The Art of Spinning Yarn from Fleece: A Beginner’s Guide

Spinning yarn from fleece is a millennia's-old craft that connects us to the rhythms of nature and tradition. Whether you're a seasoned spinner or just starting, turning raw fleece into yarn is a rewarding and meditative process. This guide will walk you through the steps of spinning your own yarn, from selecting the fleece to the final product, while exploring the joys and challenges of the craft.

Why Spin Yarn from Fleece?

Before diving into the process, you might wonder: why spin your own yarn? Here are a few reasons why people enjoy this timeless craft:

  • Personalization: When you spin your own yarn, you control every aspect of the process— from fibre selection to the thickness, texture, and colour of the final yarn. This gives you the freedom to create something truly unique.

  • Sustainability: Spinning yarn from fleece allows you to take raw, natural materials and transform them into functional, eco-friendly products like sweaters, scarves, and blankets. Spinning it yourself, particularly if you prepare the fleece, almost completely takes out the industrial processes used for large scale fibre production.

  • Connection to Craftsmanship: Spinning is an ancient practice that connects you to a long tradition of fibre arts. It's a meditative process that allows you to slow down and appreciate the beauty of handmade goods.

Step 1: Selecting Your Fleece

The first step in spinning yarn is selecting the right fleece. There are many types of fleece to choose from, each offering unique textures and qualities. Common fibres used for spinning include:

  • Wool: The most popular choice for spinning, wool comes in a variety of breeds such as Merino, Romney, Corriedale, Blue Faced Leister and Shetland. Each breed has different characteristics, with Merino being soft and fine, and Romney being longer and coarser.

  • Alpaca: This fibre is known for its softness and warmth. Alpaca fleece is less elastic than wool but has a silky texture.

  • Camel, Cashmere or Possum: For a luxurious spin, camel, cashmere or Possum fibres are highly prized for their softness and warmth, though they can be more difficult to handle due to their finer, delicate fibres.

  • Cotton and Flax: These natural fibres are plant based and are fantastic for breathable and summer friendly yarns.

There are also a plethora of less widely available fibre types such as mint, hemp, rose, angora, soy and so many more, I’ve even seen a stall selling dog hair!

If you're new to spinning, wool is a great place to start due to its versatility and forgiving nature.

Step 2: Preparing the Fleece

*Before we begin this section, a word of warning! There is a plethora of amazing preprepared fleece that is ready for spinning and is a brilliant choice for the novice. Cleaning a fleece is honestly super gross and if this is your first time spinning you are much better off purchasing some beautiful preprepared fluffy stuff from an indie dyer or local mill. I have a list of recommended shops below, you can also buy some from me in the shop tab.

Fleece can come in a raw form, meaning it will still have grease, dirt, and vegetable matter in it. You'll need to clean and card or comb the fleece before spinning.

Washing the Fleece

To wash the fleece, fill a large container or sink with lukewarm water and a gentle wool detergent. Submerge the fleece gently and let it soak for about 30 minutes. Avoid agitating the wool, as this can cause felting. After soaking, rinse with clean water, repeating the process if necessary until the water runs clear. Lay the fleece out to dry completely.

Carding the Fleece

Carding is the process of separating and fluffing the fibres to make them easier to spin. You can use hand carders, which look like large paddle brushes with wire teeth, or a drum carder for larger batches. The goal is to create a smooth, even batt or roving, which is a long, continuous strip of fibre that is ready to spin. This skill takes a fair bit of practice so be patient with yourself.

Combing the Fleece

Combing is the alternative option for separating and fluffing the wool fibres, but, it is better as removing vegetable matter and it keeps the fibres aligned which is often a better choice for newer spinners. Specialist combs are available as well as 3D print options but you can also use wide wire tooth combs like those you get for dogs.

