Learn to spin on an

Ashford Wheel

spinning | weaving | carding | felting | knitting | dyeing

Welcome to the world of hand spinning ...
Ashford spinning wheels are designed to make spinning easy. This booklet READY TO BEGIN
will help you get started. There are many different ways to spin. Soon you You will need:
will be developing your own style and be creating many different kinds Approx. 50gm (1½ozs) of wool sliver
of yarns. All Ashford spinning wheels have similar parts and function. 1.5metre (5ft) length of medium weight yarn for
In this booklet we use the Kiwi spinning wheel for our main spinning a leader yarn and a 10metre (30ft) length for
instructions. All other Ashford spinning wheels are featured with wheel practising
set up pages. We use Ashford wool sliver. Other fibres such as silk, linen, Chair
cotton, and many animal fibres can also be spun on Ashford wheels. Niddy noddy
Parts
Become familiar with the names of the parts – treadle, bobbin, flyer and PRACTISE
whorl, spindle, orifice, flyer hooks, threading hook, drive band, brake band Go through each step taking time to feel the
and tension knob, back and front support bearings, and lazy kate. rhythm of treadling and working with your hands.

Brake Band Lubrication

Turn the brake band tension knob until the springs just begin Regularly apply a drop of oil to all points as
to stretch. Do not overtighten or the yarn may break and the wheel will be directed in your wheel’s assembly instructions.
hard to treadle.
Drive band
Place the drive band over the largest groove on the flyer whorl and the
smallest groove on the wheel.

Kiwi 3, P3 Traditional Single Drive, P11 Traditional Double Drive, P13 Joy 2, P15 Country 2, P20

Elizabeth Spinning Wheels, P16 Traveller 3, P14 e-Spinner 3, P18 e-Spinner Super Jumbo, P19
2 Learn to Spin
01 02

THE LEADER: Start by attaching the yarn to the bobbin. Attach

the 1.5metre (5ft) leader yarn firmly onto the bobbin. Ensure
it does not slide around the centre of the bobbin.

03

TREADLE: Sit on a chair in front of the wheel and

place your feet on the treadles. Turn the wheel in a
CLOCKWISE direction with your hand, and start treadling
slowly. Use a heel and toe action. Stop and practise
starting again until you feel comfortable treadling.

Feed the leader yarn through the black yarn guide on the
left flyer arm, around the cup hook and pull it through the
orifice using the threading hook.
Refer to the set up page for your specific spinning wheel.

Learn to Spin 3
04 05

Hold the leader and turn the wheel clockwise 3 times. SPINNING PRACTISE: Make a loop at the end of the yarn.
This starts the yarn winding onto the bobbin. Stop when
approximately 50cm (20ins) of yarn is left in front of the
orifice. Check your tension springs are not stretched out -
they should be just starting to open.

06 07

Take the practise yarn through the loop of the leader. Keep treadling slowly, allowing the yarn to slide
HANDS AND FEET: Hold the yarn at the loop with your front through your back hand.
hand. Start treadling slowly clockwise. Allow the yarn to
join onto itself. Then feed the yarn into the flyer orifice with
your front hand.
4 Learn to Spin
PRACTISE THE DRAFTING ACTION: 08
1. Pinch the yarn between your index finger and thumb on
your front hand.
2. Relax the pinch slightly and slide your fingers back towards
you – the twist will follow.
3. Pinch again when the twist has carried down the length of
the yarn.
4. Feed the yarn into the orifice and onto the bobbin. Repeat
this until you come to the end of the yarn. Lift the brake
band off the back of the bobbin and pull the practise
yarn back through the orifice. Replace the brake band
and practise the drafting action again. Once you feel your
hand and foot action is co-ordinated you are ready to start
spinning with the wool sliver.
5. If the yarn does not feed in increase the brake band
tension a little. If the yarn is pulled out of your hands or
breaks, reduce the brake band tension a little.
SPINNING: Take a length of wool sliver. Pull some fibres
out of the end of the sliver.

