Episode 140: My Favorite Drop Spindle for Beginners

In this episode, Sasha shares her favorite spindle for beginners.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Greensleeves Spindles: Bare Bones Spindles

You can find the script for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

Episode Transcript

(00:59):
Curious about spindle spinning but unsure which spindle to start with? I've got you, boo.
Or are you an accomplished drop spindler who wants to teach a friend to spin
and needs a great inexpensive spindle to teach with? I've got you, too.
Hello there, darling sheepspotter. Welcome to episode 140 of the Sheepspot Podcast.

(01:24):
I'm Sasha, and my job is to help you make more yarns you love.
In today's episode, I will share my favorite drop spindle for beginners.
There are a lot of spindle makers whose work I love. I have a lot of Ed Jenkins Turkish spindles.

(01:45):
I love spindles from Cascade Spindle Company, and I own and love lots of Jonathan Bosworth spindles.
But in the last few years of university teaching, I created a course called
Texts and Textiles, which was about cloth as a communications medium.

(02:05):
I taught in a communications department.
And so we read a lot of textile history. We studied fiber artists like Faith Ringgold and Barb Hunt.
And students learned to spin on a drop spindle, to do some simple weaving, and to knit.
And their final project was to create cloth that communicated an idea.

(02:30):
My dean generously agreed to foot the bill for the equipment for this course,
so I needed some inexpensive spindles for teaching.
And I turned to my absolute favorite spindle for beginners, the bare-bones spindle
from Elizabeth Daly at Greensleeves Spindles.

(02:51):
Most of the inexpensive spindles that are marketed for beginners are really
heavy. The Ashford Student Spindle
and the Louette Topwhirl are both about 2.7 ounces, about 76 grams.
The Kromsky and the Ashford Classic are 3 ounces, or 85 grams.

(03:12):
And in my humble opinion, that's too heavy.
I learned with and prefer to teach with something lighter. in the 1.4 to 1.7
ounce range, so 40 to 48 grams for those of you doing the metric thing.
Enter the bare bones, which costs a mere $15 US, and it spins like an absolute dream.

(03:40):
Here's what Elizabeth says about this spindle on her website.
Quote, with our bare bones spindle, we wanted to fill the niche for an affordable
spindle that can be used as a teaching tool or for a beginner's first spindle.
Frequently, at shows and festivals, a young customer will want a spindle,

(04:00):
but the parent is reluctant to invest a large sum on a tool that may never be used.
We had three very important criteria for the spindle, she goes on.
It had to look attractive, be perfectly balanced with a slow,
sustained spin, and stay affordable.

(04:20):
We use premium maple and give it just enough turning to maintain a good spin.
Therefore, we cut out the use of expensive wood and we spend less time on production.
When I was vending at fiber festivals, I tried always to have a supply of bare
bones and also its little sister, which is called the bare bonesy,

(04:44):
the bare bonesy, with me.
And I would spin on one during lulls and I sold lots to people who saw me spinning,
got curious and wanted to try it themselves.
I like to think that I may have created a few spinners that way.
And I think the great thing about the bare bones is that the weight is...

(05:11):
It's kind of in a sweet spot between these super heavy beginner spindles,
which really require you to spin a fairly hefty,
chunky singles, and a lighter spindle that will allow you to spin actually a
variety of weights of yarn.
So I think it's a great spindle for beginners. And I also think that,

(05:35):
I mean, I spin on mine all the time and I love them.
So I also think that it will grow with you as your spinning journey continues.
So in sum, if you are looking for an inexpensive spindle for learning or for
teaching that's well-balanced, has a good spin time, and is beautifully made

(05:59):
and beautiful to look at,
I can't recommend the Bare Bones more highly.
And while you're on her website, check out her other spindles as well.
I used to carry them in my shop. I've spun on many, and I love them.
I think they're really well-made, really well-balanced, and really fun to use.

(06:19):
If you're a spindle spinner, what did you learn with? I would love to know.
There's a dedicated discussion thread in the flock where you can tell me about your first spindle.
The link is in the show notes for this episode, which you'll find right inside your podcast app.
So just open up the description for this episode, click the link,

(06:40):
and you'll be taken right to the thread.
Darling Sheepspotter, that is it for me this week. Thank you so much for listening.
I will be back next week with my system for keeping track of my spindles and
a free PDF that will allow you to do the same.

(07:00):
You don't want to miss it. And until then, grab a spindle and spin something.
You know it'll do you good.