| The drop spindle
is made of two parts. |
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1. Take
approximately a 2 yard piece of yarn and tie one end of it tightly around
the spindle just above the whorl for a leader. |
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2.
Wind the yarn evenly (and fairly tightly) around the spindle, near your
knot in a 2 to 2-1/2 inch space until you have about 20 inches left.
3. Bring the yarn over the edge of the
whorl and wrap it once or twice around the bottom of the spindle, under
the whorl. Then bring it up over the side of the whorl to the top of the
spindle, securing it there with a half-hitch knot, as shown. If you have
done this correctly, the yarn should not slip.
| Beginners usually
find it easier to sit in a straight-backed chair, so they can catch
the spindle between their knees whenever it stops spinning. |
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4. Separate the fibers at the end of the
yarn, fluffing them out a bit. Take a handful of fleece and stretch it out
a little, so you can see through it. Lay a little of the fleece over about
2 inches of the yarn and hold them together between the left thumb and
index finger.
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If you're left handed, you might find
it easier to use the opposite hands then we've indicated, but just
remember to always spin the whorl clockwise. |
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5.
With your right hand, grab the top of your spindle and give it a clockwise
spin. Quickly pinch the yarn and fleece immediately below the left hand
with the right thumb and index finger. You'll feel the yarn in your right
hand spinning around tighter and tighter as the twist moves upward.
6. Once the twist reaches the finger and
thumb of your right hand, release them allowing the twist to continue
moving upward and thus joining the yarn and the fleece together.
| Whenever the
spindle slows down or stops turning clockwise, catch it between your
knees to prevent it from untwisting, and then spin it again with
your right hand. If your spindle drops on the floor, don't panic! It
happens to all of us. You'll get it. It just takes some practice. |
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| 7. Once the yarn
and fleece are joined, pinch the top of the newly spun yarn with your
right thumb and index finger and while holding the fleece in your left
hand, pull up gently, drawing out a few more fibers until the left hand
is about 2 to 3 inches from the right hand.
8. Now, as the spindle continues to turn,
close the finger and thumb of the left hand on the top part of the fleece
you've just drawn out, and let go with the right hand allowing the twist
to run up this new section of un-spun fleece.
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9. Once it has
twisted as tightly as you wish, move the right hand up, pinching the top
of the newly spun yarn. Draw out a little more fleece with the left hand
and once again, release the right hand and allow the twist to continue
upward. If your yarn is too thin, just pull out a little more fleece.
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As you pull the fleece upward and away
from the yarn in the right hand you'll notice a "V" shape appear.
Be sure to stop the twist when it reaches the bottom of the "V" or
you'll find it difficult to draw the fibers up. |
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10. Once you've spun so much yarn that your drop spindle is touching the
floor, you'll need to wind it onto the spindle, just above the whorl.
Without letting go of the end of the yarn (so it won't un-spin or wind
around itself), hold the spindle in your right hand and undo the knot at
the top of the spindle with you thumb.
11. Release the yarn from the bottom of
the spindle and then twirl the spindle, winding the yarn onto it. Taper it
up and down in a cone shape and cover the yarn you began with. Always wind
most of the yarn nearest to the whorl and taper it upward. Leave about 18
to 20 inches and start again.
12. Now you're ready to restring your
spindle as before (see step 2 & 3) and continue spinning!
13. When you spindle is full, release the
yarn at the top and bottom of the spindle and wind it into a ball. (It's
helpful if one person holds the spindle while another person winds the
ball.)
14. When you get to the starter yarn, just
cut it where your yarn begins and restring the starter yarn. Then
you are ready to start again!. |
                 
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