How to get better at spindle spinning: Two weeks of practice (vlog)

Hello friends! What do you do on holiday? You try to better your spindle spinning skills of course. I purchased some french spindles, which are in hand or clasped spindles, last year and in this video/vlog I'm trying to master the craft of spinning on them. Will you join me on this adventure?
Just like last year I'm also adding in some weird places where you can spin on a spindle in the video. Because I'm cringe and I'm proud. Also because spindles are highly portable devices that can be spun almost everywhere.
I would also want to know your opinion on the spindle effeciency debate: are clasped spindles inherently less efficient than drop spindles?
If you want to join in on the chaos, you can join the patreon via: / mijnwolden
You can also find me on Ravelry and Instagram as @MijnWolden
If you enjoy spinning, yarn, knitting, fiber arts or any other traditional craft then this channel is right up your alley. Maybe you could hit that subscribe button?
#crafting #spindle #spinning #spindlespinning #dropspindle #claspedspindle

[@MijnWolden]

What's your opinion: are in hand spindles as efficient as drop spindles?

[@kristalburns3490]

Yes they can be. Like any other spindle , its the practice that gives you the speed.

[@tiredbutlucid]

I am a spindle-only spinner, because I live in a basement suite off disability so a spinning wheel would be very impractical. I have a deep spindle about as long as my forearm and just finished spinning a skein that maxed it out... a whole 158 meters!! I love watching your videos, especially when I'm spinning/crocheting/crafting ❤

[@MijnWolden]

Oh wow 158 meters!

[@caylarivera2804]

I have never tried one of these hand spindles, but i would love to. One of my goals is to try every kind of spinning, all kinds of spindles, wheels when i can afford it, and even electric spinners. This is a slow hand craft and the point of it is not really efficiency for most people. As we have access to millspun yarns, this would actually be the most efficient, but much less satisfying in my opinion. I love taking my time to put love and time and effort into fiber crafts, its like capturing my free time in a thread and being able to wear it around like a magical time cloak. Very connecting to the people of milenia and centuries past.

[@MijnWolden]

Beautifully worded!

[@AndreaAlexander]

Cringe is subjective! You are a joy! 😄❣

[@MijnWolden]

Thank you 🥰

[@tamesonob]

I spin in-hand and short suspended all the time, as well as drop spindle and support spindle. Short suspended is both efficient and ergonomic. I can easily put down a couple of ounces a day in addition to food prep and working outside the home for 6 hours. I can't usually get as thin as support spindles, but I'm equal in fineness and quality to spinning both on my wheels and drop spindles. Also I often draft long draw without a distaff. It's fine.tie a ribbon around your wrist if you're wearing short sleeves (or wear a bracelet ) and tuck the fly away bits in there so you don't get tangled up

[@MijnWolden]

The irony of this being that I have used my watch as a wrist distaff before but somehow complete forgot about that 😂

[@rmlrhonda]

I loved this. Seeing the spindling, seeing glimpses of your holiday… Thank you!

[@MijnWolden]

Thank you 🥰

[@JMadelineRose]

What a beautiful setting to spin your wool. ❤️ Thank you for sharing your holiday with us!

[@MijnWolden]

My pleasure 😁

[@biblioknitting9695]

The expression on your face whenever you dropped the spindle really spoke to me because I'm pretty sure I make that face when I drop my (drop) spindles too

[@MijnWolden]

A universal 'I've dropped my spindle' expression 😂😂

[@PNWwonder]

I love to dig my spindles out for travel. I found your channel during TDF and I love your personality, humor, and style of your videos. I always learn something and smile while watching. Love the history hike channel too ❤

[@MijnWolden]

Thank you 🥰

[@juliewilborn-barth7]

Very interesting background 😊

[@rmlrhonda]

I want to learn support spindling and clasp spindling. But I, too, am a wheel spinner of the short forward draw habit. I am inspired by your progress!

