Spinning Course

Lesson 1 • History and Origins of Spinning

Traces spinning from prehistoric hand-twisting to modern wheel technology. Establishes cultural context that informs technique choices throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Core Spinning Terminology

Defines essential vocabulary including twist, draft, ply, and fibre prep. Shared language enables precise communication in all subsequent lessons.

Lesson 3 • Fibre Types and Their Properties

Surveys animal, plant, and synthetic fibres and their spinning characteristics. Students match fibre choice to intended yarn use and spinning method.

Lesson 1 • Drafting Fibre by Hand

Teaches short-draw and long-draw drafting to control yarn thickness. Drafting skill directly determines yarn consistency and texture.

Lesson 2 • Setting Up the Drop Spindle

Covers spindle weight selection, whorl placement, and leader attachment. Proper setup prevents common beginner errors in twist and tension.

Lesson 3 • Winding Off and Setting Twist

Demonstrates cop winding, niddy-noddy use, and wet-finishing to set twist. Students produce a finished skein ready for plying or use.

Lesson 1 • Hand Carding for Woollen Prep

Teaches loading, transferring, and rolling fibre on hand cards to create rolags. Woollen prep produces lofty, air-trapping yarn suited to warm textiles.

Lesson 2 • Combing for Worsted Preparation

Covers Viking and English combing to align fibres parallel for smooth worsted yarn. Combed top produces dense, lustrous yarn with low halo.

Lesson 3 • Blending Fibres and Colours

Explores blending different fibre types and dyed fibres for custom yarn character. Blending skills expand creative and functional yarn design options.

Lesson 4 • Commercial Prep Formats

Identifies roving, top, sliver, and pencil roving and their spinning characteristics. Students select commercial prep formats to match project goals.

Lesson 1 • Anatomy and Drive Systems

Details single-drive, double-drive, and scotch tension systems and their mechanical differences. Understanding drive type guides all tension and ratio decisions.

Lesson 2 • Treadling and Rhythm Development

Builds consistent treadle cadence to maintain even twist insertion. Rhythm separates the hands from the feet for independent control.

Lesson 3 • Drafting at the Wheel

Applies short-draw and long-draw techniques to wheel spinning for varied yarn weights. Students produce lace-weight through bulky yarn samples.

Lesson 4 • Wheel Ratios and Twist Control

Explains how whorl size ratios determine twist inserted per treadle. Students select ratios appropriate to fibre type and desired yarn weight.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Twist Balance

Explains how opposing twist directions in singles and plying create a balanced yarn. Twist balance is the foundation of all plying decisions.

Lesson 2 • Chain Plying (Navajo Plying)

Teaches the chain-loop method to create a three-ply yarn from a single bobbin. Chain plying preserves colour sequences and reduces bobbin requirements.

Lesson 3 • Finishing and Evaluating Plied Yarn

Covers wet-finishing, thwacking, and measuring wraps per inch to assess yarn quality. Evaluation skills allow students to refine future spinning decisions.

Lesson 4 • Two-Ply and Three-Ply Techniques

Demonstrates plying two or three singles together from a lazy kate for round, strong yarn. Students control ply tension to achieve even yarn structure.

Lesson 1 • Understanding Yarn Weight Standards

Maps standard yarn weight categories to wraps per inch and grist measurements. Students use these benchmarks to set spinning targets before starting.

Lesson 2 • Spinning Bulky and Super-Bulky Yarn

Uses low-ratio whorls, thick drafting, and minimal twist for chunky yarn structures. Students balance speed and loft to avoid weak, under-twisted bulky yarn.

Lesson 3 • Spinning Sport Through Worsted Weight

Targets mid-range yarn weights using balanced drafting speed and moderate twist. These weights suit the widest range of knitting and weaving projects.

Lesson 1 • Colour Theory for Yarn Design

Applies hue, value, and saturation principles to fibre colour selection and blending. Colour theory prevents muddy blends and guides harmonious palette choices.

Lesson 2 • Gradient and Fade Spinning

Teaches sequential colour joining and Andean plying to create smooth colour gradients. Students plan colour order before spinning to achieve predictable fade effects.

Lesson 3 • Dye Types and Fibre Compatibility

Compares acid dyes, fibre-reactive dyes, and natural dyes for protein and cellulose fibres. Dye selection determines colour vibrancy, fastness, and process safety.

Lesson 4 • Dyeing Fibre Before Spinning

Covers hand-painting, immersion dyeing, and kettle dyeing raw fibre and top. Pre-spinning dyeing allows colour to be drafted and blended during spinning.

Lesson 1 • Project Planning and Portfolio Building

Guides students through documenting fibre source, prep, spinning notes, and finished measurements for each project. A spinning journal becomes a professional reference tool.

Lesson 2 • Sampling and Swatching Handspun

Establishes a sampling workflow to predict finished yarn behaviour before full production. Swatching prevents costly errors in large handspun projects.

Lesson 3 • Spinning Large Consistent Quantities

Addresses consistency strategies for spinning multiple bobbins that match in grist and twist. Students use reference samples and tools to maintain uniformity.

Lesson 4 • Art Yarn and Textured Yarn Design

Explores corespinning, beehive plying, and inclusion spinning for sculptural yarn effects. Art yarn techniques prioritise visual and tactile expression over uniformity.