Welcome to the world of cotton spinning!
Spinning cotton has been a decades-long passion for me, and I am so glad that you have come to explore more about this exciting fiber. For millenia, humans have had a close and vital association with cotton, but during the 20th century much of the knowledge about hand spinning cotton fell from general use and cotton became a fiber that spinners shied away from.
I have included a variety of articles on many aspects of working with cotton - you can find tips on spinning, dyeing, and weaving with cotton (see articles located under "Spin") as well as information on growing your own cotton from seeds (see "Grow") and choose from a selection of cotton related items (see "Shop") to help you along your journey with this interesting fiber.
"Easy to Spin" Cotton Sliver makes handspinning cotton so much easier!
Are you frustrated with your cotton spinning? Most cotton preparations are carded for machine spinning and difficult to spin by hand, especially for novices. Joan's Easy to Spin sliver has been prepared with handspinners in mind. Make your life easier and try this wonderful fiber. Click here for more information and the updated US/Canada vendor list.
Takli Spinning - What makes it so special?
The takli is a small support-style spindle that is easily carried from place to place. Because of the high whorl speed it can attain, it is the perfect tool for spinning cotton - you can spin a much finer diameter yarn on the takli than is possible to spin using a wheel. And don't let the small size fool you - you can spin a great deal of yarn in a short time. Joan used takli-spun yarn for the warp on the green blouse described in the article "My Green Blouse"! More...
The Cotton Garden
Joan has been growing cotton in her home garden for the last 5 years. Cotton flowers first open as a pale yellow and then turn pure white. After the flower is pollinated, the dying blosson turns a deep shade of pink or dusky purple. That is why you often see different colors of flowers on the same plant - you are seeing the varying stages of development. More...