Hand spinning consistent, even yarn 🧶 | Handspinning How To-s

Are you frustrated that your handspun yarn has lumps, bumps, and uneven thick and thin sections? Join me as we go through the tips and tricks to get your yarn consistent from start to finish!
Sign up for my newsletter and get a Spinner's Notebook that includes printable control cards! landing.windyoaksfarmpa.com/k7...
Intro - 00:00
Fiber prep - 00:27
Worsted vs woolen - 03:52
Fiber choice - 05:08
At the spinning wheel - 05:56
Short, forward draw - 06:37
Controlling twist amount - 07:25
Dealing with bumps and slubs - 07:56
Thick vs thin - 09:38
Tension - 10:09
Plyback test - 11:15
Control cards/WPI - 11:34
Control cards/angle of twist - 13:04
Wrap up - 14:11
🐑 ~ Subscribe here for more useful and fun videos! ~ 💐 / @lindaofwindyoaks

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thanks for watching! Do you like spinning smooth yarn or a more rustic or textured yarn?

[@KiAirah87]

Depends on what I'm making! There is definitely a special satisfaction to a neat and tidy smooth yarn, but texture can be fun.

[@christiesteckelberg8366]

Consistent, and I guess smooth for right now

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

It absolutely can be fun! I love that you can make whatever kind of yarn your heart (or pattern) desires!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

It's a great way to learn, and then to expand from smooth yarn to more textured ones (if that's how you want to go).

[@candycoatedcactus]

Smooth yarn. I'm new to spinning, but spinning a smooth yarn takes but control, and I want to have control of the fiber. Once I have that making textured yarn might be fun!

[@Wishfulthkn]

I wanted to thank you for your thorough explanation of what you are actually doing. The “pinch” “draft” “slide” really helped me get going. Numerous other videos out there show someone spinning but they are not really explaining what they are actually physically doing with their hands/fingers. Thank you.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! It's a solid technique that will give you a good foundation for spinning!

[@jenm4721]

There are variations in store-bought machine made yarn also. What's great about handmade yarn is you can get exactly what you want

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

So true!!

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

I'm not a spinner, but I just love watching your videos and listening to you talk about yarn and sheep. Definitely a great resource to pass on to anyone interested in spinning!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thank you so much! It's a passion, so I love talking about it. ❤

[@monica4705]

Thank you for the demonstration, and yes, I'd love to see how to join smoothly!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

You're very welcome! Glad it was useful. I'll add that to the list. :)

[@KiAirah87]

Love ur triple moon tattoo! Hail to the Goddess! Praise the Norns!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Blessed be. :)

[@TartantazCreates]

As a new spinner, I found this video most helpful. Thank you so much. I confess I started with rolags because I had a bought a bag of mixed fiber and used a blending board to make the rolags. I did find it a little tricky the first go. But I found I countered this difficulty by pre drafting my rolags, making it much easier to draft the last bit as I was spinning and get a bit more consistency. I am most pleased with the outcome considering how new I am to spinning. T x

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

That's wonderful! Predrafting is pretty miraculous. 😁 I'm glad you found this video helpful!

[@andreas489]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! You’ve answered so many questions that other videos I found didn’t address.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm so glad you found it useful!

[@helenwarren3903]

So much useful information for a beginner. Your explanations are very easy to understand. Thank you.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

You're very welcome! I'm glad it's helpful!

[@meghanping4221]

