Spinning

Spinning is the process of creating yarn (or thread, rope, cable) from various raw fiber materials. Separate fibers are twisted together to bind them into a strong, long yarn. more...

Characteristics of the yarn vary based on the material used, fiber length and alignment, quantity of fiber used and degree of twist.

The earliest spinning probably involved simply twisting the fibres in the hand. Later a stick, called a spindle, was used to add the twist and hold the twisted fiber. Usually a whorl or weight stabilizes the spindle. The spindle is spun and twists the fiber until it becomes yarn. The spindle may be suspended or supported, Later the spinning wheel was developed which allowed a continuous and faster yarn production. Spinning wheels may be foot, hand or electrically powered. Modern powered spinning, originally done by water or steam power but now done by electricity, is vastly faster than hand-spinning.

Hobby or small scale artisan spinners spin their own yarn to control specific yarn qualities and produce yarn not commercially available. They also may spin for self-sufficiency, sense of accomplishment, or sense of connection to history and the land. And, of course, for the meditative qualities of spinning.

Materials that can be used to create yarn fall into three broad classes: plant, animal, and synthetic.

• Plant fibers: cotton, flax (to produce linen), ramie, hemp, nettle, raffia, yucca, coconut husk...
• Animal materials: wool, goat (angora, or cashmere goat), rabbit (angora), llama, alpaca, dog, camel, yak, qiviut, silk, ...
• Synthetic materials: nylon, rayon, acetate, polyester, tencel, rayon, ingeo ...
• Mineral: asbestos, but not very often

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