DIY Spinning Equipment: Make a Yarn Balance, Niddy-Noddy, Swift, and Handspindle

Simple handspinning tools such as a yarn balance, niddy-noddy, and swift are handy to have, and eaiser to make than you'd think. Our versions of these tools use easy-to-find and inexpensive materials such as PVC pipes and yardsticks.

Along with We’ve also included two sets of directions for making your own spindle. Even if you never make your own spindles, you can learn more about what makes spindles work well. Add to your handmade repertoire with these DIY spinning tools. Inside you'll find:

• Demystify Mystery Yarns with an Easy-to-Make Yarn Balance - So you have boxes of mystery yarn and have long been amassing unknown cones from guild auctions, yarn trades, and the occasional garage sale. Build this DIY tool to work out the yards per pound of any of your mystery yarns, and help you calculate yardage for any of your unlabled yarns.

• Make a Niddy Noddy with PVC Pipe - You won't believe just how simple it is to make a niddy noddy that's cheap, easy, and deconstructible so you can travel with it.

• Make Your Own Yardstick Umbrella Swift - Umbrella swifts are wonderful tools—they are cleverly designed, tremendously helpful, both collapsible and portable. With a little bit of creativity, you can find construction materials to make your own swift everywhere.

• Make a DIY Drop Spindle - With little cost and few tools, you can make your own drop spindle just the way you like it. Round or square, long or short, low whorl or high whorl: you'll find just the instructions you need in these articles.

After all, if you can make your own yarn, why not make the tools to spin it with? Download this free guide today to get started.