Description
What is a top drop spindle whorl?
A spindle whorl is a weighted object fitted to a spindle to help maintain the whorl’s speed of rotation while spinning yarn. Refer to my Drop Spinning page for instructions and where you can purchase fibre.
The whorl spindle shaft is of hardwood, approximately 30-31 cm (12 inches) long with a metal hook on top. The shaft is trimmed and then finished with a beeswax-based polish.
The spindle itself is turned from a hardwood such as sycamore, sapele, oak, beech or other reclaimed material. Each one is unique but has a diameter of approximately 68 – 72mm (2.5+ inches) to ensure it spins well. The whorl is then polished with beeswax-based polish. This leaves a natural-looking lustre rather than an artificial shine.
About a top drop spindle whorl.
These top drop spindle whorls have the weight at the top. Light to medium weight top whorl spindles tend to spin better than extremely light low-whorl spindles. Top drop spindles get more top-heavy as they fill with the yarn you are winding around the shaft. The spinning motion can becoming irregular or wobbly at times when it has more yarn wound at the one part of the shaft that the other.
How many top drop spindle whorl do I need?
If you are going to be spinning and plying you will need at least three top spinning whorls. Maybe you want to spin an amount of roving to make a pair of socks. If that is your aim, you will need a few drop whorls. All spun yarn from roving to yarn is 1 ply yarn. To knit you will need at least a 2 ply yarn. This basically means that you will need two drop whorls of 1 ply yarn and 1 drop spindle that you can use to “ply” the two single yarns into 2 ply.
Read my blog on spinning Jack Rabbit fibre for hints and tips on how to use your drop spindle whorl. The top drop spindle single yarn to 2 ply and a review on the Jack rabbit fibre itself.
Spin off magazine is a magazine dedicated to all things spinning. They have a Free Drop spindle how to, click the link to visit their site.