I'm new to spinning, and have looked to you and a couple others to learn at home. I didn't have much luck finding a teacher in Florida. Thanks so much for being a presence on KZbin, I've learned so much from you. So much so, that I am pleased with only my second bobbin of single ply. It's my understanding that's something to be proud of. 🤷‍♀️ if not...I'm still proud, cause it's way better than my first. I wanted to share something amazing with you...if you're not interested, I completely understand. Just keep scrolling. Sometimes KZbin makes for weird one way friendships (since I no longer use Facebook or Twitter), and I completely understand if thats the case. However, I'm sure that I'm not the only one who pulls up a chair and a cuppa for your visit on KZbin like a long lost friend. Anyway... I just attended an amazing fiber arts retreat called Taste of Fiber at Nome Schoolhouse, a new fiber arts event center. They have an amazing story, which was what lured me to the middle of nowhere North Dakota in early April. It was amazing, and I cant wait to go back! Like I said I'm new to spinning, and I haven't watched all the videos (yours or a few others who have a consistent presence)...but do you do events? I'm asking the few ladies like yourself I've watched to please, please consider it. If so, I would so recommend the venue!!! Everything was absolutely stellar! I'm hoping at least one of my favorite KZbin spinning stars will schedule an event this fall up there so I can go and learn some more, as with me video only goes so far. I hope you'll consider it. It's a long way to go for single day things...but for a weekend or more I would certainly make the trip. I'm guessing I'm not the only one here that would make the journey. Just something to think about. Maybe a few of you could come together and make a week of it. That would be beyond amazing!!! Please give it some thought. I want to go back, but want a spinning weekend to go to. They are counting on folks like you to make that happen. They have an in house mill, are working on a barn this summer...to include a camel and yaks. Yep! Exotics!!! Keep up the great work, us newbies are counting on you to be the great teacher you are. Thanks again.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thank you so much for the kind words! (And sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I just found out the YT app wasn't notifying me of comments or subscribers!) I do teach in person occasionally. It's really hard to get away from the farm! I'll be teaching knitting and weaving at the GALA Conference in October this year in Virginia. And, you absolutely should be proud of your spinning! That's wonderful that you're making progress! Well done!

[@Wishfulthkn]

What part of Florida are you in. I am in Florida also and find that the spinning resources are very little if any.

[@debbiebattaglia7726]

Thank you for this clear descriptive information. Being a beginner, I learned a few things I'd been wondering about. I'm going to watch more of your videos!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm so glad the video was helpful!

[@candycoatedcactus]

EXCELLENT tips for troubleshooting your spinning. I hadn't heard about pulling neps out towards your wheel (or in my case spindle) as opposed to towards the fiber. I usually left the neps in, because every now and then when I pulled one out i felt like I was peeling my yarn like a banana.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm glad you found it helpful! I'm sure people before me knew that trick, but I figured it out by accident one day because I was "peeling the banana", too!

[@lindapankhurst4513]

So helpful to a new spinner. Thanks!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

You're welcome!

[@KiAirah87]

I love your fiber room, with your sock blockers on the wall, your drum carder right there, it just looks like a knitting spinners playground.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thanks! It is my happy place!

[@patd8063]

Thank you! This is one of the best tutorials I’ve watched. As a newbie spinner I appreciate your help. I just received a Kromski Sonata wheel from my son for Christmas.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! Congrats on your Sonata! I hear wonderful things about them.

[@viviankeh441]

So much good stuff in this one, I'm going to watch it a few times. That tool you use for worsted yarn reminds me of Wolverine lol!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! I do always feel like an action hero when I use those. Super Spinner! 😄

[@kathyr7490]

There is a ton of really great information in this video! Very nicely explained!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thank you! I hope you found it helpful.

[@user-jb6jn2ut9x]

I was told by a friend who helped me with spinning, she said if you want store bought like yarn go buy store bought yarn , because handspring yarn isn't like store bought, yours is unique.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Excellent advice!

[@TexasChance58]

Very informative and useful for new spinners! Thank you!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[@kayrigetta9462]

Thank you were a great help. Clear and concise.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm so glad you found this video helpful!

[@robinkearney4411]

I’m a very new spinner, and your video has really helped me understand the process better! Great presentation!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm glad it was useful!

[@Needtoknit1]

Wow! Thank you for doing this video. I have learned so much in a short time. You are a great teacher.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm so glad you found the video helpful! ❤️

[@eddavanleemputten9232]

