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Twist and Shout: Spinning on a Hand Spindle Twist and Shout: Spinning on a Hand Spindle From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-202

Fiber is turned into yarn by adding twist. In this case the twist comes from the spindle. What your hands do is called drafting -- letting the fibers slide past each other and then letting the twist catch them. The size of the yarn is determined by how much fiber is caught in the twist. When you're spinning, your goal is to pay attention to the fiber between your hands -- the fiber that is about to become yarn. Everything else will take care of itself!

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	Figure A (to see a step-by-step demo, click on the video link below)...
	Media Watch the Video
	Figure B
	Figure C

We will be using a top-whorl spindle. Begin by tying a starter yarn around the shaft of the spindle near the whorl on the side with the longest part of the shaft (figure A); the hook is on the other side. Pull the yarn up and over the whorl and place it through the hook.

Your upper hand will hold the unspun fiber, gently prepare it to become yarn and keep the twist from moving into the fiber before you want it to. Feather out one end of the fiber and overlap it with the leader yarn.

Spin the spindle with your lower hand by flicking the top of the shaft or rolling the long part of the shaft up your leg. Pinch the fiber and yarn together with your lower hand. Your upper hand will be about an inch or two away from the point where the yarn is entering the fiber. The triangle that is formed is called the drafting zone (figure B). This is where the action happens!

Gently pull the fiber with your lower hand (the spindle should still be spinning in the direction in which it started!) while allowing the fibers to gently pull through your upper hand. Repeat this motion and you are making yarn (figure C)!

Don't worry if at first it feels like patting your tummy and scratching your head -- soon it will be like a walk in the park!

RESOURCES :
Louet Sales spinning fibers
Louet Sales
Web: louet.com
E-mail: info@louet.com

Cotton Clouds spinning fibers
Cotton Clouds
Web: cottonclouds.com
E-mail: info@cottonclouds.com

Spinning supplies
Bountiful
Web: bountifulspinweave.com
E-mail: info@bountifulspinweave.com

Grommets
Bonkers Handmade Originals
Web: bonkersfiber.com

Drop spindles
Silkwood Studios
Kurt Pivko
Web: dropspindle.com
E-mail: K@dropspindle.com

Woolly & Knot Farm spinning fibers
Woolly & Knot Farm
Denise Squires
Web: geocities.com/woollyknotfarm/
E-mail: woollyknotfarm@hotmail.com

Ashland Bay Trading Company spinning fibers
Ashland Bay Trading Company
Web: ashlandbay.com
E-mail: orders@ashlandbay.com

Books and instructions from Interweave Press
Interweave Press Inc.
Website: www.interweave.com

GUESTS :
Liz Gipson
Managing editor, Handwoven magazine
E-mail: lizg@interweave.com