As the whorl stops spinning, it has a tendency to want to unspin itself. To prevent this, I used whatever props were available at the time - supported the spindle by placing it on the table beside me or on my lap, and firmly pinched the end of the yarn, to prevent it from unspinning.

Similarly to spinning on a wheel, I predrafted a bit of the roving, and placed the spun end of the leader yarn over the roving. Holding firmly onto the leader yarn and the roving, I gave the whorl a spin and let the roving attach to the leader. Before the whorl stopped spinning, I gave it another spin. I found it was easier to give the cross-pieces of the whorl a slight push rather than spin the spindle from the top of the shaft.

Before the spindle stopped spinning and started to unspin itself, I stopped it, and placed it on the table. I predrafted a bit more roving and then spun it again. Soon, I had about a yard of newly spun yarn. Before this had a chance to unspin and drop to the floor, I wound this yarn onto the spindle.

To wind onto the spindle, hold the spindle in your hand, release the tension on the yarn, and hook your thumb under the loop on the spindle shaft. Lift up and the loop is released from the shaft. Wind the yarn around the cross-bars of the whorl, in an X fashion. Run the yarn back up the shaft, make another loop around the top and you are ready to go again.

I decided that it was best to only spin a small length at a time (about 1 yard) and then wind it onto the spindle. Success comes in small increments. But those yards can add up quite quickly and soon you will have a ball of handspun.

This style of spindle is quite ingenious. To remove the yarn, pull the shaft out from the bottom of the whorl. Then pull out the cross-pieces, and you have a centre-pull ball.

The ball of yarn is now ready for plying. Reassemble your spindle. Then, take both ends of the yarn, from the centre and from the outside of the ball, and attach them to the leader yarn. Now spin in the opposite direction of what you were spinning earlier.

If you would like more info about these Turkish spindles, you can contact Kat Walton. Email: katwalton410@hotmail.com

I think it's pretty cool, what can be done with a bit of wool and a few sticks! Here's some more info on Turkish spindles and spinning.