Harlem's January 'Learn at the Library' program: the art of spinning

As part of the Harlem Library's regular Learn at the Library program, two local spinners recently did a demonstration of the ancient art of making yarn. Chris Thurman and Jeanni Powell set up their spinning wheels, showed examples of different yarns and their uses, explained some of the tools of the trade and demonstrated how yarn is made on two different types of spinning wheels. A freezing fog likely limited the audience turnout, but those who came to watch were impressed with the complexity of the process.

The spinning process

Chris Thurman, who is into all sorts of yarn related activities, was using a "castle style" spinning wheel. The compact machine derives its name from its origins-it was used in castles. Castle spinning wheels have a double treadle, meaning the user spins the wheel with both feet rather than other styles where there is a single treadle. Modern versions often are made to fold into a carrying case for travel.

Thurman first showed spinning yarn from roving. Roving is a rope like material where the wool has been washed and cleaned, combed and all the fibers are laid in the same direction into a long rope-like strand. Roving is made from raw wool in specialty mills that cater to hobbyists. Thurman said, "The key to making yarn is to feed the material onto the wheel in a consistent manner. That avoids lumps in the yarn and makes the finished product easier to use when making something." Feeding the wool to the spinning wheel appeared to be strictly "by touch and feel."

Jeanni Powell was using a modern version of the old spinning wheel familiar to readers. Using a single foot treadle to power the wheel, she demonstrated how carded wool was spun to yarn. Carding is a process using any of several tools that clean and align the fibers of wool. "One challenge to using small amounts of carded wool," she explained, "is that you have to constantly make splices to have a continuous yarn." The splicing technique, like feeding the wool to the spinning wheel, is an acquired skill and not quickly mastered, per Powell.

The single spools of yarn from the wheel are later combined for the desired thickness of yarn. Both demonstrators emphasized the that every application, from sweaters and socks to rugs, requires a certain type and thickness of yarn. The spinner first determines how the yarn will be used, then spins it.

Other aspects of spinning yarn

One interesting piece of spinning equipment, perhaps not familiar to most readers, was a drop spindle Powell showed. Though hers was a modern version of the drop spindle, the device dates back to Neolithic times (some historians date the first Neolithic cultures to 8000 BC). The ancient spindle was the forerunner of modern spinning wheels.

To spin yarn with a drop spindle, the user relies on gravity to pull raw wool through the spindle as the device spins, binding the fibers in to yarn. When every garment had to be made by hand spinning yarn, larger drop spindles were devised that would continue spinning once started so the operator could do other household jobs, allowing an early version of multi-tasking.

Both demonstrators had brought examples of different types of yarns that can be spun. By feeling the yarn the audience got a better idea of the variety in yarns and how they might be used in future items to be knitted or crocheted. Thurman, who is a recognized expert for making socks on a circular sock machine, pointed out the circular sock machine is easiest to use with a specific type and thickness of yarn.

Why spin your own yarn?

Thurman, who even dyes wool for yarn, said it's a great creative outlet and the resulting items are functional. Powell, who said her real interest was in the variety of yarns and wool, had a more esoteric reason for spinning. She explained, "You cannot rush the process of making yarn. It forces me to slow down and relax." Fact is, she doesn't particularly like to knit or crochet but enjoys working with different wools to create the yarn for others.

Both spinners agreed that it wasn't a way to save money on yarn. In fact, Thurman said if you tracked the hours spent in making a skein of yarn by hand, commercial yarn was cheaper by far. On the other hand, she added, "You wouldn't get the satisfaction of making it yourself."

As the conversation turned to how the whole ideal of spinning yarn developed, Katie Noel wondered aloud, "How did get someone look at a sheep and say "I'm going to make a garment from that animal?"" Well, that question was beyond the scope of the demonstration, it will have to be considered later.