How do spinning creators document breed-specific fiber properties at the staple-length and drafting-window level for Patreon?

Breed-specific fiber documentation at the level that retains spinning Patreon patrons covers three measurements for each breed or fleece worked: staple length in millimeters, micron count (fiber diameter), and the drafting window the staple length imposes on the chosen preparation method. These three together explain every spinning decision that follows. Border Leicester Faced (BFL) and similar long-staple breeds (Wensleydale, Masham, Teeswater) have staple lengths typically in the 100–150mm range, with BFL fleeces commonly measuring 120–140mm on the lock. The fiber is semi-lustrous to lustrous, with micron counts in the 24–32 range depending on the specific flock and management — more than wide enough to spin with a worsted-prepared combed top. The critical documentation number for a BFL fleece is the minimum staple length in the sample, not the average, because the drafting window must accommodate the shortest fibers in the supply: in a BFL fleece with locks ranging from 100mm to 140mm, the operative drafting window upper limit is 100mm, not 120mm. The drafting window for worsted short-draw with BFL should be set at 70–90mm — between 60% and 80% of the minimum staple length — because this keeps the drafting zone inside the length of all fibers in the supply and prevents short-fiber breakage during the draw. For a two-handed worsted draw where the front hand pinches 10–15mm from the twist front, the back hand drawing 80mm back places the pinch-point spacing inside the 100mm minimum, and all fibers bridge the drafting zone without pulling apart. Document this calculation explicitly: 'minimum staple length 100mm; drafting window set at 80mm; calculation: 80% of 100mm.' Corriedale, with staple lengths typically in the 75–115mm range and micron counts in the 27–33 range, sits in the medium-length medium-fine zone and is genuinely versatile across preparation methods. A Corriedale fleece with 90mm average staple can be combed (worsted preparation) with a drafting window of 55–70mm for worsted draw, or carded (woolen preparation) with long draw where the drafting window is not fixed but instead governed by the twist insertion rate and the fiber cloud density. The decision between combing and carding for a Corriedale is a yarn-character decision, not a staple-length-necessity: Corriedale has enough staple for combing to be successful and enough crimp for carding to produce a lofty result. Document which was chosen and why: 'Corriedale 90mm average staple, 29 micron; combed into top for a smooth sock-weight yarn; carding would have worked but the worsted preparation gives better stitch definition in knitting.' The micron count at 29 is in the borderline range for next-to-skin comfort — some wearers with medium sensitivity find 28–32 micron acceptable for garments that do not contact the neck; document this explicitly rather than assuming the patron's sensitivity threshold. Merino separates into fine (15–21 micron, staple 50–75mm), medium (21–24 micron, staple 60–90mm), and strong (24–27 micron, staple 70–100mm), and the staple length range within each category is wide enough that the drafting window changes materially across it. Fine Merino at 17 micron and 55mm staple requires a drafting window of 30–45mm — a very short drafting window that is unforgiving of technique variation. At 30mm, the pinch-point spacing leaves very little drafting zone, and the beginner's tendency to open the hands slightly as they draw immediately puts the drafting zone beyond the staple length and pulls fibers apart. Document the drafting window as a specific range, not just 'short': '55mm staple Merino, fine 17 micron; drafting window 33mm (60% of staple); the drafting window is narrow enough that any accidental relaxation of the fiber-hand pinch results in fiber breakage — the patron should practice the pinch-and-advance on a sample of 10 drafting cycles before spinning to the bobbin.' Medium Merino at 22 micron and 80mm staple allows a drafting window of 48–65mm — significantly more forgiving, and the yarn produced is firmer and slightly less soft at the equivalent twist level.

How do spinning creators calculate wheel ratio from whorl measurements, and how do they back-calculate from a target TPI?

