"Start Spinning Wool: Top Tools Every Beginner Needs to Know"
Drop Spindles for Beginners
Many people believe they should begin with drop spindles, but I’m not a fan of "shoulds" when it comes to spinning. As I mentioned earlier, you should start with whatever tool feels right for you.
Varieties of Drop Spindles
There are numerous types of drop spindles available, which can understandably lead to confusion for beginners.
DIY and Student Spindles: My first spindle was made from a dowel rod, a craft wheel, and a cup hook. These supplies are easily found at craft stores, and constructing your own spindle is quite simple. Additionally, basic student spindles can be bought at craft stores for approximately $12. I even have an online info product breaking this down for you here
Handcrafted Spindles: If you have a bigger budget, consider high-quality handcrafted spindles made by skilled artisans. These spindles are often well-balanced, spin smoothly, and are made from unique and exquisite woods. I really like Synder Spindles on Etsy and their website
Historical Spindles: For those interested in historical reenactments, it's essential to research and find reliable sources to ensure the spindle design matches the specific time period you’re aiming to recreate. I have several videos on YouTube
Beginner's Guide to Spinning Wheels
Spinning wheels certainly have an impressive appearance! However, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and price ranges, which can make choosing the right one quite overwhelming. It’s crucial to remember that spinning wheels are machines with moving parts.
Antique Spinning Wheels: Due to their mechanical nature, old wheels you find at a flea market might not be ideal for beginners. They often require a bit more expertise to operate smoothly and can be challenging for novices.
Vintage Spinning Wheels: While vintage models can also be somewhat unpredictable, they’re generally more beginner-friendly than antiques.
Modern Spinning Wheels: If you’re committed to spinning, you might consider investing in a new wheel. Personally, I’m a fan of SpinOlution Spinning Wheels.
Rented or Borrowed Spinning Wheels: For a budget-friendly option, check if there are wheels available for rent or borrow—perhaps from a local fiber supply shop or guild.Main Points For New Yarn Spinners
Different tools are good at different things. If you want to get started, a student or DIY drop spindle, a borrowed spinning wheel, or an economical Eel Wheel Nano might be your best choice.
Pollywog Spinning Wheel by SpinOlution – Perfect for Beginners
Discover the Pollywog Spinning Wheel by SpinOlution – a compact, easy-to-use spinning wheel perfect for beginners. Explore its features and get yours today at Feral Scene!
Why Choose the Pollywog?
Pollywog Spinning Wheel by SpinOlution – Perfect for Beginners
The Pollywog was my first SpinOlution wheel, and it sparked my obsession with spinning. This compact, versatile wheel is a must-have for anyone looking to start their spinning journey. Whether you prefer spinning on your own or want to explore different yarn types, the Pollywog can grow with you, thanks to optional attachments that allow you to create both bulky and fine yarns. (See links below for attachments.)
Spinners of all ages and sizes love this budget-friendly wheel, especially for its toe-friendly treadling design—making it perfect for beginners and even children. Starting at just $484, the basic Pollywog comes with a 4 oz bobbin. As you progress in your spinning skills, you can easily upgrade your setup by adding accessories to increase speed and accommodate larger bobbins.
The Pollywog features a bypassable orifice hook, ideal for spinning bulky yarn, plying creatively, or adding embellishments to your yarns. And with smooth, silent treadling, this wheel offers an exceptional spinning experience. The $484 Pollywog comes with three available ratios, providing the perfect speeds to master spinning a variety of fibers and yarn weights.
A lightweight and accessible entry-level spinning wheel.
Pollywog Spinning Wheel – $495
Upgrade your Pollywog with the following accessories!
Accelerator. $230 This removable circular piece attaches between the base and the head of your Pollywog wheel, and does two things. First, it raises the height of the orifice of your Pollywog and gives you a total of 10 speeds for spinning finer weight yarns. Adding this accessory to the Pollywog is perfect for filling the 4 oz bobbins with finer yarns.
12 oz Upgrade. $472 For spinners who want to explore the bulkier side of spinning - we have designed an upgrade with spacious 12 oz bobbins for art yarns, bulky textures, and huge yardage. This upgrade can also be attached to the accelerator for additional high speeds.
Combining the Pollywog with Accelerator and 12 oz Upgrade means you'll have it all: lightweight portability, huge bobbin space, speeds for all yarn weights, and a comfortable ergonomic spinning experience that will bring you joy for many years to come.
Order Your Pollywog Today and Start Spinning
Please be advised that shipping time is 4 - 6 weeks ( sometimes earlier) to allow for them to be custom made
Also due to Spinolution being they're own company any of my coupons and sales to not extend to the Spinolution products.
Layaway is available please email me and we'll set up something that will work for you
Features of the Pollywog Spinning Wheel
Spin Fine to Bulky
Open Hook Orifice
Magnetic Bobbins
Easy Uptake Tension Knob
Easy Drive Band Change
Quiet Operation
Ergonomic Design
Small Footprint
Stationary Floor Grips
Heavy Duty Construction
Warp Resistant Wood
Made in the USA
SPECIFICS
Weight: 8.5 pounds
Height: 20.75 inches
Orifice Height: 19.25 inches
Width: 15 inches
Depth: 9 inches
3 speeds with 4 oz Flyer
1:10, 1:4.5, 1:2.5
3 speeds with 12 oz Flyer
(ratios coming soon)
10 speeds with Accelerator
1:22, 1:17, 1:15, 1:13, 1:11, 1:10, 1:8, 1:7, 1:6, 1:5
click more info for video
Need Help Deciding? Contact me for Expert Advice on Choosing Your Ideal Spinning Wheel. erin@feralscene.com
The Firefly is our electric spinning wheel. This wheel includes a rechargeable battery in the base that lasts 14 hours. This wheel is the equivalent to an electric MACH III. We combined our state of the art engineering and design with the power of electricity to create this dynamic, multi-purpose spinning wheel.
