English Woollen Longdraw Spinning

[StarchildHolistic]

Brilliant video and you make it look so easy. Can you tell me though how to stop the yarn getting so thin that it continually breaks. Many thanks

[ADHUK]

@StarchildHolistic

It sounds like you need to let a little more twist through as you draft backwards. If you can hit on just the right amount of twist, it will lock any sections that are the same diameter as your starter length, and then you can only draft out the thicker spots. It does take a bit of practice with the amount of twist to use, but when you get it just right the yarn regulates itself into a beautifully even thread. Hope that helps! Amanda

[StarchildHolistic]

@ADHUK Thank you so much for your very prompt advice. I tried this straight away and it does make a huge difference. But, I think I need to improve my rolags somewhat for they are certainly a lot bittier than yours! If I used the combing method could I still do long draw?

[ADHUK]

@StarchildHolistic

For a proper English woollen longdraw you need to be working from short carded fibre, and ideally a well formed rolag. To do longdraw with a combed prep you want the American longdraw. Look at this video youtube.com/watch?v=NPaNVSrOJ2­M from LongdrawJames,he does a very good demo of the American style longdraw. He also has another good clip on English Longdraw, watching the same person spin in both styles should give you a good idea of the differences!

[ADHUK]

You're welcome - glad you found it interesting!

[elizabethjunean]

Wonderful video. Thank you for sharing. :)

[agaknit]

I would love to learn how to do this on a drop spindle, if it is at all possible, and could you possibly recommend some tutorials / do you have any hints?

thank you!

Andrea

[ADHUK]

@agaknit

Hi Andrea,

Yes, it certainly is possible, in fact I recently wrote an article about it, which I think is due to be published in an issue of the Journal hopefully in the next few months. You could keep and eye on the thejournalforwsd(dot)org(dot)u­k, as they give a contents list for the current issue which will let you know when it is published.

I also plan to do a few more YouTube clips when I have the time, so I will add "Longdraw on a spindle" to the list!

Amanda

[ADHUK]

Vielen Dank für den Kommentar!

Ja, das Geheimnis zu longdraw Spinning bekommt einen guten Rhythmus zu entwickeln!

[versponnenverwebt]

sehr schön das lange ausziehen und schnelle aufwickeln  rhythmisch gezeigt,danke

[jvmeadows]

This is awesome -- this gal's a spinning wizard with a great attitude. Thanks, JVM

[knittingdragonflies]

Great, Thanks!!

Vicki

[56TonyT]

I've spun a yarn on a wheel with a dowel in it's center. Can you tell me how the flyer assembly works. How does the spool suddenly take up slack? How does the flyer and bobbin assembly work together? My mom wants to make a quilt made from hand spun thread.

any help and or information you can give me will be greatly apprecheated to be sure!

Thank you

Tony

[56TonyT]

Could someone give me some details on how the flyer works??? I'm having trouble trying to wrap my mind around how the spool knows when to take up new yarn and how does it spread out on the bobbon with out bunching up in one spot? I'd LOVE to make my own spinning wheel but this part iiludes me to be sure!

[ADHUK]

Hi Tony,

The first bit of advice I would give to anyone wanting to build a working spinning wheel is to learn to spin yourself first. There are lots of little details about spinning wheels that only come to light when you try to spin on them.

I'll try and answer you queries in a sperate mail, I'm fast running out of room on this post.

Thanks for your interest - Bye for now!

Amanda

[disneya380]

I tried doing that but the flyer is too precise and you you would have to have years of experience to make a wheel. Buy a wheel. Learn how to spin. Then maybe you could attempt to make one.

[56TonyT]

Could someone give me some details on how the flyer works??? I'm having trouble trying to wrap my mind around how the spool knows when to take up new yarn and how does it spread out on the bobbon with out bunching up in one spot? I'd LOVE to make my own spinning wheel but this part iiludes me to be sure!

[AlyseKnits]

Thank you for the very professional demonstration, I am learning to spin and this video is a real help.

[ADHUK]

Glad to be of help! If you are only just learning to spin, you might need to get a bit of practice in before attempting the longdraw. You do need to have good control of your wheel, and it needs to be set up with a really light draw-on tension. I always find it easiest on a Scotch tensioned wheel.

Thanks - Bye for now!

Amanda

[pimpmasterflex]

With the hand not holding the rolag as you begin to pull, are you pinching the strand or just gently plucking it? I finally can do the long draw adequately to suit myself after seeing this. Is this the same as Paula Simmons technique which I have not seen in action?

[ADHUK]

Hi,

The front hand is holding back the starter length coming out of the orifice, so that I can build up twist without it winding on to the bobbin. Once there is enough twist to start the draft it still holds the yarn from disapearing onto the bobbin, but relaxes its grip just enough to let small amounts of the stored twist through. All the time I'm drafting the finger and thumb on that front hand are opening and closing a minute ammount.

Hope this explanation helps!

Amanda

[ADHUK]

I don't know the technique that Paula Simmons uses, but Maggie Casey did an excellent step by step article in the Spring 2007 Issue of Spin.Off. It was perfect in all but the name, I don't know why she calls it double drafting, in England it is always refered to as Woollen Longdraw. She refers to the technique as an adaptation of what Mabel Ross describes in her book, but as Mabel herself taught me, I'd say that when Maggie is using rolags, it is exactly as Mabel used to teach.

Amanda

[junepot]

Very cool! Glad to see I am doing this right! lol

[Dreamspinner1]

Very nicely DONE video & simply beautiful spinning technique - Very nice!

[LinzLew]

Very helpful demonstration. Thank you for sharing. Now if I can just do it as easily as you do. Heh.

[craftymaster]

This is the best longdraw demonstration I have ever seen. I finally understand the difference between woolen/worsted

[cav2033]

Very informative, thank you for posting this.

[Curlyhairedone]

You make it look so easy!

[moonmyst532]

lovely, thank you.

[barca1au]

thank you for posting this! I have learned a lot!

[weavrmom]

Excellent technique and demonstration. Thank you.

[VidBint]

I love how she repeats the method several time as she does it. It'll be in my head forever. Thanks!

[taragowland]

wow!

[Halalsilks]

I spin the same way and never knew the name! You did a very lovely video, I posted it as a favorite. Thanks so much from Grace,Vermont, USA.

[murasakiokawa]

Beautiful spinning with excellent technique!

[Gertieanne]

Hello,

Your videos are great, I went to your site and found the videos you put up. Hope you add some more videos to watch?