Reigniting My Spinning Groove: Learning How to Spin Yarn Again!

sweetstitchingcrafts — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:13:06 +0000

Music: Wonders Abound by Joyspring

I have been spinning since 2011 and I would spin for hours daily.I was addicted and couldn’t fathom taking a break. Unbelievably, I went an entire year without spinning. This unexpected pause happened because the drive band on my spinning wheel broke, and I needed to replace it. I’d used the same band for over 8 years, so its breakage was inevitable. Nothing lasts forever! Long story short, it took a year to fix my Majacraft Little Gem II spinning wheel, and when I could finally spin again, I felt a mix of excitement and doubt. I questioned if I still knew how to do it. The good news is that this story has a happy ending. I got reacquainted with my spinning wheel by following these five steps:

1) Practice peddling first!

Yup just like how you learned to spin the first time I recommend just start peddling. Old age saying: Practice makes perfect is true! Patience is not my strongest virtue so you can imagine I wanted to skip this step all together and start making yarn. But just like how my spinning guru (Lori, from the Black Lamb) taught me in the beginning it is an essential step if you want to establish a rhythm while spinning. Yes, I had to get my groove back and guess what I still have rhythm. How long should you just practice peddling? There is no hard and fast rule! Keep peddling until you feel comfortable with your spinning wheel.

2) Pick a wool fiber that is easy to spin

One with a longer staple length and where all the fibers are aligned in the same direction. The more basic wool preparations (roving with no mixed blends of fiber types such as superwash merino cashmere blend) the better control you have while drafting because they are less slippery to work with. You can just focus on learning how to draft again in rhythm with the peddling of your wheel. Now I have every intention to return to my luxurious fiber blends because they are heavenly to spin with, even better to knit with and plus I still have a big fiber stash to get through.

I received some awesome white wool from Wingham Wool Work through a fiber swap on Ravelry – such a thoughtful gift from my swap partner. I decided to work with the white wool to see how consistent I could make my spinning, which is important to me so that I can create even and consistent yarn. While I know using multicolored wool would have been more fun, I wouldn’t have been able to gauge the consistency of my yarn spinning. Plus, consistent spinning means that I can knit uniformed stitches, which is always a plus. Can’t wait to see what I’ll create with this yarn!

3) Reduce brake band tension

Readjust your brake band tension such that the wheel (specifically the flyer) does not fill the bobbin with the yarn as quickly and allow you enough time to draft properly. That way you are not fighting with the wheel. Keeping a consistent rhythm is challenging enough on your first go.

4) Create a relaxing environment

Can I be honest with you? I was nervous, which makes my muscles, especially my hands, tense up and grip my fiber supply tightly. This isn’t good for spinning because it leads to fiber entanglement and makes drafting difficult. Smooth drafting is crucial for creating consistent singles, which, in turn, helps produce beautiful 2 or 3 ply yarns. To ease my nerves, I set up a relaxing environment with a diffuser filled with calming essential oils and silence; no electronics, which I used to have when spinning.

5) Take breaks!

It is a good idea to step away from the wheel time to time. It allows you to re-evaluate what you have done. You might want to adjust how you are sitting or reposition the orientation of the orifice or even the tension on your wheel for the next spinning session.

The question, “Can I start spinning again?” can definitely be answered with a resounding “Yes.” All it required was establishing a rhythm, selecting the right fiber, adjusting tension, staying calm, and taking breaks. Handspinners often have various methods to reconnect with their spinning wheel, whether an old one or a new addition to their collection. My goal as a handspinner was rediscovering the joy of spinning, rather than delving into technical and analytical aspects. I find the most enjoyment in spinning when I’m fully present in each drafting moment. After spinning the singles, I consider how to ply them or sometimes let the singles sit while I work on another fiber. It’s a slow, satisfying journey, and I’m content as long as I’m in my spinning groove. If you’ve taken a break from spinning, please share your experiences and methods for getting back on track in the comments below!