Love this! I was actually lucky enough to buy a couple of actual medieval whorls. Apparently they're so common in some places that museums let people just keep the ones they find while metal detecting- museums have hundreds! So they can just sell you a real medieval whorl. (yes they're lead mostly, but if you don't lick them and be sure to wash your hands after extensively handling them, it's safe enough for use for me. I tend to mostly handle the stick. Ymmv) With a little shimming for balance tuning, they spin magnificently! It also helps keep the thing from falling off the end of the stick. The first time I set the whorl on a medieval style stick and gave it a spin on my kitchen table for the first time in almost 1000 years... I had goosebumps. I want to keep playing with medieval sticks and see what else I can use for whorls, including some pretty polymer clay work. THankyou so much for making these videos! I am definitely subscribing!
My very first spindle was a large crotchet hook as a shaft, and a disc made of hot glue with several coins inside (it was way to heavy, but I spun a decent amount of wool on it)
I was first taught to spin by a member of the mapuche people, who are Native American people of where I live (Argentinian Patagonia) and she told me that a very common whorl (tortera) was an apple.
This is really timely for me. I bought clay and some dowels a few months ago intending to make my own spindle sticks with removable whorls and then my belt sander broke. It's nice to see that the oven bake clay will work for this.
Thank you for generously sharing your historical research, methods and helpful links. Your videos are excellent. I'm now anxious to try making multiple whorls to do more hand held medieval spinning. Much appreciated.
So neat! Right now my spinning is limited to making 2ply plarn with a crochet hook one loop of plastic bag at a time. But one of the local history museums near me might start offering spinning workshops. So pumped!
What a triumph, they are fab! Still experimenting with making glass ones, will have to document one day, maybe I’ll have to send you one to play with 😘
Thank you! This was lots of fun. For the past two weeks I've been walking around with pockets full of spindle whorls so I can keep switching them out! Lol! 😂🧶🐑💜
This was really interesting! I made a few whorls after your last video, because I always wanted to try spindle spinning but didn't want to invest in a tool in case I didn't like it. I just need to get around to trying them.
love the wool holder stik, i am thinking to make my oven, it looks more helping, i am trying a lot this 2024,, thank you for showing us all the tips, i love the easy way you do it in. thanks.
Hi Evie, I hope you're OK. Love the Whorls you made and your Distaff. Looks like you got plenty of yarn onto the shaft. Happy Spinning Take care and stay safe. Love Jen xx 💖😘
😍 awesome!! The medieval spindle is hard for me tho still trying to figure out the spinning. Currently use the handheld distaff with mini Turkish spindle so much fun! It’s strange originally thought the distaff would be too heavy or cumbersome surprisingly it’s not!
I‘ve done it before i saw your Video but now i think i HAVE TO do some more 😅 One of my first whorls I bought was broken by turning of from the stick 🤷🏻♀️ but the clay whorls work… I use it like a drop spindle…I have to learn spinning in long draft 😋 (I don’t know if it is the right translation 🤷🏻♀️)
I have a question. Do you not use a distaff with a supported spindle? This is a great video and I love watching you spin and hearing about the history of spinning.
Yes I do! I use a distaff whenever I can actually because now that I've gotten used to spinning with a distaff, I always want to use a distaff! Lol! 🧶😂💜🐑
Good question! Maybe it is my personal spinning style? Maybe the wool I'm using so it gives me the right speed of twist for my draft? Maybe it was better balanced than the others? Perhaps a little of everything I listed? This was a great experiment and I wonder if another spinner would come to a different conclusion. 🧶🐑💜
I really love your videos! I learn so much about fiber arts and you have such a pleasant and positive voice and attitude❤ Do you have any tips on making spindle sticks?
So much fun!! I’m afraid I’ll end up down the clay rabbit hole if I even touch it, I love clay! So many things to try , so little time 😭. I hope your move is going well, let me know if you need some help, I love organizing! 👩🏻🏫
Thanks! Haha, yeah I know that so many projects, so little time feeling! I think this move is going better than pretty much all of our previous moves. Maybe we've had too much practice moving around! Ugh! I hope this is the last one for a long, long time!