This is a great video for beginners! I started spinning just 8-9 months ago. Everything you said is what I wish I knew starting out and had to glean from different videos… only bundled in one and very clearly explained and shown. These past few months have been a wonderful adventure and the birth of a new passion. After a long day of work all I want is to return to my spinning wheel (an e-spinner actually; due to health issues I can’t treadle) and over the days, to see my bobbins fill up so I have enough yarn for a project. Do you have a video on how you plan your spin-to-knit projects? What works for me is to have a bit of an idea of what I want. Usually it’s 2 or 3 projects on my want-to-make or need-to-make lists. I’ll roughly know how much fibre I’ll need for those projects and if I don’t, I calculate based on grist and WPI. Being a lace knitter with a lace weight default spin means I usually don’t need more than 1 or 2 braids’ worth of fibre. I’ll spin up a bobbin, ply it, check my grist and WPI along the way and calculate my yardage once I finished my yarn. That’s when I make my final decision on my knitting project. Depending on how I feel, I either spin up what I need for my project, of I’ll spin-as-I knit. I keep a small sample and a gauge swatch in order to be able to stay consistent throughout my project. Spinning your own yarn and knitting something out of it is the best feeling ever. It gets even better when you process your own fibre. “What a lovely shawl! Where did you buy if?” “I didn’t buy it, I made it myself.” “Oh, where did you buy that gorgeous yarn then?” “I didn’t buy it. I made it myself.” “There are shops where you can buy the wool to spin from? “There are. But I didn’t buy prepared fibre from a shop. I processed it myself. This comes from a sheep/goat/alpaca named (insert name) and I collected it after shearing. Then I got to play… and this is the end result.” Even after the first “I didn’t buy it, I made it myself”, it’s fun. But adding “I made/did it myself” steps just makes it better and better. And when you gift something like that with the story attached, the gift is all the more appreciated. You don’t just gift a sweater, shawl, hat or gloves. You gift a story, time and love. At least, that’s what it is for me.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm glad you found it helpful! And you're spot on about how amazing it is to know you made something from start to finish!

[@kabele749]

Great video, thanks for sharing your expertise!!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm happy you found it helpful!

[@PeaceJewel]

This is good to know! I don't spin but I do know and crochet. This is useful for me as I design patterns for quality! Great job Linda

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it useful.

[@lalac6095]

Thank you. Just found your channel new subscriber now 😍. Have a great day!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thanks so much!

[@wendybond2848]

So interesting. I card raw fleece really well and spin from that. I only wash once I have already plied some skeins together. I have purchased pre washed and ore carded will too.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I occasionally spin in the grease, too! I tend to wash it first as my sheep are very dirty critters. :D

[@helencarr5869]

Ty so much!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

You're very welcome!

[@cherrywhitaker7608]

Thank you for such a brilliant video, I’m just about to start spinning and you have given me the courage to do so 😀 x

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Yay! Good job getting the courage to start. You'll do great!

[@bernadettepauling9140]

Very well done! Thank you for sharing this. I’m not a wheel spinner, although I have 3 rescued wheels 🤷🏽‍♀️. I’ve learned about the different types of preparations.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Have you ever thought about taking it up? Or are you a dedicated spindle spinner? Glad you liked the video!

[@didelphimorphia2925]

Great tutorial

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thanks!

[@carolharper268]

Fantastic tutorial. Thank you 😊

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

You are very welcome! I'm glad you found it useful!

[@amyofmelbourne]

Great video! Thank you!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

You're very welcome! I'm glad you found it useful!

[@dianalimbach4584]

Thanks for the video. I learned a few things 🙂

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Wonderful! I'm glad you found it useful!

[@_vanearaujo]

Wow! Many good information. This video is a very nice guide for us starting on this practice, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge 😊

[@WeBeYarnin]

Great video. Very informative! Thank you.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@nicole.makes.websites]

Love your videos! I'm not sure if I'll ever spin myself, but its so calming to watch you

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@lowmelh8497]

Great job

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@glendasmith7507]

You are a great teacher! Thank you for explaining so thoroughly. I May very first wheel will be delivered next month.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thank you so much! I'm so excited for you! What wheel are you getting?

[@PNWwonder]

I spin a little of everything, my excuse for all my fiber equipment and tools! lol This video popped up recommended, very well put together. I experienced spinner but this is an excellent resource for folks! Currently I am spinning a 3ply, worsted, Cormo wool. Great content!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thanks so much for the comment! I just ordered some Cormo to try. I can't wait! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video!

[@happychick5052]

Great video

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thank you!

[@Laurie_in_Maine]

Practice. Practice. Practice!! My freeing moment learning to spin came once I processed some raw fleece and it didn't feel like I was ruining expensive stuff. Plus it turned out the first stuff I bought was kind of crappy and not necessarily a beginners fault when it was slubby. Good info here for new spinners... well done ♥

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thanks! And that's a really great reminder about practice. ❤

[@christiesteckelberg8366]

Yes need a how to join

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'll add that to the list!

