Fall 2019 • Spin Off 29
If I spin on a supported spindle, it will be easier on
my hands if I spin Z with my right hand pulling the
spindle, or spin S with my left hand pulling the spindle.
If I learn to spin with both of my hands, I will be able
to spin (and ply) both Z and S, pulling the spindle for
more force and less strain. A bonus is that I will also
learn how to handle the fiber with both hands.
Spinning singles S instead of Z on a spinning wheel
is not as dramatic a change compared to spindle spinning.
When I first started spinning for twined knitting, spinning
S singles felt awkward, but my hands were quickly attuned
to the new direction and let the fiber lead the way.A Handspinner’s Freedom
The very first yarn I created was spun S and plied Z.
I wanted to spin a yarn for twined knitting. Little did I
know that I would need lots of practice (and meterage)
to spin a yarn that would be usable in a garment. I have
spun many kilometers of yarn since then and learned
a thing or two along the way. Spinning for twined
knitting every now and then allows me to remember
that we handspinners have the tools and freedom to
spin any yarn we like just by altering the twist. ●Resources
Dandanell, Birgitta, Ull Danielsson, and Kerstin Ankert
(eds). Tvåändsstickat. Värnamo: Dalarnas Museum,
2013.
Farwell-Clay, Julia. “Spinning in the Best Direction for
the Way You Knit.” Spin Off, Winter 2013, 30–32.
Fröier, Kåre, and Henryk Zienkiewicz. Linboken:
Hemodling och Hemberedning. Borås: LTs förlag,
1979.
Gustafsson, Kerstin, and Alan Waller. Ull: Hemligheter,
möjligheter, färdigheter. Helsingborg: LTs förlag,
1987.
Hock, Charles W. “Microscopic Structure of Flax and
Related Bast Fibers.” Journal of Research of the
National Bureau of Standards, 29 (1942), 41–50.
Westman, Berit. Tvåändsstickning: Grunderna. [Insjö n]:
Sätergläntan, Hemslöjdens gård, 2004.Josefin Waltin started spinning in 2011. She is a spinning
teacher and offers workshops both online and offline.
Josefin publishes instructional and documentary-style
videos, and she manages a spinning blog from her home
in Sweden at http://www.waltin.se/josefinwaltinspinner.859 E. M859 E. Main Street • Frankfort, KY 40601ain
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