Wheel ratio is the number of times the bobbin whorl rotates for each complete rotation of the drive wheel, and it determines how much twist is inserted into the yarn per unit of drafted fiber. The formula is: wheel ratio = drive wheel circumference ÷ bobbin whorl circumference. For a wheel with a drive wheel circumference of 180cm (approximately 57cm diameter) and a bobbin whorl circumference of 18cm, the ratio is 10:1. In practice, the measurement is taken from the groove of the drive wheel where the drive band runs and from the groove of the whorl where the drive band contacts — not the outer edge of either component. The measurement process: wrap a flexible tape measure around the drive wheel in the drive band groove, record the circumference in centimeters. Then wrap the same tape measure around the bobbin whorl in its groove and record. Divide the first by the second. For wheels with multiple whorl sizes on the same bobbin flyer assembly (which most production spinning wheels have), each whorl has its own ratio: the same drive wheel circumference divided by each successively smaller whorl circumference produces successively higher ratios. A wheel might offer ratios of 6.5:1, 8:1, 10:1, and 13:1 across its four whorl sizes on the slow (scotch tension) side, and higher ratios still on the fast side if the wheel has a separate fast flyer assembly. The ratios map to yarn weight categories by the combination of ratio, treadle cadence, and drafting speed. The TPI (twists per inch) in the spun yarn is the ratio × treadle revolutions per minute ÷ drafting speed in inches per minute. For a practical spinning session at a comfortable 60 treadles per minute on a 10:1 ratio wheel, the twist insertion rate is 10 × 60 = 600 twist insertions per minute. If the spinner is advancing the fiber at 6 inches per minute (a moderate worsted-draw pace), the TPI is 600 ÷ 6 = 100 twists per minute per 6 inches per minute = 100/6 ≈ 16.7 TPI. That is a fingering-weight singles TPI range (12–18 TPI is typical for fingering-weight singles in Merino or Corriedale). Target TPI by yarn weight category provides the reference for ratio selection: lace weight singles need 15–22 TPI; fingering weight singles need 12–18 TPI; sport weight singles need 9–14 TPI; DK weight singles need 7–11 TPI; worsted weight singles need 5–9 TPI; bulky singles need 2–6 TPI. These are approximate targets that vary with fiber: higher-micron fibers can use slightly lower TPI than these ranges because their natural crimp provides structural cohesion; very fine fibers need TPI at the top of the range or above to hold together. The back-calculation for ratio selection: target TPI × target draft speed in inches per minute ÷ treadle cadence = required ratio. For a target of 15 TPI at a draft pace of 8 inches per minute at 80 treadles per minute: 15 × 8 ÷ 80 = 1.5 — that is 1.5 ratio units? No: TPI = ratio × RPM ÷ draft speed, so ratio = TPI × draft speed ÷ RPM = 15 × 8 ÷ 80 = 1.5. That is too low; 80 treadles per minute is too fast a treadle cadence for the 15 TPI target at 8 inches per minute on a typical wheel. The correct calculation: at a comfortable 60 treadles per minute and a target of 15 TPI at 6 inches per minute draft: ratio = 15 × 6 ÷ 60 = 1.5 — still too low. The interpretation: the wheel ratio provides a multiplier on each treadle, so for 15 TPI at 6 inches per minute draft: the twist insertions needed per minute = 15 × 6 = 90; treadles per minute = 60; ratio needed = 90 ÷ 60 = 1.5. A ratio of 1.5:1 is far too low for any production wheel. The error is the draft speed: 6 inches per minute is extremely slow; a more realistic draft speed for worsted spinning is 20–40 inches per minute. At 30 inches per minute and 60 treadles per minute, for 15 TPI: ratio = (15 × 30) ÷ 60 = 450 ÷ 60 = 7.5:1. An 8:1 ratio whorl (the closest standard whorl) at 60 treadles per minute and 32 inches per minute draft yields: TPI = (8 × 60) ÷ 32 = 480 ÷ 32 = 15 TPI exactly. Document the whole calculation for each spinning session: whorl size measured, ratio calculated, treadle cadence averaged, draft speed measured from a timed 30-second drafting sample, TPI predicted, and TPI measured from a finished sample against a ruler. The gap between predicted and measured TPI documents the spinner's consistency — if the measured TPI is consistently 2 TPI higher than the calculation predicts, the actual draft speed is lower than estimated.

