The Art of Spinning Wool: All About Wool

When you think about it the idea for spinning wool probably came easily. At some point in history, someone must have looked at a sheep and thought, “Hmm, all that wool would really keep me warm.” Obviously, though, a pile of shorn wool doesn’t do anyone much good so the idea to shape sheep wool by twisting it deserves a lot of credit for all of the fabulous wool blankets and wool clothing we have today. Wool is a cooperative material—the scales on wool permit strands to form if the wool is twisted with enough force, and perhaps our chilly genius figured out how to take advantage of this quality. We don’t know when this happened, but there’s evidence of primitive spinning as early as 20,000 years ago. Early spinning probably consisted of forming a rough string by rubbing wool between the hands or against the thigh.
It really wasn’t much of a leap from this to spinning with a spindle. A spindle is pretty simple, though that doesn’t mean that it isn’t effective. Spindles were originally just sticks with a notch on one end. A piece of wool could be hooked in the notch, then drawn out while the stick was spun by moving it along the thigh. Yarn that was already spun was wound around the spindle.
About Drop Spindles
Best Ways to Spin Wool Today
Anyone who wants to try this ancient art today is spoiled for choice as far as equipment goes. Drop spindles are widely available, some simple, some elaborately carved. There are unconventional spindles, such as the Navajo spindle, which rests on the ground rather than being dropped. There are spindles with whorls carved from antlers and spindles with whorls carved from stone.
There are just as many choices available in spinning wheels. There are old-fashioned wheels, such as the Saxony, and modern contraptions that hardly look like spinning wheels at all. There are electric spinning wheels and wheels that can be built from kits.
What all spindles and spinning wheels offer is an opportunity for creativity. To appreciate the artistic potential of fiber, learning to spin is a great starting point. Little equipment is required, but a good book is an excellent way to cover of the basics of what is an astonishingly vast topic. You can check out some of our favorites here.
There are just as many choices available in spinning wheels. There are old-fashioned wheels, such as the Saxony, and modern contraptions that hardly look like spinning wheels at all. There are electric spinning wheels and wheels that can be built from kits.
What all spindles and spinning wheels offer is an opportunity for creativity. To appreciate the artistic potential of fiber, learning to spin is a great starting point. Little equipment is required, but a good book is an excellent way to cover of the basics of what is an astonishingly vast topic. You can check out some of our favorites here.
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