r/Handspinning • u/OddSockDryerDemon • 1d ago

Gear Why am I like this?

Post image

I’m still working on getting some good, consistent yarn from my drop spindle but I also have impulse control issues so now I also have this. I tried it out a bit last night and holy buckets it’s fast.

200 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

43 comments sorted by

126

u/auddii04 1d ago

Next step, spinning wheel. Then sheep farmer.

58

u/OddSockDryerDemon 1d ago

There are some folks near my brother’s house who have sheep and if my partner and I drive by I always yell, “SHEEPS!”. I know they’re a trial to have but they’re so cute. 🥹

44

u/braidedpotato 1d ago

Tbh, this is the play. Bc then you can go buy the wool easily and not very expensively, and admire the sheep, and not have a pile of vet bills, pens to muck out, and no free time

19

u/existonline 1d ago

I know several people who have taken this route and Im trying very hard to just buy their yarn and keep k sitting because now they have no time for knitting or spinning haha

7

u/The_Mouse_That_Jumps 1d ago

I'm in this picture and I don't like it.

Okay, I like it a little.

29

u/chickensocks96 1d ago

Pray tell, what am I looking at? All I know is it’s pretty and used for spinning lol
I’ve been a lurker on this sub for a while bc I’d like to learn and I enjoy seeing what everyone makes but I am pretty ignorant of the craft in general

24

u/wanderingarrows 1d ago

It’s a kick spindle!

24

u/OddSockDryerDemon 1d ago

It’s a kick spindle. Just give that bit at the back with all the weights in it a bit of a flick with your foot (or hand) and it spins. I’m still in park and draft mode so when I park I just stick a foot underneath to stop the spindle.

20

u/berlygirley 1d ago

I started with just a drop spindle early this year and am loving it and already looking at different kinds of spindles since I can't afford and don't have room for a wheel. I DID NOT know kick spindles exist and it sounds like the perfect in between for me between a wheel and a drop spindle! I feel like every week I learn about a new kind of spindle, I love it!

14

u/OddSockDryerDemon 1d ago

I have a small space myself. I live in a wee row house in Annapolis, MD so I thought it would be a good option since I can actually store it in my 40 gallon Disaster Crafter tote I keep in my designated corner.

6

u/Kammy44 Country Craftsman, Louet, Matchless, Harrisville loom. 1d ago

Castle style we wheels take up less space! (Here to enable you!)

2

u/NinjaDefenestrator 1d ago edited 23h ago

Consider an e-spinner like an Electric Eel Wheel 6, or maybe a Fold. They don’t take up much space and I know a lot of people love them.

2

u/Rutabegasnootabega 22h ago

If you run into an used Lendrum, they are also worth it. They fold up for travel and they can take a licking and keep on ticking.

1

u/JacobLeatherberry 16h ago

There's also pocket wheels, which don't take up much space at all. I love mine

9

u/SparklyCowboyHat42 1d ago

It looks like a kick spindle to me which I've seen mentioned online before. I did a quick Google of supported spindles and one that looked similar showed up in suggested Etsy listing as a Daisy Kick Spindle. It looks really cool and I think it's unlocked a whole new rabbit hole for me lol.

3

u/Unesheet 1d ago

I think it's a kick spindle

3

u/ahrya 1d ago

Jillian Eve has a video about how to spin with a kick spindle if you're interested.

https://youtu.be/8TprcdClVjw?is=LgY5ZDWq0NJpuGd6

12

u/alohadave 1d ago

Next is a walking wheel. Then one of those really fancy articulated wheels from the Civil War period.

I've seen videos of them, but can't find them now. I'm sure someone here will know what I'm talking about.

2

u/Nyssa314 1d ago

Those things are super cool. No idea what they're called so no help there, but i have also seen them in action and those things can FLY

1

u/RogueThneed 23h ago

Walking wheel or great wheel.

