Labeling Handspun Yarn with Ye Olde Niddy Noddy

I'm sharing how I take my handspun yarn off the bobbin and get it into a skein. I'll show you how I do each step including using a niddy noddy, calculating yardage, determining wraps per inch, tie and twist the skein, and what information I include on the yarn tag. I have included lots of bonus tips for each step. Plus, I included a little fun niddy noddy history. You won't believe how old this tool is!
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
2:05 Lazy Kate
2:39 Niddy Noddy History
4:16 Niddy Noddy Tutorial
5:34 Calculate Yardage
9:14 Wraps per Inch
10:54 Tie a Skein of Yarn
13:20 How to Twist a Skein of Yarn
14:26 Write a Yarn Tag
▶ Thwacking Woolen Spun Yarn • Thwacking Yarn - How t...
🧶 Materials and Equipment 🧶
🐑 Simply Socks Spinning Fiber from Paradise Fibers (Affiliate Link)
www.paradisefibers.com/produc...
🐑 Ashford Tensioned Lazy Kate for Standard and Jumbo Bobbins (Paradise Fibers Affiliate Link)
www.paradisefibers.com/produc...
🐑 Niddy Noddys (Etsy Affiliate Link)
shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=982709...
🐑 My Favorite Wraps per Inch Tool (Etsy Affiliate Link)
shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=982709...
🐑 Yarn Tags (Amazon Affiliate Link)
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
☕ If you would like to help support my content, you can buy me a floof of fiber!
ko-fi.com/evie_jillianeve
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📷 References of Niddy Noddy Pictures
Book of Hours France, Paris, ca. 1420-1425 MS M.1004 fol. 41r
ica.themorgan.org/manuscript/p...
Biblia pauperum, lat./dt. - BSB Clm 28141, [S.l.] Oberpfalz (?), 2. Viertel 15. Jh. [BSB-Hss Clm 28141]
daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/...
Ovide, Métamorphoses (1385 env.), Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon, Ms.742, f ° 54, "Filles de Minyas spinning wool ".
translate.google.com/translat...
📧 If you are interested in private virtual spinning lessons, send an e-mail to [e-mail]
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*I use some affiliate links. They will always be clearly marked and you are never obligated to use them. If you make a purchase through the affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
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[@JillianEve]

Do you have any skeining or labeling tips to share? I'd love to hear them! Also be sure to check out the video description if you are interested in any of the tools shown or discussed in the video (affiliate links). Happy spinning fiber friends!

[@helenbrown6612]

Hi Evie, something I do that I havent seen yet is that to dry washed or dyed locks or yarn I put them in a dehydrator onthe lowest heat setting, it totally speeds the process up...especially when processing a fleece from raw! I have a round dehydrator and have 10 layers. I put the dampest wool onthe top each time and spin dry first using a salad spinner 🙂

[@AmandaS-si9mh]

There is just something so infectious about Evie's yarn enthusiasm. I'll be getting my first drop spindle delivered (hopefully) tomorrow. Got my first bit of dyed corriedale rolags yesterday. And I'm having talks with my dad (carpenter) to help me build a yarn baller and a few other things. These videos are just so encouraging, whether you can buy expensive, top of the line stuff or need to slap something together with things around the house.

[@resourcedragon]

As always, your yarn is beautifully spun. I hope inspiration struck in regard to the project for which you want to use the yarn and the dye colours and techniques you want to use.

[@DarkMoon267]

Not me sitting here winding up my hand spun yarn watching your videos 😅 it was my first time using a drop spindle and other than a few pieces that weren’t all the same thickness it turned out pretty great 🥰 it’ll be used to make a baby beanie for a friend.

[@timothychandler1725]

I did learn something from this video 📹. The way you tie it before taking it off your niddy noddy. I like the math for counting yardage of yarn, and tagging the skin. Question, 'when you buy fibers of wool around the world 🌎 🤔 from different countries 🤔 why they should send a bell 🔔 with it like the type they use on there flukes of sheep 🐑 ? It could have a ingraven shape of the county its from and name. It even be a Alpaca, and Angora goat 🐐.

[@amandadausman7845]

I'm new to spinning so I'm doing everything on the cheap (for now). I have a towel rack where the posts that attach it to the wall are 2 feet apart. That's my niddy noddy!

[@JillianEve]

That sounds perfect! There's nothing wrong with spinning DIY either! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@ewe2me2ud46]

Excellent video

[@rosakoko5049]

YOU SUPER!!! Thank you 🌷💖🌷

[@JillianEve]

Thank you too! 💜🧶🐑😊

[@mearainbow]

There's a 9th century niddy noddy and yarn swift found in the Oseberg ship burial! So they go back 5 centuries further than your examples, at least!

[@wendymurray8594]

Wow!!! 😮😮

[@JillianEve]

Yes! I totally forgot about that one!!!

[@sonyabarnes7098]

Really clear and informative video 😊. I also add number of plies and the finished twist (z or s) to my labels.

