🧶 The Complete Beginners’ Illustrated Guide to Drop Spindle Spinning

Learn how to spin your first yarn—even if you’ve never touched fiber before.

✨ Make Yarn with Your Hands—No Wheel Needed

Drop spindle spinning is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to turn loose fiber into beautiful yarn. This guide will walk you through every step—from setting up your spindle to spinning your first strand. Whether you’ve never held wool before or you’re curious about the craft, you’ll learn everything you need to know to get started—with simple instructions, beginner tips, and illustrations for each step.

If you want to follow along with the right tools, we recommend starting with our Premium Top Whorl Drop Spindle and Beginner Spinning Fibers. You don’t need a wheel, studio, or prior experience—just some wool, a spindle, and this guide.

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Preview of What You’ll Learn

• What a drop spindle is (and why it works)
• What supplies you need to get started
• How to set up your spindle and attach fiber
• How to spin using the park-and-draft method
• What to do with your finished yarn
• Answers to the top beginner questions people commonly ask

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🌀 What Is a Drop Spindle?

A Simple Tool with Ancient Roots

What Makes It Work?

A drop spindle uses twist and tension to turn fiber into yarn. It has just a few key parts:

• Shaft – The long central stick you hold and spin
• Whorl – The round disc near the top that keeps it balanced
• Hook – At the very top, where your yarn loops while spinning
• Notch – A groove in the whorl secures yarn during spinning
• Cop Area – The section of the shaft where you wind your finished yarn

Most beginners use a top-whorl spindle, where the disc (whorl) is near the top of the shaft. This design is easy to control, especially with the “park and draft” method you’ll learn later in this guide.

How Does It Compare to a Spinning Wheel?

Drop spindles are smaller, cheaper, easier to store, and quieter. Spinning wheels are faster and can handle large amounts of fiber—but they’re also a big investment with a steeper learning curve. Spindles are perfect for learning the basics of twist, drafting, and tension.

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🧠 Common Beginner Questions Answered

Want to try spinning with a top-whorl spindle? Shop beginner spindles here →

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🤔 Are Drop Spindles Easy to Use?

Yes—Especially when you start the right way

Drop spindles are one of the simplest tools to learn in fiber arts. With just a few basics and the right setup, you’ll be spinning your own yarn in minutes.

Why Beginners Love Them

Explore our drop spindle kits for beginners to get started.

What Makes Them Easy?

• ✅ You can learn the “park and draft” method, which breaks spinning into steps
• ✅ You don’t need strong hands or special tools—just wool and patience
• ✅ You can go slow, stop and start, and spin at your own pace

Spinning wheels have more moving parts and a steeper learning curve. Spindles keep things simple while still teaching you the core skills of yarn-making.

🧠 Common Beginner Concerns (Answered)

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🧰 What You Need to Start Spinning

Simple Tools, Beautiful Results

You don’t need a spinning wheel or expensive setup to get started. Just a few basic supplies—and you’re ready to spin.

Beginner’s Checklist

Here’s what you’ll need for your first handspun yarn:

• Top Whorl Drop Spindle
  Lightweight and easy to control, it’s ideal for beginners. Look for a spindle with a wooden whorl and a hook on top.
  ➤ Shop beginner drop spindles
• Wool Roving or Combed Top
  Start with medium-length wool like Corriedale, Cheviot, or Rambouillet. It drafts easily and is forgiving. Avoid slippery fibers like alpaca or silk at first.
  ➤ Browse beginner spinning fibers
• Leader Yarn
  A 2-foot piece of scrap yarn to help start your first spin. Any medium-weight yarn will work. You can also make a looped leader.
• Scissors
  Optional, but handy for trimming fiber or leader yarn.
• A Quiet Spot to Sit
  A chair with space between your knees works well for parking the spindle.

