Most people start exploring the world of homespun yarn by working with the spindle, and Abby Franquemont shares the wide array of yarns that can be made with a simple method inRespect the Spindle: Spin Infinite Yarns with One Amazing Tool.
The title refers to the fact that a lot of spinners don't give the spindle a lot of respect as a viable means of producing yarn. Many only use spindles as a way to learn how to spin and whether they like it, abandoning this ancient technology as soon as they can afford a wheel.
The Science of Spinning
Franquemont says that's the wrong approach and that, even in practice, a spinner can make any yarn he or she wants the spindle. Admittedly she's had more practice than most -- she started spinning when she was five and spent years spinning almost constantly.
The super-skinny yarns shown on the cover of the book might intimidate new spinners, but they also show you what it's possible to do with a lot of time, practice and some pretty simple tools.
Franquemont takes a lot of time to explain the different kinds of spindles and the scientific reasons for the differences in the spinning experience when using, say a top-whorl spindle with a light, small whorl versus a heavily weighted bottom-whorl spindle.
She covers topics such as the mass, shape, mass distribution and balance of the spindle as well as how the dynamics of spindle and yarn combine with your own influence to determine the look and properties of the yarn you produce.
While all the physics can be a little mind-boggling, it is interesting and probably will help you make better informed choices when you go spindle shopping.
She argues for the use of spindles instead of or in addition to working with a wheel for many reasons, including:
- the spindle is easier to use for some fibers like silk and cotton
- spindles are worked with both hands and provide a more body-friendly experience
- that's the way it's been done for most of human history
- spindles are much more portable, take up less space and are easier to use and stolen moments and then wheels
Giving it a Spin
The book includes lots of details on how to actually go about spinning and includes large color photographs to make following along easier.
Readers will learn how to attach or spin a leader or make a half-hitch to hold the fiber on the spindle, how to park and draft while learning to spin, woolen, worsted and double-drafting methods, ways to get the spindle started and ideas for ramping up your yarn production.
A helpful chart makes it easier to decide what type of spindle to use if you have a particular type of yarn in mind you're trying to produce, but the book also encourages experimentation to find the combination of spindle, fiber and spinning method that works best for you.
There's also a whole chapter devoted more specifically the different types of spindles, from tiny supported spindles used in a bowl to Navaho lap spindles, Russian spindles, Turkish spindles and more. Illustrations show how to use these traditional tools, and the text provides tips and ideas of the types of fiber and yarn characteristics best suited to them.
Making the Most of Your Spinning
A section on plying yarns explains why you might want to do such a thing (more strength and durability, less biasing when knitting, less likely to kill) and many methods for plying yarn spun on spindles, including plying one yarn from the two ends of a center-pull ball and winding directly off two spindles.
Information on storing, displaying and caring for spindles will help keep your investment in good working order and allow you to enjoy the tools even when you're not spinning.
Safety tips will help prevent injury or damage to the spindle, and repair tips will make it easier to fix any mishaps that might occur.
Four patterns -- for a mosaic triangular shawl, a two-layer neckwarmer, a crocheted hat and a cotton washcloth -- give us some ideas of what can be done with handspun yarn (though for the most part they called for very light weight yarn, which new spinners won't be producing).
A bibliography provides resources for even more information for spinners who want to take their craft farther.
Bottom Line
Respect the Spindle provides a great, very detailed overview of the Houston wide spindle spinning and makes a persuasive argument for why you may never need to the spinning wheel to be able to make a wide variety and large quantity of yarn for knitting, crochet, weaving or other purposes.
It's a great tool for visual learners and provides a depth of understanding of how spinning works that should enlighten spinners of all skill levels.
You will want to refer to this book often on your spinning journey and are sure to find yourself inspired to try new tools and techniques -- which is all part of the fun of playing with fiber.
Publication date: November 2009