[@elizabethmonsees3643]

Thank you Jillian EvE thiS was very interesting and neat as in cool 😎I’m learning a lot from you 💕😊

[@christenagervais7303]

Great tips Evie. Yarn barf, I love it! I call them (s)knots

[@JillianEve]

Lol, I like your term too!!! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@delenehollingworth7810]

I love your videos! I always learn something & you present the info beautifully🥰

[@timothychandler1725]

I think a silk worm 🪱 bell 🔔 would be very small 🤔. LOL 😆!

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

Hi Evie, hope you're all well. Thankyou so much for this video/tutorial on how to wind & count the strands & yardage . The tying up& twisting it into skein. I think this info is excellent especially to new Spinnerss whether using a Wheel or a Drop Spindles. Thanks again. Happy Spinning Take care & stay safe. Love to you all. Jen xxxx

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

@@JillianEve 💗💗🐑🐑

[@doralevitt2879]

Great video, I have countless empty paper towel rolls wrapped with my spun singles, I do have a niddy noddy but I've yet to learn how to ply. I love your videos, especially when you give history lessons on spinning and I love anything medieval- thank you! 🥰🤗💖🌹🧶🧵

[@groovygrump]

Thank you so much for sharing this valuable information. I really appreciate it!

[@annievallieres9118]

Hi! Thanks for sharing your knowledge ❤️ i would like to know how to make a niddy noddy like yours, it seems simple and I like that it is made of wood. Thanks again!

[@theholisticinitiative]

Thank you so much !

[@dawanariley4183]

Wonderful information. This was alot of help thank you

[@JillianEve]

Great! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@dianalimbach4584]

Thank you for this. I was having a mind block and you shook it loose 😀

[@sylviacriveraful]

Hi Jillian, you are great! Always so informative… I enjoy your silly jokes as well ;))

[@clairerobertson2579]

Thanks for your videos! My first niddy noddy came in the mail yesterday! 😁 It's cute and tiny and I can't wait to use it. Thank you too for explaining the math involved, I didn't get the math gene from my mom, but you made it easy!

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! Happy spinning! 🐑🧶✨💜😊

[@lorikula8227]

Great information.. thanks

[@JillianEve]

Glad it was helpful! 🧶🐑

[@CRF2eR]

So helpful, thanks so much for all of your excellent videos!

[@beverleylawton6899]

Great video as always Evie! 🙏 I learned something’s even though I’ve been labeling and seeing my yarn for a year! Yay! Love how you tie your yarn ends!

[@michelepfaff5363]

Thank you!!!

[@tracyirwin9578]

Great tips for storing yarn! Thanks Evie :-)

[@JillianEve]

Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@promophobe69]

I made my niddy noddy 50cm. That way I can double the number of strands to get the number of meters, approximately (0.5m strand x 4 lengths to loop back to same spot= 2m) (Number of strands x 2 =X meters).

[@JillianEve]

Perfect!

[@promophobe69]

@@JillianEve thanks :)

[@sadiesspincraft6319]

Thank you evie its nice to see how others do this as I do it slightly different to you, love and hugs x

[@JillianEve]

That's why I always say, do it the way that works for you. 😁 You should do a video about how you wrap up your yarn! I'd love to see what we do the same or different. And everyone can pick up different tips! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@sadiesspincraft6319]

@@JillianEve I was going to do one next week hahah as someone asked on one of my lives how to do it so that is a video for next week xx

[@JillianEve]

@@sadiesspincraft6319 oh awesome! I can't wait to watch! 🍿😀

[@wolfsmensch1_051]

The video is great and really interesting! I really like it

[@JillianEve]

I'm working my way through the videos to add better CC than what default KZbin provides. I'll bump this video to the top of the list. 😊💖🧶

[@abirhussein9781]

Thank you so much. I needed this information desperately.

[@JillianEve]

Wonderful! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@kathleenkline4622]

I always wait to do the wraps per inch until after I've finished the yarn. This, to me, is more accurate as fibers tend to change during the finishing process. I've had what appeared to be a DK weight poof up to a light worsted weight due to the nature of the wool.

[@elizabethm6995]

Great timing Evie! I have been thinking over the last few weeks about how I want to label my growing number of handspun skeins now that I have more than two. Thanks for addressing the tension concern. Rounding down would be the most conservative way to stay out of yarn chicken.

[@JillianEve]

Yes! Here's to no more yarn chicken! 🐓🥳

[@marciemann6810]

Thank you thank you! SOOOO helpful!

[@lindamarie358]

Excellent tutorial, thanks!

[@JillianEve]

Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@annettemixon1264]

Some really great suggestions. Thank you. 🙏

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@kat1984]

Have you used a plying ball before? I've been struggling to learn to ply between the overtwisted and undertwisted sections and someone on Facebook suggested it. I used my niddy noddy for the second time and this helped a lot. I found out that I need to spin another 4 ounces in order to have enough yardage to make my sister a super bulky cowl

[@JillianEve]

Yes, I have a plying ball video in my Vlogmas series from last December! It is a great method for plying. 💜🧶

[@kat1984]

@@JillianEve I'll go back through and try to find that one

[@QuzieSuzieQ]

Love your channel. I always learn so much. I’m really excited for my new wheel to come. I ordered a Spinolution Monarch with the skein winder. My shoulders are going to thank me for not using my knitty knotty so much.