Optional (But Helpful)

• Rubber Band or Notch
  If your yarn slips off the spindle whorl, a small rubber band or a hand-filed notch can help keep it in place. Our premium drop spindles feature a notch already carved into the whorl for convenience.
• Storage Basket
  Helps keep your fiber clean and tangle-free between sessions.
• Niddy Noddy
  This handy tool makes it easy to wind your finished yarn into a skein for soaking, drying, or storage. You can use a mini niddy noddy for smaller spindle-sized amounts.
  ➤ Explore niddy noddies

Why Roving and Not Yarn?

Beginners sometimes ask: Can I spin regular yarn with a spindle?

No—you spin fiber into yarn. Roving is fiber that’s already prepared and aligned, making it the easiest to work with. Once you’ve spun it, then it becomes yarn.

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🪢 How to Set up Your Spindle

Get Ready to Spin in Under 60 Seconds

Before you start adding twist, you’ll need to set up a “leader” yarn on your spindle. It gives you a secure starting point for attaching your wool and spinning your first yarn.

What’s a Leader Yarn (and Why You Need One)

A leader is a short piece of yarn—usually about 1-2 feet long—that acts as your starting point. You’ll tie it to your spindle’s shaft and use it to anchor your fiber while you spin. Without one, it’s hard to keep your first few twists from unraveling.

You can use scrap yarn for this—any smooth, medium-weight yarn will work. Bonus: If you tie it into a loop instead of a knot, it won’t come undone as you spin.

How to Attach a Leader Yarn

1. Make a loop.
   Tie your yarn into a closed loop, about 12–24 inches long.
2. Tie it to the shaft.
   Loop it around the shaft just below the whorl and pull one side through the other to tighten.
3. Bring it through the hook.
   Grab the loop and pull it up through the hook at the top of the spindle.

You’re now ready to attach your wool and start spinning.

Pro Tip

Using a loop instead of tying one end means the twist won’t undo your leader as you spin. It also gives you a neat little space to tuck your fiber into before you begin.

Use this same method with our Premium Top Whorl Drop Spindle.

Leader set? Then let’s attach the fiber and start spinning →

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🧶 How to Attach Fiber

Connect Your Wool to the Spindle

Use the Loop to Lock Your Fiber

The easiest way to start is by tucking your fiber into the loop of your leader yarn. This gives it something to grab onto while you build your first twist.

Step-by-Step: Attaching Your Fiber

1. Grab a small piece of wool roving.
   You only need a few inches to start. Pre-draft the end slightly to make it wispy and easy to blend with the yarn.
2. Tuck the fiber into the loop.
   Slide the loose end of the fiber into the center of the leader loop. About an inch or two is enough.
3. Fold it back over itself.
   Bend the fiber back up so the end folds along the main strand. Pinch it lightly with your fingers.
4. You’re ready to spin.
   This simple fold creates enough grip to hold while you spin the first few inches.

Common Questions

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🔄 How to Add Twist

Twist is What Turns Fiber Into Yarn

Once your fiber is attached to the leader, it's time to spin the spindle and add twist. This is the moment where your wool starts to become yarn.

Which Way to Spin?

Most spinners begin by spinning their spindle in a clockwise direction. This creates what’s called a Z twist, and it’s the standard for making singles (your first spun strand). When you’re ready to ply two strands together later, you’ll spin in the opposite direction—counterclockwise—to create an S twist.

📌 Don’t worry too much about the names—just pick one direction and keep it consistent.

How to Add Twist with Your Spindle

1. Hold the shaft just below the whorl.
   Keep your fiber in one hand, and the spindle in the other.
2. Roll the shaft down your thigh or flick it with your fingers.
   This sets the spindle spinning. You’ll feel the twist travel up through the leader yarn.
3. Let it spin.
   Allow the spindle to hang and keep spinning in the air while the twist builds up. If it slows down or reverses, give it another roll.
4. Pinch the fiber to stop the twist.
   When enough twist reaches the fiber, hold it between your fingers so it doesn’t travel further while you draft.

