Handspinning yarn on a drop spindle

amazing those old arts! now imagine its 300 yrs ago and you did that for a living......sun up to sundown. i wonder how long it would take to make enough thread to make a shirt, then take that thread and make it into a fabric, then take that fabric and turn it into a shirt? my guess it would take about 3 weeks per shirt. hmmmm........would be very expensive if it took 3 weeks of labor. have to be enough to feed and house yourself during the time it takes to make 1 shirt!

it's truly impressing. I have a drop spindle too, but I can't manage to use it properly, unfortunately. I also love the cat sitting on a cushion in the background. Fibers and cats... lovely!

wierd.

Ok now I see, thanks, it looks easy when you do it!
Vicki

Wow you make it look soooo easy!

But as you are rolling the spindle down your *left* thigh you *are* putting a z twist into the yarn. Most top whorl spinners roll up the right thigh, giving the same twist direction. (it doesn't matter which thigh or hands you use)

Think of it as turning the spindle clockwise for z twist (which you are doing) and anti clockwise for s twist plying.

Thank you for a very nice demonstration :-)

Hi! No criticism intended here (it is ultimately a matter of preference), I just wanted to mention that most singles (one-ply or to-be-plied yarns) are spun with a Z twist, rather than the S twist demonstrated here. The only difference being that you roll the spindle up (rather than down) your leg.

Very nice technique! You've obviously done this lots. Thigh rolling is my preferred way to use a spindle spin, too, because it's fast and consistent. I actually use a bottom whorl spindle,but it rolls well, too. Thanks for a good resource.

thanks for the video, I have been trying to visualise the 'thigh roll' unsuccessfully!

Hi Halalsilks - the spindle is a Greensleeves Bare Bones. It's a great spindle and not expensive. Highly recommended. :)