Abby Franquemont demonstrates the very basics of spinning (including getting started) with a low whorl drop spindle you can make cheaply from hardware store materials
I thought I'd need a spinning wheel to spin my wool (I have two Cotswold sheep), but learnt of the drop spindle today. This looks like a wonderful place to start learning. Thank you.
THANK YOU !!! I am a cast emmber of a Renaisance festival and I have been trying to find A)Instructions on how to build a drop spindle and B) Directions on how to use it once I get it built.You are a LIFE SAVER! Thank you again!!
What a fantastic demonstration! I really like that you showed how to do this using a drawer pull and dowel. That is some real ingenuity. Very clever. I also appreciate that you explained that it becomes easier as you get more weight on the spindle. Thanks so much!
Because of you and "theartofmegan" I was brave enough to go out and buy a spindle and 10 ounces of "practice" wool roving to try this! I am a knitter and always wanted to do this but thought it was too hard, boy was I wrong! You made this so easy to do! I had a learning curve but I got it! Thank you sooo very much! I plan on going back tomorrow, I bought the stuff today, to go and get more suitable fiber to make items out of. You are wonderful!!
Thanks Abby for sharing your knowledge of hand spinning with "THE WORLD". I just purchased my first spindle yesterday and planned on spinning the alpaca blend that a friend of mind gave me. However, I don't know the 1st thing about it. Well, I now know just enough to shake off some of my anxity. I think I'll give it a go tomorrow!! Thank you so much! GD in Ventura, CA
I love this video! I couldn't find any adequate spinning video resources online until I decided to look on RUclips---and there you were! Thanks so much. =)
Wow, thank you for this. This was the very first thing I've seen, and already I think I could attempt it if I'd gathered the materials already. Your explanations were very clear.
I've been thinking about getting into spinning for awhile now but didn't know where to start. After watching several of your videos I'm ready to take the plunge! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!
I just received my first sliver of merino. I'm still waiting for my drop spindle to be delivered but I already can't wait to try spinning. This video looks just like I what I need to get started ! Thank you for you kind help !
Let me explain a little. I'm thinking of a primitive survival situation. Looks like a drop spindle is something I could easily make "in the wild". What I'm also kind of curious about is how well plant based fibers splice to each other. I'm thinking I can easily carve the spindle, just not so sure about using shorter fibers than the wool you are using.
excellent video! i have a question. you you card the roving with a carder before spinning and does carding make a difference in the outcome of the yarn? thank you so much.
It's a type of simple knot which goes around something. I can't post links in comments or replies, but if you go to abbysyarns dot com and type "half hitch" in the search box on the upper right, it'll bring up several things explaining it. Also the winter 2006 Spindlicity, at spindlicity dot com, has my article about how to do them.
Nicely done. :-) Does this work as well with cotton? For example, suppose I tried to use cotton balls as a source of fiber, or puffs from some other plants?
Хобби
It's a pleasure to watch an expert at work. It's so amazing to think that this has been done for thousands of years.
I thought I'd need a spinning wheel to spin my wool (I have two Cotswold sheep), but learnt of the drop spindle today. This looks like a wonderful place to start learning. Thank you.
THANK YOU !!! I am a cast emmber of a Renaisance festival and I have been trying to find A)Instructions on how to build a drop spindle and B) Directions on how to use it once I get it built.You are a LIFE SAVER! Thank you again!!
What a fantastic demonstration! I really like that you showed how to do this using a drawer pull and dowel. That is some real ingenuity. Very clever. I also appreciate that you explained that it becomes easier as you get more weight on the spindle. Thanks so much!
Because of you and "theartofmegan" I was brave enough to go out and buy a spindle and 10 ounces of "practice" wool roving to try this! I am a knitter and always wanted to do this but thought it was too hard, boy was I wrong!
You made this so easy to do! I had a learning curve but I got it!
Thank you sooo very much! I plan on going back tomorrow, I bought the stuff today, to go and get more suitable fiber to make items out of.
You are wonderful!!
Thanks Abby for sharing your knowledge of hand spinning with "THE WORLD". I just purchased my first spindle yesterday and planned on spinning the alpaca blend that a friend of mind gave me. However, I don't know the 1st thing about it. Well, I now know just enough to shake off some of my anxity. I think I'll give it a go tomorrow!! Thank you so much!
GD in Ventura, CA
I love this video! I couldn't find any adequate spinning video resources online until I decided to look on RUclips---and there you were! Thanks so much. =)
I'd been struggling with drafting as I went until I watched this video. Thanks so much for the pointers! Very helpful. :)
Very very helpful. I really appreciated that you took the time to show each step, thanks!
Wow, thank you for this. This was the very first thing I've seen, and already I think I could attempt it if I'd gathered the materials already. Your explanations were very clear.
Very well done! Easy to understand and answers quite a few questions!
I just felt like I should start spinning, out of the blue, today. =P Thanks for such an educational video, and I HEART all your yarns behind you. =)
I've been thinking about getting into spinning for awhile now but didn't know where to start. After watching several of your videos I'm ready to take the plunge! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!
I just received my first sliver of merino. I'm still waiting for my drop spindle to be delivered but I already can't wait to try spinning. This video looks just like I what I need to get started ! Thank you for you kind help !
I love your videos Abby! I ordered my first drop spindle the other day and when it comes Ill surely be following along on your videos!
thanx for the lesson .
Thank you very much for this video :)
Very interesting :)
I am waiting for my first drop spindle! Can't wait!!! :)
Yay for spinners! Thanks for helpfulness of your video!
Awesome! Now I've got to try this!
very awsome !!!
wow this is an awesome vid...thanks!!
seriously, that's all there is to it? I can't wait til my spindle comes!
Well done.I'm familiar with your website, and drop spindles. A woman had one in my knitting group and I wanted to know more. Looks like fun.
Thanks so much for your video.. I didn't know how to connect an old piece to a new piece... But now i know how ^^ how foolish of me :0
Let me explain a little. I'm thinking of a primitive survival situation. Looks like a drop spindle is something I could easily make "in the wild". What I'm also kind of curious about is how well plant based fibers splice to each other.
I'm thinking I can easily carve the spindle, just not so sure about using shorter fibers than the wool you are using.
This tape is great. I see you have lots of yarns on the background. Do you sell them?
excellent video! i have a question. you you card the roving with a carder before spinning and does carding make a difference in the outcome of the yarn? thank you so much.
It's a type of simple knot which goes around something. I can't post links in comments or replies, but if you go to abbysyarns dot com and type "half hitch" in the search box on the upper right, it'll bring up several things explaining it. Also the winter 2006 Spindlicity, at spindlicity dot com, has my article about how to do them.
Nicely done. :-)
Does this work as well with cotton? For example, suppose I tried to use cotton balls as a source of fiber, or puffs from some other plants?
Yeah, you can use cotton, but I think it's more difficult. Search around some and you'll find the pros and cons.
Okay...so what exactly is the final product that comes out of doing this tedious process?
Details of what you're doing would be nice - I can't follow what's going on with just frantic motion.
Oh my goodness! This is soooo helpful! Thank you so much for this video, it helped me understand spinning on a spindle much better!