Typically used for plying, they are also popular for spinning singles. Here are some of my top tips for troubleshooting for drop spindles. One major difference between the two is where on the shaft, the weight called a spindle whorl is placed. Using a bottom whorl drop spindle, with walnut farm designs. Dont worry, drop spindlers, i havent forgot about you. You wind your cop on in the same manner as you would on a nostipinne. Also the spindle pulley that regulates the speed of a spinning wheel spindle. The directions also include links to youtube videos for the park and draft method of drop. A quick demo of how i spin on two of my favorite spindles top whorl and turkish. Check out these tips and frequently asked questions about spinning on a drop spindle. A drop spindle these instructions are for top whorl drop spindles carded or combed fiber prepared for spinning. All my top whorl drop spindles are turned as a complete unit whorl glued to shaft prior to turning thereby insuring the best balance possible. Drop spindle hand spindle a stick with a weighted whorl that is used to twist fibers into thread.
Whorl less scottish handspindles, also known by their gaelic names of dealgan, farsadh, or fairsaid, are ideal for the spinner on the go. Drop spindles have been used for centuries to make yarn. It is often weighted at either the bottom, middle, or top, commonly by a disc or spherical object called a whorl, but many spindles exist that are not weighted by a whorl, but by thickening their shape towards the bottom, such as orenburg and french spindles. The unusual pear spindle is a top whorl drop spindle. Theyre handmade, strong, a spindle is a straight rod, typically wooden, that is designed to twist, or spin, fiber into yarn.
Theyve been around for a very long time and have changed little since their first invention. The whorl diameter starts out at 312 and ends up at about 338 after turning. Therefore, a bottom whorl spindle is too heavy and too slow for spinning thin yarn and soft fiber. The whorl is what gives the drop spindle the momentum it needs to keep it spinning around for awhile. Beginner drop spindle kit bottom whorl w 2oz roving fiber. The bottom whorl spindle is a suspended spindle and is best suited for spinning thicker yarns and heavier fibers. For a bottom whorl drop spindle, youll position the cd about 10 inches down. The following directions are for two types of drop spindles. This a good weight spindle for spinning knitting worsted weight or bulky yarns. Happy classy drop spindle maple top whorl spinning clear smooth finish. Some spindles are weighted at the top, middle or bottom of the rod by a whorl.
Yarn has been spun on spindles for thousands of years. Demonstration of how to spin on a top whorl trop spindle by katie from shire ranch. Learn to spin your own yarn using a top whorl drop spindle. Top whorl drop spindle with notch in whorl to guide yarn. The choices are myriad, and all are sure to please. It is the oldest known form of spinning yarn and is still used today. The disc on a drop spindle is called a whorl it can be either at the top or the bottom of the shaft, depending on how you would like to weight it. Top whorl spindles generally spin faster, but for shorter amounts of time. True creations spindles, your place to buy exquisite drop spindles, kick spindles, support spindles, fiber tools and fiber accessories. There are a few differences between medieval hand spindles and the hand spindles commonly available and commonly used today. Drop spindles are an ancient tool for spinning fiber into yarn or thread. This instructable will show you how to spin a single from wool roving, using a top whorl spindle. Our top whorl drop spindle is a spoked for a oneof kind of wagonwheel look reminiscent of those days on the ol bonanza.
A hand spindle drop spindle for beginners, a hand spindle drop spindle is recommended, because its both easier to find or make, and it teaches the necessary control for spinning on any wheel. Spinners have been creating yarn with drop spindles for millennia and we have a wide range of styles from which to choose. Top whorl these spindles are configured with the whorl at the top. With a little bit of practice the top whorl spindle can spin a lot faster than a bottom whorl, thus putting more twist in. With the weight at the bottom of the shaft, the spindle will spin slower low whorl spindle. The beauty of a dealgan is that the cop creates a center pull ball. Ive always preferred top weighted spindles, so will be placing the whorl of my spindle near to the hook. Follow these instructions to create your own spindle. Drop spindles are primitive spinning tools, virtually the only spinning tool used until ad the spinning wheel as we know it did not exist before the 1500s. Top whorl drop spindles, our most popular spindles. Once you learn, you can experiment with different spindle whorls to customize your spindle to your preference. Learn to spin yarn on a drop spindle the easy way with our dvd drop spindle kit. Medievalstyle spindles, as opposed to modern spindles, dont have the whorl attached permanently.
