or blending board. Rolags are perfect for spinning thick or thin yarn.
Spinning Plant Fibers
植物纤维的纺纱方式与羊毛相似,但它们可能需要额外的加工。麻、荨麻、剑麻和亚麻可以买到已经准备好纺纱的,它们非常适合制成耐磨纱线。
In some cases, they can be next-to-the-skin soft too. It all depends on the staple length of the fiber and how well they are combed. Cotton is a more difficult fiber to spin because of the short fiber length. If you choose to spin cotton,the drop spindle is your friend.
Your first yarns may turn out lumpy and bumpy, yet artfully beautiful! Give them a good wash and a weighted stretch. They will soon be ready for knitting. It takes time and experimentation to get the right amount of twist, so go easy on yourself and relax.
如果你觉得被卡住了,可以在网上观看更多的视频,或者在当地的纱店参加一个课程来获得更多的实际帮助。男人和女人已经纺纱好几代了,你也可以掌握这个!
Pass down the excitement of working with handspun yarn to your children, so they can pass the ball of yarn down to theirs. Now get ready to let your hands twist wool and plant fibers into inspiring creations.
John Repaskysays
Photo/Attachment:
Hello,
I wonder if you or any of your readers may be able to offer some insight. I have these two wooden objects that I cannot identify. They are lead weighted and weigh about 3 or so ounces each. They measure 7″ long and are about 1-1/4″ in diameter at the ends One end holds the lead and the other is open. Are they some type of spindle or bobbin? Though I see the weight seems reversed in those. I wondered if they were weighted spokes for a spinning wheel if there is such a thing (to give more inertia?). A part for some other weaving textile application. They are not identical, one is a little bigger in diameter than the other. Any possible ID or suggestion would be appreciated.