Handspinning is the art of twisting fiber, fleece, or roving of wool and various natural fibers into a continuous thread/yarn. Traditional tools for handspinning are spinning wheels and drop spindles. The yarn created is for knitting, weaving, and fiber art projects.
Here you will find all the information you need to teach yourself the art of handspinning yarn. Joy of Handspinning includes several video demonstrations to assist you in learning various handspinning techniques, along with articles of helpful information. The information we’ve learned along the way consists of traditional and contemporary approaches. Our primary goal is to share with you the joy of handspinning fiber into yarn.
A Brief History of Handspinning
Handspinning, the process of using a spinning tool to twist fibers into yarn, is an ancient art that has been practiced for thousands of years. The earliest evidence of handspinning dates back to ancient civilizations in Egypt, the Middle East, and the Indus Valley. People used simple tools like drop spindles to spin fibers such as wool, flax, and cotton into yarn.
In the Middle Ages, handspinning became a crucial part of the economy in Europe and Asia, as the demand for textiles grew with the expansion of trade and the rise of urbanization. Handspinners, often women and children, worked long hours on a spinning wheel to produce enough yarn to meet the needs of weavers and other textile workers. With the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, handspinning was gradually replaced by mechanized spinning methods, which were faster and more efficient. However, handspinning has always remained, and it remains a popular hobby and craft for many people worldwide today.