Respect the Spindle

"Abby Franquemont’s Respect the Spindle book is responsible for getting me obsessed with drop spindling. Several years ago, I had tried to learn how to drop spindle, but I was better at dropping than spinning. I had lots of trouble coordinating the motions. Respect the Spindle is what made drop spindling “click” for me. Abby has clear explanations and photos of how to do every step in drop spindling, which is really helpful for a self taught spinner like myself. She covers drop and support spindles, and goes over any special techniques for particular types of spindles, like Akhas, Navajo, or Turkish spindles (my favorite). And I love any book with a section that explains the physics of spindles. This book has so much good information, it will help a wheel or spindle spinner improve, and probably convince you to try new spindles as well!" Kate Perry, Marketing Assistant

 "You will definitely respect the craft of spinning yarn with the oldest, and most simple, method – a drop spindle. Abby definitely learned to respect, and love, drop spindling when her family moved to the rural Andes in Peru. When she arrived, her friends were already spinning yarn for their family’s weaving supply. Even with the determination of the elder women in town to get her up to speed and the peer pressure of her friends whose social activities were centered around spindling, it took Abby three years to become an “adequate” spinner by Peruvian standards.

Thankfully, you only have to live up to your own standards of perfection. Abby has a lifetime of spindling experience. Before you know it, you will not only be comfortable with drop spindling but you will respect just how productive this simple, and wonderfully portable, tool can be as you make your own yarn.

Portability is the key to Abby’s assertion that drop spindling is much more than a transition to “real” spinning using a spinning wheel. The most convincing argument is that taking a spindle out for a few “found” moments of spinning is easier than even the most straight forward portable knitting project. Take out a spindle and spin. Take out a knitting project, detangle the yarn, get the needles ready, check your pattern and then start knitting. And, there’s something about a spinning wheel that makes you feel like you need to have a good “chunk” of time in order to sit down and spin. The result is that days, weeks and maybe months go by without ever actually spinning. A popular saying among drop spindlers is “less yards by the hour, more yards by the day”. Think about it, handspun yarn just waiting for you to enjoy making during those odd moments of every day."  Kelley Petkun, Owner

"Respect the Spindle" is reviewed in podcast episode 129.