How does twist angle determine yarn use category, and how should spinning creators document it for Patreon?

Twist angle is the angle at which individual fiber helices cross the yarn axis, and it is the primary determinant of a handspun yarn's mechanical character — more so than fiber type or preparation method for predicting how the yarn will perform in use. The angle varies from near-zero (for a loosely twisted roving that barely holds together) to approaching 45° or above (for a high-twist singles used in a weaving warp or a crepe yarn). The use-category mapping by degree range: 15–20° from the yarn axis produces a soft, low-resistance yarn with drapey hand and low abrasion resistance. This range is appropriate for next-to-skin garments (shawls, cowls, fine sweaters worn against bare skin) where softness is the primary requirement and mechanical durability is low because the piece is not subject to friction or abrasion. At 15°, the yarn has a soft, somewhat unplied character; individual fibers are secured by the twist but can pull free under sustained abrasion. At 20°, the yarn has more structural integrity but still a noticeably soft, low-energy character. Lace-weight yarns spun at this range produce a delicate open fabric when knitted at a large needle-to-yarn-weight ratio. 25–35° from the yarn axis produces balanced, resilient yarn appropriate for most garment and accessory applications. The majority of commercially spun yarn falls in the 25–30° range. At 25°, the yarn is soft but has enough twist to hold its structure under normal handling and repeated laundering. At 35°, the yarn is firmer, more elastic, and snaps back under stretch — the character associated with high-quality worsted-spun yarns for garment applications. Corriedale and BFL in this twist angle range produce fabric with good stitch definition and durability appropriate for cardigans, accessories, and home textiles. 35–45° from the yarn axis produces firm, high-twist yarn with maximum abrasion resistance within the singles category. This is the sock yarn range: yarn at 40° in a Merino-nylon blend or a pure Merino held at high tension wears well against the friction of the shoe interior and the ground-contact sole. At 45°, the yarn has a wiry, springy character and will try to twist back on itself if not maintained under tension — this is the upper end of the practical singles spinning range before the yarn accumulates too much stored energy to handle comfortably in knitting. Some spinners deliberately spin singles this tight for use as a balanced 2-ply: the high-twist singles, when plied in the opposite direction, produce a firmly balanced 2-ply that is tighter and more durable than a 2-ply from 30° singles. 45°+ from the yarn axis produces high-energy singles appropriate for weaving warps (where the yarn is held under tension throughout the weaving process and the stored energy does not cause problems), for crepe-effect knitting (where intentionally unbalanced singles produce a texture effect), or as a component in cable-plied yarns where multiple rounds of plying consume the stored energy. Weaving warp singles are sometimes spun above 50° specifically to produce the warp tension and abrasion resistance a loom requires; the stored energy in the singles is consumed by the balancing ply that follows. Measuring twist angle: two methods. Protractor method: hold a 10cm length of yarn taut against a flat surface under consistent tension (the weight of the yarn is sufficient; do not pull). Place the center of a protractor at a point where an individual fiber helix is visible crossing the top of the yarn. Measure the angle between the fiber helix and the yarn axis (the long axis of the yarn). Take three measurements at different positions along the 10cm sample and average them; twist angle varies slightly along the length of a handspun yarn and the average is more informative than a single reading. Photograph-and-grid method: place the yarn sample against ruled paper or a printed grid background. Photograph from directly above, perpendicular to the yarn. In the photograph, draw a line along the yarn axis and a line along a visible fiber helix crossing the top of the yarn. Measure the angle between them with a protractor or a digital angle tool on the photograph. The photograph method has the advantage that the image can be archived alongside the yarn sample record and shared directly with Patreon patrons as a visual reference.

How should spinning creators document plying mechanics and singles-to-ply balance for Patreon, and what does an unbalanced yarn reveal?