[@MijnWolden]

I'd say: just try it. If you don't enjoy it, you can always stick to your wheel 🙂

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

Hi Jente, I hope you're both having a great vacation. ❣️❣️❣️ I haven't tried the in hand Spindling, I'm actually in awe of you . Your Handspun Yarn looks amazing and beautiful. I think your Dinosaur Dress is amazing and very beautiful. It looked perfect in the settings . Happy Spinning and Hiking Sweet Fibre Friend 🎉🎡🐑🥰 Hope you and Dries are having a Wonderful Vacation 🎉🎉🌟🥾 Take care and stay safe Lots of love and Big Hugs to you both Jen xxxx ❤❤❤🫂🫂🫂🥾🥾 Wow, that's a lot of Handspun Yarn and it all looks amazing and so beautiful 🎉🎉🎉

[@MijnWolden]

Thank you, Jen, we had a great time in France. We always come back to it 😁

[@tattercandy]

i use a drop spindle , liking the way it feels . i do short draw

[@MijnWolden]

Liking the way it feels is very important ☺️

[@Janet-ov7zx]

I enjoyed seeing how much more consistent your spinning became as you practiced each day. That is a good reminder to me to make sure I spin a little every day, as I also want to improve the consistency of the yarn from my spinning wheel. harpingJanet

[@MijnWolden]

Yeah, the magic trick to consistent yarn is practice 😁

[@cammacrae7959]

I've been spinning on an in-hand spindle for about a month now, but I've really wanted to watch someone else's technique. Thank you!

[@MijnWolden]

Always happy to supply chaos techniques 😁

[@rmlrhonda]

And wearing your hand-dyed dress on holiday!

[@MijnWolden]

Yes! 😁

[@sadiesspincraft6319]

Never tried hand clasped drop spinning, so I couldn't say. I have spun on a drop spindle, though. I have a tendency to agree with you as i do believe that you can sit down better and not have such a bad back after spinning. But i could also be wrong, lol . I prefer my wheel over any drop spindle im afraid xx

[@MijnWolden]

Wheels are special 😁

[@annieo54]

Thank you for making this blog! I got a different type of drop spindle for my birthday (very much like yours) ( I’d had one with a hook at the top prior) I wasn’t sure how I should use this one and thanks to you for taking the time to create this video, I know.. I’m very happy now..

[@MijnWolden]

Happy spinning!

[@andynellydrew9094]

Not had my viking spindle for 24hours yet, so early days. The cats don't chase it so I can see it getting more use than my drop spindle. Would love to see more of your hand technique. Thank you for sharing.

[@MijnWolden]

Have Fun spinning with it 😁

[@saraht855]

I think future videos should lean more into the cringe tbh Also idk why creators worry about videos being too long. I craft watching your videos and would gladly do 2 hour videos

[@MijnWolden]

The algorithm is a great source of insecurity for a lot of creators, and the only antidote is lovely comments like this 😁

[@saraht855]

@@MijnWolden I'm doing a talk about yarn spinning tonight and I'm literally putting you in the extra resources section for people to learn more about spinning. I love your videos

[@MijnWolden]

@saraht855 aaaaah ❤️🥰

[@MijnWolden]

@saraht855 aaaaah ❤️🥰

[@eddavanleemputten9232]

For me, my supported spindle is actually more efficient. I tend to to spin faster, which tallies up to more yardage. I have to admit to joining my cops to get a very long single by either unwinding the cop onto a large Turkish spindle (slow method for on the road)or, by (kind of) split splicing the single onto a previously made one that gets wrapped around the inner tube of a toilet paper roll that I slice over my yarn winder. The cardboard roll makes for easy removal and re-installing of the yarn ball so I don’t need to have my ball winder out all the time. I don’t know if what I’m trying to explain makes any sense at all… Anyhow, I got curious a while back and apparently, I spin faster with a supported spindle than with a drop spindle. I haven’t used a clasped spindle yet.

[@MijnWolden]

I think I'm also faster supported than with a drop spindle. It also feels a lot more comfortable to do it, so I can do it for longer

[@OrcaFPV]

Ok have a nice holiday... oh, hi, welcome back ... that was a quick holiday... only 29 minutes... I hope you have recovered

[@MijnWolden]

Holidays are always too short :D

[@CelticPagan]

Thank you for another lovely video! I'm trying to learn how to use my spindle. It can really frustrating really quickly. :)

[@MijnWolden]

It can, but once you get the hang of it, it's really enjoyable. Have Fun! 😁

[@nannasallynelson3990]

what a lovely video., Yarn links us with thousands of years/generations of our ancestors, and to see the original style of spindle etc is amazing. Regarding consistency: Children were started with spindles at an early age, and the craft continued all their lives along with all the other tasks of survival. Textiles have always been important to our lives and continue to be so.

