Did you just join a weaving class, or have hopes of doing so soon? If you’re in the “fiber arts” world, you will most likely come across the term spinning a lot. Perhaps you may even be interested in taking up the skill alongside weaving.
When you think about it, spinning and weaving are sequential processes in the production of many textiles. This close relationship should not, however, be confused to mean the same thing. Yarn spinning and weaving are two distinct aspects of fabric-making.
So, what’s the difference between spinning and weaving? In the simplest terms, spinning is the last part of the process of turning raw fibers (roving specifically) such as wool or cotton into a thread or yarn. Weaving is the interlacing of this yarn into a continuous flow of fabric, typically using a loom of some kind.
If you think there’s something truly special about handwoven garments, then you will enjoy learning about the relationship between spinning and weaving as we distinguish these two millennia-old techniques here.
Objectives of Spinning and Weaving
Spinning and weaving can be thought of as a two-part series of making textiles.
It’s important to note that spinning is not like other common yarn hobbies like weaving or knitting. The last two turn yarn or thread into a product you wear or use (like a scarf). Spinning is part of creating the yarn you use in knitting or weaving.
The main objective of spinning is to create threads of endless lengths from fibers by twisting them together. Such fiber could be from animal furs such as wool and alpaca, or plant cellulose fibers like cotton, hemp, or flax.
Synthetic filaments such as nylon and polyester may also be spun, as we shall see later in the process of spinning. Silk is a natural animal protein fiber that undergoes the same treatment as synthetic filaments to produce yarn.
Have you ever walked into a craft or sewing supplies store and gone to the yarn department? You’ll see an overwhelming assortment of weaving and knitting yarn varying in color, size, weight, and texture. This yarn is the product of spinning.
This spun yarn is then utilized in the next process of fabric making – such as weaving. However, it is also widely used in knitting, crocheting, felting, braiding, and other projects.
The purpose of weaving is to take this spun yarn and transform it into a fabric that can be used to sew a garment or as another finished product. How? By interlocking two strands of yarn at right angles into warps and wefts to create a tight weave.
Take a close look at the fabric of the clothes you are donning right now, what do you see? Probably threads are crisscrossing one another intricately. That is the purpose of weaving.
Spinning and Weaving – Methods
Another major difference between spinning and weaving is the method employed. Both actions may be done by hand as it was traditionally or by machine, but the process for each one is unique. Also, the process for spinning natural yarn is different than it is for spinning synthetic yarn.
Spinning Natural Yarn
The process of spinning natural yarn begins with raw harvested or sheared fibers, which are normally coarse and dirty. The fiber undergoes some treatments to clean it before it begins being spun.
Roving is the fiber that has been cleaned, combed, carded, and perhaps even dyed but not yet spun into yarn.
A manual drop spindle and distaff were the earliest devices used for spinning before the improved mechanic spinning wheel was developed.
The roving is first separated into strands. The strands are usually very short, about a half-inch long. These are twisted or spun into thread while smoothing them out too. The texture of fibers is what makes the strands attach. (Ever notice how yarn “sticks” to your clothes?)
More fiber strands are fed into the thread and twisted to build up the length and finally create many yards of yarn that is wound around a bobbin or into a skein.
Today, yarn is spun in mills using a variety of machinery that produces tonnes of yards in a short span. Ring spinning is the most popular method where hundreds of spindles work simultaneously to spin fibers.
Rotor or open-ended spinning is another method of spinning. As opposed to using a spindle, this method utilizes a powerful wave of air blown into a rotor containing the fibers. The fibers are pushed into a system that forms them into yarn. Yarn created using the rotor method is bulkier and heavier.
Spinning Synthetic Yarn
Spinning synthetic yarn such as polyester and nylon is far different from that of natural fibers. The process used for such fibers is known as extrusion.
Extrusion begins by melting polymers into a thick viscous fluid the consistency of the batter and passing it through an extruder.
The extruding device is known as a spinneret. It possesses hundreds of tiny ducts on one side such that the polymer melt emerges from that end as filaments of incredible length up to a kilometer long. These are then solidified into threads.
Cellulose or protein regenerated fibers such as rayon, acetate, and casein are also ‘spun’ this way. The melting process is far more complex, and this is just one way of doing it.
There are three other systems of spinning artificial fibers: wet, dry, and gel spinning. But we won’t go into too much detail as people don’t spin synthetic yarn at home.
