Getting Started with Spinning by Allena Jackson

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The spinning wheel was first invented around the year 500 A.D. in the region of modern India.  Before that, the humble spindle is how all of the thread and yarns were spun.  Just because it's humble doesn’t mean it’s not versatile.  With a spindle, you can spin super fine yarns, threads, heavy yarn, or any other type of yarn you can imagine.  If you don't have a wheel then this is the ideal place to start, because you can make one for practically nothing, or buy one for very little.  The only disadvantage to the spindle is that they do not spin the yarn as fast as a wheel, but for a beginner this is a big advantage!

The best beginner spindle I have used is made with two CDs and a dowel.  It spins for a very long time, doesn't spin as fast as some of the lighter spindles that are available, and is easy and inexpensive to make.  To make your own, you will need the following things: 

1. A dowel - size is not super important but I recommend a 3/8" diameter dowel. It should be cut to about one foot in length.

2. A cup hook or wire that can be bent into a hook, if you wish to use one. You can also make a notch in the shaft and use a half hitch knot if you don't have a hook on hand.

3. Two CDs - although many free CDs come in the mail, I prefer to use good heavy ones. I use those that I buy in bulk for personal computer use.  You can recycle these and use the old ones.

4. You can purchase rubber grommets at farm stores and auto parts stores. You need to choose one that matches the size of your dowel, so the inside hole (bore diameter) should be 3/8", the panel hole should be 5/8" to match the hole in the CDs, and finally the outside diameter about 7/8 ".  Look for one that will fit the CD hole, and comes close to the dowel size.

5. Electrical tape - if you couldn't find the exact grommet you needed you can add some tape to your dowel to enlarge it a bit.

6. A serrated knife, or small saw and scissors.

Cut your dowel to be about 12 inches long, and use a push pin to make a pilot hole as close to the center of one end as possible.  Now screw the cup hook into this hole firmly. 

You will notice that the grommet has a groove around its middle.  This is what holds the CDs tightly. 

Stack the CDs, one on top of the other, then take the grommet and start pushing the grommet into the holes of the CDs.  This is not an easy process since the grommet should fit very tightly. 

Just keep trying to get the CD holes wedged into the slot in the sides of the grommet.  Once it is started then you can pry the edges of the grommet up and push it into the holes as you go around.

Once you have manhandled and forced the grommet into the center of the CDs, slide your dowel inside. If you were lucky enough to get a grommet that was just the right size you're done!

If not take your electrical tape and start wrapping it around the dowel, about two or three inches below the cup hook carefully (lining up the edges) until it looks big enough, cut it off and try sliding the CDs on. You want a nice snug fit so keep adding layers of tape until it doesn't slip. 

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