How to Make Yarn

Yarn is made from individual fibers that are spun together to form one long, twisted thread. There are many types of material that can be spun into yarn using either a spindle or a spinning wheel. It's possible to learn to hand spin sheep's wool using an inexpensive drop spindle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wool roving (or washed and carded fleece)
• Drop spindle
• 14 to 20 inches of wool yarn

Spinning Wool into Yarn

1. Take the length of wool yarn and fluff out about 4 inches of the fibers at one end, combing them out with your fingers until untwisted and fluffy. This piece of yarn is called the "leader."

2. Tie the other (non-fluffed) end of the leader to the long end of the shaft (the long, dowel shaped part of the spindle) with a double knot. Slide the knot to sit next to the whorl (the round part of the spindle). Take the leader to the other side of the whorl, twist it around the shaft a few times, then bring it back to the other side of the whorl. Twist it around the shaft a few more times, then pass the end through the hook on the spindle. This secures the leader to the spindle so it will anchor your new yarn as you spin it.

3. Hold the fluffy end of the leader in one hand and practice spinning the spindle clockwise in the manner of a spinning top while dangling it from the leader in your hand. The leader should twist around, with the twist moving up to the fluffy end you are holding, as it spins. If the twist does not reach the fluffy end in your hand and start to twist the fluffy ends into the yarn, spin it more. Practice until you feel comfortable with the motion.

4. Pull off a fist-sized piece of roving, and split it into three or four sections. Take one section of roving and lay it across your palm without compacting the fibers. Tease out a few inches of the individual fibers with your thumb and forefinger, without separating them entirely from the mass in your hand, then overlap the teased-out ends of the new wool in your hand with the fluffy end of the leader. Pinch at the top of the twist of the leader.

5. Give the spindle a good spin clockwise, then clamp it under one armpit or between your knees to hold the tension in the twisted leader yarn. Test the twist: If you relax the tension a little, the yarn should twist and curl up on itself. If it lies flat, you need to spin the spindle more.

6. Release your pinch on the end of your overlapped leader end and new yarn, allowing the built-up tension to twist the fibers together into new yarn. Repeat this motion a few inches at a time, keeping the tension by moving your arm away from the spindle as the new yarn lengthens. With practice, you can incorporate the wool fibers from your hand as you let the spindle dangle. If you are a beginner, start by allowing an inch or so at a time to twist.

7. Check your tension and degree of twist. The yarn should curl back on itself when the tension is released a little. Add more twist by periodically spinning the spindle again as you work.

8. When your spun yarn reaches arm's length, unhook it and wind it around the spindle forming a cone shape up against the whorl, then hook the new end through the hook and spin another arm's length of yarn. When your spindle is full or too heavy with yarn to spin easily, wind the yarn off the spindle and into balls.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash the yarn before because it will shrink with washing. You want to shrink the yarn before you begin knitting or crocheting with it, not after. The yarn created is called "single" and will probably need to be plied with one or more other singles before using for knitting or crochet. If your yarn is not twisted to your liking or falls apart, just pull it apart and start again. If the yarn develops nubs you can either leave them in as a feature, or gently tease them apart and re-twist the section with your fingers. You can purchase whole fleeces online and from farms, but you will need to wash and card the fleece before spinning it. Fleeces with a longer staple length are easier to spin.
• When washing wool, use either hot or cold water only to prevent felting, and do not agitate the yarn. It doesn't matter what temperature the water is, but you must use the same temperature water throughout for washing and rinsing.