My First Finished Handspun Ball of Yarn

Why First you ask?

It is the first full ball of yarn ever produced from my handspun yarn. Until now I have always spun just enough to make a skein of yarn averaging around 75 yrds. per skein. Nothing to write home about. Most spinners, even new ones, manage to make these skeins and I am no exception. It is with great joy that I managed to spin enough to sell. This ball of yarn is 177 yrds. and it is a 2 ply blend of Super wash Merino, Silk, Bamboo and Firestarter (used to make the yarn sparkle).

How did I achieve more yarn this time than all the other times? My secret is a wonderful spinning contraption called the "WooLee Winder"! The reason it works so well making a larger quantity of yarn is because of it's design that fills the bobbin evenly. The bobbin fills smoothly with no hills and valleys to shorten your yardage, instead you find a steady, smooth surface of yarn that increases your productivity while shortening your time spent spinning. This decrease in time is due to the fact that the yarn production is never stopped to move the yarn to the next hook so that the spinning can continue winding on. This requires stopping often. With the WooLee Winder instead of a traditional setup, you will also improve the quality of your yarn. With the ability to make a more consistent yarn at a more consistent size, I don't have to stop and lose my train of thought every few minutes. That relaxed meditative state is more easily maintained. I am not saying that it will stop family and friends from interrupting you but then they are always welcome interruptions, are they not?

There is a down side to be considered, however, in making the investment to improve your yarn quantity and quality, and that is cost. The WooLee Winder is owned by one man, Robert Lee and now his son, he has been able to make one for just about ever spinning wheel out there but they are handmade and the bobbins are specially fit to the new flyer.

You can find him at http://www.thewooleewinder.com/

But if you want to see the difference, look below.

This is my WooLee Winder!







This is my ball of yarn, 2 ply 177 yrds. 15 wpi.



This is the single before it was plied.



And finally, this is the amount of yarn I usually achieved from a traditional flyer and bobbin. This is 84 yrds. 13 wpi and not enough to make into a good sized ball.