I tried another kind of spindle: a Mayan spindle. It uses a paddle on an axel to generate spin, and I’ve read that it is easier to use in confined spaces.
Mayan spindle parts
I sanded down the end of a dowel for the axel, sanded a scrap piece of hardwood, drilled a hole in one end, and drilled a hole halfway through a wood ball. The ball is friction fit onto the end of the axel to keep the paddle from flying off.
Spun fiber on a Mayan Spindle
I think I made the paddle too large. It was fairly easy to spin the paddle, but it is heavy. Since making this, I’ve also seen other variations where the paddle is slid onto the shaft, rather than being fixed.
The Mayan spindle doesn’t build up as much twist as fast as a drop spindle, so it is not my current go to spindle, but it was a fun experiment!
I have a number of people who want to learn spindle spinning, yay! So I needed a low cost way to make some spindles so they can try it out without a large expense. It turns out my leather smoothing tool that I used in one of my Frankenstein spindles is about $7. I’m glad I didn’t glue it in! I did find several posts on using wooden toy wheels. My local hobby store had packs of 8 wheels, and packs of 8 dowels! I bought the 2” wooden wheels (I wanted larger, but they weren’t in stock), and 3/8” dowels that were pre cut to 12”. I also purchased a pack of metal cup hooks.
Supplies for DIY spindles
I wanted the holes in the wheels to be smaller than the diameter of the dowel, but not quite as small as they came out of the bag, so I enlarged the hole with a 5/16” drill bit. With a band sander I then tapered the top of the dowel so the wheel could fit on, but not slide all the way down. Because the whorl (wheel) is friction fit, it makes it easy to switch out for a larger or lighter whorl later. I put a point on the other end so the spindle can also be used as a supported spindle (because why not?) I sanded the shaft (dowel) with 220 grit sandpaper, then 400 for a smooth finish.
Shaped and sanded shafts and whorl with enlarged hole
Then I used a small gimlet to make a hole on the top of the shaft for the cup hook (it is better to pre-drill the whole so when you screw in the cup hook, you are less likely to split the wood.
This is a gimlet, used to hand drill holes
Finally, I slid the whorl over the shaft and screwed in the cup hook. Tada! Spindle!
Finished spindle top
Since there were eight in the package. I made eight.
Eight finished spindles
Something else caught my attention in the craft store. There was a super bulky “yarn” that was more like roving (one of the ways fiber is prepped for spinning). I bought some (with a coupon!) and found that it is easy to spin! This particular “yarn” is made of acrylic, polyamide, and wool, and the fiber length is similar to merino wool. The store carried wool roving, but mostly for felting, not spinning, and in small quantities. There is enough fiber in the skein for hours of practice!
I love the cell phone pockets that I put in my capris this summer, and I decided to put pockets in all five pairs of my jeans. Rather than hand sew, I decided to use my sewing machine to speed up the process. It was a little trickier to get a neat pocket (I consider myself an adequate seamstress, my seams are mostly straight), but reinforcing the corners with a satin stitch was much easier.
Some beautiful quilting fabric for the pocketsI cut the cotton material 5”x14” and ironed a 1/2” over on each long side.Using pins, I marked where to cut the jeans (I like the pocket on the right side, mid-thigh).I pinned the right sides together.I sewed 1/4” from the raw edges on both sides.After turning the pocket inside out, I over sewed close to the edge.I used a dense zigzag stitch to reinforce the ends of each pocket.Lastly, I sewed the sides of the pockets. I found the pockets were neatest if I did this last.All five pockets done. Not perfect, but perfectly serviceable.
My eldest usually carries her cell phone in the back pocket of her jeans. This actually works surprisingly well most of the time, but not when she rides. We have been brainstorming acceptable alternatives. She is not a purse person, nor a fanny pack person, nor one that likes the riding pants with the special pockets. We needed a solution for jeans. I saw some clip on pouches, and she made a positive noise, so I made one!
I bought some goat leather in natural so that she could decorate it herself (if she wants), and swivel clips and a heavy duty zipper.
Leather clip on phone pouchPouch in use
It works! There is enough give that it doesn’t interfere with her riding, and the phone can’t fall out of her pocket into the dirt. I would make it differently if we need another one, but the basic concept is sound.
It is official, spinning is a lifetime “go”. My criteria for lifetime crafts is if I can craft in the car on long trips. I tested spinning and plying on a recent trip and I can spin in the truck! Hurray!
Plying wool in the truck
It took a little creative problem solving, and I have to wrap the yarn around the spindle more often, but I can spin and A: not get sick and B:be productive. Nälbinding and crochet are also good car crafts. Knitting not so much; I drop too many stitches when we go over bumps. Wire work makes a mess of tiny bits of wire. Similar problem with carving (not to mention using sharp knives in a moving vehicle is not recommended). Leather work also uses sharp implements. Drawing, reading, embroidery, sewing, and cross stitch make me ill in the car. Yay for spinning!
Critters and Craft 