[@JillianEve]

The skein winder on the Monarch is awesome! I've used one before and it just flies through the skein! You'll be able to spin everything with that wheel, how exciting! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@QuzieSuzieQ]

Thank you! I started spinning on an Ashford Traveler, but when I got a King Bee I fell in love with Spinolution wheels. I think everyone has their own preference and feel for what they like. I really do enjoy your content and still continue to learn so much.

[@lorimurphy889]

thank you, just what I needed

[@JillianEve]

Thank you for requesting this topic! It was a fun video to dig up those pictures for! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@Jessesmom12]

Very helpful video. I gained a lot from it. ❤️💐

[@JillianEve]

Wonderful! Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@esmecat]

thank you

[@JillianEve]

Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@evehaley2105]

I am curious about how after dyeing the skein you go from skein to bobbin for weaving without getting the skein tangled. Do you put it back on the niddy noddy? Do you have another video that explains that part of the process? Thanks!

[@JillianEve]

I use a yarn swift. 🧶💜

[@lamargot2201]

I agree it's easier to count strands on the niddy noddy, but I measure _after_ I've removed--and it's one loop at that point so I just multiply by two. This works at any stage. Now I have the idea that I want to try tracking how the length changes as the project moves along. Hrm. Nah. I'm not that kind of spinner. Let's be honest, I'm not even gonna label anything. :)

[@JillianEve]

Lol! Yep, that's totally a way to do it too! Do what works for you! 😁💖🐏🧶

[@janicemines5873]

Think labeling only becomes relevant when you have a full stash or your in a place you can create a full stash. I am working on my first scan its Jacobs wool from a friend starting with Brenda and I might need the second quick is skrl (squirrel) I am blending the dark and light for a heather grey then I will ply it and I will dye it with avocado. I love the color you get with avocado pairs with grey I am making a sort of sleeveless sweater dress top down so that as long as its past my waist I have won at yarn chicken but I am hoping to get todifference I am slower at spinning than I had imagined. I have sample amounts for my kids to learn to spin and one they get one sweeter each maybe with matching socks I am doing mine first my sons second and my daughters third on priotizing consistancy. My yarn being from sheep we will meet I think a little texture is fun especially with the heather. My kids is online 100% marino. The fishermen wool socks I knit my husband when I was married I gagued it out and then felted/ fulled the swatch very thoroughly and figured the stink it became 75% so I did 133% or rather 3/4s so reversed that to 4/3s my brain wanted to make it 125%. His socks where custom from his big toe to his little is about a 45degree angle sock never fit right I made a left and a right I got them felted almost all the way down with hot water and the drier and then finished them literally on his feet with soap and warm water message. He can where them multiple days in cold winter and after several throw them in with the wash without fear. I think I might do that with my kids well not the blurting wet soap sweetest on them but gaging and preshrinking because it could happen especially with kids clothes sometimes other people wash my kids clothing. I have some angora some herb and flax the hemp and flax might be hard to tell apart but I am not sure if I care the difference. Its nice to know that the knitty knotty can be any length. I knit continental and patterns typically confuse me maybe how to read patterns would be a video. My gage will never match what they say its a good four needle sizes off but other than hand spun which is new I get second had or destashings. I usually just have what I have and am not the person to go buy a specific yarn for a pattern I think as I progress I will learn what's important

[@sleepydrJ]

I’ve found three (!!!!) examples of spinning illustrations in the 1542 manuscript Zeghere von male manuscript! Also called cambrai chansonnier. I wanted to send them to you, but don’t see how to send photos on Instagram. One is of an unhappy looking fellow with a niddy noddy. I know you’d love the others too.... hint: distaff!!

[@JillianEve]

Oh yes! You can DM me on Instagram, but I'll also go search for the manuscript to see what I find online. Thank you!!!!

[@timothychandler1725]

A 🔔 bell from the country you buy your wool, would be fun to have seating in the craft room. What do you think 🤔 about that. So could you ask someone for me where and the best buy of fibers to get to spin? Thank you for reading 📚 my comments.

[@ImGinaMarie]

Evie, is your yarn 2 ply or 3? Also how do you know what weight your yarn is? Is there a yarn gauge for that too? If so I want one

[@JillianEve]

This was a 2-ply spin, and yes, some gages have yarn WPI weights listed for reference! 🧶💜😀

[@ImGinaMarie]

@@JillianEve Thanks Evie, I found info on yarnstandards.com with a link there to woolery.com both have different suggestions...LOL interesting..Happy Easter🐰🐣

[@marybyrd3645]

when you are counting the strands on one side

[@JillianEve]

Yep, I just count one side. Happy spinning! 💖🐏🧶😀

[@LeoFieTv]

The English language: niddy noddy ^^ The German language: KREUZHASPEL!