spinning

The process by which a mass of staple fibres is converted into a yarn or thread to meet required specifications of thickness, evenness, twist and composition.  Spinning can be done by hand, by hand controlled machine (like a spinning wheel) or mechanically.  There are many types of spinning mechanisms all based on five different principles:

• Fly spinning
• Cap spinning
• Ring spinning
• Centrifugal or pot spinning
• Rotor spinning

See ring spinning, rotor spinning, jenny and mule