09 10

Take these fibres through the loop and double back. Start Now you are ready to begin drafting and spinning a yarn.
treadling slowly clockwise until there is a light twist in the
fibres around the leader.

Learn to Spin 5
11 12

Continue treadling clockwise. Pinch the yarn with your front Pull the fibres gently backwards with your back hand to form
hand. the yarn. Relax the pinch slightly and slide your pinched fingers
back towards you, letting the twist follow your fingers. Repeat
the drafting motion - pinch, pull fibres back until you have a
consistant thickness, relax fingers and slide back allowing the
twist into the drafted fibres. Feed the twisted length of yarn
forward into the orifice and onto the bobbin. Repeat.

13 14


NOTE: The pinching fingers of your front hand prevent the twist NOTE: Think about the staple length of the fibre you are
entering the undrafted sliver. If this happens stop treadling spinning, do not draft longer than the staple length. Relax
and pull the spun yarn from the sliver and start again. the back hand and allow the fibres to flow.
Hold the sliver lightly in your back hand and allow the fibres
to pull out easily. This makes it easy to spin a consistent yarn.

6 Learn to Spin
15 16

JOINING THE YARN: Treadle slowly clockwise and hold the Pinch the fingers of your front hand in front of the join and
spun yarn in your front hand. Place more sliver alongside. start drafting the fibres again.
Allow the fibres to catch and twist into the yarn.

17 HINTS FOR THIS STAGE:

1. Do not sit too close to the wheel. Relax, lean back and
leave room for your hands to work.
2. Uneven yarn is OK - your first handspun will be a
beautiful “fancy yarn”.
3. You can vary the amount of twist in your yarn
by changing the speed of your treadling or hand
movements.
4. A fine yarn needs more twist than a thick yarn to make it
strong.
5. Move the yarn guides along the flyer as you fill the
bobbin.
6. Slightly tighten the brake band as the bobbin fills.

FILLING THE BOBBIN: As the yarn builds up on the bobbin

stop spinning, squeeze the yarn guide and slide it along a
little. Do this often working backwards and forwards along the
length until the bobbin is full. When treadling faster it may be
nessecary to move the opposite yarn guide as well to ensure
perfect flyer balance.
Learn to Spin 7
18 19

CHANGING THE BOBBIN – remove the drive band (place With your thumb pushing up on the end of the bobbin pull
on the rear upright). Unhook the brake band and remove the whorl off the other end. Change bobbin, replace whorl,
from the bobbin. Hold the front of the flyer and click up place back into rear bearing and click back down into the
and just out of the front bearing. Pull the flyer towards front bearing. Replace the brake band and drive band,
you to remove from the rear bearing. check drive band is aligned correctly with the wheel.

20 21

PLYING: We recommend you ply two single yarns together Take 1 yarn from each bobbin, put them through the loop
to make a strong, balanced 2 ply yarn. Place 2 full bobbins and double back about 10cm (4ins).
onto the built-in lazy kate. Place an empty bobbin on the
flyer. Attach a leader yarn with a loop and pull it through
the orifice as before.

8 Learn to Spin
22 23

Begin treadling slowly in an ANTI-CLOCKWISE direction. Relax the pinch slightly and slide your fingers back towards
Use your fingers to separate the 2 singles before they twist you. The twist will follow. Pinch again and feed the plied
together. Pinch the yarn with your front hand. yarn into the orifice and onto the bobbin.

24
• The whorl is pushed fully onto the flyer shaft. If not this
can cause the flyer assembly to be tight between the
bearings.
• The front of the flyer is snapped down into the front flyer
bearing.
• That both the bobbin and flyer have end play and spin
freely. If not ensure the rear flyer nylon bearing has been
tapped fully to the bottom of the hole in the upright.
• The brake band only has sufficient tension to draw the
yarn onto the bobbin. The springs should only just be
starting to stretch.
• That the drive belt is correctly aligned in the grooves in
the wheel and whorl.
• Apply a drop of oil to the oiling points indicated in the
Repeat until you have a full bobbin. assembly instructions.
• When not using your Kiwi 3 release the tension on the
drive band by moving it down one step on the whorl or
wheel.
For additional troubleshooting refer to page 22.
Learn to Spin 9
25

MAKING A SKEIN: When the bobbin of plied yarn is full you are ready to make a hank. Loosen the brake or drive band. Hold the
yarn in the centre of the niddy noddy with your thumb. Wind the yarn over the upper cross piece and under the lower cross
piece as shown. Repeat until all the yarn is on the niddy noddy.