Step 3: Spinning the Yarn

Now comes the fun part—spinning the yarn! If you're new to spinning, a spinning wheel or a spindle is your primary tool. Here’s how to get started:

Using a Spinning Wheel

  1. Set Up the Wheel: Make sure your wheel is properly set up and the tension is adjusted to your liking. There are various types of spinning wheels, but most operate on the same basic principle. I highly recommend seeking out your local spinners guild for advice or if that is not an option for you Gillian Eve has an incredible catalogue of YouTube videos about spinning and even how to set up most types of wheels.

  1. Drafting the Fibre: Pull small sections of the prepared roving, this is known as “drafting”. Drafting thins out the fibres before they enter the orifice where the wheel adds the twist. The amount you draft will determine the thickness of your yarn. Drafting is the real skill of a spinner and it takes a while to get the knack of it, expect your first few attempts to be very uneven, your fleece may also “snap”, this isn’t anything to worry about as fleece is lots of small fibres anyway, you can overlap the ends and re-spin this broken section back together again.

  2. Plying: After spinning a single strand, many spinners ply their yarn by twisting two or more singles together. Plying creates a stronger, more balanced yarn and can add texture. To ply, feed 2 or more strands of single spun yarn back into your wheel but this time, spin in the opposite direction of what you did when you created the singles.

Using a Spindle

If you don’t have a spinning wheel, a spindle is a great, affordable option. It works on the same principles, but it's more portable and hands-on. The Craefty Witch creates many types of spindles that you can purchase for yourself from our webstore, Etsy Shop and from our stall at Market Fair in Ferntree Gully.

All spindles need a stick but many come with a whirl, this is a weighted disk or bars which provide stability and momentum while spinning. Spinning come be done in the air, this is known as unsupported spinning, or in a bowl or cradle which is called supported spinning.

  1. Starting: To begin, either hand draft a small section of fibre, drafting and twisting it with your hands and then use a half hitch to secure your fibre gently to the top of the spindle. Alternatively, if you have a Turkish spindle, you can wedge the end of the fibre into the whirl with the shaft. Then use the hitch to hold the fibre to the top of your spindle.

  2. Draft: Draft out some fibre to your desires thickness, the thicker the strand the less twist it needs, whereas, the thinner the draft the more twist you need to put into it.

  3. Spin the Fibre: Hold the drafted fibre with one hand and spin the spindle with the other. I like to flick the bottom of the spindle using my thumb and forefinger.

  4. Park: Once you have built up enough twist, stop your spindle and draft more fibre out and repeat the previous steps. This is known as the park and draft method and it is the best starting place for new spinners.

  5. Continuous Spinning: Once you have built up your skills using the park and draft method you can begin to spin and draft at the same time.

  6. Create the Cop or Turtle: Once you have a length of fibre spun you can wind this into the shaft of the spindle to create a cop. If you are using a Turkish style of spindle you can instead make a turtle, this is where you wind your yarn over one under 2 around and around the legs of the spindle. You can even tape the spindle parts off the turtle to create a centre pull ball which can be used for plying!

  7. Plying the Yarn: Once you’ve spun a length of yarn, you can ply it using another spindle or using the plying bracelet technique. Make sure that you ply in the opposite direction of your original twist.

Step 4: Setting the Twist

Once you've spun and plied your yarn, it's important to set the twist. This step involves soaking your yarn in lukewarm water and allowing it to relax. After the yarn has dried, you can gently "thwack" it (a technique where you hit the yarn against a surface to help the fibres settle) to ensure the twist is set and the yarn is ready to use as soon as it is dry.

Step 5: Enjoying Your Hand-Spun Yarn

Now that you've spun your yarn, you can use it in various projects. Whether you’re knitting a cosy sweater, crocheting a beautiful scarf, or weaving a unique piece of fabric, there are endless possibilities for your hand-spun yarn.

Final Thoughts

Spinning yarn from fleece is a craft that requires patience, practice, and a sense of connection to the materials you're working with. Whether you're spinning as a hobby or creating beautiful handmade items, the process is deeply rewarding. So, gather your fleece, set up your wheel, and start spinning! You'll soon find yourself creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind yarn that you can be proud of.

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