Cynthia Wood Spinner

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Amherst, VA
Cynthia Wood Spinner

I am Cynthia D. Haney, artisan wood turner. I make tools for the fiber arts including crochet hooks,

08/13/2026

Tool Thursday

Plying Balls may seem like an odd sort of tool. However having a little firm felt ball to use as a core makes winding a plying ball much easier.

Plying balls are the key to easy plying on a spindle. Learn all my tips, tricks, and techniques for fool proof "Plying Yarn on a Spindle" in my class at Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, SAFF, October 22. Registration is open now. The class price includes plying balls, scarf, and fiber for ply on the fly a fun technique.

Link on my website and the festival site.
SouthEastern Animal Fiber Fair

08/12/2026

Wood Wednesday Cherry

Made with wood from a Cherry tree Prunus serotina. At times called Black Cherry or Wild Cherry it grows through out the woods of Virginia and much of the Eastern United States. It produces edible cherries, small and very tart. I prize cherry for its lumber and the rich red brown color it provides. Most people recognize the dark color that develops after sun exposure and time. However freshly cut cherry is very pale. Most product pictures are taken before the cherry has a chance to darken.
The bowl I let age then took more photos. The top whorl drop spindle set is only slightly aged. It will continue to darken.

Both this bowl and spindle set have a little natural sapwood that provides a lighter contrast. The sapwood will not darken like the heartwood so the contrast will last.

08/11/2026

Tip Tuesday

Be prepared, carry a spindle bag loaded with your spindle and fiber.

You will be surprised how often you can spin for a few minutes. You will also notice how great it is to have your spindle ready for stress reduction.

08/10/2026

Mail Monday

A Trunk size Top Whorl Drop Spindle I turned found its spinner. I used natural solid Tulip Poplar and Cherry wood which is in my Classic beauty price range. I shaped the whorl with a deep hollow making for a long duration Beginner Friendly spin.

This spindle is great for plying yarn and spinning a wide range of yarn thickness from very thick to fairly thin.

08/08/2026

Do you want to learn how to spin yarn?
Do you want to try spinning on a spindle or with a different kind of spindle?
Have you spun yarn and need to know what to do next?

I have the opportunity and answers for you.

If you have never spun yarn, or never successfully spun, or are ready to try a drop spindle. Take my 'Making Yarn on a Spindle' class. It includes spindle and fiber and will get you spinning with ease.

If you want to try a different kind of spinning or love super squishy airy soft yarn. Take my 'Get Hooked on Spinning Supported' class which includes spindle and fiber.

If you want to learn what to do next after having spun some yarn take 'Plying Yarn on a Spindle'. If you have never spun but want start with all the knowledge take both 'Plying Yarn on a Spindle' and 'Making Yarn on a Spindle'. 'Plying Yarn on a Spindle' also pairs well with 'Get Hooked on Spinning Supported'.

Classes are hosted by Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair on October 22 & 23 in Asheville, NC. Registration is open now. Links on my website.

08/07/2026

Flashback Friday

Teaching my spindle classes in person for a fiber guild.

If you want to learn how to spin or expand your spindle skills, my next in person classes are at Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, SAFF, in Asheville, NC October 22 & 23. You can take Get Hooked on Spinning Supported, Plying Yarn on a Spindle, and/or Making Yarn on a Spindle. Registration is open now. Links on my website.

08/06/2026

Tool Thursday

Trunk Size Spindles

Size matters when you are plying your yarn or spinning a thicker singles yarn. If the spindle is too small you are limited on how much yarn it can hold.
Plying is more than one strand of singles being combined into a plied yarn. So two spindles worth of singles spun into a two ply yarn is about twice as thick taking up about twice the shaft space on your spindle. You need a spindle large enough or you have to make two smaller skeins of yarn instead of one full skein.
Anytime you are spinning a thicker yarn be it from fiber as singles or plying, the spindle needs to be heavy enough to insert twist into the yarn.
I typically go up a spindle size when plying. I spin most of my singles on my middle Branch size spindles. So I use a large Trunk size for plying.
My large Trunk size spindles are big and heavy enough for all thick spinning and plying. They also work great for all but the thinnest spinning and plying. Providing the largest range of yarn thickness and quantity possible in one spindle.

If you want to learn how to Ply your yarn on a spindle and try out Trunk size spindles, sign up for my class Plying Yarn on a Spindle at Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair October 22. All skill levels are welcome. It is a great compliment to either of the beginner classes I am teaching at the festival. It is also a great skill builder for those already spinning. It is ok to take the Plying class Thursday and my beginner Making Yarn on a Spindle class Friday. The timing is due to scheduling not to discourage you from taking two classes.

SouthEastern Animal Fiber Fair Links on the website same as my name dot com.

08/05/2026

Wood Wednesday Beech

Beech is a pretty pale classic price wood. Dense with small pores it makes great spindle whorls. I rarely buy Beech as I find people overlook the beauty in the pale creamy white color.

I turned the whorl and stand of this Top Whorl Beginner Friendly Branch Size Spindle Set from Beech. I turned the shaft from Black Walnut to accent the grain of the Beech. You can see it and other Beech items on my website, same as my name dot com.

08/04/2026

Tip Tuesday

Take a spindle spinning class while you can.

I am teaching my spindle classes at Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, aka SAFF, October 22 and 23. Registration is now open. Taking an in person organized class is a great chance to learn. Yet the festival only happens once a year. Join me in Asheville North Carolina to spin the yarn you want.

Details on my website.

SouthEastern Animal Fiber Fair

08/03/2026

Mail Monday

A Classic beauty Branch size Top Whorl Drop Spindle I made is in a spinners hands now.

I turned the whorl from Black Walnut and the shaft from solid Maple.

I shaped it for a long duration spin making it Beginner Friendly.

Students in my 'Making Yarn on a Spindle' class at SAFF get a spindle as part of their class fee. Spindles like this with a variety of whorl woods are beloved by spinners of all skill levels.
Class registration is open now. Linked from my website from bio.

SouthEastern Animal Fiber Fair

Address

1601 Falling Rock Drive
Amherst, VA
24521

Telephone

+14342828461

Website

https://CynthiaWoodSpinner.com/

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