@@JillianEve I hear ya! I don’t enjoy moving either, so stressful! Any chance you are going to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in September? I’m taking classes on Friday and Sunday, I can’t wait! It’s been a lot of years since I’ve been able to go so I’m really looking forward to it!
I am fascinated by this spinning technique you are showing (what you call it??). Did you use the stick from dancing goat? I want to try making some. Thanks for the inspiration!!!!!
Picked up some Nigerian clay whorls on a rope. Didn’t know what they were but thought they were cool looking. Thought they were wood! 🙂Bought at a antique shop for $10
Hello, Evie. You've inspired me to make some polymer clay whorls but my wood working skills are next to zero. My question is; where did you get your spindle shafts? Is there an on-line source that I can order from?
My idea was to use my belt sander on some 12" dowels and sand both ends until I had a decent approximation. Just continue to turn the dowel in your hand as you run it over the belt sander. Unfortunately my belt sander broke after only doing one end.
I have some good sources listed in the video description, just click on the video title to find that. I think Gabrielle has a fun idea to diy your own too if you can. I've also used chopsticks, dowels from the craft store, and bamboo skewers in a pinch. 🐑🧶💜
What are the two kinds of spinning you talked about? Woolen vs worsted, and one is...I'm guessing one is 'fibres going all the same way' and one is 'fibres all whichaway' am I right? Hah, I have just discovered you, but I bet you answer this somewhere and I just don't know it yet. (if you can't tell, I am VERY NEW to this!)
Haha, I know! I have plans to sew some new linen aprons and then I can coordinate them with whatever I'm spinning so it shows up best for the camera! 💜🐑🧶😂
I am trying to learn all if the ins and outs of spindles. By the video's title I was expecting a tutorial on how to make a spindle whorl. What I saw looked more like a demo. Disappointing.
Love this! I was actually lucky enough to buy a couple of actual medieval whorls. Apparently they're so common in some places that museums let people just keep the ones they find while metal detecting- museums have hundreds! So they can just sell you a real medieval whorl. (yes they're lead mostly, but if you don't lick them and be sure to wash your hands after extensively handling them, it's safe enough for use for me. I tend to mostly handle the stick. Ymmv) With a little shimming for balance tuning, they spin magnificently! It also helps keep the thing from falling off the end of the stick. The first time I set the whorl on a medieval style stick and gave it a spin on my kitchen table for the first time in almost 1000 years... I had goosebumps. I want to keep playing with medieval sticks and see what else I can use for whorls, including some pretty polymer clay work. THankyou so much for making these videos! I am definitely subscribing!
I made some whorls from the clay for a chopstick spindle whose end was sharpened in a pencil sharpener…never thinking it would work!! It Did!!
Wish I could share my video.
My very first spindle was a large crotchet hook as a shaft, and a disc made of hot glue with several coins inside (it was way to heavy, but I spun a decent amount of wool on it)
I was first taught to spin by a member of the mapuche people, who are Native American people of where I live (Argentinian Patagonia) and she told me that a very common whorl (tortera) was an apple.
I love that! And you can have a tasty treat when your yarn is spun! 🧶🍎💜
Mmm... apple-scented thread/yarn. Sounds pleasant.
This is really timely for me. I bought clay and some dowels a few months ago intending to make my own spindle sticks with removable whorls and then my belt sander broke. It's nice to see that the oven bake clay will work for this.
Perfect! Happy making and happy spinning! 🧶🐑💜
Thank you for generously sharing your historical research, methods and helpful links. Your videos are excellent. I'm now anxious to try making multiple whorls to do more hand held medieval spinning. Much appreciated.
You're very welcome! Have fun! 💜🧶😁
So neat! Right now my spinning is limited to making 2ply plarn with a crochet hook one loop of plastic bag at a time. But one of the local history museums near me might start offering spinning workshops. So pumped!
There is nothing wrong with plarn! Are you making bags or rugs or something else? Also, I hope your museum gets to offer workshops, how fun! 🧶💜🐑
@@JillianEve I'm making bags with the plarn, though I'm considering a door mat.. Some of my reusable grocery bags are starting to disintegrate.
