First alfresco spin of the year at delightful Harvington Hall, an Elizabethan gem tucked away in the Worcestershire countryside.

#distaffspinning #suspendedspinning #shortsuspensionspinning

This Portland fibre has been on my Oseberg distaff for some time. I use it at workshops to demonstrate spinning with a short distaff, but it’s beginning to look a little travel weary, so it needs to be finished off.

#distaff #osebergdistaff #handdistaff #handspinning #shortsuspensionspinning

I could be making history here. Is this the first time Castlemilk Moorit fleece has been spun from an Eastern European style distaff with a French spindle?

#distaff #distaffspinning #handspinning #suspendedspinning #shortsuspensionspinning #frenchspindle

I’m trying out one of my new French spindles today, with some hand combed Castlemilk Moorit fleece. The spiral groove on the spindle holds the thread without the need for a half hitch to prevent the spindle from falling.
#handspinning #suspendedspinning #shortsuspensionspinning #distaffspinning

Picture shows five hand turned French spindles displayed vertically on a grey background. The left hand one is a very light coloured wood, the other four are a cream coloured wood. All have decorative lines incised around them in patterns which vary from spindle to spindle. All have narrow tips with a spiral groove carved into them, which the spindle hangs from when spinning without the need for a half hitch knot to prevent it falling.

The latest additions to my spindle collection are these replica French spindles by Polish wood turner Andrzej Naczynski. Andrzej’s work is fantastic quality and these spindles are a delight to use.
#distaffspinning #suspendedspindle #handspinning #shortsuspensionspinning
#spindlespinning