Spin, Spin, drop, clatter

Spinning is the art of making yarn using a drop spindle or spinning wheel to create fine materials to weave or knit into fine garments. Although its origins are unknown we do know it is one of the oldest form of fiber making. It begins with roving fibers that are formed from the raw material. Most spinners I have spoken to spin wool, but a few spin linen, silk or cotton. Regardless of what you spin the fibers become one of a kind.

The art has often been done by women and from what I have found the men that did it were usually weavers or knitters. In most cases though it was womens work. Done by widow women, orphans or by a weaver's wife the yarn would be made and then sent off to the next step.

The drop spindles can vary just as much as the color Found in the yarn. The first samples were twisted between the fingers and then wrapped around a stick. The next step was to hang it from a rock as a weight and then combine the two, weight and stick. Today the weight is called a whorl and sits either on the top or bottom helps to weigh down the spinning fiber as it draws from the roving.

Every spinner will tell you that there is no one way to spin. My teacher taught me to first draft and then spin the yarn using park and draft, I was soon drafting while spinning. They all say to practice but some prefer top whorl which is the easiest to find, while others prefer bottom whorls. I do have a bottom whorl but prefer the top, I find it easier to get a nice spin on my spindle.

So I will leave you with a though why is it called a drop spindle?
The spinner spins ever so quickly, drafting,  creating beautiful one of a kind pieces until it snaps, the spindle drops to the floor. The spinner not dishearted picks it up and just keeps going.