Wool n' Spinning presents: The Short Backward Draft

[@zoedoodle]

Thank you for your comment in the beginning about there being many ways and none is 'right' or 'wrong'. For example, I have an electric spinner - no treadling. I soon found that the most comfortable way to spin for me is from a side ways to the spinner position. I also discovered that more grippy fibers like Targhee were hard to short forward draft because the amount of tug I had to give was inconsistent. I found myself anchoring and pinching my twist control hand on my knee and pulling my fiber control handback. Then I could just let go the pinch and allow the twist to flow back while the fiber was automatically pulled forward. The the process starts again so the fiber hand is just moving back a few inches (depending on staple length) and moving forward a few inches to. Much less stress on my shoulders and having my forward hand resting on my thigh seems to combat the complaint that short backward draw produces a less consistent yarn. Not sure if I'm explaining it well but it's not something I've seen anyone else demonstrate. So my advice is to look at what other people are doing and then adapt it to your own needs.

[@RachelSmith]

I think that is great Zoe! I'm so glad it was helpful and I totally agree that you have to figure it out! Sounds like you've got a great rhythm going!

[@SherrisPlace]

I am curious if you have ever tried a Majacraft Spinning Wheel? Just curious if you had and yet atill chose to get a lendrum wheel instead. The Majacraft are quite nice I understand. Thank you. 🙂

[@RachelSmith]

Great question! I have a Majacraft Suzie Pro and it's my faovurite wheel but the Saxony was a long-time dream and I teach on the DT because it's easy to understand for newer spinners :)

[@SherrisPlace]

@@RachelSmith may I ask what “dealer”and “year” you purchased your Lendrum “Saxony” from? 🙏

[@navi2884]

Thank you so much for calling this what it is, I keep seeing the short backwards draft being called long draw and it upsets me lol Btw I love your vids!!

[@RachelSmith]

I've seen that as well and am not sure why! thank you!!

[@diannefitzmaurice9813]

You are confusing the meaning of 'draw' and 'draft' . The spinner draws the fibers with the backward movement but the wheel does the drafting .

[@elenashumega]

Спасибо! очень познавательно. Смотрю с интересом. Красивая нить получается, ровная. Вы мастер!

[@lincolnfrancisco2038]

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[@conradezequiel5851]

@Lincoln Francisco Instablaster ;)

[@lincolnfrancisco2038]

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[@lincolnfrancisco2038]

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[@conradezequiel5851]

@Lincoln Francisco happy to help xD

[@diannefitzmaurice9813]

Well maybe I am a spinning 'police' lol . But the reason the backward draw works well is because you are working WITH the wheel . Spinning wheels are intended to do the drafting and the way to work with the wheel is to always draw back and never forward. Watch any great wheel and you will see how those early wheels without treadles are designed for one hand because the other hand had to turn the wheel. So you should be able to do it with one hand and the other just catching any wisps . . You cannot ply by any forward movement and that is because of how the wheel works. Drawing back seems couter intuintive and it only seems logical to want to push the fiber into the orifice. But the invention of the inch worm was not based on any real understanding of how the wheel does the drafting and the spinner doesn't need to -- you just need to draw back in such as way as to work with the mechanics of the wheel . Your video really helps to show the difference . So whether drawing long medium or short it should alwas be back never forward .

[@RachelSmith]

Thank you for this comment Dianne!! Great way of explaining these mechanics and why people get caught up in 'fighting' with their wheels. You are articulate in how you explain it, as well. I've struggled to explain this to newer spinners and really appreciate that you took it back to the early wheels to help in understanding. Thank you!

[@annelee666]

Is the yarn produced by a short fwd draw different from a short backward draw?

[@RachelSmith]

Sometimes, yes. Many people who spin short backwards are not as consistent as they would be if they spun short forward but they may be more consistent than someone else's short forward. I hope that makes sense. In essence, they are the same draft, done slightly differently but usually the short backward is slightly more inconsistent.

[@ColoringKaria]

So yeah. thats not always the case please watch Margret Stove's video on lace spinning. She shows how to do an extremely consistent short backwards draw for lace. It actually *IS* different than the short forward draw, if done without pinching (yes its possible) it results in a worsted yarn with more bounce and stretch than the traditional worsted yarn. if you want that kind of yarn you dont want to pinch because that pulls out the air. However the end result for a lace yarn is a light strong yarn with all the strength of a worsted yarn and some of the bounce of a woolen yarn.