Common Beginner Questions

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🧍♀️The Park-and-Draft Method

Spin in Steps with the Park-and-Draft Method

If you’re just starting out, this technique makes learning easier by separating spinning from drafting. You spin first, then draft your fiber while the spindle is still.

What Does “Park and Draft" Mean?

It’s a beginner technique that breaks spinning into two parts:

• Park the spindle: hold it still so it can’t spin
• Draft the fiber: gently pull it out to the thickness you want
• Then let twist travel up the fiber to hold it together

This method gives you more control and time to work with the wool without feeling rushed.

Step-by-Step: How to Park and Draft

1. Spin the spindle 8–10 turns.
   Build up twist just like you practiced.
2. Stop and park the spindle.
   Hold it between your knees or rest it against your leg to keep it from spinning.
3. Pinch the wool at the base of the leader yarn.
   This keeps the twist from traveling too far too fast.
4. Gently pull the fiber back.
   Draft out about 6 inches of fiber to your desired thickness.
5. Slide your pinch back.
   Let the twist travel into the drafted fiber. This locks it together into yarn.
6. Repeat.
   Keep spinning, parking, drafting, and sliding until you’ve spun about an arm’s length.
7. Wind the yarn onto the shaft.
   This is called building a “cop” (a cone of finished yarn).

Just remember: spin → pinch → park → draft → release → wind → repeat.

Common Beginner Questions

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🌀 How to Wind Yarn Onto the Spindle

Keep Your Yarn Organized with a Neat Cop

After you’ve spun a length of yarn, it’s time to wind it onto the spindle shaft. This keeps your yarn tidy and frees up space to keep spinning.

What Is a Cop?

A cop (rhymes with “top”) is the cone-shaped buildup of yarn that wraps around the spindle shaft. As you spin more, the cop grows—and your spindle becomes more yarn-heavy. A neat, evenly built cop helps balance the spindle and makes your spinning smoother.

Step-by-Step: How to Wind Yarn On

1. Stop spinning when you’ve made an arm’s-length of yarn.
   About 24–30 inches is a good start.
2. Pinch the yarn so no more twist travels up.
   Hold the fiber securely while you prepare to wind.
3. Unhook the yarn from the spindle hook.
   This frees the yarn to wind onto the shaft without tension.
4. Wrap the yarn around the shaft, just below the whorl.
   Start with a few tight loops, then wrap in an up-down criss-cross pattern to build the cone.
5. Leave 6–8 inches loose.
   This tail will go back through the hook when you’re ready to spin more.

Pro Tips for a Balanced Cop

• Don’t let the yarn bunch up only at the top or bottom.
• Keep your wraps snug, but not tight enough to stretch or pull the yarn.
• If the spindle becomes too heavy, stop and remove the yarn to start a new cop or continue later.

Common Beginner Questions

See tools for winding and storing handspun yarn:
➤ Shop yarn winders, niddy noddies & skein tools

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🧶 What to Do With Your Finished Yarn

You Made Yarn—Now What?

Once your spindle is full, it’s time to remove your yarn and decide what you want to do with it next—no pressure, just possibilities.

Step 1: Take Your Yarn Off the Spindle

Unwind the yarn from your spindle and wrap it into a skein or ball. The easiest way is to:

• Use a niddy noddy to wind it into a loop/skein (this keeps it organized and ready for finishing).
• Or wind it into a center-pull ball if you’re excited to keep using it right away.

See niddy noddies and winding tools →

Step 2: Set the Twist

To help your yarn hold its shape and behave better in projects:

1. Soak your yarn in warm water with a tiny bit of wool wash (optional).
2. Gently squeeze out the water—don’t wring.
3. Hang to dry with light weight if needed to reduce twist energy.

This is called “setting the twist,” and it’s optional but helpful—especially if your yarn looks curly or kinked.