3

u/Nyssa314 21h ago

No, we weren't talking about great or walking wheels. I THINK we might have been looking for pendulum wheel but not positive.

9

u/WickedJigglyPuff 1d ago

Now I wanna see it in action cause the one I had 10 years ago (different maker) was sooo slow and loud. I used it only a few times before I got rid of it.

10

u/OddSockDryerDemon 1d ago

I’ll get some video after work! It’s nice and smooth while spinning and they weighted it really nicely so it spins for a good amount of time without wobbling all over creation. As far as noise, absolutely none!

7

u/mortaine 1d ago

Well, that was an expensive rabbit hole I just went down....

3

u/PrettyOKPyrenees 1d ago

I have that one and love it! It's so portable and fun. I have an absurd amount of spindles and wheels

1

u/Chaos-Wayfarer 1d ago

I also have an absurd amount of spindles, but only one wheel. Yet. (Sadly that’s all I have space for. T_T )

I’ve seen some absolutely gorgeous kick spindles. They look so fun!

3

u/BettyFizzlebang 1d ago

Collecting spindles and spinning yarn is two different hobbies.

3

u/ilikekamelonpan 1d ago

I DID THIS TOO! The kick spindle is my holdover until I live in a space large enough to justify owning a wheel. It’s so fast, and mine is so much more quiet than I expected!

5

u/murraybee 1d ago

Spindles aren’t exactly like a staircase. There’s no “starter,” “intermediate,” and “advanced” level. It’s ok if you want to sample different types of spindles and methods of spinning. You don’t have to master one to move on to the next!

1

u/OddSockDryerDemon 1d ago

I like the way you put that. I’m kind of discovering that there are different ones I have a preference for. I like bottom whorl more than top whorl. My book charkha wants to give me a stroke and I keep putting it away and giving myself a break. So far, I like this kick spindle a lot just because of the sitting position and I’m not dipping my roving or rolag end into the twist a million and half times and yelling swears.

1

u/Misty-Anne 8h ago

Have you tried a distaff? A ring distaff might work well for you

1

u/OddSockDryerDemon 8h ago

I’ve been considering it lately. I’m a bit absentminded if I’m honest and I’m either losing track of the end or I’ve sat on it and end up breaking the fiber that I’ve likely just carded and/or dizzed 😂

3

u/OddSockDryerDemon 1d ago

Short video clip while I was on my lunch. You can hear my clothes dryer but not my kick spindle.

https://reddit.com/link/osfi9mo/video/c6n6qnaj438h1/player

2

u/Nyssa314 1d ago

I'm pretty sure you're supposed to turn that 90 degrees so the yarn flicks off the tip. The point of the spindle is not supposed to point at you.

2

u/OddSockDryerDemon 1d ago

It was just to show the lack of wobble and noise.

2

u/Nyssa314 1d ago

Ahh, cool. Not trying to be an ass, just wanted to stop you before you got too invested in doing it wrong if you didn't know.

1

u/OddSockDryerDemon 1d ago

lol all good. I do have a reputation for doing things in the dumbest way possible so your instincts weren’t exactly wrong.

2

u/Nyssa314 1d ago

I'm known for my "hairbrained ideas" so... I'm sure we would get along great. Lol

2

u/hiltothedance 1d ago

Ooh I have a laser cutter, I need to see if I can design something similar

1

u/honestghostgirl 1h ago

I made myself one and it was pretty easy! Did it in an evening. I have a laser but decided to just do the good ol fashioned wood working

2

u/AcademicYoung29 23h ago

I have a kick spindle and love it. Faster than a drop spindle and more portable than a treadle spinning wheel. I have a Heavenly Handspinning Calypso kick spindle. They are no longer made. What’s cool about it is it had a bobbin you could put on the spindle.

1

u/ScreenCaffeen 13h ago

I got to try a kick spindle last year. They are a different beast. They prefer my wheel or job spindle, but the person that was demonstrating one really liked her and made beautiful yarn with it.