WHAT IS A MODULAR WHEEL? Our 8 oz, 16 oz, and 32 oz setup are interchangeable between the MACH III Base and the Firefly Base. Design your own wheel by choosing your base and setup size, or swap setups between the bases for multiple wheel options.
Important for “ Free USA Spinolution Shipping please use code SPINUSA at check out after choosing the “ All USA Orders” option. The code will remove the Shipping cost so you will get it free. If there’s any problem and you end up paying any amount for shipping with your SpinOlution USA Wheel Purchase you will be refunded the shipping cost Automatically.
PRICING
Firefly Wheel (Single Flyer Options):
Firefly with 4 oz flyer – $1,195
Firefly with 4A flyer – $1,395
Firefly with 8 oz flyer – $1,445
Firefly with 16 oz flyer – $1,595
Firefly with 32 oz flyer – $1,645
Firefly Package Options (Two Flyers):
Fine Yarn Package (4A & 8 oz) – $2,269
Traditional Yarn Package (8 & 16 oz) – $2,379
Bulky Yarn Package (8 & 32 oz) – $2,439
Art Yarn Package (16 & 32 oz) – $2,569
Firefly Wheel Base Only (no flyer):
Firefly base only – $999package accessories:
6 Total Bobbins (3 small / 3 large based on the studio package size you choose). 4 Total Orifice Bars (1 Hook and 1 Tube for both flyer sizes). Lazy Kate. Skein Winder. Drive Band. Power Switch. Car Charger. Wall Charger.
Spin Fine to Bulky
Open Hook Orifice
Magnetic Bobbins
Easy Uptake Tension Knob
Easy Drive Band Change
Quiet Operation
Ergonomic Design
Small Footprint
Stationary Floor Grips
Heavy Duty Construction
Warp Resistant Wood
Made in the USA
Modular Design
Compatible with MACH III
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES
Built-in 12V rechargeable battery
Fully charged battery lasts over 14 hours
Battery is padded for whisper-quiet spinning
Car adapter for charging or spinning on the go
Foot pedal or Switch controlled
Kickstand for use off the ground
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 13 pounds
Height: 12 inches
Speeds: Variable (0 to Way too fast)
for upgrades or custom orders please contact me at erin@craftyhousewifeyarns.com so I can build you a custom package
Fibers for Beginners
After obtaining your spindle, wheel, or e-spinner, the next step is to select your fiber. Wool is the most commonly recommended choice for beginners, but you might also consider alpaca, acrylic, cotton, or flax.
Do indie dyed braids make your heart skip a beat, they’re so fluffy and full of possibilities…. Then this is the monthly subscription for you. Every month I’ll be designing a custom color way just for that month so it will be seasonally appropriate and on trend.
We’re so proud of our hand-dyed braids. I wanted the perfect easy to use and inspiring fiber option for beginners and advanced spinners alike. Roving braids are very popular for a reason. We wanted braids that would live up to our standards here of supporting small farms and mills. These braids are from a small USA Farms and Mills with Ethical treatment of the Sheep. You will be billed once a month and will receive your box later that same month.
4oz braid
USA Sheep and Mills
Hand Dyed in Small batches by our dye team
fun monthly limited edition colorways
Wool is super soft Merino ,Ramboullet, Shaniko, Targhee or similar breeds between 19-23 Mircons. We are very picky on our fiber quaintly both for being ethically & locally sourced but also for superior softness and spinablility.
This is a monthly subscription that you can cancel at anytime. If you receive and charge and would prefer not to receive a box that month as long as you let us know with in 3 days of the charge we will even issue your refund for the same month. We really want this to be fun and enjoyable for everyone.
Please share your creations with us on facebook in the hand spun yarn love group and instagram tagged #craftyhousewifeyarns or #feralscene
Join the fun.
Selecting a Wool Breed for Beginners
When exploring wool for spinning, you'll find that there are hundreds of sheep breeds, each with unique properties.
Merino Wool: Although popular, it may not be ideal for those new to spinning. It is very soft but can be somewhat more tricky to draft due to it’s dense fluffy nature
Medium Wool: Excellent choices are Bluefaced Leicester, Corriedale, and Cheviot, as they are easy to draft and relatively soft. The longer fibers can also be helpful not to have breakage.
Combed Top
This wool preparation involves thoroughly combing and aligning the fibers, making it extremely easy to draft and spin. Combed top offers consistent quality and is available in a variety of vibrant, exciting colors.
Spinning Accessories for Beginners
Not required but , the following accessories can make your spinning journey easier:
Niddy noddy: A tool for taking your yarn off your spindle or bobbin.
Lazy Kate: Holds your spindles or your bobbins while you ply your yarn.
Yarn swift and ball winder: Helps to hold a skein of yarn and put it in a ball.
Scale: Useful for weighing your yarn, especially for planning larger projects.
Diz : Looks like a button with large whole holes for making your own roving if you wish.
How to Start Spinning for Beginners
The path of spinning is intricate, dear friends. However, all you truly need to begin is a cost-effective drop spindle, spinning wheel, or e-spinner, and some fiber!
By using this guide, you’ll embark upon your spinning adventure with ease. Feel free to share your progress in the comments and tell me which tools and fibers you found most effective. Enjoy your spinning journey!
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