Introduction | Books | Magazines | Professional Resources | Related Articles | Sample Business Plans | Start-up Issues
Spinning is the process of creating yarn (or thread, rope, cable) from various raw fiber materials. Several fibers are twisted together to bind them into a strong, long yarn. Characteristics of the yarn vary based on the material used, fiber length and alignment, quantity of fiber used and degree of twist. The earliest spinning probably involved simply twisting the fibres in the hand. Later the use of a stick to help twist the fiber was introduced. Drop spinning involves the use of a stick with a whorl or weight to stabilize the spinning of the stick (called a spindle). The spindle is spun, and hangs supported by the yarn as more fiber is introduced. This introduced fiber picks up the twist and becomes yarn. Later the spinning wheel was developed which allowed a continuous and faster yarn production. Spinning wheels are either foot or hand powered. Modern powered spinning, originally done by water or steam power but now done by electricity, is vastly faster than hand-spinning.
Hobby spinners spin their own yarn in order to control specific yarn qualities and produce yarn not commercially available. They also may spin for self-sufficiency, sense of accomplishment or sense of connection to history and the land. And, of course, for the meditative qualities of spinning.
Materials that can be used to create yarn fall into three broad classes: plant, animal, and synthetic:
Plant materials: cotton, flax (to produce linen), hemp, raffia, yucca, coconut husk, ...
Animal materials: wool, goat (angora or cashmere goat), rabbit (angora), llama, alpaca, dog, camel, silk, ...
Synthetic materials: nylon, rayon, acetate, Mylar, ...
Business
Spinning as a business is classified as an industry based on its purpose. It can be
in the manufacturing industry as a textile product (NAICS Code
314999) if what is produced is a new product,
such as yarn. It can be in the arts industry if what is spun is considered
to be a work of art (NAICS Code 711510),
rather than a product.
There are a variety of ways people make money from spinning. Some sell their yarn or spun product locally, at trade shows or via the internet. Others sell instructions or kits they have designed themselves. And, still others teach spinning. The best way to learn more about the viabiiity of any of these business models is to participate in Professional Resources, subscribe to magazines that are related to your interests, and read books that give more in-depth information about the business.
Introduction | Books | Magazines | Professional Resources | Related Articles | Sample Business Plans | Start-up Issues
The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning
Wheel mechanics, spinning fibers, wheel construction, and yarn, as well as a wealth of
spinning history and traditions. Every aspect of handspinning is explored, including
dissolving lanolin, washing fleece, rotating wheel position, and choosing types of wool.
Also discussed are various hand positions, which can result in everything from smooth,
fine thread to funky, bulky yarn.
The Basic Guide to Pricing Your Craftwork
Basic formulas for pricing craftwork, retail or wholesale.
The Basic Guide to Selling Arts & Crafts
Step-by-step help on over 150 topics for marketing your home made crafts.
The Basic Guide to Selling Crafts on the Internet
Unravels the mysteries of selling crafts online with clear, step-by-step advice.
Business and Legal Forms for Crafts
A complete set of business and legal forms designed to meet the active craftperson's every need.
The Business of Sewing, Volume 1
Sample price lists; lists of organizations and lending institutions; payment methods
you can offer your customers; how to get a merchant account for credit card sales;
how to collect money on past due accounts; buying in bulk with a list of
suppliers and a sample letter to contact them; business and financial plans;
studio design, networking; time management;
tackling your fears; turning sewing into a business and making the transition; how
to avoid getting frustrated; industry statistics.
The Business of Sewing, Volume 2
How to make a "Consumer Price List", and how to structure a "Working Price List"
and the use of both; what "Pricing" method is best for you and how to handle price
resistance; how to conduct production analysis with a time and motion
study; how to make a project inventory list; how to market your business;
subcontractors or fabricators and how to hire them; E-commerce and
on-line merchant accounts, web design, shopping carts and E-newsletters;
how to write books and articles, teach seminars and workshops, and produce sewing
audios and videos.
The Business of Teaching Sewing
Guide to setting up a business, identifying what, where and when to teach,
creating lesson plans and visuals for teaching, then marketing yourself and your
product.