Step 3: Use It or Save It

Now that you’ve made your first handspun:

• Try knitting or crocheting a small swatch—a mug cozy, coaster, or even a mini pouch.
• Label and store your yarn as a record of your progress. It's fun to compare your first yarn to what you'll make next.

Beginner Questions

We’ll cover plying in an upcoming section. For now, celebrate your finished skein—you made yarn!

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🧶 Your First Yarn is Just the Start

Spinning Is a Skill—Not a Test

Don’t worry if your first yarn is thick, bumpy, or wildly uneven. Every spinner starts there, and it means you’re doing it right.

Keep Going—You’re Learning with Your Hands

Your first yarn isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to teach your fingers what yarn feels like when it forms. That knowledge only comes from doing. In fact, the lumps, thin spots, and accidental corkscrews are signs that you’re making progress.

The more you spin, the smoother and more balanced your yarn will get. You’ll begin to:

• Draft with less effort
• Control twist more easily
• Feel the difference between over- and under-spun yarn

This is muscle memory in the making. Like knitting or playing an instrument, spinning becomes second nature with repetition.

Tips to Build Confidence

• Spin a little every day. Even 5–10 minutes helps.
• Try different wools. Some fibers (like Corriedale or Cheviot) are easier to learn on than Merino.
• Take photos of your yarn. You’ll see just how much you’ve improved over time.

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🧶 Where to Go from Here

Ready to Spin More? Let’s Keep Going

Now that you’ve spun your first yarn, you’re ready to explore new skills and tools—at your own pace.

Try Plying Your Yarn

Once you’ve spun a few singles, try combining two together. This is called plying, and it balances the twist, strengthens your yarn, and gives it a smoother look. Many spinners use the same spindle to ply—just spin it in the opposite direction.

Explore Different Fibers

Every fiber feels and spins a little differently. After wool, try:

• Silk blends for shine
• Alpaca for softness
• Bamboo or plant-based fibers for a smoother draft

Consider a Second Spindle

Different spindles work best for different types of yarn. Once you’ve got the basics, a lighter or heavier spindle can help you spin laceweight or bulky yarn more easily. Many spinners build a small collection to match their goals.

Compare beginner spindles →

Want to Try a Spinning Wheel?

You don’t have to—but if you loved drop spindling and want to make more yarn faster, a spinning wheel might be a natural next step. It’s simply another tool in the spinner’s kit. Drop spindles and wheels often go hand-in-hand.

Explore spinning wheels →

Keep Going—You’re a Spinner Now

There’s no one right way to spin, and there’s no rush. Whether you keep using your spindle or branch out, the skills you’re building will stay with you. Every yard you spin is a step forward.

You’ve turned wool into yarn—and that’s something to be proud of.

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Keep the Momentum Going

You’ve spun your first yarn—so what comes next? Like any new skill, the more you practice, the more confident (and consistent) you’ll become.

• 💡 Want to spin finer yarn? Try drafting more gently and allowing more twist before setting the yarn.
• 🎨 Curious about colors? Blend different fibers or dye your own roving for a totally unique look.
  Explore our dyed fibers →
• 🧵 Thinking of bigger projects? Practice spinning longer, even singles and learn how to ply them into balanced, durable yarns.

Helpful Tools for Leveling Up

Now that you’ve got the basics down, here are a few tools you might want to add to your kit:

• Spinning bowl – Helps support supported spindle styles or park-and-draft with more control.
• Fiber prep tools – Hand carders or combs allow you to blend fibers or prep raw fleece.
• Niddy Noddy or skein winder – Makes it easy to skein and measure your yarn.
• Digital scale – Useful for planning yardage or dyeing your own fiber.

Join the Spinning Community

Spinning doesn’t have to be a solo craft. Share your yarn, ask questions, and get inspired:

• 📸 Tag your handspun creations with #RevolutionFibers & @RevolutionFibers on Instagram or TikTok
• 💬 Join a spinning group online or in person
• 🧶 Shop beginner-friendly spinning fibers and tools at RevolutionFibers.com