Woolspinning

Woolspinning is the craft of turning wool fibers into yarn by drawing out and twisting them so they hold together as a continuous strand. The process can be performed with hand tools such as a drop spindle or a spinning wheel, and it forms the basis for many hand-spun textiles.

Historically, spinning wool is one of humanity’s oldest textile activities. Evidence of spinning dates back thousands of years. The spinning wheel appeared in medieval Europe and facilitated faster production, while later mechanized spinning mills powered industrial textile manufacture.

Materials and preparation: Raw wool contains grease (lanolin) and dirt. It is scoured, washed, and dried. Carding aligns fibers into a loose web; combing creates a smoother sliver for worsted yarn. Roving or sliver is prepared to feed the spinner.

Process: In drafting, the spinner pulls fibers to control thickness while adding twist. The twist travels along the yarn, binding fibers together. The finished yarn is wound onto a spindle or bobbin; hand spinners may ply several single yarns to increase strength.

Variants and finishing: Woolspinning yields different yarn structures: woolen yarns are fluffy and air-retentive; worsted yarns are smooth and strong. After spinning, yarns may be washed, set to even twist, skeined, and sometimes fulled or treated for stability. The choice of preparation and technique affects texture, warmth, and use.