Guest Author - Llyn Payne
Are you a left or a right-handed spinner? The answer to this question may surprise you!
When it comes to spinning, it makes no difference which hand is dominant. Spinning left handed or right handed makes absolutely no difference when it comes to making yarn. But it may make a difference to some people when it comes to choosing a spinning wheel that is comfortable to use.
In spinning, handedness is determined by one thing and one thing only and that is which hand you use to hold your supply of fibers. If you hold the fibers in your left hand and have your right hand forward controlling twist, then you are a left-handed spinner. If your right hand is holding the fibers and your left hand is forward, then you are a right-handed spinner.
Usually it is easier and more comfortable for most beginners to use their naturally dominant hand as the forward hand, the hand that controls the twist. But it’s best to try spinning with the non-dominate hand forward too. The goal is to find which hand position works the best for you. Some lucky spinners can use both hand positions with equal ease.
As stated above, it makes no difference at all which hand you use to hold the fibers and which hand you use to control the twist. If you are comfortable and producing yarn you like then you are doing it correctly.
There is one definite advantage to being a lefty spinner though and that is that if you ever want to move from a bobbin & flyer wheel to a wheel driven spindle, such as a charkha or a great wheel both of which require left handed drafting, it will be much easier to make the transition.
And there is disadvantage to being a left handed spinner, which may apply only to those spinners who use Saxony type wheels and want to spin long draw. Most Saxony type wheels have the bobbin & flyer mounted to the left of the drive wheel so to get a good length of draft with long draw techniques, the spinner must twist a bit to the left as the draft is off to the spinner’s side rather than over her or his lap. This body twist bothers some spinners but doesn’t bother others. Again, it’s what ever you find comfortable.
There are Saxony style wheels set up for lefty spinners available. These wheels have the bobbin & flyer located to the right of the drive wheel. This arrangement allows the leftie spinner to draft right over his or her lap. Wheels set up this way are fairly rare and normally have to be special ordered from the manufacturer.