Now I gotta start getting various spindle sticks! Thanks for tweaking my need to have all the things! lol
Happy to help! 😁😁😁💜🧶
@@JillianEve After your other diy spindle vid I made some of my own. Now I have an itch to scratch. I need all the types!
I've made several of these since I saw this! Ty
Awesome! Such a well organized teaching tool.
Glad you liked it! happy spinning! 🐑🧶💜
What a triumph, they are fab! Still experimenting with making glass ones, will have to document one day, maybe I’ll have to send you one to play with 😘
Thank you so much! Also, I would love to see what you are up to with those glass whorl experiments! What fun! 🐑💜🧶
I love your experiments. I keep waiting for you to get a bowl under that support spindle!
I have a few, they are just always somewhere else when I need them. Lol!
@@JillianEve I hang them up on my wall. It's the only way I can find them.
@@JillianEve to be clear, I have a display shelf for them. That's what I meant.
I love this. I will try it soon. ❤️
Have fun! 💜🐑🧶
Wonderful video. Looks like you had loads of fun with this lot! So good to see you. 😊🙏🏻💜
Thank you! This was lots of fun. For the past two weeks I've been walking around with pockets full of spindle whorls so I can keep switching them out! Lol! 😂🧶🐑💜
This is so cool! Thanks for sharing and teaching me so much. Also, love the colours of that wool, so beautiful together.
Thank you so much! Happy spinning! 🧶🐑💜
This was really interesting! I made a few whorls after your last video, because I always wanted to try spindle spinning but didn't want to invest in a tool in case I didn't like it. I just need to get around to trying them.
Go for it! 💜🧶 I'm sure I'll make more in the future. They are too much fun. I hope you enjoy yours!
love the wool holder stik, i am thinking to make my oven, it looks more helping, i am trying a lot this 2024,, thank you for showing us all the tips, i love the easy way you do it in. thanks.
Hi Evie, I hope you're OK. Love the Whorls you made and your Distaff. Looks like you got plenty of yarn onto the shaft.
Happy Spinning
Take care and stay safe.
Love Jen xx 💖😘
Thank you! Happy spinning! 💜🐑🧶
Makes me want to give it a try.
Yes! Experiment and see, you might love it! 💜🧶😁
yay! new video ^^ been bingeing your stuff lately, love these :D
Glad you like them! Happy spinning! 🧶🐑💜
Hope your move is going well! I wish I had the patience for spindles. I need my yarn faster than I can manage spinning on a spindle.
I can relate! 😂🧶
😍 awesome!! The medieval spindle is hard for me tho still trying to figure out the spinning. Currently use the handheld distaff with mini Turkish spindle so much fun! It’s strange originally thought the distaff would be too heavy or cumbersome surprisingly it’s not!
Oh I agree! I used to think the distaff would be awkward but now I never want to spin without it! 💜🐑🧶
I‘ve done it before i saw your Video but now i think i HAVE TO do some more 😅
One of my first whorls I bought was broken by turning of from the stick 🤷🏻♀️ but the clay whorls work… I use it like a drop spindle…I have to learn spinning in long draft 😋 (I don’t know if it is the right translation 🤷🏻♀️)
Making whorls is a lot of fun! I have made some for using a drop spindle and it worked just fine too! Happy spinning! 🐑🧶💜
Thank you for this! I was looking for info to replicate Oseberg textiles specifically. :-)
I have a question. Do you not use a distaff with a supported spindle? This is a great video and I love watching you spin and hearing about the history of spinning.
Yes I do! I use a distaff whenever I can actually because now that I've gotten used to spinning with a distaff, I always want to use a distaff! Lol! 🧶😂💜🐑
Hi Evie, what a fun experiment! i'm curious why the one you like best is better than the others
Good question! Maybe it is my personal spinning style? Maybe the wool I'm using so it gives me the right speed of twist for my draft? Maybe it was better balanced than the others? Perhaps a little of everything I listed? This was a great experiment and I wonder if another spinner would come to a different conclusion. 🧶🐑💜
I really love your videos! I learn so much about fiber arts and you have such a pleasant and positive voice and attitude❤
Do you have any tips on making spindle sticks?