Plying mechanics documentation covers the direction of the ply twist relative to the singles twist, the number of singles combined, the wheel ratio and treadle cadence used for plying, the resulting ply TPI, and the balance assessment. Each element is a reproducibility variable for patrons who want to match the creator's plied yarn result. The direction rule: if the singles were spun Z (twist ascending to the right when the yarn is held vertically), the ply should be S (twist ascending to the left). S singles require Z ply. This is not a convention — it is a mechanical requirement for producing a balanced yarn. When Z singles are plied S, the S ply twist unwraps the Z singles twist from the outermost fiber layer of each singles strand, setting the fibers into a stable helical position. If Z singles are plied Z (same direction), the added twist tightens the singles further instead of balancing it, producing a corded yarn that is over-twisted overall and will torque severely in use. The ply TPI target for balance: for a 2-ply balanced yarn, the ply TPI should be approximately equal to the singles TPI, though slightly lower in practice because the act of combining two singles under ply twist partially untwists each singles component. A practical rule: start with ply TPI at 80–90% of the singles TPI and perform the balance test. For singles at 16 TPI, begin plying at a wheel setting that produces approximately 13–14 ply TPI and test. The wheel ratio for plying is lower than for spinning: a slower ratio per treadle inserts less twist per unit of plied yarn drawn off the bobbin, which is usually correct because the plying process does not require the high twist insertion rate of singles spinning. If the spinning ratio was 10:1, a plying ratio of 6:1 to 8:1 on the same wheel is common. The balance test: cut an 18-inch length of plied yarn from the finished bobbin. Hold one end between the thumb and index finger of each hand. Bring the hands together until the yarn forms a U shape, then allow the two legs of the U to contact each other. A balanced yarn forms two to four loose, regular coils where the yarn folds onto itself, then stops — the stored energy from the ply twist and the residual energy from the singles twist cancel each other. An over-plied yarn (too much ply twist relative to singles twist) forms multiple tight coils that continue to add after the initial fold: the yarn's stored ply energy exceeds the singles energy and the yarn wants to fold tightly in the ply direction. An under-plied yarn (insufficient ply twist) forms coils in the singles twist direction: the residual singles energy is not fully consumed by the ply twist, and the yarn tries to kink back in the direction of the singles. Under-plying is more common in beginner spinning than over-plying, because the visual cue of the yarn looking 'done' (round and regular) can arrive before the balance is achieved. The under-plied yarn looks finished on the bobbin but torques in use: when knitted into a swatch, it produces a slight bias, with the fabric leaning to one side — visible as a diagonal lay of the stitches rather than a perfectly vertical column. Document the balance test result with three photographs for each Patreon post: the plied yarn on the bobbin, the balance test result (photograph the coils formed by the 18-inch cut length), and the swatched yarn hanging straight or showing the observed bias. The combination of the three photographs plus the ply TPI measurement gives patrons enough information to diagnose their own plying without submitting a sample. Cable plying documentation: a two-ply yarn that is then plied again (Z singles → S 2-ply → Z cable, combining two S 2-plies) produces a 4-ply cable with very high structural integrity and significantly more twist energy to balance. Cable plied yarns are typically slightly over-plied by the balance test standard — they form four to six coils instead of two to four — because the multiple plying stages consume and re-insert twist at each level. Document the ratios and TPI at each plying stage independently: singles TPI, first-ply TPI, and cable-ply TPI are each independent variables that affect the final yarn character.

Explainers · 2026-06-26 · ~4,500 words

Patreon for spinning creators: complete 2026 guide — breed-specific fiber documentation, wheel ratio calculation, twist angle and yarn use category, and the Apple Tax

Spinning Patreons retain when they deliver the calibration data that a process video structurally cannot carry: the breed-specific staple length and its drafting window in specific millimeters, the wheel ratio calculated from actual whorl measurements, the twist angle documented against a protractor and mapped to yarn use category, and the plying balance test result that makes a singles reproducible. Spinning audiences are YouTube and Instagram-primary with above-average iOS rates — Apple Tax exposure begins November 1, 2026.

