It's been four years since I first watched this video, dreaming of my own wheel. I now have 5 wheels and I'm about to start teaching spinning in my local community, so I'm back again to pick up some tips for beginners. Spinning has become part of my therapy, it kept me sane through lockdown with a newborn, and connected me with a while new community of fluff lovers. Thank you for posting this video and helping me find my passion.
5 wheels, cool - I love crafting tools. about 25 years ago I told my wife I was heading into town to buy a new saw to do a specific task, being completely ignorant of woodworking she snidely asked me "don't you already have a saw?!" - I rolled my eyes hard enough to sprain one of them ;o)
What a peaceful video you have made. A person could sit and watch it for hours. It is nice to see there are still people in the world who still enjoy the simpler things in life.
Showed this video to my great grandmother, she remembers when this was a necessary function of daily country life. She did say it sure wasn't for relaxation though.
I watched this video a few years ago when I got my first wheel, and I've come back to it with a smile and a giggle! You are a wonderful teacher and instilled a wonderful sense of creativity and joy to my spinning. I use a castle lendrum wheel and its got many miles on it
I first watched this video seven years ago, and it was a launching pad. The community of spinners around me has grown by leaps and bounds, I’ve been able to make reconnections within my own family, I’ve had the privilege of educating the public about fiber arts, and I’ve found meaning and direction for life through handspinning. I tell everyone who asks that this video taught me to spin. Thank you so much for this, from the bottom of my heart. 💜
Thank you for sharing that with me! I'm really touched and so happy you've found something that gives you so much pleasure. You're very kind to share your story with me.
I recently invented a 'new' electric motor to run at variable speed. A patent search showed it had been invented previously in 1911 for a spinning machine in a textile mill. I knew nothing of spinning but your videos go to the basics. I appreciated your efforts, the video "How to Spin Yarn On a Wheel - Absolute Beginner Lesson! " was perfect for me. Now I can progress to learn about jennies, frames, and mills. Thank you.
Dear Channey, this is was so relaxing to watch. My mother and grandmother knitted and crocheted, alas I'm clumsy in these things did not continue that beautiful legacy! but just watching brought back memories. thank you so much!
I love how how relaxed and inspiring you are. I fell in love with your blog and videos after watching you crochet snowflakes. You tend to have such an easy going peaceful way about you while still teaching and using technical which I so appreciate. Thanks so much for the effort you go to!
Love this video. I'm a toolmaker, and often look to industry outside my normal woodworker/metalworker zone to get ideas on how to make things by seeing how different machines work. This was absolutely hypnotic! A real joy to watch, I'll never spin myself, but I can really appreciate the combination of tool and technique. This was a real treat, and the instructor has a great tone in teaching. I'll be back for more. Keep up the good work, I appreciate it.
I have watched this several times over the last year. I am a woodworker and am nearing completion of a saxony spinning wheel. this tutorial has cleared up a lot of questions that have arisen during the construction. Thanks
I want to build a working spinning wheel from scratch, turning the spindles etc for my friend who owns a 500+year old thatched cottage and was researching designs. When I saw your video I was fascinated. I could watch you for hours. Thank you - from an engineer in England x
Wonderful timing when u said that it was a lot of gear to spin some yarn, I was thinking the very same thing not a moment b4. Beautiful scenery and ur attitude is awesome.
Thank you so much! I love your relaxed way of teachers no....and spinning. I've just bought an old Swiss wheel and can't wait to get it up and running so I can try this
Didn't even listen to your instructions or even care to learn to spin yarn, just enjoyed the calmness of your voice in this beautifully made video. So cute when you suddenly got excited "ah ah...ahh" when you almost made a mistake.
Honestly, I won't be able to get started on spinning anytime soon but watching your video was (1) very educational, (2) inspirational, and (3) very soothing. I feel like I was spinning vicariously through you, if that makes sense. Just one question - the outside setting of the video was absolutely gorgeous. Where were you?
I am so glad to see someone as young as you interested in the hand made fiber arts. When I taught myself to spin just over 40 years ago there was never anyone within 600 miles to share mutual interests or information. Then life's drudgeries and no place to get supplies discouraged keeping the effort alive. Went years without a computer . Got one and didn't know how to use it. Finally found You Tube, and now addicted finding all the odd crafts I dabbled in, come alive. . Just love your enthusiasm and hope to find more of your videos. Rantala (my wheel), will be so glad to get the dust off her and come out and play again. Great video. Thank you : )
Love the video, thank you! I have an Ashford wheel & have felt quite daunted by the little issues along the way, such as the roving breaking but you are very reassuring, it can be done! Loved the random pink ball at 5:00...I kept going back to replay its journey :'D
I've been wanting to learn to spin for years now and I finally ordered a mini electric wheel to start my spinning journey with! I can't wait to make my own yarn and then use it in my crocheting. Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial!
For a lifetime I have wanted to spin... all things in good time as yesterday I got my first spinning wheel and now I am super excited - thank you for your beginner videos.
I just bought a used Ashford spinning wheel today. The lady I got it from was very helpful in showing me how to use it and she even gave me some material to start with. I figure between her instructions and your lovely video I will learn how to do this!