26 27

Take 4 short lengths of scrap yarn and tie the yarn at Remove the yarn from the niddy noddy. Now you have
the centre on 4 sides. your first hank. Twist into a skein of your own unique
handspun yarn!

10 Learn to Spin
TRADITIONAL SINGLE DRIVE
THE LEADER: Start with a leader yarn on the bobbin. Attach a
1.5metre (5ft) leader yarn firmly onto the bobbin. Ensure it does
not slide around the centre of the bobbin.
Place the leader yarn over the hook near the orifice and then
thread through the orifice using the threading hook. Make a loop
at the end of the leader.

• The drive band lines up with the largest whorl on the flyer.
• Place the brake band over the bobbin end. The springs should
only be just starting to expand.
• The nylon bearings on the maid uprights are perpendicular to
the the flyer - not turned inwards or outwards.

The flyer is driven by the drive band and the yarn pulls
the bobbin around. The brake band is used to slow the • Ensure you have oiled the flyer and bobbin bearings as
bobbin slightly. indicated in the assembly instructions.

Check the drive band is not too tight. You only need To change to a faster ratio, move the drive band over to a
enough tension on the drive band to make the flyer go smaller groove on the whorl and adjust the drive band tension
around when treadling. If your drive band is too tight it by turning the adjusting knob to raise the maiden bar. You
will be harder to treadle. may need to realign the maiden bar by loosening the screws
underneath and sliding it across so the groove in the whorl
aligns with the groove in the wheel. Then retighten the screws.
Learn to Spin 11
Traditional single drive continued...
CHANGE THE BOBBIN: Unhook the brake band and remove
from the bobbin end. Turn the front maiden upright slightly
outwards and click the end of the flyer shaft out of the rear
flyer bearing.
Slide the full bobbin off and place the empty bobbin on,
small end first. Click the flyer shaft back into the rear flyer
bearing.
Check the front maiden upright is at right angles to the flyer
shaft. Replace the brake band over the bobbin end and
connect to the cup hook.

• The maid uprights are at right angles to the flyer shaft to

ensure the flyer spins freely.
• That both the bobbin and flyer have end play and spin
freely. Apply a drop of oil to the oiling points indicated in
the assembly instructions.
• The whorl groove you are using is aligned with the wheel
to ensure the drive band doesn’t rub on the side of the
whorl. If necessary loosen the screws under the maiden
bar, align and tighten.
• The maiden bar is tilted forward towards the wheel to
help minimise any vibration. If necessary shorten and
retie the drive band.
• The drive band only has sufficient tension to turn the flyer.
Too much tension adds unnecessary bearing friction and
will make treadling harder. Loosen or tighten by turning
the adjusting knob.
• The brake band only has sufficient tension to draw the
yarn onto the bobbin. The springs should only just be
starting to stretch.
• The wheel spins freely, the single leg is centralised and
the 4 bolts are tight.

For additional troubleshooting refer to page 22.

12 Learn to Spin
TRADITIONAL DOUBLE DRIVE

The drive band drives both the flyer and bobbin. As the THE LEADER: Start with a leader yarn on the bobbin. Attach
flyer and the bobbin have different size whorls they are a 1.5metre (5ft) leader yarn firmly onto the bobbin. Ensure it
driven at different speeds. does not slide around the centre of the bobbin.
Wrap the drive band around the groove in the wheel, Place the leader yarn over the hook near the orifice and then
around the large flyer whorl, back around the wheel and thread through the orifice using the threading hook. Make a
around the bobbin whorl. loop at the end of the leader.
See page 17 to convert to single drive.