Who spinning creators are on Patreon

Spinning creators on Patreon separate into several overlapping types with different documentation needs. Breed-specific educators document the characteristic properties of individual sheep breeds, regional fleeces, and heritage breeds — their Patreon value compounds with each new breed added to the archive, because patrons who return to compare BFL to Corriedale to Rambouillet are getting reference data that no single YouTube video can efficiently provide. Wheel spinning instructors teach the mechanics of spinning wheel operation — wheel ratio, drafting technique, tension adjustment, and whorl selection — and their Patreon deliverable is the calibration layer beneath each technique: not “set your tension until the fiber draws in smoothly” but the specific ratio, the specific scotch tension spring position, and the specific drafting pace that produced the documented sample. Drop spindle teachers document the same calibration data in a portable format; their audiences are often entry-level spinners who need the measurement framework more than experienced wheel spinners do, because drop spindle outcomes are more variable and the documentation of what worked is correspondingly more valuable. Fiber preparers document the preparation process — washing, combing, carding, and dyeing — and their Patreon deliverable is the preparation decision record that makes a finished yarn reproducible from raw fleece.

A two-tier structure suits most spinning educators: a Fiber Documentation tier ($10–18/month) delivering preparation notes, spinning technique records, wheel ratio and TPI documentation, twist angle measurements, and balance test results for each session; and a Spinning Consultation tier ($30–45/month, capped at 8–10 patrons) adding a quarterly skein review where the patron submits their fiber type, preparation method, wheel setup, and a yarn sample or photograph, and the creator identifies the mechanical source of the gap between the patron’s result and the target. Breed-specific educators can add a Fleece Archive tier ($8–12/month) that delivers raw breed comparison data — staple length, micron, drafting window, preparation notes, and skein photographs — as a growing reference library organized by breed rather than by session date.

Breed-specific fiber documentation at the staple-length and drafting-window level

BFL, Wensleydale, and other long-staple lustre breeds

Border Leicester Faced (BFL) fleece is one of the most documented breeds in handspinning education, and the reason is that its properties are distinctive enough to require specific technique adaptations that are not obvious from general spinning instruction. BFL staple lengths commonly measure 100–150mm on the lock, with well-managed flocks producing fleece in the 120–140mm range. The micron count ranges from 24 to 32 depending on the flock, with finer BFL crosses (BFL × Merino) producing fiber toward the lower end of this range. The fiber is semi-lustrous and has a characteristic springy, memory-retaining character that makes it excellent for sock yarns and accessories where abrasion resistance and resilience are primary requirements.

The documentation value for a BFL Patreon post is in the minimum staple length, not the average. In a typical fleece, individual locks vary in staple length by 20–30mm across the clip, and the operative limit for the drafting window in a worsted short draw is the minimum length present in the fiber supply, not the mean. If a BFL fleece sample measures from 100mm (shortest locks from the britch or belly) to 140mm (longest locks from the blanket), the drafting window upper limit is 100mm, and a safely wide worsted drafting window would be set at 60–80% of 100mm — that is, 60–80mm. Document the measurement procedure: select a representative sample of 20 locks from across the blanket; lay each lock on a ruler individually and measure the distance from the base cut end to the natural tip; record the shortest, the longest, and the average. The drafting window calculation is then explicit: “minimum staple 102mm; worsted short-draw drafting window set at 75mm (73% of minimum).” A patron who sets up the same drafting window on their own BFL fleece with different measurements needs to understand the calculation, not just the number.

Wensleydale and other long-lustre breeds (Teeswater, Cotswold) have staple lengths that commonly exceed BFL — Wensleydale locks are frequently 150–250mm, and Cotswold can exceed 300mm. At these staple lengths, the drafting window can be very wide — a Wensleydale short-draw spinning window of 100–120mm is comfortable — but the fiber’s high lustre and low crimp make it prone to slipping if the fiber supply is not held firmly. Document the grip used on the fiber supply: for long-lustre breeds, a firm front-hand pinch that does not release fully between draft cycles is often necessary to prevent the twist from running back into the fiber supply and producing a thick-thin section.

Corriedale: the versatile middle

Corriedale (typically 75–115mm staple, 27–33 micron) is genuinely versatile across preparation methods in a way that shorter-staple or longer-staple breeds are not. A Corriedale fleece with 90mm average staple can be combed successfully into smooth top for a worsted short-draw singles, or carded into a rolag for a woolen long-draw singles, and both preparations work without requiring technique compensations imposed by the fiber’s physical limits. The decision between them is therefore a yarn-character decision: worsted preparation produces a smooth, lustrous singles with good stitch definition; woolen preparation produces a lofty, airy singles with a halo.