The Weaving Process (Overview)
Weaving is ultimately the process of making fabric, garments, or other textiles by interlocking two threads or yarn – with threads/yarn running perpendicularly to each other.
The first thread, known as the warp, is wound longitudinally. The lateral thread, known as the weft, is then filled into the warp following a predefined pattern to create a weave. Traditionally the warp goes over, under, over, under, but varying the pattern achieves different designs or types of ‘weaves.’
Unlike spinning, which requires a spindle or wheel, weaving is nearly always executed using some type of loom. This is another difference between spinning and weaving – the tools of the trade. The loom holds warp thread as the weaver fills in the weft, often with a shuttle.
Looms have evolved a lot, although traditional methods vary by region and culture. Many early looms were vertical, with threads hanging from trees or other structures. Many cultures then developed sitting, standing or floor looms from there.
Today many looms are advanced. Hand-operated looms are often floor or table looms and come in different sizes. The most recent digital looms have revolutionized weaving entirely. However, the fundamental weaving technique has not changed.
If you are just starting and would like to weave by hand, a lap or sitting loom is one of the cheapest and easiest looms available to practice weaving small pieces of fabric.
Related Questions
Can You Spin Your Own Yarn?
Spinning is a technique that began several thousand years ago. So the short answer is, yes, you can spin your yarn by hand or on a simple spinning wheel you can use at home. And the best part about it is, being able to adjust your grist and twist.
You can use a top-quality beginner-friendly tool known as a drop spindle for a fraction of the wheel’s price. As you get the hang of things, you can upgrade to more specialized spindles. You are less likely to invest a couple of hundred dollars on a spinning wheel as a beginner.
Which is the Best Yarn For Starter Hand Spinning?
For a smooth learning curve, go for wool. It is simpler to spin, easier to hand dye, affordable, and easily available. Cotton and flax are among the easiest fibers, to begin with too. However, any natural fiber can be spun by hand.
What is the Difference Between Fiber, Yarn, and Fabric?
Fiber, yarn, and fabric all refer to textiles but at different stages of development.
Fiber is the raw material from plants or animals such as wool from sheep or cotton. It can also refer to synthesized filaments of polymers. You can also refer to yarns, threads, and textiles in general as “fibers” or fiber products.
Raw fiber undergoes a multi-step production process which may include washing, combing, and carding (if it is made from animal fibers) until it is turned into roving. Roving is then spun into longer, continuous strands of thread – making yarn. Yarn is then sold in skeins, balls, or cones.
A fabric is the finished product when you weave (or knit) thread or yarn. It is often the final product sold in rolls to be used for making clothes, drapes, and upholstery.
Which is a Better Skill to Learn – Weaving Or Spinning?
Neither is better than the other. While spinning is technically necessary so that you have yarn or thread to weave (or knit, crochet, etc.) with, many people simply enjoy the spinning process and do it as a hobby.
Weaving is a great skill, too, as it is enjoyable for many and the strongest way to create fabric from yarn compared to hand-knitted, felted, or crocheted articles.
It is an indispensable part of the creation of basically anything from clothes to nets, hats, blankets, shoes, belts, carpets, towels, placemats, rugs, and the list is endless. However, without yarn, there would be no weave. They work in harmony, and both play an important role.
If you just want to decide on a new hobby, you may wish to start with weaving, as your work will produce a finished product for you to enjoy. Unless you already knit or crochet, spinning yarn without knowing how to weave or use it may not be as fulfilling for you.
Do You Need to Sew After Weaving?
It depends on what you are weaving. If you are weaving wraps, scarves, small blankets, shawls, rugs, mats, or towels, you do not need to know how to sew (unless you are piecing smaller woven pieces together to make a large item – such as a large blanket).
Sewing is necessary, however, if weaving fabric to make into clothing, pillowcases, and other items that would traditionally be sewn.
Spinning Vs. Weaving – Conclusion
Spinning and weaving are both critical components of turning raw materials into usable fabrics. Despite being successive stages of textile production, there is a huge difference between spinning and weaving.
Spinning and weaving have different objectives, processes, and tools/machinery necessary to execute each technique. Spinning basically turns fibers to yarn using spindles, wheels, or other processes while weaving turns the yarn into a fabric or end product, usually using a loom.
You can spin your yarn and weave your articles at home by hand as a hobby or sell your wares at craft fairs, farmers’ markets, and even online.
Up Next: How To Make A Flat Scarf On A Round Loom