[@MijnWolden]

The connection to that textile and history is sadly lost in our education. I still learned (finger)crochet and embroidery as a kid, but my younger sisters had none of that in school.

[@bestofemse]

I actually don't spin personally, but I've been wondering why you mostly seem to hand comb your fluff rather than using your drum carter?

[@MijnWolden]

I like this way of fiber prep better, the fibers are cleaner (the fleeces I get have lots of dirty bits), and the short bits and neps get combed out, while they remain in a carded batt (the fleeces are just shorn to get them off the sheep, not to be used for spinning per se, so they don't think about second cuts etc)

[@carolenorman1457]

Well done you! I love my drop spindles but find I get wrist and finger pain if I do too much. That’s why I bought a wheel. How did you find it?

[@MijnWolden]

If I spin on wheel too much I also get pain in my wrist and thumb. But I love my wheels a lot. I feel like it's up to you to feel the difference for yourself. Do you have a Guild nearby where you might be able to test one?

[@rashna671]

Arggghh Im also trying to teach myself long draw right now but Im using a support spindle so Im having the opposite problem where it snaps due to over twisting. Otherwise I too have been using short draw on both wheel and spindle, but I got to thinking since I was doing park and draft on my support spindles it would be faster to do long draw. I cant say if in hand spindles are more or less efficient; I havent tried that method yet! I suspect it has more to do with practice with the method though. Also...you can fit a lot more onto a spindle that is supported in some way as well as spin much finer. And in hand spindles have one glaring advantage over support spindles (and even spinning wheels) and that is that one can stand and walk around while spinning. Sometimes efficiency is not the most important thing...

[@MijnWolden]

Oh, I have seen spinning spoons that you Clip over your belt or waistband and then you can walk with a support spindle too! (No walking with Wheels still) Have Fun practicing! Support spindle spinning is also still a field of the craft I need more practice in...

[@cherylfeather9408]

I would like to spin as well with a drop spindle as I am with a clasped spindle! The only drop spindle I can spin well with is a Turkish spindle; I still make a mess with a top/bottom whorl spindle.

[@MijnWolden]

A Turkish spindle is still on my wishlist 🤭

[@jeanmccullough7737]

Are you using supported spindles to spin like you would suspended spindles? I’m going to try with one I have

[@MijnWolden]

They might look similar, but they're not support spindles. These are clasped or in hand spindles, namely french spindles. And you spin them in your hand. They have a spiral groove in their tip to guide the yarn through when spinning.

[@elizabethstreeter2145]

No video is too long with your shenanigans love the video and enjoyed the information next time ,maybe make a Wrist distaff out of fibre not not too much to add to the packing then might help.

[@MijnWolden]

I have in the past used my watch as a wrist distaff. Don't know why I didn't think of that now 😂

[@jeanneb6320]

Pretty certain that efficiency has more to do with the skill of the spinner than with the spindle type itself!

[@MijnWolden]

Wisdom, right there.

[@anikagroen4592]

Ha ja! Altijd meer dan je kan spinnen en nog een beetje extra mee op vakantie. Ik ben dol op spintollen, maar het in mijn hand laten draaien blijft een mysterie voor mij. Leuk om te zien!

[@MijnWolden]

Een mysterie dat blijkbaar eenvoudig op te lossen is met twee weken oefenen 😉

[@cathibeastevenson634]

I enjoyed this, practice is good to be reminded to do

[@MijnWolden]

It is 😁

[@linr8260]

You showed the spinning but none of the plying! I'd be interested in seeing how you go about it with these. Regarding efficiency etc, what you said matches what I've read/heard about supported spindles: not having any inherent pull unless you introduce it manually allows for a control of the draft and twist that is impossible on a drop spindle or wheel, because you can draft without needing the yarn to immediately have enough twist to hold it together against the pull. (Also, if you don't mind saying, which museum was this? I'd like to see if I can go next time I'm in the south)

[@MijnWolden]

Plying might be featured next week 😉 The Museum: Tumulus de Bougon

[@linr8260]

@@MijnWolden thank you o7 (And 👀)

[@raevynwoods9403]

Yess, a new spinning video! And one about the spindles I've been curious about, to top it off! Do you have any recommendations for good tutorials on how to spin with an in-hand spindle? I have one that I would love to learn how to actually use, but I've had a bit of trouble finding thorough explanations on how to do it (like, how does one not drop the spindle?)

