How to Drop Spindle 20 Handspun Yarns

Another fun and whimsical way to create a thick-and-thin texture while drop spindling! I also have this method available in my SINGLE series. In this video Sarah and I will create braids in our yarn while we drop spindle. Braided yarns are especially fun for using in freeform crochet.

This delicate fuzzy texture of yarn is spun by breaking the rules! My favorite part of this video is Sarah's shocked face when I begin prepping fiber for creating this fuzzy technique. This yarn texture cannot be soaked to set (it will matt the fuzzy halo) but is beautiful when used in woven wall art and freeform textile making. Steam to set after spinning. Plying with thread is also a great way to soft-set this yarn.

Let's break some more rules of technical spinning to unlock some fun new textures of yarn as we drop spindle! In this stretchy textured yarn we will be creating a coily curly texture without plying! I've used this texture as warp in my weavings to create a smoked effect, and have used it as weft to create a gathered ruffles in the finished cloth.

It's time to start plying with our drop spindled yarns! Methods 1-10 are for spinning a single-ply yarn on a drop spindle, and methods 11-20 are for plying yarns on a drop spindle. In this introductory method we will be plying two yarns together to create a traditional 2-ply. Try different textures of yarn to achieve different results!

In this fun plying with a drop spindle method we will be spinning a self-striping yarn while plying with thread at the same time! This is a great stashbuster project where every yard of yarn is different than the yard before. Try using this method with different weights and colors of yarn. This video is a pre-requisite for the other thread plying videos I have in the SPINDLING series. Happy Spindling!

The most popular drop spindling plying method in my masterclass series! Otherwise known as "coiled" in this drop spindling video we will be learning how to take a thick and thin yarn and ply it with thread to create coils. The secret: it's all in the angles! I recommend an over-twisted single ply yarn to start so that your plied yarn is extra secure as it is being coiled.

Let's make even tighter coils when we are drop spindling in this fun and funky video where we celebrate texture! This method is also called "supercoiling" and is one of the most popular textures to date in the art yarn weaving and macramé world. In this video you will learn how to choose the right thread for creating this coil (hint: so it won't break) and we will play with different textures of singles to create fuzzy, smooth, and locked textures of coils for knitting, crochet, and weaving.

Can you drop spindle, ply with thread, and create yarn "stacks" at the same time? This intermediate method is not for the faint of heart! In this video we will be making "granny stacks" or "beehives" while we ply yarn with thread. This is an alternative thick-and-thin technique and looks especially pretty with smooth yarn spun from roving or top. Mix and match this method with the other coiling methods in my SPINDLING series (shelled, coiled, and stacked!) to create a whimsical and fun handspun yarn on your drop spindle! Happy Spindling!

This method is also called "tailspinning" in the fiber community and in this video we will be using a plying thread and single yarn to attach curly wool and mohair locks to your yarn to create a curly, locky, scrumptious texture that is very popular in freeform knitting, crochet, weaving, and fiber art. Get your drop spindle, some curly textures, and a plying thread and let's spin!

It's time to move into mixed media drop spindling with one of my favorite non-wooly textures - chicken feathers! In this tutorial we will be using a single spun yarn, plying thread, and the cutest chicken feathers to create a feathery embellished yarn on a drop spindle. This method will also work with lightweight yarn scraps and fabric bits!

Another fun mixed media method! In this tutorial we will be drop spindling beads (pearls too!) into yarn with plying thread. I will show you how to choose an appropriate plying thread for beading and how to keep your beads secure on your yarn while you drop spindle. These mixed media yarns are delightful for weaving into freeform cloth. You can also attach buttons into handspun yarn using this same method!

In this video we will be creating fringe twists while plying with thread. I love using this creative texture in knitting and weaving where I want to have fringe laying on top of the cloth. This is also a great way to create a long "tailspun" style of texture when spinning locks as a single (see my SPINDLING lesson on how to spin locks into yarn).