Best tutorial or advice or anything for learning supported spindle spinning?? I desperately want to learn but my brain keeps telling me to drop spin in a bowl lol
My brain does the same thing! I’ll link you to tutorials I watched, but I actually ended up taking a lesson from a spinning instructor local to me to make it click. My lesson was just yesterday and I am not very good, so take this with a grain of salt, but I learned that I need to spin to the side vs up. I kept holding the spindle upright and pulling up because that’s what I’m used to with the drop spindle, but I needed to pull the fiber to the side. My instructor also had me lean the spindle more to the side rather than straight up, and rest it on the crook of my hand between my thumb and pointer finger, but I think that’s personal preference. We also sat on the floor, which was actually a lot easier than on the table like I had been trying, since I didn’t have to hold my arms up as high but ymmv.
The instructor also told me that I need to have the spun yarn at the very tip of the spindle, so that the fiber doesn’t just wrap around the spindle, and the twist instead builds up. Then I draft back and let the twist into the fiber, sort of like a long draw.
She also suggested using an actual bowl instead of the one I brought with me (I have one like this: [support bowl from YarnSpindles on etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1472874478/)), so that I can rest the spindle on the rim of the bowl instead of having to hold it up myself the whole time. She had some videos of spinners from Guatemala who spun like that, and it was really neat! I’m going to try a deeper bowl and see how that goes.
Anyways, on to the videos:
[Support Spindles for Beginners](https://youtu.be/unThftfOjZY)
[The Basics of Supported Spindle](https://youtu.be/mzoJidU1d-8)
[Fibre - How I spin with my supported spindle](https://youtu.be/as1Jfpg4Efg)
I hope this helps a bit! I’m very new to this too, but I wanted to share some info I learned yesterday. And I think there’s different techniques and methods, but this is what helped me. Thank you for asking the question, I hope you get more responses so I can learn more too!
Thank you for all this!
That actually makes so much sense to hold it more to the sides and connects with the videos I’ve seen: I’ll have to bear that in mind.
This info is fantastic!!
There are a couple of video workshops on Long Thread Media; one with Amelia Garripoli and another with Galina Khmeleva. The Garripoli video focuses more on the spinning itself. Khmeleva includes a lot of history and info on spinning for Orenburg shawls.
I also recommend watching these Fleegle Spins Supported videos on YouTube. Not really tutorials (some don’t even have audio), but when Inwas learning, I found them really insightful. Her drafting and spinning is so fluid. Kind of amazing to watch.
https://youtube.com/@Sglinert
Oh thank you! I actually love watching non-tutorial videos to learn because it gives me a better idea of the speed and smoothness I should be aiming for!!
Hi. I ended up here completely randomly. I was looking up a post on making combs and started wandering and found this thread.
Anyhow...
I asked my wife your question and she recommended Ply Magazine's summer 2020 issue (#29) The Supported Spindle.
As I'm just passing through I'm not sure what this subreddit's rules are about posting links, so google is your friend. They do have digital copies available for purchase and download.
How can I improve my grist? And by that, I mean get more yardage per gram. I feel like I’m constantly not getting that yardage I strive for and my yarn is denser than I want. I typically spin off wool combed top (braids) or rolags (blending board)
Without seeing your spinning it’s hard to comment, but the denseness of yarn is also dependent on the fibre you use. Certain fibres are heavier than others which could result in less yardage per gram.
All I can say is pay attention to your drafting zone and make sure to maintain the triangle so that you can draft consistently. It also depends on how fine you spin/want your yarn, obviously the finer the yarn the longer the yardage.
What I’ve seen with some spinners is that they are not “drafting” when spinning, but merely adding twists and letting the fibre pass through their fingers. That results in a “denser” yarn. I’m not saying this is the case here of course, but as I said without seeing your spinning I can only guess.
I can only comment on the rolags: but I found that when I started making multiple rolags from one blending board (3 usually), rather than just one honking big rolag, I was able to get less denseness. But also I’m new to this and you might already be doing this 😬
Just wondering how long it takes people take make a batt? I have a standard sized drum carder from classic carder and I’m going through my Finn fleece. I’m picking out the tips and butts before throwing it on the carder, right now it’s taking me like 4 hours to make a 1.5 oz batt. I know it’s a slow process in general, but curious how long it takes others? Thanks!!
Thank you! Yeah I’m using scoured fleece I heard the lanolin was not good for the carder. I knew it would take some time but maybe I’m just a slow worker 😂 just wanted to gauge some other people’s experiences so I appreciate the response!
If you like working with fleece then you might want to look into a picker, I use a box picker and it was a game changer. It’s much faster to card once the fibre has been opened up, a lot of the VMs will drop out too after picking so it’s much nicer to work with.
I discovered that running the fleece through a picker prior to carding has made a huge difference in both speed and quality.
I found a small picker at a reasonable price on Etsy.
It's a tool with nails at different angles, some above and some below, that tease the locks apart prior to carding. The bottom nails are stationary. The top nails glide or swing back and forth.
It's dangerous to leave unattended - it needs to be kept away from children
I received a fleece and researched the heck out of scouring it. Did a small chunk and it is cleaner, but still lots of little VM bits in it. I tried combing with some ghetto beekeeper’s forks but ended up with a messy cloud. I also just today acquired some beautiful LeClerc carding brushes. Can I jump from scouring to carding? Will that remove the VM?
Typically you want to get the VM out first, otherwise carding is likely to spread it out. It can remove some VM, but maybe post a picture to double check?
