the dropped spindle

peneller · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: West Yorkshire

I thought I was good at spinning but after a weekend spent wrestling with cotton sliver I am having to think again. I am not into using a spindle so it's the wheel. Try as I might, the tension on my Lendrum wheel just doesn't seem to have a just pulling on very lightly setting, just a yanking it on one. It's so frustrating watching the end of my leader disappearing into the orifice at speed, leaving me clutching a tuft of fibre. Any ideas anyone?

sally · Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 148

The speed is an issue, you also need to be using a very short draw. I find cotton nigh on impossible on a foot pedalled wheel, the hand turned charkas were designed for it where you can then use a long draw, but on a faster wheel use both hands for many short rapid draws and it might work better

peneller · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: West Yorkshire

Thanks for your reply Sally. I tried short draw, but the staple length is just too short for it to work but thanks anyway. Fortunately I have managed to rejig my wheel so that it is only just pulling on and thanks to google I managed to find a cotton tutorial on the web. Now all I need is the coordination!