Color in Spinning
Starting with the basics of the color/fiber relationship, this book presents
step-by-step photographed demonstrations of immersion dyeing, painting rovings,
blending colors and fibers, multicolor combing techniques, and spinning and
plying multicolored preparations.
Crafting as a Business
How to develop a thriving retail business.
Crafting for Dollars
Covers every aspect of starting and managing your own craft-based business.
Crafts and Crafts Shows
Good business practice in dealing with customers, pricing, and presentation in the show booth.
The Crafts Business Answer Book & Resource Guide
Answers to questions about starting, marketing, and managing a homebased business
efficiently, legally, and profitably.
Dream Sewing Spaces
Design and organization for spaces large and small.
Free Stuff for Sewing Fanatics on the Internet
Guide on where to find information on many types of sewing, notions, fabrics, discussion
groups, and mailing lists, as well as free patterns and project sheets.
Handmade for Profit
Hundreds of secrets to success in selling arts & crafts.
Hands on Spinning
Understanding how spinning works, building a simple spindle, spinning on a treadle
wheel, choosing a wheel, preparing fibers, carding, twisting, and plying are explored
in fully illustrated detail.
A Handspindle Treasury
20 years of spinning wisdom from Spin-Off Magazine.
In Sheep's Clothing : A Handspinner's Guide to Wool
A comprehensive look at the characteristics of wool of 100 breeds of sheep. Essential
reading for handspinners, wool growers, and other fiber craft enthusiasts, this
guide gives special attention to fleece characteristics, methods of preparation and
spinning, and best end use.
Make It Profitable!
The best ideas and information from 80 professionals in various fields of the craft industry.
Publish Your Patterns
How to write, print, and market your designs.
Spin It: Making Yarn from Scratch
Step-by-step instructions and illustrations that explain how to make yarn from scratch
using handspindles-simple tools used to turn wool into yarn. This manual also includes
complete instructions for five simple, appealing projects: a woven sleeve, a knitted
bunny bag, a knitted baby hat, knitted fingerless mittens, and a crocheted hat.
Spinning Designer Yarns
Instructions on applying dye to fibers in new, exciting ways; predicting how novelty
yarns will look in finished fabrics; blending fibers for color and texture effects;
spinning singles and plied yarns; and using these fantastic new yarns in weaving,
knitting, and crocheting. Spinners will also add corespun, bouclé, snarl, knotted,
and tufted yarns to their spinning repertoire.
The Spinner's Companion
Handy pocket-sized guide is filled with common spinning terms, tips on how to maintain
wheels, and lessons on how to process fiber and spin yarn. Appropriate for spinners
at every level of ability, this book presents clear, concise instruction on topics
such as basic carding techniques, how to dress a distaff, and creating uniform yarns.
The Weaving, Spinning, Dyeing Book
Comprehensive book with 435 illustrations explains everything the expert or beginner
needs to know on how to weave, spin, and dye.
Your Crafts Business: A Legal Guide
Explains legal principles that protect a crafts business and help it grow. It also
provides practical advice on how to deal with day-to-day problems -- such as dealing
with delinquent payments. The book provides over a dozen tear-out contracts and other
legal forms, plus step-by-step instructions to fill them out.
Introduction | Books | Magazines | Professional Resources | Related Articles | Sample Business Plans | Start-up Issues
Fiberarts : The Magazine Of Textiles
Reviews national and international exhibitions, and explores new trends and issues facing the field.
Handwoven
Handwoven provides ideas, inspiration, and instructions to handweavers of all skill
levels. It features articles on special techniques, history and projects for the home and clothing.
Spin Off
Whether you're beginning or an advanced spinner, Spin-off nurtures your success
and encourages you to continue discovering the joys of this timeless craft.
Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot
Features include how-to articles, interviews, historical aspects and new techniques
in fiber arts and handweaving fields. Provides a calendar of events for fiber shows
and exhibitions and includes stories on museum collections and well-known people in
the fiber arts field.
Textile Fibre Forum
Publication covering contemporary and historical textile arts and crafts mainly in
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific region.
