![]() Look online or check out the Yellow Pages to find a local fiber store, yarn store or spinning guild. Personally, I find it interesting and worthwhile to find, repair and use old wheels, but it’s not always an easy task for someone just learning to spin. If purchasing a used wheel, I recommend getting one that the seller has utilized recently many antique wheels are available, but most are in need of repair, misaligned, or sometimes merely decorative. As with anything, you can spend as much or as little money as you like. If you’re interested in purchasing a wheel, expect to spend between $200 and $700 on a new, high-quality wheel. You also might want to invest in a spinning wheel - or, if you’re lucky, you may have inherited one from a relative. There are numerous online tutorials and much information available on how to both make and use a variety of drop spindles. There are even drop spindles made from recycled compact discs, although I don’t recommend these because they are too light and difficult to keep spinning steadily, which can be frustrating for a beginner.Ī better option is to look for a slightly heavier spindle made of wood, which will still be relatively inexpensive yet easier to use. You can purchase an excellent drop spindle for less than $30, or make one for less than that. Many people begin spinning with a drop spindle, because they are inexpensive, easy to make, lightweight, and they don’t take up much room. A drop spindle is essentially a weighted stick or dowel that is spun by hand and used to twist the fibers. To learn to spin, you need two things - some fiber to spin, and a wheel or drop spindle upon which to spin it.ĭrop spindles are the oldest and simplest tools used for spinning fiber into yarn. It’s a fulfilling hobby and pastime that adds clothes to our closets, takes us back to our roots, and lightens the load on our pocketbook all at the same time. Become proficient at this skill, and you’ll convert animal fiber to yarn, then into clothes for all seasons. However, like many crafts, it really isn’t - it simply requires a bit of knowledge and a little practice. Spinning can, at first glance, seem difficult. Many kinds of natural fibers can be spun: plant fibers such as cotton, nettle, linen, hemp, yucca and animal fibers such as wool, alpaca, angora, mohair, yak or buffalo. “Spinning” is simply twisting fibers together so they make a strong, usable cord. ![]() Spinning natural fibers into yarn is an age-old art, practiced by people in nearly every culture.
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