Dizzing Three Ways
I am an incredibly lazy spinner. If I can do it without digging the specialized tool out of storage for it, I will! Sometimes that makes more work for myself, though I don’t like to admit it. For the longest time, I would create roving or top without a diz, just drafting it out with my hands… because it was too much work to find the diz. However, I am a diz convert, especially after seeing how much nicer the preparations behave.
What’s a Diz?
A diz is a simple, useful tool for handspinners. Often made from wood, bone, plastic, or ceramic, it is a small disk, sometimes concave and sometimes flat, with at least one small hole through which fiber can be pulled. It is designed to create a consistent roving.
Here are three ways you can use a diz with different fiber preparations:
1. Making True Top from Wool Combs
Dizzing wool directly from combs is ideal for worsted spinning. Once you have combed the fiber and the fiber is aligned on one of the combs, clamp the comb to a table so that you have both hands free to work the fiber. Bring the fibers on the comb to a point and feed the fibers through the diz. Twisting the tips of the fiber can help it feed through the small hole. Start to draft the fibers from the tip. As your top thins, slide the diz downward toward the comb until it has a firm grip on the next set of fibers. Then draft the fibers some more. Do this until there is minimal waste fiber left on the comb. You can coil your roving in a neat little nest for safekeeping until you are ready to spin.
2. Creating Roving from Drum-Carded Batts
Batts from a drum carder can be turned into manageable roving using a diz as well, and it can be done directly from the drum carder. Once all the fiber has been applied to the drum carder and blended, typically we would remove it to create a batt. Instead, find the seam of the drum. From one edge of the seam, slide the doffer about 1 inch along the seam and lift to break the continuous loop. Gather the tips of the fiber from one side and put them through the diz as described above. As you draw off the roving, you’ll slowly move the diz down and around the drum in a spiral until you have removed all of the fiber.
3. Refining Woolen Prep from Rolags
Though usually spun directly, rolags can be dizzed to get a more semi-worsted preparation. This technique can also be used to loosen fauxlags, which are very tight rolags made on blending boards. Gently pull the fibers from the tip of the rolag through the diz. As you draw the rolag through the diz, it will straighten and align the fibers somewhat.
Final Tips:
- Choose the right hole size based on fiber and yarn weight. A small hole will make a small yarn.
- Pull slowly to avoid breakage or bunching.
- Start with clean, well-prepared fiber for best results.
