Above is a demonstration on how to use the drop spindle (America's Yarn Store 2012).
Terminology:
- Leader: A piece of yarn used to connect the unspun fiber to the spindle.
- Drafting: The process of pulling fibers from the ball of unspun material.
- Single: The thread formed by spinning the drafted fibers.
- Plying: The process of spinning two or more singles together to create yarn.
The Act of Spinning:
 |
| Dressing the Spindle |
2.Tie one end of the leader below
the whorl, then create a loop on the other end and thread it through the hook
at the top of the spindle
3. Hold the unspun yarn in one hand
and use your other hand to draft fiber from the unspun bundle.
4. Let the spindle hang freely, away
from your body.
5. Once you start drafting fibers, turn
the spindle so that it rotates in a clockwise motion.
6. As twist builds up release the
spindle so it drops closer and closer to the floor.
7. Once the spindle reaches the
floor, remove the spun yarn from the hook and wrap it around the shaft of the
spindle.
8. Repeat the process until you have
created a sufficient amount of single thread yarn, or have finished the ball of
unspun fibers.
9. If a break occurs while spinning,
simply fluff out and overlap the broken ends before continuing to spin them
together.
10. Once you have two balls of single
thread, ply them together by spinning in a counter clockwise direction.
11. Wind the finished yarn around the
back of a chair to create a skein.
12. Soak the skein in warm water for
a few minutes before drying.
Note: Often a distaff, a smooth stick which can be kept
under one’s arm, is used to wrap the unspun fiber around. This allows for easy
access to the fiber while spinning.