Fiber & Fabrics

Sliver is weighed in grains per yard. There are 7000 grains per pound; a "70 grain sliver" means that one yard weighs 70 grains, and it takes 100 yards to make a pound, and 25 yards to make 4 ounces. I usually ask for 70 grain when I have cotton processed. The weight will not be exact, so if we estimate an ounce at 6 yards, then if you fill each of your 3 spindles every day using a yard of sliver, then it will take you two days to spin an ounce or 32 days to spin a pound. If you take two weeks off, you should be able to spin a little over 11 pounds a year.

If you spin leisurely and allow your spinning time to be your quiet or meditation time, it should take you no more than an hour to fill your 3 spindles when you first start, and as you improve your skills, you may be able to fill a spindle in 10 minutes.

Two ounces is more than enough to provide handspun weft for an 8" wide by 2 yard long scarf.

You can estimate project requirements by assuming one spindle will make between 80 and 100 square inches if used as weft. Halve the area or double the number of spindles if you are also using your handspun for warp. (2 spindles full for 100 sq. in. warp & weft).