You Spin My Head Right Round - Unique Businesses Who Use Traditional Wool and Spinning Techniques
If you know my products or have followed my business over the years you will know that I hand spin all my products on my own spinning wheel. I was taught spinning and weaving by my mother.
From my bespoke knitted upholstery to my distinctive hand-spun personalised fairy light strings, letters and hoops in various shapes and sizes. Nothing gives me more joy than using traditional craft techniques to create truly individual items that fit perfectly within your home.
People often ask me about spinning and what it is. It is somewhat of a forgotten craft at times. I want to share a little more about it in the hope that it might inspire others to look into it as a hobby, or share it with their children. Both my children are fascinated by the spinning wheel. I’ve got a 6 year old already creating her own yarn and the 8 year old thinks it’s like an exercise bike and just tries to make it spin as fast as possible!
A Brief History of Spinning
Quite simply I think of spinning as a giant twisting mechanism that can be used to twist anything you want! It is a little more complicated than that, the more complex explanation is that spinning is turning fibres into yarn by twisting and drafting.
Traditionally a hooded stick was used, which became the first spinning tool. But for producing large quantities of yarn a better tool was needed. Some great innovator had the idea of attaching a weight to the stick to keep it spinning, without the need to constantly turn, and so the hand spindle was born. For thousands of years all thread used for all cloth and fabrics was spun on hand spindles.
Me spinning on my spinning wheel
By the 17th century most homes had a spinning wheel. In medieval times, poor families were so dependent on making their own yarn for clothes that the majority of girls and unmarried women would spend most of their time spinning. This is how the word "spinster" became part of our language.
Hand spinning is still important in a lot of societies and cultures, and has also been making a bit of a comeback here in the UK due to the popularity of artisan makers and people wanting more bespoke and unique designs in their home interiors.
The craft of spinning is constantly evolving and I am proud to be a part of this and doing something different with it. I am using traditional techniques to make modern pieces for your home.
Pompoms I use to spin and create my fairy light hoops
There are lots of other exciting and different businesses, artists and makers that are doing something new with yarn and spinning. Here are some other brands below that I think are doing amazing work with yarn and spinning.
Businesses Who Spin My Head Round
A business that creates gorgeous woven wall hangings from handspun yarn, with a focus on sustainability and giving back.
Hand woven fiber art weaving and macrame supplier from Spain
Colourful woven wall art and commission pieces for the home
Studio Vanessa Barragão is focused on doing unique and special pieces to attend each customer's desires and wishes. Her techniques are based on ancestral textile practices like latch hook, crochet, felt, weaving, embroidery and macrame.
All the materials used come from wastes, leftovers and deadstocks of Portuguese factories.
Quality Materials and a Good Teacher are Everything
If you would like to give spinning a spin (!) you will need a good instructor and great quality materials to work with. I have listed out some resources below that I think are helpful if you are just starting out in the world of spinning.
Suppliers
Based in the heart of the wool textiles industry - Yorkshire - they have nearly 40 years’ experience under their belts! That’s a lot of wool know-how!
Spinning Supplies and accessories from The Threshing Barn
They stock a varied selection of Spinning supplies.
Spinning wheels, hand spindles, hand carders, drum carders, bobbins, Lazy Kates and all the other tools needed for creating unique handspun yarns. George Weil ranges of fibres include cottons, Merino wool, British wool, flax and a choice of luxury fibres including alpaca, silk and cashmere.
The Woolery has been in business serving the needs of weavers, knitters, spinners and other fiber artists since 1981. They have an extensive inventory of products and a fast turnaround time.
Learn
ALL IN A SPIN | Workshops & Courses
Whatever your level of experience, at All in a spin you can learn to spin, learn to weave or learn to dye something beautiful and unique, or improve your skills to advanced level.
Spinning courses, craft kits and handcrafted gifts
A great website for you to find local spinning classes and start your spinning journey!
If you have any other questions for me about starting to learn this amazing craft, please feel free to contact me via the website or social media.