How to Start Hand Spinning Yarn: The Bare Minimum You Need

So, you want to be like Tasha Tudor and hand spin your own yarn. Maybe you dream of sitting by the fire with a cup of tea, a spinning wheel in front of you, and a basket of wool by your side. But at the same time, you don’t want to spend a fortune just to find out whether this is the right hobby for you.

I’ve been there, and I promise you don’t need much to get started. The world of hand spinning is full of rabbit holes, antique wheels, luxury fibers, and extra tools that are fun, but not necessary at the very beginning. For now, let’s keep it simple.

If you’re a beginner spinner, here’s exactly what you need to start spinning yarn today.

TL;DR: Exactly What to Buy

If you just want the shopping list, here’s the simple version:

• Beginner drop spindle
• 3-4 ounces of Corriedale or Bluefaced Leicester combed top (undyed, medium wool is the easiest to handle)

That’s it. With just those two things, you can spin your own yarn. Purchase both as a kit here. For more details and a video tutorial, read on!

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The Most Important Thing: Two Basic Supplies

You only need two things to spin yarn:

1. Something to spin with (a spindle or spinning wheel)
2. Something to spin (fiber such as wool, cotton, or angora rabbits’ fur)

That’s it. Yes, there are many different ways to spin, and there are tools that will make life easier down the road—like a niddy noddy, a lazy kate, or even an e-spinner. But none of those are required for your first attempt.

Let’s take a closer look at both parts of the equation.

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Something to Spin With: Tools for Beginner Spinners

Spinning Wheels vs. Drop Spindles

If you already have access to a working spinning wheel, by all means use it. Some people inherit an antique wheel tucked away in a relative’s attic. If it truly works, it can absolutely be your first wheel. Just know that using a wheel takes a little practice with the tension system, treadling rhythm, ratios, and more. For your very first yarn, using a wheel might feel like a hard time. (But for some this isn’t true!!)

That’s why most people start with a hand spindle. Spindles are affordable, portable, and a great way to build muscle memory for drafting and adding twist. Once your hands know the motions, moving to a wheel will likely be much easier.

Top Whorl vs. Bottom Whorl

Beginner drop spindles come in a few styles. The two most common are:

• Top whorl – the weight is at the top
• Bottom whorl – the weight sits lower on the spindle

Both are a good choice, and it mostly comes down to personal preference. I recommend getting a spindle that has a cup hook for your first try.

Where to Buy

You can buy beginner drop spindles at fiber festivals, from online retailers, or even at a local craft store. I also sell beginner kits with spindles and wool top in my shop.

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Something to Spin: Choosing Your First Fiber

Here’s where things get fun—and a little overwhelming. There are different types of fibers, and each behaves differently when you try to spin yarn.

Raw Wool vs. Prepared Fiber

If you raise sheep, alpacas, or angora rabbits, you may be tempted to dive into your raw fleece or raw fibers right away. While it’s wonderful to use what you have, cleaning and preparing raw wool is another rabbit hole that takes time.

For a first attempt at learning to spin yarn, it’s usually better to start with clean, ready-to-spin fiber such as combed top, sliver, or roving. That way you can focus on the spinning itself, not on processing.

What Wool Breeds Are Best for Beginners?

Some of my favorite breeds for beginner spinners are:

• Corriedale 
• Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) 
• ​Romney
• ​Polypay

Merino wool is everywhere, but it’s not the only way—or even the best way—to learn. Because it is so fine, it takes more skill to draft, and get the right amount of twist. Save it for when you have a little spinning muscle memory built up.

How Much Fiber Should You Buy?

Fiber is sold in different weights—by the gram, ounce, or by the pound. Buy at least 3–4 ounces (about 100 grams) of wool top for your first yarn. That’s enough for practice and should give you a skein similar in weight to a ball of commercial yarn.

Dyed or Natural?

When you’re learning to spin, starting with undyed fiber can make the process much smoother. Natural, undyed wool is usually less compacted than dyed fiber, which often gets a little compressed during the dyeing and drying process. That extra loft and openness in undyed fiber makes it easier to draft, so you can focus on getting a feel for the rhythm of spinning without struggling against sticky or clumped fibers. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, dyed fibers will also be enjoyable to work with.

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Watch Video

Handspinning is one of those things that is easiest to learn by watching, not reading. Check out my full tutorial video to get started!

First Attempts Look Like Scrap Yarn

Your yarn will probably be thick-and-thin, with too much twist in some spots and not enough twist in others. This is completely normal! More experienced spinners will tell you that every skein you spin builds skill. Use your first yarn as scrap yarn for small projects, or knit it into a rustic scarf.

Happy spinning really does start with embracing imperfection.

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What Comes Next

Once you’ve spun and plied your yarn, you’ll want to:

• Wind it onto a niddy noddy (or improvise with something at home) to create a skein.
• Set the twist by washing the skein and hanging to dry, or steaming.
• Label and store your yarn (get free printable labels here!)

The next step might be exploring a spinning wheel, attending fiber festivals, or joining spinning communities.

If you fall in love with spinning, you might try:

• An e-spinner for travel.
• A double treadle wheel or something else new to you.
• Learning about tension systems like Scotch tension, Irish tension, or double drive.
• Trying different types of yarn—from thicker yarn for bulky knits to finer yarn for lace.
• Trying different types of fiber, or blending fibers together. I’ve written a bit about angora and cotton.

The rabbit hole goes deep!

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Final Thoughts

Spinning yarn is one of those skills that grows with you. Your first attempt will look nothing like the yarn you’ll spin after six months of practice, but that’s part of the beauty. With each skein, you’ll build confidence and muscle memory.

The most important thing is to start. You don’t need an expensive wheel, a collection of tools, or rare wool fibers to begin. A spindle and a handful of fiber is enough to begin your spinning journey.

And remember—every skein is usable, every mistake is part of learning, and every yard of yarn you spin is new yarn that didn’t exist before you made it.

Happy spinning!