You video really inspired me to start spinning a while ago and let it sit around in my head and look around the web! I'm buying my wheel tomorrow, it's secondhand since it's cheaper and I don't know whether I'll even like doing it but I really wanna try. Ordered some roving today which should be arriving monday or tuesday which gives me time to get used to treddling before spinning. :)
Awesome! Good luck! You're gonna have so much fun! As far as the drive band you messaged me about, you can use cotton string. Your wheel should come with instructions on how to set it up... each one is different. :D
ExpressionFiberArts Thank you for your quick reply! I'm afraid it won't come with instructions since I'm purchasing mine from an antique store (the seller told me it was a working wheel that had been used) but I don't know if it'll come with a band or not. :) Thank you, though. Is there a specific knot I should use?
Very interesting & well done instructional video. My intro to wool spinning over 50 years ago was on a very primitive drop spindle made of a stick in a small apple! My wheels are all antique, my favorite a castle style from Canada, now approx 175 years old. It has lots of character, can be a little cantankerous, but on occasion, demonstrate spinning on it. Have never had or used a modern wheel.
Wow... I was curious to watch this and I think spinning is a truly dying art! It's great to see younger generations continuing this craft. You have an absolutely gorgeous wheel! and like everyone else this video is inspiring to give it a go. I feel as if this video is like stepping back into a time machine 100 years. Great scenery too!
I was watching a historical farm documentary, I grew up around farms so farming history is kinda an interest of mine and there was an episode where they showed how textiles go from start to finish. All the way from feeding the sheep well so the nutrition grows a better fleece all the way to manufacturing textiles. It was based on a 16th century English farm and how they did everything. Anyway, my mind ran away with how the heck does spinning work so I found some videos to see how it all works. Yours was informative and pleasant to watch. Thank you!
i really like ur art i like to learn . i wish to have such machine could u plz help me from where i can get it . thanks for ur time and lesson of art of spin a wool. take care
Wow that was so beautiful to watch, thank you. My Mennonite ancestor Mary had her own spinning wheel in 1778. I can now imagine her working at her wheel and what that was like.
Thank you for your video. Your instructions were extremely clear. I am hoping to get into spinning soon, as it's a craft I've always wanted to learn. Do you buy your roving, or do you card and dye your own? If so, I would love to see how you do it, as you have a great teaching style. Thank you again.
I inherited my great great great grandmother’s wheel that she brought over from Norway, and who know how long it had been in the family before that. You made me feel like I might actually be able to use it! Thank you!
I used to be so envious when i was younger watching these people spinning on their beautiful giant double treadle wheels and now i have one im so happy and im loving itttttttttt ive wanted one since i was 7 and now that im 14 im so ahppy with my wheel
Because of your beginner tutorial that I watched yesterday, you inspired me to try, so I bought a spinning wheel from eBay today. The man just delivered it. I am in Newcastle New South Wales AUSTRALIA. Thank you for your positive spin on spinning!
I always enjoyed watching the women at their spinning wheels at the historic woolen mill in my hometown. I had no idea it really was as easy as they made it look. Great video, thank you for posting!
I love you Shandi (like a sister). You remind me of my favorite childhood friend. So happy and enthusiastic. Keep the light in your heart. I hope you have children. They need people like you.
Random comment, But you are soooooo beautiful! seriously darling, you are gorgeous. :) Also thank you for making this video! I used to think doing things like knitting or spinning yarn would be impossible to learn, but thanks to you and many other youtubers out there, I am a self-taught knitter and soon to be spinner!
+ExpressionFiberArts Agreed! From your first video I watched of yours (Crochet lesson #1), I thought you were so beautiful. You have a very natural type of innocence. I love your videos. You have by far, the easiest to follow lessons I have found. I watched your first crochet lesson with absolutely ZERO crochet experience, and I have now crocheted a little blanket for my dog (a chihuahua), a scarf, a pair of socks, and a dozen coasters. They all look amazing, and people are shocked that I am a beginner. I owe it all to you! Thanks for taking the time to make the videos. I am jealous you have a spinning wheel! I hope to get one eventually as I continue to grow my crochet hobby! I have turned a few people on to crochet as well. A lot of my friends who are also men, are even starting to crochet with me! People may think its weird that we are men who crochet, but we are starting our own little "Mens Crochet Club" in my area, HAHA! It's extremely relaxing and satisfying to make our own beanies, scarfs and what not! A couple of the guys I crochet with made their wives and girlfriends scarfs, socks or headbands and they all report that their girls LOVE it! I guess they like a man who crochets! I refer all the beginners I come across who are interested in learning to your website and youtube channel! I hope to see more videos from you soon!! Keep it up!!
OH thank you so much! That just tickles me pink. I'm thrilled you're loving crocheting and I hope you get your wheel soon! They are a dream to use. We hope to whip out more and more videos for you very soon. Have a wonnnnderful day and pet that sweet doggie of yours for me! Chandi
OK....YOU ARE SOMETHING AWESOME...I WAS TRYING THIS FOR HOURS ( I mean like 4 hrs- NOT with your video but others) and after watching your video I got it in like 15 minutes. Im spinning and just watching your video now because I LOVE your voice and instruction. You are amazing at this career. Lovely yarn. I wish you blessing and all the good stuff life can bring. Love your website. Fabulous. Thank you for sharing. You are inspiring.
