Spinning for Strength
Fiber selection:
- long fiber length is better (called staple for wools)
- strong individual fibers
Wool:
- less crimp means more wiry & durable but less soft & fuzzy
- fine crimp usually spins into fine yarn better but may be too fuzzy
- weak tips should be pulled or cut off
- avoid fleece with second cuts, vegetable matter, neps & mats
- may leave grease in, or oil washed fleece
- dyes very well
Cotton:
- longer fibers may be called "Pima" "Sea Island" "Egyptian"
- Cotton also comes in brown, yellow, and green
Silk:
- Tussah vs. cultivated
- degummed silk comes in brick, roving, top
- reeled silk is strongest - have to start with cocoons & twist several groups of reeled filament together
- silk bells, caps, handkerchiefs not best for embroidery thread - won't be as easy to spin, smooth, shiny, or durable
- dyes very well, but differently from wool in some cases
Linen:
- strick or line, not tow
- wet-spin for few fuzzies
- spin just to the point of over-spinning
Fiber Preparation:
- attenuate commercially prepared roving or top
- splitting or breaking roving or top
- combing
- carding
- flicking, picking, and spinning from the lock
Spinning methods:
- short draft for wool on spinning wheel or drop-spindle *primary*
- long draft for wool on spindle wheel
- long draft for cotton on supported spindle
- use distaff for long wools and linen with in-the-hand spindle
- spinning from the fold and other modified drafts for silk
Drafting an even, smooth yarn:
- before the drafting zone
- distaff can help keep fibers away from spun thread
- pre-prep should have loosened fibers so they aren't too "sticky"
- in the drafting zone
- watch how many fibers enter vs. exit - if the difference is large, do more pre-prep on fibers
- control the amount of twist that enters drafting zone - let a little in but don't let twist take up your whole drafting zone
- for some fibers, roll new thread with pinching hand to smooth
- some fibers (bast fibers like linen) spin best wet. Use pinching hand to wet.
- in the new thread
- ensure even twist
- on wheel count number of revolutions
- with spindle, pay attention to how difficult it is to spin the spindle
- keep "goal" yarn with you for comparison
- ensure even twist