Explore essential handspinning terms, techniques, and tools in our comprehensive glossary. Perfect for beginners and experienced spinners alike, this guide covers everything you need to enhance your craft.
Art yarns are playful, textured yarns often created by incorporating unusual materials, textures, or spinning techniques. They’re popular for adding visual interest to knitting, weaving, and crochet projects. Art yarns can include techniques like cor
This is a unique plying method that allows you to ply a single strand of yarn back onto itself, creating a two-ply yarn without needing multiple bobbins. Named after traditional Andean spinning techniques, this method involves wrapping the yarn aroun
A batt is a thick, fluffy sheet of fiber, often produced by a drum carder. Batts can be made from a single type of fiber or a blend of colors and textures. They are a great option for woolen spinning, as they trap a lot of air and create light, airy
As you spin, your yarn winds onto the bobbin, which acts like a spool. Bobbins come in all sizes and are often interchangeable, so you can keep spinning new yarn without needing to stop and wind it off. Some spinners even like to build up a collectio
The brake band is used to control the bobbin’s speed independently of the flyer, mainly in Scotch tension systems. It’s typically a thin cord or band that wraps around the bobbin and is tightened or loosened to adjust the tension. The brake band ensu
Carding is the process of preparing raw fibers for spinning by aligning them into a loose, fluffy sheet or batt. It’s done with carding brushes or carding machines and is essential for woolen spinning. Carding breaks up clumps in the fiber and mixes
Combing is a fiber preparation method that aligns fibers in a straight, smooth arrangement. It’s perfect for worsted spinning, as it removes shorter fibers and produces a very smooth, even preparation. Combing is often done with handheld wool combs o
A diz is a small tool with a hole that’s used in fiber preparation, especially in combing. After combing, you pull the fibers through the hole in the diz, which aligns them into a smooth, continuous roving. Dizzing creates a combed fiber preparation,
The drive band is the cord that transfers the spinning wheel’s motion to the bobbin and flyer. In single-drive wheels, there’s one band that controls everything. In double-drive wheels, there are two bands—one for the bobbin and one for the flyer—off
Drafting is the act of pulling or drawing out fibers before you spin them into yarn. You’ll get the hang of it quickly, but mastering different drafting techniques can take your spinning to the next level. The two main styles are short-forward draw (
A drum carder is a larger, mechanical carding tool that helps prepare fiber into batts. It consists of two cylinders covered in small teeth that align and blend fibers as you crank them through. Drum carders are invaluable for spinners who prepare la
The raw material for spinning, fiber is where it all begins. Fibers can be natural (like wool, alpaca, silk or cotton), synthetic (like nylon or polyester), or even a blend of both. Wool is a spinner’s best friend—easy to handle, elastic, and versati
Flick carding is a technique for preparing wool locks with a small flick carder or brush. It opens up the ends of each lock and removes debris, making it easier to spin without fully carding the wool. This method keeps the lock structure intact, whic
The flyer on your spinning wheel is what makes it all happen. It guides the spun yarn onto the bobbin and helps regulate the tension. Without a good flyer, your yarn might wind too tightly or too loosely, creating unevenness. Adjusting the tension of
If you’ve ever wondered how to keep multiple bobbins from tangling while plying, meet the Lazy Kate. This handy tool holds bobbins in place, making plying smoother and more efficient. Some lazy kates come tensioned, which helps control how fast the y
No, this isn’t just a dramatic name! The "mother-of-all" is the part of the spinning wheel that holds the flyer, bobbin, and whorl together. It’s the central base that supports and aligns these crucial parts, ensuring your wheel spins smoothly. Not e
Ever wondered how to get a yarn that's thicker and more durable? That’s where plying comes in. Plying is the process of twisting two or more singles (individual spun strands) together. It makes the yarn stronger and can add beautiful texture and dept
This is a type of tension system where the brake band applies tension directly to the bobbin. It’s popular on single-drive wheels because it allows the flyer to spin independently from the bobbin, giving the spinner more control over the take-up of t
Ever finished spinning a yarn and ended up with a tangled mess? A skein winder is the solution you didn’t know you needed! It winds your freshly spun yarn into neat skeins that are easy to store, wash, and dye. Some winders are collapsible for easy s
If a spinning wheel feels too complicated, the spindle might be your best friend. It’s the most ancient tool for spinning, and despite its simplicity, it’s incredibly versatile. Drop spindles are suspended in the air as you spin, while supported spin
Loft refers to the fluffiness and volume of your yarn, which is often determined by your spinning technique. Woolen spun yarns generally have a higher loft because of the trapped air, while worsted yarns are denser. Loft affects how warm and lightwei
Spinning wheels are the heart and soul of any spinner's toolkit. These marvelous machines transform raw fiber into beautiful yarn, using the power of twist. They come in all shapes and sizes—some powered by foot pedals (called treadles) and others by
Twist is the magic that holds your yarn together. Without it, your fibers would just fall apart. But getting the right amount of twist is crucial. Too much, and your yarn becomes stiff and wiry. Too little, and it’s weak and might come undone. Twist
Lock spinning is a technique where you spin wool locks, usually curly or textured, directly into the yarn. It creates a beautiful, rustic yarn full of texture and character. This method is popular in art yarn spinning because it adds a lot of visual
This is a technique used to create a three-ply yarn from a single strand. It involves creating loops in the yarn and then plying them together, similar to making a crochet chain. Navajo plying is a great way to maintain color changes in hand-dyed yar
One of the more whimsically named tools in spinning, a niddy noddy is used to wind your yarn into skeins. It helps measure the length of your yarn and prevents it from tangling after it’s spun. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about using on
The orifice is a small opening on the flyer through which your spun yarn passes. It’s kind of like the "eye of the needle" for your spinning wheel. The size of the orifice can vary depending on the wheel, with larger ones being better for bulky yarns
Staple length is the natural length of individual fibers before they are spun. It can range from under an inch (for short fibers like cotton) to several inches (for long fibers like alpaca). Staple length affects how easy the fiber is to spin; genera
This is a type of spinning done with a supported spindle that rests on a surface while you spin. It’s often used for spinning fine, delicate yarns because the spindle isn’t subject to gravity the way a drop spindle is. Supported spinning is ideal for
This mechanism is often found on spinning wheels to help control the yarn take-up tension. The ratchet is a wheel with small teeth, and the pawl is a lever that locks into these teeth to keep everything in place. Together, they allow you to precisely
The flyer ratio on your spinning wheel determines how much twist is added to your fiber with each treadle. Higher ratios are great for finer yarns that need more twist, while lower ratios are better for thick, bulky yarns that require less twist. Tip
Roving is a long, continuous bundle of carded fiber, ready for spinning. It’s less aligned than combed top, which makes it great for woolen spinning. Roving is typically sold in braids or coils and is easy to draft, making it a favorite for beginners
On foot-powered wheels, the treadle is the pedal that keeps everything moving. Some wheels have one treadle (single-treadle), while others have two (double-treadle). Double-treadles are easier to use for longer spinning sessions since they provide a
The whorl is the unsung hero of your spinning wheel. It’s a small disc that helps control how fast your yarn spins by adjusting the tension on the fibers. A large whorl will spin slower, which is great for thick, chunky yarns, while a smaller whorl s
These terms refer to two different styles of yarn preparation and spinning. Woolen spinning involves drafting fibers in a way that traps air, resulting in a light, fluffy yarn that’s perfect for warmth. Worsted spinning, on the other hand, aligns the