For worsted preparation at 90mm average staple, the drafting window is 55–72mm (60–80% of the average staple). Document the preparation in detail: the combs used (pitch, or teeth per square inch, and row count — a 4-pitch comb for Corriedale is standard; a 2-pitch comb is underdressed for this staple and fiber count and leaves more short fiber in the top), the number of passes before drawing off the top (two to three passes typically produce smooth top from a clean Corriedale fleece), and the noil volume discarded in grams per gram of original fiber (Corriedale produces minimal noil compared to shorter-staple breeds; a noil weight above 5% of the raw fiber weight suggests the fiber was not fully opened before combing, or the combs are mismatched in pitch for the staple length). For woolen preparation, document the carder specifications (tooth count and tooth height — finer-tooth cards produce smoother batts; coarser-tooth cards open the fiber more aggressively but can break short-staple fibers), the number of rolling passes to reach the finished rolag density, and whether the batt was split into narrow strips before rolling to produce a more uniform rolag density.

The micron range for Corriedale (27–33) spans the threshold for next-to-skin comfort for many wearers. Document this explicitly in any Patreon post that covers a Corriedale yarn intended for a garment: “This Corriedale is 29 micron. Most adults with average fiber sensitivity find 28–30 micron comfortable against skin for a sweater worn over a thin base layer; for direct-skin contact at the neck, test the swatched yarn on your neck for 20 minutes before knitting a full piece. The micron count is provided by the supplier and is the average for this clip.” This specificity replaces the vague “may not be suitable for sensitive skin” disclaimer that conveys no actionable information.

Merino: staple sub-categories and their drafting windows

Merino is the most widely available handspinning fiber and the one with the most internally varied properties, making breed-specific documentation more important for Merino than for most other breeds. The three common sub-categories — fine (15–21 micron, staple typically 50–75mm), medium (21–24 micron, staple typically 60–90mm), and strong (24–27 micron, staple 70–100mm) — require substantially different drafting windows and wheel ratios.

Fine Merino at 17 micron and 55mm average staple imposes a drafting window of 33–44mm (60–80% of staple). At 33mm, the pinch-point spacing between the fiber supply hand and the twist front is very narrow — approximately the width of four adult finger-widths laid side by side. Any accidental loosening of the fiber supply hand’s pinch immediately extends the effective drafting zone beyond the staple length and pulls fibers apart at the thin point, producing a break. Document the technique adaptation required: “Fine Merino at 17 micron, 55mm staple; drafting window 35mm; the fiber supply hand maintains a firm pinch throughout the draft and does not release or relax at any point in the cycle. The only motion that occurs is the drafting hand advancing forward; the fiber supply hand is static until the next pinch-and-advance cycle. Patrons who habitually spin with a slightly relaxed fiber supply hand on longer-staple fibers will need to consciously re-train the pinch for this fiber.”

Medium Merino at 22 micron and 80mm average staple allows a drafting window of 48–64mm — more than 30% wider than fine Merino, which is a significant comfort increase for spinners who find the fine Merino drafting window frustrating. The yarn produced at equivalent TPI is slightly less soft against skin than fine Merino at the same level of twist, but is more forgiving of the technique variation that real spinning sessions introduce. Strong Merino at 25 micron and 90mm staple can be drafted at 54–72mm, is fully compatible with either short-draw worsted or long-draw woolen preparation, and produces a yarn with a slight prickle at direct skin contact that most wearers find acceptable for a sweater worn over another layer.

The documentation practice: for each spinning session that uses Merino, record the micron count (from the supplier certificate or the product listing), the staple length measurement from a sample of 10–20 locks, and the drafting window used. The three numbers together give any patron with Merino of a different specification the calculation to adapt: “My Merino is 19 micron, 65mm staple; the creator’s was 17 micron, 55mm; I need to increase the drafting window from the creator’s 35mm to approximately 40–52mm for my fiber.”

