The Drafting Triangle

Day 342: Whatever method a spinner chooses to employ, be it supported long draw or long draw, inchworm, worsted, woolen, from the fold or any combination thereof, all share a common thread (excuse me, I honestly didn't see that one coming until I started to type it): the drafting triangle. This is the space between the leading hand and the back hand where the feed of fiber is controlled. Here, the spinner determines the diameter of the yarn to be wound onto the spindle by alternately pinching off the twist and drawing loose material from the fiber supply. Too much fiber in the drafting triangle will result in a lump, too little yields a thin spot and potential for breakage. A practiced spinner gauges the amount of fiber in the drafting triangle by eye, more easily done when held above a contrasting background. I tend to spin over my knee/thigh rather than close to the spinning wheel's orifice as I see some spinners do. I also draft back, a technique not seen as often as drafting forward, i.e., drawing new fiber into the drafting triangle by pulling with the leading hand. These techniques are neither "right" nor "wrong." These are the styles which were taught to me by my grandmother some seventy ago, presumably the way her own mother taught her to spin. The important thing is that I can spin a consistent yarn, neither over- or under-twisted, smooth, and of even diameter.The current wool (white Corriedale) is destined for an experimental dye job. Stay tuned for further developments!