Little Tricks
So, last week I was trying to spin on my Norm Hall Saxony wheel. I love the wheel but I’ve never really been able to spin fine on it. It’s been frustrating. I’m in the midst of trying to get the last bit of weft spun for the skirt project and weather changes and all kinds of other issues made me get out another wheel.
Anyway, I was struggling to get the yarn as fine as it needs to be. The Norm Hall wheels have pretty giant bobbins and big flyers that go along with the bobbins. The ratios are good though so I am able to get a lot of twist easily. 
I know how to spin fine but sometimes I’m too stubborn to put my knowledge in play. I just want the wheel to do all the work. Sometimes that isn’t good enough and so I decided to put my money where my mouth is this time.
First, I changed to a finer drive band. That helped a bit but it wasn’t the solution I was after.
I oiled everything again. Still no luck.
So, I got out my secret weapon. Pipe insulation. 
I’m humming right along now. Why did I make myself suffer for 4 days?
PlyAway registration is open and there are lots of people already registered. One of the classes I’ll be teaching there is how to spin fine yarns. I’m going to go right out on a limb here and tell you that my fine spinning class is a little different than the classes other spinning teachers’ and I happen to know that there are a few more spots still available.
If you sign up, I’ll teach you every one of my fine spinning tricks no matter what wheel you are working with.
Wait…. pipe insulation!? Can you explain (slowly, with small words)? I know my wheel spins differently the more filled the bobbin gets, but don’t really get why.
I think, and I’m happy to be corrected, that when spinning lace the idea is to have the least amount of tension necessary to draw the yarn on to the bobbin. You can further reduce the tension by cross lacing the yarn on the flyer or by partially filling the bobbin, in this case with pipe insulation.
That’s my understanding. Hope it helps.
You are correct on all accounts. I was just demonstrating one of my little tricks here in this post.
Something to do with physics. I can’t really explain the science. I just know it works.
Perfect. I needed that.