While this can be done with two people (tie the cord to a ceiling point, pass bobbins across the space to each other), Kolfinna taught me this one-person method. The key phrase is “Under Two, Around the Middle” and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin. I hope these photos help you learn this method.
[1] When I set this project down mid-braid, I secure the threads in a comb (or a "fake comb" made from paper). This helps me see the next moving bobbin and the three that just finished moving when I stopped.
[2] Setting aside the comb, I hold the threads so that the next moving bobbin is identified. A is off by itself (left-most) and is going to move first.
(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)
[3] First, A goes under B and C...
(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)
[4] ...then A comes in front of (around) C.
(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)
[5] Tighten everything up
[6] D is off by itself (right-most) and is going to move first.
(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)
[7] First, D goes under C and A...
(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)
[8] ...then D comes in front of (around) A.
(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)
[9] Tighten everything up. B is off by itself (left-most) and is going to move first.
(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)
[10] First, B goes under A and D...
(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)
[11] ...then B comes in front of (around) D. Tighten everything up. C is off by itself (right-most) and is going to move next. Repeat forever.
When it's time to pause, secure the threads in a comb, with the three finished recent working threads together and the one that moves next secured off to the side. Then you'll know if the right-most or left-most moves next.
When I’ve been spinning my green silk lately (the one people thought looked like a head of lettuce), I’ve talked about it being from “silk lap” which I pulled until I could spin thread. This video shows what it takes to make silk lap in the first place: See that mattress filling? That’s silk lap. Watch how it takes four people to stretch the already partially stretched silk cocoons until they can layer that large table. That’s silk lap.
A tiny sample of colorful wool and two spindles were gifted to me — here’s what I did with them over the span of a month. I split this wool into three approximately equal parts (over the length, end-to-end) and spun singles from each, then three-plied them together.
Some birthday joy gifted to me early from a spinning friend (thank you, ❤️ Ercil!) #treats
I split this wool into three approximately equal parts (over the length, end-to-end) and plan to spin singles from each, then three-ply them together.
Bday gift: Finn wool from (local) Lake View Terrace, CA (color is labeled "Crayolas") and lace-weight spindle -- gift from Ercil ❤️ #spinning #dropspindle #crafty #textiles #treats
Color shifts in the wool have advanced in this thread #crafty #spinning #SpinningInPublic #textiles
When I need a break from the spinning wheel but I still have to measure spinning for #Spinzilla then I take up the spindle in the living room and make a marker for later's measuring. #Spinzilla2018 #TeamGDW #TeamGriffinDyeworks
Found my retractable measuring tape and am starting to measure all the partial skeins on my drop spindles. First one will be the wool I spun when silk was killing me, plus spindle I could take into the restaurant last night. A respectable 15.5 yards starts my list. Next, there's two spindles in my work bag to unspool, measure, and rewind. Those "partial projects" are nice, but awkward to measure.
In my role as "the preacher's wife," am getting tons of spinning done since we had to be at the wedding venue 2.5 hours early (and we were here 1.5 hrs before that). Tasty sushi lunch first, then spinning and waiting. #CeremoniesByTrue
Still waiting for my car repairs, finished winding off spindle two, and getting ready to spin the final third. #crafty #textiles #spinning #dropspindle
This is "how long it takes" to get a car engine diagnostic, an oil change, an oil filter, a new battery, and two tires. #CarFixed #WoolSpun #TimeMarked #crafty #textiles #spinning #dropspindle
And after picking up my fixed car, the spinning is wrapped up and my three-ply yarn is happening now. ❤️❤️❤️ #crafty #textiles #spinning #dropspindle
Finished plying. About 5/6 three-ply and 1/6 tail end in just two-ply (when one strand ran out). Pretty fun spin project, total about 44 yards. Huge love to Ercil, for my birthday gift. #textiles #crafty #spinning #dropspindle