ExpressionFiberArts Anytime. I had a question though about spinning....I was wondering if the bobbin is supposed to be spinning at the same time that that yarn is going on? I kind of think that it needs to be stable and that is what the tension is for. My yarn is kinking up a lot, I'm not sure its right. I still have no idea how this all turns into yarn., I'm aware of plying, but believe that one cannot not knit with a single ply yarn. thank you, i hope you are having an enjoyable day.
I saw a video of a lady...I want to say she was in Denmark. Actually had her own sheep that she sheared and processed the wool to spin and created her own clothes.
I have a Persian Chinchilla cat and get fur off him every day. I sent a bag of fur to a woman who spun it, then had another woman crochet a beautiful shawl with beads from Bentley fur. I also have bunnies and she spun yarn from bunny fur also, but the bunny yarn is too fragile to knit or crochet. I'd love to learn how to do this myself.
It’s so nice to see a woman, being a woman. How industrious you are, you are a inspiration to me as a business owner, teacher and content creator. You should be proud.
Please, no offense at all to this nicely done instructional video, but am I the only one who appreciates how stacked this lady is who is conducting this lesson. I'm a man. I can't help but appreciate it. Just saying is all. Perhaps I'm the only male who watched this. I was doing some research and stumbled on to it.
It’s 1:22 am. I am desperate to get to sleep. When I first saw this video I didn’t take so kindly to it. I watched it to the end and now in my closing years I remembered a lifetime ago when I saw, heard, held and kissed beautiful girls like this. Such memories are Soothing….thank you
+iheartmakup after I read this comment..I immediately fall asleep and dreamt about the lake at night and it was foggy. then, Jason from Nightmare s in Elm's street pulled my leg into the lake and clawed my face until the lake become, a bloody lake. suddenly, I woke up and my bed was covered with my sweat. And realized that everything was a dream.. LOL!!!
This video inspired me to learn spinning 5 years ago. Now I have 2 spinning wheels, bunch of spindles, fluff everywhere. I grow my own cotton ( a little ). I even learned how to shear a sheep. So thank you. This video truly changed my life.
+Patricia Ashleigh Check your local yarn and fiber stores if you have one! I'm just about to try spinning for the first time after watching this video, and just today rented a Kromski Sonata from a local shop at $35/mo. If, after renting a few months, I've totally got the spinning bug, then I'll buy my own.
She would be beautiful if she washed all that makeup off. Sorry, just my initial reaction. As an edit, I am very glad to see an homage to the old school methods. That's wonderful. To lose our past is to lose the future. Great work and glad to see you working with the roots, instead of tech.
It’s as if yarn is sprouting from your fingertips! This all looks so fun! A spinning wheel would definitely fit in my dark academia dream home! Beautiful video btw! ♥️
I just wanted to stop by and say I like your videos and your channel and the fact that you are doing such a "green" thing as creating yarn out of natural fibers is very cool. I am a recyclist and especially enjoy repurposing clothing and old yarns for new and happy projects. I enjoy seeing videos like this. hugs Renee
First I thought wow I really want to learn how to weave. Now I wanting to spin and weave. I have requested a weaving loom from Santa for this years Christmas, but I have now also added a spinning wheel. LOL. I think there is enough time for Santa to get his elves to get everything ready for the end of the year. You made it look so easy. I appreciate when I find people on youtube sharing their knowledge because without so many of you I would not have learned as much as I did. One complaint though....the music was so fabulously relaxing that I was sitting here in a trance...almost fell off my chair. But with my complaining I thoroughly enjoyed watching you spin your yarn. Thanks.
This is my favorite spinning video. You make everything clear and simple, and I love that you're on the dock and outside. Watching your video makes me feel relaxed and peaceful, and shows me how and where I want to spin!
Remembering sitting on my late grandma's knee while she spun her one pedalled wheel when I was a boy some 25 years ago made me search for this "how-to". Thank you for filling the gaps in a very fond memory :) - PS, round and round, over, and through... haha I still remember the crochet!
Amazing! For the past 2 years Ive been thinking of taking up spinning. Your video explained and solved so many mysteries for me. I am looking forward to learning.
Haha this video randomly popped up in my feed, It brought back a lot of memories for me, my step-grandmother used to spin her own yarn.. I remember her trying to teach me.. with limited success. I guess a 5 year old boy wasn't the easiest student to teach.
Awesome video, thank you for sharing. 46yrs old man and I finally have an idea how one of these work, very cool. My daughter is into knitting and crocheting and I was wondering how yarn was made back in the day. Yeah, that could be fun.
It's my dream to some day own a 10 acre off-the-grid, farm/homestead and learn to be 100% self sufficient and part of that is learning to make my own cloths from wool sheared off of my own farm raised sheep. Thanks for posting such an educational video.