• The whorl is pushed fully onto the flyer shaft. If not this can
cause the flyer assembly to be tight between the bearings.
• The bobbin is the correct way around with the small bobbin
whorl beside the flyer whorl. For Double Drive the drive
band is on both the bobbin whorl and flyer whorl. For Single
Drive the drive band is only on the flyer whorl and the brake
band is on the bobbin whorl. See page 17.
• That both the bobbin and flyer have end play and spin freely.
• Check the drive band is not too tight. You only need enough
tension on the drive band to make the flyer go around when
treadling. If your drive band is too tight it will be harder to
treadle.
CHANGE THE BOBBIN: Turn the front maiden upright • Apply a drop of oil to the oiling points indicated in the
slightly outwards and click the end of the whorl out of the assembly instructions.
rear flyer bearing. With your thumb pushing up on the end • If the yarn does not feed in, increase the drive band tension.
of the bobbin, pull the whorl off the other end. Change the If the yarn is pulled out of your hands or breaks reduce the
bobbin, replace the whorl and drive band back into the drive band tension.
rear bearing and click back down. Check the front maiden
upright is at right angles to the flyer shaft and the drive
band is aligned. For additional troubleshooting refer to page 22.
Learn to Spin 13
TRAVELLER 3
The flyer is driven by the drive band and the yarn pulls the
bobbin around. The brake band is used to slow the bobbin
slightly.
THE LEADER: Start with a leader yarn on the bobbin. Attach
a 1.5metre (5ft) leader yarn firmly onto the bobbin. Ensure it
does not slide around the centre of the bobbin.
Thread it through the yarn guide, around the flyer hook and
then thread it through the orifice using the threading hook.
Make a loop at the end of the leader.

14 9 7 5 • The bobbin spins freely on the flyer shaft.

• The maid uprights are at right angles to the flyer shaft to
ensure the flyer spins freely.
• That both the bobbin and flyer have end play and spin
freely. Apply a drop of oil to the oiling points indicated in
the assembly instructions.
• The whorl groove you are using is aligned with the groove
in the wheel.
• That all 4 legs are fully into the holes in the base and the
spinning wheel sits evenly on the floor.
• The wheel sits evenly between the sides of the base. If
necessary loosen the bolts holding the wheel supports,
twist and tighten.
• The wheel spins freely and the bolts holding both uprights
to the base and maiden bar are tight.

When not in use, always release the tension on the stretchy

drive belt by moving it to the smaller flyer whorl.

For additional troubleshooting refer to page 22.

14 Learn to Spin
JOY 2
THE LEADER: Start with a leader yarn on the bobbin. Attach a
1.5metre (5ft) leader yarn firmly onto the bobbin. Ensure it does
not slide around the centre of the bobbin.
Take the leader yarn through the black yarn guide on the right
flyer arm, around the cup hook and through the orifice using
the threading hook.

• That the metal stays attached to the treadle base are fully
locked down. This ensures the wheel sits flat on the floor.
• Loosen and tighten the flyer by holding the whorl and
turning the flyer.
• The bobbin has end play and spins freely.
• The drive belt is correctly aligned in the grooves in the
wheel and whorl.
• Always use the built-in handle to lift the spinning wheel.
Never lift the wheel by the flyer. Always remove and store
the flyer in the frame when transporting it.
• The brake band only has sufficient tension to draw the
yarn onto the bobbin. The springs should only just be
starting to stretch.
• Apply a drop of oil to the oiling points indicated in the
assembly instructions.
• When not using your Joy release the tension on the drive
band by moving it down one step on the flyer or wheel.

When attaching the flyer hold the whorl in one hand and
screw the flyer in with the other hand.
NOTE: Avoid getting oil on the thread at the end of the flyer
shaft or in the hole it screws into.

For additional troubleshooting refer to page 22.

