There is a learning curve, like with anything else. Leaning to spin requires patience and practice. I skipped the drop spindle, it just looked hard, though I often see children at fiber festivals walking around and mindlessly spinning with their spindles, so it can't be too hard. I began with a Louët Spinning Wheel because the woman that sold it to me convinced me I could spin! She told me that she was dyslexic and very uncoordinated. She said if she could spin, I could, so I trusted her. I still spin on my Louët S10DT, DT meaning double treadle versus ST for single treadle. I figured I wanted to have both feet moving rather than just one, so I opted for the DT. You can save a little money; however, on the single treadles. I added an electric wheel some years later for production spinning, but still think the Louët is great wheel for a beginner or advanced beginner.
Malabar Farm, home of author Louis Bromfield, is just a short drive from Mansfield, Ohio and that is where I headed to learn how to spin. They have a Spinning and Weaving Guild that meets regularly. One of the ladies showed me the basics and then it was just a matter of going home and practicing - that ugly word! Pictured below are a few ladies from the guild that come spin at our farm on National Alpaca Farm Days.
There are also great on-line tutorials and videos that are helpful. How To Spin Yarn is a site I found recently that is very helpful. Be sure to scroll down the page - there also is a tutorial on Spinning Locks - for more advanced spinners. Here are a few of my HandSpuns . . . I love that I can be creative . . . spinning fun thick and thin, bumpy, textured yarns! Of course that is not the goal of a beginning spinner, but it sure is fun now!
Be sure to see the 'Paca Farm Yarns in The Farm Store on our website!
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