Spinning yarn on a drop spindle: from fluff to a usable two-ply

Before wheels there were spindles, and a spindle still costs less than a cinema ticket. Here's how to make yarn with one.

Fibre

Buy prepared wool tops in a medium wool like Corriedale or Blue-faced Leicester. Merino is slippery and frustrating early on. Split the tops lengthwise into strips about the width of your finger and gently pull ("pre-draft") so it's airy.

Park and draft

1. Tie a leader yarn to the spindle and hook it. Overlap a few centimetres of fibre with the leader.
2. Spin the spindle clockwise and let it twist the join.
3. Park the spindle between your knees. Now, with the twist stored in the yarn, pinch and draft the fibre out to the thickness you want, then let the twist run in.
4. Spin again, park, draft. Repeat. Wind on when the yarn gets long.

Once park-and-draft feels natural, let the spindle keep spinning while you draft. That's suspended spinning.

Plying

Wind your singles into two balls (or one centre-pull ball). Hold the two ends together and spin the spindle anticlockwise. This balances the twist and makes a stronger, rounder yarn.

Finishing

Wind off into a skein on your arm or a chair back, tie in four places, soak in warm water with a little wool wash, squeeze and snap the skein sharply between your hands to set the twist. Hang to dry.

What to make with 50g of first yarn

A striped hat band, a small pouch, or a keepsake mini skein to hang on the wall and marvel at.

Share your first skein, thick and thin and all.

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