Niddy Noddy

Using a Niddy Noddy:

A niddy noddy is a simple tool that is used to make a skein of your hand spun yarn straight off the wheel. The yarn can then be washed, dyed and the twist set. Setting the twist is very important if you want balanced, professional looking yarn. The unusual name comes from the action of the skeiner. The faster you wind, the more the skeiner develops a niddy noddy action!

Niddy Noddies can be made of wood, PVC or even a coat hanger! A niddy noddy is basically a shaft with a crossbar at each end. One crossbar is rotated 90 degrees from the other. Ashford's wood niddy noddy makes 1.5m (5') skeins and Louët has a niddy noddy that is adjustable to measure exactly 1 or 2 yards of yarn. To view our line of niddy noddies, click here.

Slacken the brake or belt tension on the bobbin for your spinning wheel. Hold the niddy noddy in your right hand with the top crossbar pointing towards you. Hold the end of yarn against the back of the center shaft. With you left hand, carry the yarn up and over the top crossbar A and down behind the lower crossbar B. Now carry it up the front and over the top crossbar C, then down in front of crossbar D. Complete the cycle by carrying it up behind shaft to A. Continue in this manner.
Before removing the skein from the niddy noddy, tie loosely in four places. You can now wash or dye the yarn. Many people then hang a weight (can of soup) in the bottom of the loop and hang to dry to set the twist.

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