Some spindle designs, such as french and russian, add weight by shaping the rod with added thickness and do not have a whorl. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you. Then, circa 1997, an interest in top whorl spinning began to grow, quickly surpassing low whorling in popularity and driving an overall rise in. A spindle is a straight spike usually made from wood used for spinning, twisting fibers such as wool, flax, hemp, cotton into yarn. Two experts on spinning with a drop spindle, maggie casey and abby franquemont, have created great resources to help you learn how to handspin yarn and how to spin with a drop spindle in particular. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Whorl the weighted part of a drop spindle that helps it to spin. Wool and other animal fibers can be spun into yarn using this tool. Basic drop spindle tutorial part 2 finishing your yarn duration. Drop spindling is where many new handspinners start, and it can be frustrating when things arent flowing like they should. Many beginners start with a relative heavy 2 ounces or more bottom whorl spindle, but you can also learn easily on a top whorl. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The spindle shaft is made of birch, while the whorl is made of ash.
Traditionally, spindle whorls are round, but for the sake of ease, the one on this is square. On spindles with a whorl, there is usually a hook andor notch to help guide the yarn. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Dont invest a lot of money until you are sure this is the thing for you. Top whorl, bottom whorl, low whorl, mid whorl, bottom whorl. It has a long dowel, which is used to spin the spindle and also wind the spun yarn onto. Learn how to make a top whorl drop spindle using cds and materials you can find at the hardware store. The first spindles weighted with whorls appeared as far back as the neolithic. Spinning with a topwhorl drop spindle fiberville, usa. For a top whorl drop spindle, youll position your recycled cd about 2 inches down from the hook. Widest selection of spindle styles and artisans the woolery. Also, bottom whorl spindles tend to be more steady and less wobbly than top whorl spindles.
Based in ashburton, new zealand, ashford handicrafts are the worlds leading manufacturers of spinning wheels, weaving looms and other textile equipment and supplies. The whorl is that big lumpy thing on the stick which is called a shaft. I did find a lot of good youtube tutorials and have been teaching myself how to spin yarn from wool roving. Little joe nothing says hand spinning like a simple, but unique drop spindle. Top whorl spindles have the whorl closer to the top of the shaft, and bottom whorl spindles have the whorl near the bottom of the shaft. Complete with dvd getting started on a drop spindle by maggie casey, 56 minutes playtime, two ounces of natural corriedale wool sliver, one ounce of hand dyed corriedale wool top and one top whorl spindle that weights about 1. Kits include top whorl drop spindle, 2 ounces of natural corriedale wool fiber, coupon for future fiber purchase. Specializing in unusual and historic spindles such as dealgans, turkish, tibetan and navajo spindles. Spin a wide range of fibres from superfine on the lightest spindle to long lustrous fleece on the heaviest spindle. To get a particular yarn, you will need to select an appropriate type. The kingdom could have avoided this problem had they just used drop spindles.
With a little fiber and a spindle, you too can participate in this oldest of alchemies. Top whorl silk drop spindles we have been busy working like a couple of santas helpers. These top whorl silk spindles have been turned from walnut, oregon myrtlewood, purpleheart, white ash and cherry. Heavenly handspinning spinning wheels our products are. Beginner drop spindle kit top whorl w 2oz roving fiber 4. Sleeping beauty pricked her finger on a spinning wheel and fell into a deep sleep. Megan shows starting a leader yarn, the park method, the drop method, and connecting more fiber.
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