Learn to Spin 15
ELIZABETH SPINNING WHEELS
The drive band drives both the flyer and bobbin. As the flyer
and the bobbin have different size whorls they are driven at
different speeds.
Wrap the drive band around the groove in the drive wheel,
around the large flyer whorl, back around the wheel and
around the bobbin whorl.

THE LEADER: Start with a leader yarn on the bobbin. Attach

a 1.5metre (5ft) leader yarn firmly onto the bobbin. Ensure it
does not slide around the centre of the bobbin.
Place the leader yarn over the hook near the orifice and
then thread through the orifice using the threading hook.
Make a loop at the end of the leader.

• The whorl is pushed fully onto the flyer shaft. If not, this
can cause the flyer assembly to be tight between the
bearings.
• The maid uprights are at right angles to the flyer shaft to
ensure the flyer spins freely.
• That both the bobbin and flyer have end play and spin
freely.
• The whorl groove you are using is aligned with the wheel
to ensure the drive band doesn’t rub on the side of the
whorl. If necessary loosen the screws under the maiden
bar, align and tighten.
• The bobbin is the correct way around with the small
bobbin whorl beside the flyer whorl. For Double Drive the
drive band is on both the bobbin whorl and flyer whorl.
For Single Drive the drive band is only on the flyer whorl
and the brake band is on the bobbin whorl. See page 17.
• The drive band only has sufficient tension to turn the flyer.
Too much tension adds unnecessary bearing friction and
will make treadling harder. Loosen or tighten by turning
the adjusting knob.
• When spinning single drive the brake band only has
sufficient tension to draw the yarn onto the bobbin. The
springs should only just be starting to stretch.
• The wheel sits evenly above the base and spins freely. If
Check the drive band is not too tight. You only need enough necessary loosen the bolts holding the wheel supports,
tension on the drive band to make the flyer go around when twist and tighten.
treadling. If your drive band is too tight it will be harder to
treadle. • Apply a drop of oil to the oiling points indicated in the
assembly instructions.
For additional troubleshooting refer to page 22.
16 Learn to Spin
 bobbin whorl
flyer whorl

drive band brake band

CONVERTING YOUR DOUBLE DRIVE WHEEL TO SINGLE DRIVE: The double drive Traditional, Traveller and Elizabeth 2 spinning
wheels have both single and double drive options. When spinning single drive loosen the drive band tension and place both
drive bands over the whorl. Check the drive band tension. Place the brake band over the bobbin whorl and turn the brake band
tension knob until the springs just begin to stretch.
NOTE: The brake band is not required when spinning double drive.

Learn to Spin 17
e-SPINNER 3
SPINNING: The flyer will start to rotate when the speed
dial reaches approximately 10 o’clock. This is normal. Begin
slowly and increase speed once spinning.
Remember to “feed” the yarn onto the bobbin.
When spinning thick yarns you require less twist so reduce
speed. When the yarn overtwists it will not feed on.

• The front of the flyer is snapped down into the front flyer
bearing.
• That both the bobbin and flyer have end play and spin
freely. Apply a drop of oil to the oiling points indicated in
the assembly instructions.
THE LEADER: Start with a leader yarn on the bobbin. Attach
a 1.5metre (5ft) leader yarn firmly onto the bobbin. Ensure it • The brake band only has sufficient tension to draw the
does not slide around the centre of the bobbin. yarn onto the bobbin. The springs should only just be
Take the leader yarn through the flyer yarn guides with the starting to stretch.
black inserts on the right-hand side of the flyer and out • The yarn guides are opposite each other when spinning at
through the orifice using the threading hook. higher speeds to ensure perfect balance.

FOOT SWITCH
If you would like to START and
On/Off Mode
STOP your e-Spinner 3 with
the foot switch only, insert Turn the ON/OFF
the foot switch plug into the switch to ON.
FOOT SWITCH hole at back of
the e-Spinner. There are two
operating modes. Lightly tap the foot switch to turn the e-Spinner 3 ON and lightly tap again to turn it OFF.

Hold Down Mode

(while your
foot is on the
Lightly put your foot foot switch)

on the foot switch and

turn the power ON.