[@alittlebitofeverythingwith5590]

Commercially processed tops are good for smooth spinning also because fibres have less crimp and almost no second cut bits.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Great points, though crimp is more of a fiber than a prep thing. But it can certainly smooth the fiber so it's not as visually crimpy!

[@zoebarta2278]

Thank you! Just excellent teaching and information. How do i get my BullfrogSpinolution pull the spun yarn in faster so that i do not get an over spun yarn. I’m on the biggest whorl, I’m trying to spin slower - I’m at a loss. Can you help?

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I'm really glad you found this useful! If you're already treadling slowly and on the largest whorl, the next step is to adjust the take up (aka draw in). I'm not familiar with your wheel, so I'm not sure how to advise you. But you'll want to increase the tension on your bobbin. Some do this via a brake band (Scotch tension), some by moving the Mother of All further from the drive wheel (I think Ashford traditionals do it that way). Start with small increases and keep tightening until the draw in is where you want it, but doesn't rip the fiber out of your hands. Good luck and let me know if I can help more.

[@JelMain]

I hand-card from the top, so my feed is really airy and open. Technically, the result can be called a rolag, but the roll I put in taking it off the bottom card is just enough to centre-feed and it means I can spin very finely. If anything, the risk is the thread breaking!

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Very thin yarn is definitely an art! That sounds like you have it down nicely!

[@JelMain]

@@LindaOfWindyOaks Mostly, developing a loathing of knurls. I've just let it embed, now to master plying and setting - I've focused on early usage such as card-weaving and finger-plying, with book-binding in mind - my daughter's in permanent search of flat braid! This weekend is to dye for...

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Sounds like a lot of fun!

[@mdbenoit]

Very helpful tips, even though I'm only using a drop spindle. My current frustration is that my fiber twists up behind my hand as I spin and then I can't draft it anymore. Is that because I have too much spin on my spindle? When I put less, the fiber breaks. I'm using merino; I never had that problem with other fibers. 😒

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Spindle or wheel, the basics are the same. :) I would pay close attention to when you let the twist into your fiber. Try doing some short forward draw and see how it goes.

[@linencannon7678]

I noticed that in this video you say that drafting from hand carders results in a woolen, less consistent yarn, but the tutorial I watched appeared to result in all of the fibers going in just one direction because the person was drafting from one side to the other directly off the carder. What method do you use? I'm new to spinning on a wheel (just got my first one and it's so fun! 😄), so what I described is the only method I'm familiar with so far.

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

So, like most fiber arts things, it's variable. The cards mostly organize the fibers, but the ends go every which way. Give it a try - you can use a regular hair comb and a regular hair brush. See how they affect a couple locks of fiber. Heck, if you have (or know someone with) fine to medium hair, you can even try it on human hair to see the difference.

[@JennySimon206]

Can you show how to make tweed and how to mix Fibers?

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

I can add that to the line up! It's not hard, but there's definitely nuance to it.

[@adrianalemen1137]

Thank you, the trend right now is spinning for sock yarn. Do u have any thoughts about the fiber and spun for a good sock yarn?

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Oh, gosh, that's a whoooole video on its own. 😁 In short, high twist, Down breed so it doesn't easily felt, and sample sample sample! Ply magazine has an EXCELLENT issue all about sock yarn, if you can lay your hands on it.

[@nz-nz]

Hi, I can’t get the link to sign up to your newsletter to open….?

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Thanks for letting me know! I'll look into it and figure out what's going on.

[@MsTilda2]

How do I find your yarn cards, they Are brillant 😊

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

You can follow the link in the description to sign up for my newsletter or you can search places like Etsy for spinning control cards. They're invaluable!

[@MsTilda2]

@@LindaOfWindyOaks thank you, found some👍

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Yay!

[@christiesteckelberg8366]

What are news or boils?

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Neps and noils are little lumps of fiber that can cause your yarn to not be smooth (although, you can use them to good effect when making s tweed yarn).

[@eastlynburkholder3559]

Something like painting. The prep makes it work well or work badly

[@LindaOfWindyOaks]

Excellent analogy!

[@patdickinson5177]

,,