HILLTOP© 2009 ALL PRICES INCLUDE P&P TO THE UK UPDATED 2 July 2009
My spinning wheel is rotating when I treadle, but the yarn is not going into the orifice and on to the bobbin.
Increase the tension on the drive band. Check the tension on the brake band and if necessary renew your drive band around the spinning wheel and the whorls with a high twisted cotton or yarn made from natural fibre. When renewing the band make sure your wheel is in the slack position before tying the knot. Try our maintenance kit or give us a call or email.
My spinning wheel appears to have bits missing?
Email Sue or Bill and discuss your problem, or use a digital camera to give us a photo of your wheel and a close up of what you feel is missing.
How much yarn should I spin to enable me to knit a jumper?
Look in your wardrobe and weigh a garment similar to the one you wish to hand spin. This will give you an idea of the quantity of yarn required for a jumper to fit you. Always spin more than you require, especially if you have dyed the hand spun yarn.
How do I know what diameter yarn to spin when I spin my single yarn?
Spin 5 rolags of your chosen fibre on one bobbin, then 5 rolags on a separate bobbin, ply them together. Hank the yarn and wash and leave to dry. You should have sufficient yarn to knit 10 stitches by 10 rows. You will quickly know whether you are spinning too thick a single yarn or too fine a single yarn. Adjust your spinning accordingly.
I cannot see my type of loom on this website?
There are many different manufacturers of looms and various types of looms, so they will look different. Essentially there are Inkle Looms which make braids or guitar straps, Rigid Heddle Looms which come in various widths, having one rigid heddle (an area with holes and slots) to lift and depress to enable weaving to take place. Finally 4 (or more) shaft looms which have a tall area (castle) which encase 4 metal frames which in turn hold heddles (wire, cotton or polyester lengths with holes in the centres). The 4 shafts are lifted by pedals, levers or knobs to make patterns in fabric. There are also 8, 16 and 24 shaft looms which are usually called multi-shafted looms. These multi-shafted looms can be mounted on tables or have stands for use on the floor.
Increase the tension on the drive band. Check the tension on the brake band and if necessary renew your drive band around the spinning wheel and the whorls with a high twisted cotton or yarn made from natural fibre. When renewing the band make sure your wheel is in the slack position before tying the knot. Try our maintenance kit or give us a call or email.
My spinning wheel appears to have bits missing?
Email Sue or Bill and discuss your problem, or use a digital camera to give us a photo of your wheel and a close up of what you feel is missing.
How much yarn should I spin to enable me to knit a jumper?
Look in your wardrobe and weigh a garment similar to the one you wish to hand spin. This will give you an idea of the quantity of yarn required for a jumper to fit you. Always spin more than you require, especially if you have dyed the hand spun yarn.
How do I know what diameter yarn to spin when I spin my single yarn?
Spin 5 rolags of your chosen fibre on one bobbin, then 5 rolags on a separate bobbin, ply them together. Hank the yarn and wash and leave to dry. You should have sufficient yarn to knit 10 stitches by 10 rows. You will quickly know whether you are spinning too thick a single yarn or too fine a single yarn. Adjust your spinning accordingly.
I cannot see my type of loom on this website?
There are many different manufacturers of looms and various types of looms, so they will look different. Essentially there are Inkle Looms which make braids or guitar straps, Rigid Heddle Looms which come in various widths, having one rigid heddle (an area with holes and slots) to lift and depress to enable weaving to take place. Finally 4 (or more) shaft looms which have a tall area (castle) which encase 4 metal frames which in turn hold heddles (wire, cotton or polyester lengths with holes in the centres). The 4 shafts are lifted by pedals, levers or knobs to make patterns in fabric. There are also 8, 16 and 24 shaft looms which are usually called multi-
We are here to help. We hope that this and the following page helps resolve some problems. If it does not then please contact us and we will do our best to help.
