How to Spin on an Old Wool Wheel
The first method to spin fiber into thread or yarn was probably rolling the fiber between the hands to add twist and strength. A drop spindle was the next step. These weighted sticks were more efficient and gave the spinner a place to wind the finished yarn. The first spinning wheels were spindles turned sideways and attached to a larger wheel that turned the spindle to add twist. They also had bobbins for storing the finished yarn. In America, these wheels were called wool wheels, great wheels or walking wheels because the spinner walked back and forth to spin and wind yarn.
Instructions
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1
Stretch the wool roving gently along its length and across the fibers. Roving often gets compacted in storage or shipment, and loosening the fibers makes it easier to spin.
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2
Take a length of roving and gently pull a few fibers to separate them.
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3
Face the wool wheel, with the big wheel on your right and the small spindle on your left.
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4
Attach the wool fiber to the spindle with your left hand, and turn the big wheel with your right hand. As the spindle turns, it twists the fiber and makes yarn.
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5
Draw the fiber away from the spindle as it turns. This is called drafting, and you can attenuate the roving into any desired thickness. Keep turning the big wheel to keep the small spindle turning and adding twist.
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6
Stop turning the wheel when you have twisted an arm's length of roving.
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7
Turn the big wheel in the other direction to wind the yarn onto the bobbin.
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8
Repeat steps 5 through 8 to spin more wool yarn.
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Tips & Warnings
To make the roving easier to manage, you can pull the roving apart lengthwise into 10- to 12-inch lengths.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