[@MijnWolden]

Josefin Waltin has some on her channel, both French and Portuguese style in hand spindles. I watched hers before experimenting myself.

[@raevynwoods9403]

@@MijnWolden thanks, I'll look her up!

[@woolaroundtheworld]

Hey. Great video. I was, watching it in bed on my, shorttrip to Amritsar. I am gone for only 5days but had to bring knitting and spinning. I need to practice to get better at it. And as, ready, prepared wool would be so easy i karded some yak and sheep together. You gave me great motivation with your video. I only, have supported spindles so no idea about your questions. But your results look great. By, the way people look at you weirdly when you just sit and spin in the street in India. Goal for the trip spinning at tge golden temple. Have a lovely day

[@MijnWolden]

I think people would also look weird if I sit down to spin on the street in France or Belgium 😅 but in historical/museum settings they might just think you're part of the exhibit

[@woolaroundtheworld]

@@MijnWolden yeah we talked about it in the museum today. One video mentioned about the woman crocheting to earn extra money. I said i can portray that. I am sure people would look as well in europe. But India stares are a different level. Haha.

[@bobbinsandkalechips]

I just purchased my first spindle - a drop spindle - and waiting for it to arrive. But I’m very much interested in learning to spin in the manner that the Romanian lady spins in this video… kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaXSnn-QbNNmY80si=0E5qehunSBvGdzms However, I have no idea what type of spindle she is using. Seems to me a more efficient way of spinning than both drop and hand spindles. 🤔 What do you think?

[@MijnWolden]

I have two clasped spindles that are way thicker than all my others, and I assume them to be eastern European. I haven't dared spinning on them yet. There's so many interesting techniques... I've seen a video of a hungarian technique where they spin it by throwing it a couple cm in the air...

[@bobbinsandkalechips]

@@MijnWolden what?! That’s crazy 🤯 It’s all so intriguing!

[@MijnWolden]

@bobbinsandkalechips right?!

[@jenniferfowler6713]

great improvement!

[@MijnWolden]

Thank you ☺️

[@valzahnzahn]

You’re inspiring!

[@MijnWolden]

Thank you 🥰

[@hawthorngrove3629]

What a great adventure

[@MijnWolden]

It was 😁

[@breec]

I just got a drop spindle kit at a historical village museum and I am so excited to try it out! I am thinking of using whatever I make from it to try out some makbinding, so that will be fun. The kit came with a black and a white floof, so I need to decide if I am carding them together to get a grayish color or just plying them together to get a two tone twist. The little snake fleeing from you when you dropped your soindle at 13:23 is absolutely cracking me up

[@MijnWolden]

Oooooh have Fun with your spindle and nalbinding! We had a lot of lizards on the property. My husband and I made it a joke to call them 'monsieur lizaar' (Lizard with a thick french accent) 😁

[@torifgonyer9871]

Spindle spinning is one of those abilities that's on my list to practice more this year too. I want to focus on supported spindles but to be honest, I could really use the practice with any spindle... I've gotten too used to using my wheels. Loved this week's video, and love the longer ones especially. Thanks for another week of laughs and entertainment!

[@MijnWolden]

Support spindle spinning is another field of the craft I want more practice in. But I also don't have a good support spindle yet, keeping my eyes peeled though!

[@sabrinajudt5719]

The dinosaur dress is amazing! That colour looks good on you ❤

[@MijnWolden]

Thank you ☺️

[@kristalburns3490]

I am missing a spindle.

[@MijnWolden]

There should be done something about that 😁

[@kristalburns3490]

@@MijnWolden Eventually there will be. I knew I shoulda never cleaned off my dresser.

[@MijnWolden]

@kristalburns3490 cleaning is dangerous, I have always suspected it