How to make a drop spindle - from almost anything

This is a skill I wish every spinner (and craftsperson) had - to improvise the tools of their trade.

Because wishing something isn't enough, I decided to make a video showing how to make a drop spindle!



If you like the cute chickens at the end or want to see more tutorials like this, please pop over to youtube and give the video a thumbs up or better yet a comment.  It helps fuel me more than I can say.  

If you do make a drop spindle (and I hope you do), please let me know and maybe post some pictures here.  

I love this!!! I'd heard rumors of how spindles can be made from potatoes or apples, but could never find any information as to how to make said drop spindle.

(I also love that you put hidden things in the closed captions! )

Nicole Alderman wrote:(I also love that you put hidden things in the closed captions! )

te hee...

Great video!
Love on improvising when you do have what you need.  As kids we did it all the time so why not as adults!
Thank for the inspiration!
Ruth

After I published my video, youtube decided I want to watch this:



Now that's something I didn't expect.  

I can't imagine using something that light and soft, though...

I keep trying to make more spindles. I'd made the two for my kids, but one day I was out in the woods with a Forest School club, and was showing them how to turn nettle into twine. But, I didn't have a spindle, and didn't know how to twine without a spindle. I thought to myself, "I want to be able to make a spindle with just  knife and a chunk of wood! "

I used some maple and carved it into a sort of Himalayan-style spindle. I tried to carve a hook at the top, and it sort of works (I really should learn how to spin without a hook, but I just can't figure out the whole "half-hitch" thing!).

Then my husband took an old wooden spindle (like the ones we use for a stairway) and cut it to shape for a drop spindle. I carved and sanded the top of it thinner. It works rather well!

I'm thinking about teaching a history class about spinning, so I thought to myself, "I need more spindles so everyone can use one!" I saw this tutorial showing how to make a spindle with just a dowel and a jar lid and a paper clip

Drop spindles from the above tutorial.

I only had a few jar lids, though. Then I thought, "I have lots of cardboard! I wonder if I can make the whorl from that!"' I remembered Raven saying that she's made a spindle with an eraser and pencil, so why not try a pencil? I should tape around the edge where I glued two pieces of cardboard together, but for now it works!

Spindle made from pencil, cardboard, tape, glue, and paperclip!

Success!

Back spindle made with maple branch and jar lid. Next a spindle from cardboard & pencil. Then a stairway spindle, and then carved maple branch!

A few years ago my friend and talented fiber artist Brittany Bender wrote this blog post about a DIY drop spindle. I copied what she did and I still have the little spindle.
https://feralscene.com/yarnblog/make-your-own-drop-spindle-chydropspindlechallenge

Excellent information . . . some of the items I've used as spindle whorls - Blank CD (can you still get those?)  the shaker lid from a spice jar - the bit with the holes in, plastic milk bottle tops, the whorl from a spinning wheel - I'd bought a new spinning head!  The cut off top from a soda can - ring pull removed and extra holes made.  Oh, nearly forgot the toy wooden wheel that I got from the woodworking shop.
The lighter options were for very fine spinning.   The shafts were selected to suit - wooden skewer, chop stick, satay stick, scavenged dowel from the shed (ahem!)  depending on the size of the centre hole. Some options needed the support of an elastrator ring.   I use a half-hitch, so just needed a notch at the top of the shaft.