The final objective of spinning is to drawing out the fibers and adding twist until you have a stable yarn. This will take a little practice to achieve the perfect working rhythm and balance.
First let’s practice drawing out the fibers. Take a handful of the wool fibers in one hand and gently pull some of the fibers away from the bulk with the other hand. The pull should be a gentle tug, pulling it evenly so the strand is about the same thickness each time. Add twist by twisting the fibers in one direction to get the feel for how thick it will be. If there isn’t enough twist the yarn will fall apart. Too much twist and you won’t be able to draw the fibers. This process is called “drafting”.
Spend some time drafting out your fibers. You will need about 18 inches of drawn wool to start spinning on the drop spindle. Practice so you are fairly comfortable with your rhythm of draw.