The e-Spinner 3 will operate only while your foot is on the foot switch. Lift your foot off and the e-Spinner 3 will stop.

18 Learn to Spin
e-SPINNER SUPER JUMBO
SPINNING: The flyer will start to rotate when the speed dial
reaches approximately 10 o’clock. This is normal. Begin slowly
and increase speed once spinning.
Keep the leather brake band loose as very little tension is
required to draw the yarn onto the bobbin.
Remember to “feed” the yarn onto the bobbin.
When spinning thick yarns you require less twist so reduce
speed and work near the orifice “feeding” the yarn on frequently.
When the yarn overtwists it will not feed on.
When spinning finer yarns insert the reducer bushes into the
orifice.

• That both the bobbin and flyer have end play and spin freely.
Apply a drop of oil to the oiling points indicated in the assembly
instructions.
• The leather brake band is loose as very little tension is required
THE LEADER: Start with a leader yarn on the bobbin. to draw the yarn onto the bobbin. Apply a drop of oil under the
Attach a 1.5metre (5ft) leader yarn firmly onto the bobbin. leather if necessary.
Ensure it does not slide around the centre of the bobbin. • The yarn guides are opposite each other when spinning at
Take the leader yarn through the flyer yarn guides with higher speeds to ensure perfect balance.
the black inserts on the left-hand side of the flyer and
out through the orifice using the threading hook. • The drive belt is correctly positioned in the middle grooves in
the bobbin whorl.
• When not using your e-Spinner Super Jumbo, release the
tension on the drive band by moving it down one step on the
bobbin whorl.

FOOT SWITCH
If you would like to START and
On/Off Mode
STOP your e-Spinner Super
Jumbo with the foot switch only, Turn the ON/OFF
insert the foot switch plug into switch to ON.
the FOOT SWITCH hole under
the e-Spinner. There are two
operating modes. Lightly tap the foot switch to turn the e-Spinner ON and lightly tap again to turn it OFF.

Hold Down Mode

(while your
foot is on the
Lightly put your foot foot switch)

on the foot switch and

turn the power ON.

The e-Spinner will operate only while your foot is on the foot switch. Lift your foot off and the e-Spinner will stop.

Learn to Spin 19
COUNTRY SPINNER 2

THE LEADER: Start with a leader yarn on the bobbin. Attach SPINNING: Keep the leather brake band loose. To much
a 1.5metre (5ft) leader yarn firmly onto the bobbin. Ensure it tension will make it very harder to treadle.
does not slide around the centre of the bobbin. Remember to “feed” the yarn onto the bobbin.
Take the leader yarn through the flyer yarn guides with When spinning thick yarns you require less twist so treadle
the black inserts on the left-hand side of the flyer and out very slowly and work near the orifice “feeding” the yarn on
through the orifice. frequently. When the yarn overtwists it will not feed on.

• That both the bobbin and flyer have end play and spin
freely. If not adjust the front and rear top rails. Apply a
drop of oil to the oiling points indicated in the assembly
instructions.
• The leather brake band is loose as very little tension is
required to draw the yarn onto the bobbin. Apply a drop
of oil under the leather.
• The drive belt is correctly aligned in the grooves in the
wheel and whorl.
• When not using your Country Spinner 2 release the
tension on the drive band by moving it down one step on
the flyer or wheel.

For additional troubleshooting refer to page 22.

20 Learn to Spin
SPINNING TOOLS
Recommended accessories
double treadle kits
For traditional

sliding hook flyers basic jumbo flyer

finishing
wax polish
spinning chair

maintenance kit

wooden
umbrella swift

bobbins
skeiner 2

JDDB SHFDDB DDB HSDDB

CSB KSFB JB SHFB SB upright lazy kate tensioned

lazy kate

niddy noddys yarn gauge

quill spindle

Learn to Spin 21
TROUBLESHOOTING
1. What do I do to prevent the yarn being pulled out 3. What do I do if the wheel is hard to treadle?
of my hands? › Reduce the drive band tension, it should have about 25mm (1in) of
A. Single drive “bounce” in it.
› Reduce the brake band tension until the springs
are just starting to extend. 4. What do I do if the yarn is overtwisiting and not feeding on?
› Overtwisted yarn will not “feed on” to the bobbin. Reduce the
speed at which you are treadling or increase the speed of your
drafting and feeding. A comfortable wheel speed is 60RPM.

