I Googled a simple "how to" question and was frustrated by the wrong responses. Thank you so much for this excellent video. I knew this was possible, but I didn't know how! You did a fantastic job of teaching! I'm only going to try a small project with my dog's fur (and I know it will be much different from the fibers you used), but I'm motivated and inspired!
Here I am, 6 years after you made this video, doing research into how to use a spindle. I am working my way through your videos. Thank you 😊 I have a bunch of wooden knitting needles I never use. So they will be used first.
Luckily nobody has to move! You can join me at patreon.com/abbysyarns for lots of things only published there, sign up for online courses, or become a sustaining member at Franquemont University, both of which come with regular live sessions and 24/7 chat and a whole community of textile enthusiasts! abbysyarns.com/webshop/product-category/classes/
Hooray to you, Abby! This is the perfect video -- I have been trying to tell people for years that they CANNOT wind a ball of yarn by hand by winding it round and round because they are adding twist [either S or Z twist] but they think i am crazy! You have proven that is what happens, when you wind a ball or pull yarn off a ball. Thank you so much!! Now, will anyone believe you?
Gia Barger Thank you! I'm so glad! That's exactly why it was at the top of my "videos to make next" list -- I really want to be able to just point people to a video that will be easy to find, and I hope "make yarn with a pencil" will be hard to forget! It is simple -- so simple it's maddening when it doesn't work! But someone can learn to manage twist and fiber and drafting this way, without worrying about dropping stuff, without pressure about the timing of lots of new actions, and then have those skills at the ready with any spindle, wheel, e-spinner, or whatever! It is slower, but I actually do make thick, low twist yarn this way more than you might guess. It's great for a hand fidget sitting in kinda cramped quarters, too. ;-)
I'm so glad you are making videos again Abby. You're such a good teacher. I watched your earlier videos (so good) and finally got a book because no one's how-to videos were as good... Hahaha I didn't notice until ages after that it was your book! With work commitments, I still haven't started spinning my alpacas' wool - but soon. (Washing the wool scares me the most.) x
mammaearly Some toddlers in the Andes learn essentially this way! It's very approachable for kids. I find so long as they're able to take a break and it's just something to fiddle with, it's, well, if nothing else, a great way to keep grabby toddler hands out of your own spinning, because they'll have their own!
Thank you for this video. I am just about to start my first steps into spinning and this is so helpful, I find it so much easier to learn something if I know how it works. I will be checking out your other videos.
Does it stay like that when you let go? I remember as a child tying two colours of wool to a door handle to twist it. I used to drop it and it would untwist.
Watch it again and follow along. The things that lead to the problem you describe are explained! If you still can’t make it work, make a video of you doing it and share that and I’ll tell you where you’re going wrong.
I Googled a simple "how to" question and was frustrated by the wrong responses. Thank you so much for this excellent video. I knew this was possible, but I didn't know how! You did a fantastic job of teaching! I'm only going to try a small project with my dog's fur (and I know it will be much different from the fibers you used), but I'm motivated and inspired!
Here I am, 6 years after you made this video, doing research into how to use a spindle.
I am working my way through your videos.
Thank you 😊
I have a bunch of wooden knitting needles I never use. So they will be used first.
Such a good and thoughtful teacher, plus your intelligence shows with your art
Outstanding presentation!
Abby, you are an excellent teacher, I wish you lived close by. I would be bugging you all the time. Thank you
Luckily nobody has to move! You can join me at patreon.com/abbysyarns for lots of things only published there, sign up for online courses, or become a sustaining member at Franquemont University, both of which come with regular live sessions and 24/7 chat and a whole community of textile enthusiasts! abbysyarns.com/webshop/product-category/classes/
You are a very good thorough teacher. 🍎Thank you for sharing. God bless you. 💜🙏🏻✝️
Unravelling the mystery of spinning wool! I enjoy the simplicity and straightforward explanations in your videos Abby, thank you
Very good demonstration of the dynamics of spinning.
I've been doing this for years. I use whatever I have available. Pencil. Knitting needle. Pen.
I love this video!!! Sending it out to my family and friends who were curious about the mechanics of spinning yarn. So awesome, thank you!
Hooray to you, Abby! This is the perfect video -- I have been trying to tell people for years that they CANNOT wind a ball of yarn by hand by winding it round and round because they are adding twist [either S or Z twist] but they think i am crazy! You have proven that is what happens, when you wind a ball or pull yarn off a ball. Thank you so much!! Now, will anyone believe you?
I'm so glad you did this video. I learned it in your class, and it was so simple. When I got home, I couldn't remember how we did it! Thanks so much.
Gia Barger Thank you! I'm so glad! That's exactly why it was at the top of my "videos to make next" list -- I really want to be able to just point people to a video that will be easy to find, and I hope "make yarn with a pencil" will be hard to forget! It is simple -- so simple it's maddening when it doesn't work! But someone can learn to manage twist and fiber and drafting this way, without worrying about dropping stuff, without pressure about the timing of lots of new actions, and then have those skills at the ready with any spindle, wheel, e-spinner, or whatever!
It is slower, but I actually do make thick, low twist yarn this way more than you might guess. It's great for a hand fidget sitting in kinda cramped quarters, too. ;-)
I'm so glad you are making videos again Abby. You're such a good teacher. I watched your earlier videos (so good) and finally got a book because no one's how-to videos were as good... Hahaha I didn't notice until ages after that it was your book! With work commitments, I still haven't started spinning my alpacas' wool - but soon. (Washing the wool scares me the most.) x
I always love your videos Abby 😃 You are using physics to demonstrate. It's brilliant! You are brilliant. Spinning yarn is all physics 😄
Thank you, Abby. I am teaching a 7 year old next month on spinning yarn. I will be using this technique.
mammaearly Some toddlers in the Andes learn essentially this way! It's very approachable for kids. I find so long as they're able to take a break and it's just something to fiddle with, it's, well, if nothing else, a great way to keep grabby toddler hands out of your own spinning, because they'll have their own!
Thank you for this video. I am just about to start my first steps into spinning and this is so helpful, I find it so much easier to learn something if I know how it works. I will be checking out your other videos.
That is so cool! I think I could use that method to teach Shiloh (4 years old) how to spin! She'll love it!
I want to start out this new year learning how to spin. Now where is that pencil?
Just what I was looking for
So cool! Thank you! Very much
Wow, this is gorgeous!
Very nicely explained and showed. Thank you.
Does it stay like that when you let go? I remember as a child tying two colours of wool to a door handle to twist it. I used to drop it and it would untwist.
Can you use this method to make plyed yarn? I don't have a spindle.
So, next can you do the "How to long draw and drink a beer at the same time" tutorial!? 😎
.....I heard somewhere it can be done......
this is just awesome.... thank you!!
this is very cool, thank you!
thank you so much
Good
Am I too ditzy?😢 This doesn't work! It just wraps on and off, no twists are ever made.
Watch it again and follow along. The things that lead to the problem you describe are explained! If you still can’t make it work, make a video of you doing it and share that and I’ll tell you where you’re going wrong.