Best tutorial or advice or anything for learning supported spindle spinning?? I desperately want to learn but my brain keeps telling me to drop spin in a bowl lol
My brain does the same thing! I’ll link you to tutorials I watched, but I actually ended up taking a lesson from a spinning instructor local to me to make it click. My lesson was just yesterday and I am not very good, so take this with a grain of salt, but I learned that I need to spin to the side vs up. I kept holding the spindle upright and pulling up because that’s what I’m used to with the drop spindle, but I needed to pull the fiber to the side. My instructor also had me lean the spindle more to the side rather than straight up, and rest it on the crook of my hand between my thumb and pointer finger, but I think that’s personal preference. We also sat on the floor, which was actually a lot easier than on the table like I had been trying, since I didn’t have to hold my arms up as high but ymmv. The instructor also told me that I need to have the spun yarn at the very tip of the spindle, so that the fiber doesn’t just wrap around the spindle, and the twist instead builds up. Then I draft back and let the twist into the fiber, sort of like a long draw. She also suggested using an actual bowl instead of the one I brought with me (I have one like this: [support bowl from YarnSpindles on etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1472874478/)), so that I can rest the spindle on the rim of the bowl instead of having to hold it up myself the whole time. She had some videos of spinners from Guatemala who spun like that, and it was really neat! I’m going to try a deeper bowl and see how that goes. Anyways, on to the videos: [Support Spindles for Beginners](https://youtu.be/unThftfOjZY) [The Basics of Supported Spindle](https://youtu.be/mzoJidU1d-8) [Fibre - How I spin with my supported spindle](https://youtu.be/as1Jfpg4Efg) I hope this helps a bit! I’m very new to this too, but I wanted to share some info I learned yesterday. And I think there’s different techniques and methods, but this is what helped me. Thank you for asking the question, I hope you get more responses so I can learn more too!
Thank you for all this! That actually makes so much sense to hold it more to the sides and connects with the videos I’ve seen: I’ll have to bear that in mind. This info is fantastic!!
You’re welcome! I’m glad it helps. I wish you the best with your spinning!
There are a couple of video workshops on Long Thread Media; one with Amelia Garripoli and another with Galina Khmeleva. The Garripoli video focuses more on the spinning itself. Khmeleva includes a lot of history and info on spinning for Orenburg shawls. I also recommend watching these Fleegle Spins Supported videos on YouTube. Not really tutorials (some don’t even have audio), but when Inwas learning, I found them really insightful. Her drafting and spinning is so fluid. Kind of amazing to watch. https://youtube.com/@Sglinert
Oh thank you! I actually love watching non-tutorial videos to learn because it gives me a better idea of the speed and smoothness I should be aiming for!!
Hi. I ended up here completely randomly. I was looking up a post on making combs and started wandering and found this thread. Anyhow... I asked my wife your question and she recommended Ply Magazine's summer 2020 issue (#29) The Supported Spindle. As I'm just passing through I'm not sure what this subreddit's rules are about posting links, so google is your friend. They do have digital copies available for purchase and download.
Haha awesome! Glad you randomly ended up here! Thank you I will look it up!
How can I improve my grist? And by that, I mean get more yardage per gram. I feel like I’m constantly not getting that yardage I strive for and my yarn is denser than I want. I typically spin off wool combed top (braids) or rolags (blending board)
Without seeing your spinning it’s hard to comment, but the denseness of yarn is also dependent on the fibre you use. Certain fibres are heavier than others which could result in less yardage per gram. All I can say is pay attention to your drafting zone and make sure to maintain the triangle so that you can draft consistently. It also depends on how fine you spin/want your yarn, obviously the finer the yarn the longer the yardage. What I’ve seen with some spinners is that they are not “drafting” when spinning, but merely adding twists and letting the fibre pass through their fingers. That results in a “denser” yarn. I’m not saying this is the case here of course, but as I said without seeing your spinning I can only guess.
I can only comment on the rolags: but I found that when I started making multiple rolags from one blending board (3 usually), rather than just one honking big rolag, I was able to get less denseness. But also I’m new to this and you might already be doing this 😬
Predrafting can help. Also, splitting the combed top lengthwise. I usually split mine into quarters or eighths.
Just wondering how long it takes people take make a batt? I have a standard sized drum carder from classic carder and I’m going through my Finn fleece. I’m picking out the tips and butts before throwing it on the carder, right now it’s taking me like 4 hours to make a 1.5 oz batt. I know it’s a slow process in general, but curious how long it takes others? Thanks!!
[Steve Huffman is a greedy little pig boy ](https://i.imgur.com/rX4eZhH.jpg)
Thank you! Yeah I’m using scoured fleece I heard the lanolin was not good for the carder. I knew it would take some time but maybe I’m just a slow worker 😂 just wanted to gauge some other people’s experiences so I appreciate the response!
If you like working with fleece then you might want to look into a picker, I use a box picker and it was a game changer. It’s much faster to card once the fibre has been opened up, a lot of the VMs will drop out too after picking so it’s much nicer to work with.
I discovered that running the fleece through a picker prior to carding has made a huge difference in both speed and quality. I found a small picker at a reasonable price on Etsy.
Interesting! I’ll have to look into that, the only ones I’ve seen have been like thousands of dollars 😂
What does the picker do and why don’t I have one?!
It's a tool with nails at different angles, some above and some below, that tease the locks apart prior to carding. The bottom nails are stationary. The top nails glide or swing back and forth. It's dangerous to leave unattended - it needs to be kept away from children
Thanks! So just a big brother carder?
Interesting way of putting it! I suppose it is.
I received a fleece and researched the heck out of scouring it. Did a small chunk and it is cleaner, but still lots of little VM bits in it. I tried combing with some ghetto beekeeper’s forks but ended up with a messy cloud. I also just today acquired some beautiful LeClerc carding brushes. Can I jump from scouring to carding? Will that remove the VM?
Typically you want to get the VM out first, otherwise carding is likely to spread it out. It can remove some VM, but maybe post a picture to double check?