Rain and drop spindles

[altivo]

It rained all last night, from before midnight until well after dawn this morning. Total accumulation was over 1.75 inches, which is the largest rainfall in a single 24 hour period here in more than two years. Maybe the drought is finally broken up. I actually wore a rain poncho while doing chores this morning.

Monthly handspinning guild meeting today, enjoyed it even though we were doing nothing special other than sitting with our spinning wheels and chatting. My proposed study group for the Certificate of Excellence (COE) program of the HGA looks like it's going to take off. I was holding out for at least four participants, and it looks like we have six. There is a syllabus for study, and if you actually go for the certification it's quite a demanding program requiring skeins of various sorts, samples, and written projects. In essence, a master's program in handspinning, complete with thesis. A committee of master spinners must examine and approve your work before you receive certification. Very much like the guild system of old, and probably more than I want to tackle since I'm neither a teacher nor a judge. But it still looks like a worthwhile challenge and a good learning experience, so here we go.

*shudder* Drop spindles. Required. I hate 'em. I started right out on a spinning wheel almost 20 years ago now, and I never really learned to produce a decent yarn with the traditional drop spindle. However, maybe this will get me going. In preparation for that, I bought two of them today, both different from my single bottom whorl that is the only one I ever owned. One is a Kundert, 1.2 ounces, capable of use either as top or bottom whorl. The other is a Turkish spindle with curved crossbars of cocobolo wood and a maple shaft, very elegant and hefty. I haven't weighed it yet.

Comments

[lobowolf.livejournal.com]

What's the difference between a drop-spindle and a non-drop spindle?

(checks Wikipedia also)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The traditional drop spindle is a small hand tool used to spin yarn or thread. It resembles a large top and you simply suspend it from the supply of wool or whatever you are spinning and twirl it. Gyroscopic action keeps it going and stable for quite a while (as long as several minutes.)

I learned to spin on a spinning wheel from the start, 20 years ago. I'm fairly good on a wheel, but clumsy with the older, simpler drop spindle.

Oh, and the "spindle" in the fairy tale, the one that Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on, would have been the spindle of a great wheel. It's a sharp pointed metal rod, attached to a pulley so that it can be turned quite fast by a large flywheel. That was an intermediate design between the hand or drop spindle and the more modern flyer and bobbin spinning wheel.

More than you wanted to know? ;D

No rain

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Hey, Rider.

I noticed on weather.com that your area was getting hammered yesterday. But the storms flowed SE and missed us by about fifty miles. Bear was certain we would get rain but nope, not a drop in spite I put the motorcycle and other stuff inside the garage and shed just in case.

I know what a drop spindle is, too, since I used one many years ago in weaving class.

Imperator the irrepressable

Re: No rain

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yep, I figured you would know. That's unusual for rain here to miss you, almost freaky considering how heavy it was. Probably it was because you put your bike in out of it. Like when you carry an umbrella or raincoat it doesn't actually rain. ;p

[nicodemusrat.livejournal.com]

Ya know, I've never done any spinning, but I have read a few books about it. I always wondered why drop spindles were still used. It seems that a wheel would provide a much more consistent pull and twist. Is there any advantage to using a drop spindle? Is there some extra degree of control that's missing in a wheel?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*snicker*

You may be asking the wrong person. I've never been good with the hand spindle and I generally avoid it. The primary advantage to a hand spindle for hobby spinners in our culture is that it is more portable and costs less. You can buy a professionally made and well-balanced spindle for $25 or so, or make your own for much less. It fits into any carry back or backpack and you can spin with it nearly anywhere.

By contrast, even a beginner class spinning wheel will cost $350 or more new, weighs ten pounds or more in most cases, and is clumsy to carry about.

You are correct that the spinning wheel produces yarn or thread at a much faster rate, and is generally more consistent in the quality of the product. Some advocates of the handspindle claim it is easier to produce extremely fine "cobweb weight" yarns that are used in lace knitting when you use a very lightweight hand spindle, but I think I'd still stick with an appropriately adjusted spinning wheel.

I own four spinning wheels of different types and abilities, but in nearly 20 years of experience I only ever owned one hand spindle until just this week. Now I have three, but I'm not sure I'll be using them much.

Off topic: Your icon reminds me to thank you again for your most helpful book. My first fursuit attempt last year was made much easier by that.

[nicodemusrat.livejournal.com]

Oh, you got a copy of the book? Thanks! I'm glad it was useful.

I actually researched yarn spinning while working on the book. I read a bunch of different books about fibers, dyeing, and fabric making. That's where I picked up what (little) I know about spinning.

Thanks for the explanation on the spindle vs wheel, too.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Sure, glad to help clarify. Yep, in fact I've bought two copies of your book now, because I gave one as a gift. Great job.