Quickie. (And if this is so silly it makes you laugh…. feel free….)
I know there are various types of spinning wheels but… lets talk spindles. I know you can make a spindle out of a stick and old CD but I’m not intersted. So…. spindles. Buying a spindle.
Is a spindle a spindle? Some are pretty,some are not but they all do the exact same thing? You don’t need one spindle for laceweight and one spindle for DK or something like that?
Thanks!
In general, the heavier the spindle, the heavier the yarn. That said, a mid-range top whorl spindle, say about 1.5 oz, is a good place to start and will spin a variety of yarn.
If you want some beginner spinning info, look here: http://fiber2yarn.com/info/spindle.htm or here: http://www.handspinning.com/lollipops/spininst.htm or here: http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/HowToDropspin.html the last site has video clips of spinning on a bottom whorl spindle.
Yay! A new spinner!
I’m a spindle addict so I have many spindles for many different projects. You’re better off getting a heavier spindle as a beginner – about 1.5 oz like Sue said in the previous comment. I have a .5 oz laceweight spindle and some “boat anchor” spindles that are around 3 oz that I use for plying only. Bottom whorl spindles and Turkish spindles *may* be harder to learn how to use.
I think every spindler prefers a different type of spindle so if it is possible go play with some in your hands before buying. The Woolery (http://www.woolery.com) has an excellent selection of spindles of all shapes and sizes.
Uh-oh! I see a new addiction coming! I am trying to avoid learning about spindles. I just do not need one more hobby that consumes another section of my home.
All that fleece is tempting though.
Heh, heh! I see more thought is being put into this…Kris, come to the dark side!
I learned on an Ashford spindle, but once I started getting the hang of it, I bought myself a Kundert, and it remains my favorite spindle–spins so much faster an easier than almost any other I’ve tried. It never hurts to buy a good one!
I don’t know, I have always preferred a bottom whorl spindle, but then I don’t see much difference between the two (top and bottom whorl). I’d say go to your local fiber source and ask to try out both before buying. Trust me, you are not going to know which you prefer until you actually use one.