5. What do I do if the yarn is not feeding on?

› Check it is not caught on or twisted around any hooks.

6. What do I do if the flyer is not turning freely?

› Check the flyer bearings are at right angles to the flyer shaft and
not turned in jamming the flyer.
A. Single drive
› Check the brake band is over the bobbin whorl and the springs are
› Check the bobbin whorl is smooth. If necessary just starting to extend.
smooth with sandpaper.
B. Double drive
› Apply a drop of oil to the bobbin whorl.
› Check the drive band is around the small whorl on the bobbin and
B. Double Drive the largest flyer whorl.
› Reduce the drive belt tension. › Check there is sufficient tension on the drive band.
2. What do I do if the yarn won’t draw in? › Check the whorl is pushed completely on.
› Increase the brake band tension. 7. How much tension should I have on the drive band?
› Ensure the bobbin rotates freely on the flyer shaft. › Only have sufficient tension to drive the flyer and bobbin without
› Check the flyer hooks are smooth and are not slipping. Too much tension makes treadling harder.
catching the yarn. › Generally the drive band should be able to be easily depressed
› Check the orifice and exit hole are clear. about 25mm (1in). Turn the drive band adjusting knob until you
have the correct tension.
› If the drive band has stretched, shorten and retie it or replace it.

1 2 3 4 5 6

To make spinning easier

apply a drop of Ashford
Spinning Wheel Oil to the
flyer, bobbin and conrod
bearings.
NOTE: The ball bearings
are sealed for life and do
not require oiling.

22 Learn to Spin
 CARDING TOOLS
Prepare fibres for spinning
8. Why use two tension springs on the brake band?
› Two springs fitted either side of the bobbin whorl will make handcarders
plying easier as it allows the brake band to flex rather than
pull against the tension knob. Spare springs are available
from your Ashford dealer.

9. How do I avoid my yarn getting overtwisted?

› Put the drive band onto a larger flyer whorl.
› Treadle slower. Around 60 RPM is a nice easy speed.
› Draft your yarn faster. This may require you to better flick carder
prepare your fibre prior to spinning.

10. How do I avoid my yarn breaking?

› Make your yarn stronger by treadling a little faster.
› Draft more fibres to make the yarn a little thicker.
› Pinch and slide your fingers along the spun yarn so you
are always in contact with the yarn. This also prevents the blending board
‘twist’ entering the undrafted fibres.

11. How do I prevent my spinning wheel walking away from

me?
› Check the wheel is free running.
› Treadle with a downwards action rather than away from
you.
› Spin with your wheel on carpet or a rug.

12. What is the best finish for my spinning wheel? standard drum carder
› Our spinning wheels are made from Beech timber, sourced
from sustainably managed forests. If your wheel is natural
timber it should be protected as soon as possible to avoid
staining and provide protection from any climatic changes.
We recommend Ashford Finishing Wax Polish, however any
reputable wood oil or wax finish would be suitable. Factory
lacquered wheels may be further enhanced with our
Finishing Wax Polish.
For more information on hand spinning techniques see The
Ashford Book of Hand Spinning, by Jo Reeve.

The Ashford Book of Hand Spinning

– By Jo Reeve
e-carder 30cm wide dual motor
Learn to Spin 23
For more information, helpful hints and inspiration we recommend The Ashford Book of Hand Spinning.
Visit our website to view our tutorial videos www.ashford.co.nz

Ashford Handicrafts Limited

415 West Street, PO Box 474, Ashburton, New Zealand
Ph +64 3 308 9087 [email protected] www.ashford.co.nz
9 418647 243123
24 Learn to Spin