So much fun!! I’m afraid I’ll end up down the clay rabbit hole if I even touch it, I love clay! So many things to try , so little time 😭. I hope your move is going well, let me know if you need some help, I love organizing! 👩🏻🏫
Thanks! Haha, yeah I know that so many projects, so little time feeling! I think this move is going better than pretty much all of our previous moves. Maybe we've had too much practice moving around! Ugh! I hope this is the last one for a long, long time!
@@JillianEve I hear ya! I don’t enjoy moving either, so stressful! Any chance you are going to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in September? I’m taking classes on Friday and Sunday, I can’t wait! It’s been a lot of years since I’ve been able to go so I’m really looking forward to it!
@@lorainew4281 I might be! Oh fun!!!
Yay, spindle spinning! I live in a small apartment, so my spinning tools have to be small.
I am fascinated by this spinning technique you are showing (what you call it??). Did you use the stick from dancing goat? I want to try making some. Thanks for the inspiration!!!!!
Picked up some Nigerian clay whorls on a rope. Didn’t know what they were but thought they were cool looking. Thought they were wood! 🙂Bought at a antique shop for $10
..... and now my starter spindles are vintage?!?! LOL
Haha! Well, these are newly historical so you know, it's all relative anyway. 🧶🐑💜
I like northern and Vikings linen making 😁
Awesome! I can't wait to do some linen spinning! 🧶🐑💜
Hello, Evie. You've inspired me to make some polymer clay whorls but my wood working skills are next to zero. My question is; where did you get your spindle shafts? Is there an on-line source that I can order from?
My idea was to use my belt sander on some 12" dowels and sand both ends until I had a decent approximation. Just continue to turn the dowel in your hand as you run it over the belt sander. Unfortunately my belt sander broke after only doing one end.
I have some good sources listed in the video description, just click on the video title to find that. I think Gabrielle has a fun idea to diy your own too if you can. I've also used chopsticks, dowels from the craft store, and bamboo skewers in a pinch. 🐑🧶💜
@@JillianEve Thank you!
Question; Can you spin thin yarn on a jumbo flyer and bobbin? Or just spin all yarn on a chunky setup?
Yes, you can but you might have to treadle quite a lot to get enough twist because thinner yarns require more twist. 🧶🐑💜
When measuring the weight of oven-bake or air dry clay to be used, does the weight change after baking or air drying? Will 30g stay 30g?
Different clay changes at different rates. It does usually loses some weight after baked/dried.
I'm looking at so called 'digging sticks' from 30,000 years ago. They're pointy, & I can't help wondering if they spun with them.
What are the two kinds of spinning you talked about? Woolen vs worsted, and one is...I'm guessing one is 'fibres going all the same way' and one is 'fibres all whichaway' am I right? Hah, I have just discovered you, but I bet you answer this somewhere and I just don't know it yet. (if you can't tell, I am VERY NEW to this!)
Welcome! There's lots of terms, but you are on it. Happy spinning! 🧶💜😊
Do you have a video of your spindle hand for clasped hand spinning? I am not having a lot of luck puzzling this out.
Would these still work for a more standard drop spindle spinning style without the distaff?
You certainly can try! 😊
Where did you get these very special shaped staffs from or how did youmake them?
Probably not such a good idea to wear a white apron when spinning light colored yarn! 🤣🤣🤣
Haha, I know! I have plans to sew some new linen aprons and then I can coordinate them with whatever I'm spinning so it shows up best for the camera! 💜🐑🧶😂
Where can I get a spindle?
I have some links in the video description. 😊💜🧶
And how to get oneself some spindle sticks? In Europe? I think that's the harder part. I can handle some clay, but i'm not a woodworker.
Niddy Noddy UK has some. Check around with your local historic reenactors. They might know.
@@JillianEve thanks 🙂
I am trying to learn all if the ins and outs of spindles. By the video's title I was expecting a tutorial on how to make a spindle whorl. What I saw looked more like a demo. Disappointing.