#distaffspinning #handspinning #spindlespinning #woolspinning #heritagecraft

In the current hot weather it's a treat to find some shade outdoors and just sit and spin for a while. The wool on my distaff is hand combed Romney from Fernhill Fleece and Fibre.

#distaffspinning #suspendedspinning #handspinning #wool #heritagecraft

My final spin of #tourdefleece2025 took place at Tretower Castle. I'm spinning Romney wool, using a distaff and medieval style spindle and a short suspension technique.
#distaffspinning #handspinning #Romney #wool #heritagecraft

It was a lovely afternoon for sitting in the sun, spinning, at Caldicot Castle. With children playing on the grass, jackdaws calling from the tops of the towers and the scent of roses filling the air.
#distaffspinning #handspinning #caldicotcastle

Demonstrating medieval style distaff spinning at The Spring Festival.

#distaffspinning #handspinning #medieval

This coming weekend I will be demonstrating distaff spinning on the European Wool Association stand at the Spring Festival. I will have some of my hand spun, plant dyed yarns with me for sale.
#distaffspinning #handspinning #springfestival #plantdyedyarn

Demonstrating medieval distaff spinning at my local yarn show last week.

#distaffspinning #handspinning #suspendedspinning

Second outdoor spin of the year at Fernhill Farm open day last Saturday. I'm spinning Portland fleece while the person off camera tells us about the blade shearing lesson which she has just done.

#distaff #distaffspinning #handspinning #suspendedspinning

First alfresco spin of the year at delightful Harvington Hall, an Elizabethan gem tucked away in the Worcestershire countryside.

#distaffspinning #suspendedspinning #shortsuspensionspinning

I’ve had this Icelandic fleece for some time, so this weekend I have finally made a start on spinning it. I’ve separated the two layers of the fleece and started spinning the soft under coat.

#distaffspinning #suspendedspinning #handspinning #icelandic

Yesterday, while demonstrating distaff spinning for the Devon Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, I spun a total of 103m of yarn in 1hr 4mins. The fibre I spun was black Romney x Shetland from Fernhill Fleece & Fibre.

#distaff #distaffspinning #handspinning #suspendedspinning #handspunyarn

I could be making history here. Is this the first time Castlemilk Moorit fleece has been spun from an Eastern European style distaff with a French spindle?

#distaff #distaffspinning #handspinning #suspendedspinning #shortsuspensionspinning #frenchspindle

I just need to ply (which is my least fave part 🥲)

#fibreprep #handspinning #handspunyarn #distaffspinning

I’m slowly filling up my new French spindles from Andrzej Naczynski. The black is Romney Shetland from Fernhill Fleece & Fibre, the brown is (I think) Castlemilk Moorit, which was used as packaging material with a recent purchase and the white is Shetland x Teeswater from Fernhill Fleece & Fibre.

First spin from a newly washed and dried Romney Shetland fleece from Fernhill Fleece & Fibre. The French spindle and distaff were made by Andrzej Naczynski and the wool combs are from @winghamwool.bsky.social

#distaffspinning #suspendedspinning #handspinning #wool

I’m trying out one of my new French spindles today, with some hand combed Castlemilk Moorit fleece. The spiral groove on the spindle holds the thread without the need for a half hitch to prevent the spindle from falling.
#handspinning #suspendedspinning #shortsuspensionspinning #distaffspinning

The latest additions to my spindle collection are these replica French spindles by Polish wood turner Andrzej Naczynski. Andrzej’s work is fantastic quality and these spindles are a delight to use.
#distaffspinning #suspendedspindle #handspinning #shortsuspensionspinning
#spindlespinning