Wheel ratio calculation and TPI targets by yarn weight

Measuring the wheel ratio from the wheel itself

The wheel ratio is the number of twist insertions delivered to the yarn per complete rotation of the drive wheel, and it is the fundamental setup variable for a spinning wheel. The measurement is: wrap a flexible tape measure in the drive band groove of the drive wheel and record the groove circumference. Then wrap the same tape measure in the whorl groove on the bobbin flyer assembly and record that circumference. Divide the drive wheel groove circumference by the whorl groove circumference. The result is the wheel ratio for that whorl.

Example calculation with a typical production wheel: drive wheel groove circumference 182cm; small (fast) whorl groove circumference 14cm; ratio = 182 ÷ 14 = 13:1. The same wheel with the large (slow) whorl measuring 26cm in groove circumference: 182 ÷ 26 = 7:1. The ratio changes with the drive band position relative to the groove diameter in the whorl — wear in the whorl groove can effectively increase the groove circumference slightly, producing a marginally lower ratio than the original specification, which is why measuring from the actual wheel is more accurate than looking up the manufacturer’s published ratio. Document the measured ratio, not the nominal ratio: “Ashford Traveller, slow whorl; manufacturer specification 8.5:1; measured from tape: drive wheel 178cm, whorl groove 22cm; ratio 178÷22 = 8.09:1, rounded to 8:1 for documentation.”

For wheels with a scotch tension flyer (one drive band, tensioned leader), the ratio applies to the flyer and the bobbin is braked independently. For double-drive wheels, both the flyer and the bobbin are driven, and the ratio affects the differential in speed between them, which sets the take-up rate. Document the drive system alongside the ratio because the same nominal ratio on a scotch tension wheel and a double-drive wheel at the same tension setting produces different effective twist insertion behaviors.

TPI targets by yarn weight and back-calculating the required ratio

The TPI (twists per inch) in the finished singles yarn is a function of three variables: the wheel ratio, the treadle cadence (revolutions per minute of the drive wheel), and the drafting speed (inches of yarn drawn off per minute). The relationship is: TPI = (ratio × RPM) ÷ draft speed in inches per minute.

TPI targets by yarn weight category for typical fiber types (Merino, Corriedale, BFL): lace weight singles require 15–22 TPI; fingering weight singles require 12–18 TPI; sport weight singles require 9–14 TPI; DK weight singles require 7–11 TPI; worsted weight singles require 5–9 TPI; bulky weight singles require 2–6 TPI. These targets assume a medium-fine fiber (18–28 micron) in a standard preparation. Coarser fibers (32–36 micron) can use the lower end of each range or slightly below because their natural crimp provides structural cohesion at lower twist levels; very fine fibers (15–17 micron) require TPI at the top of the range or higher because the smoother, finer fiber has less inherent cohesion and needs twist to hold the structure.

Back-calculation from target TPI to required ratio: target TPI × draft speed in inches per minute ÷ treadle cadence in RPM = required ratio. For a target fingering weight singles at 15 TPI with a comfortable treadle cadence of 60 RPM and an estimated draft speed of 24 inches per minute (a realistic pace for worsted short-draw fingering weight in Corriedale): 15 × 24 ÷ 60 = 6. A ratio of 6:1 at this treadle pace and draft speed produces 15 TPI. An 8:1 ratio at the same cadence and same draft speed produces (8 × 60) ÷ 24 = 20 TPI — too high for a soft fingering weight in this fiber. The spinner must either slow the treadle cadence, increase the draft speed, or switch to the 6:1 whorl. Document which adjustment was made: “Target 15 TPI fingering weight; measured draft speed with stopwatch over 30 seconds: 22 inches per minute; treadle cadence averaged from 10 treadle cycles: 58 RPM; required ratio: 15 × 22 ÷ 58 = 5.7; selected 6:1 whorl; verified with TPI count on a sample: 14.8 TPI.” The verify step — counting actual TPI on a sample after setup — closes the loop between prediction and measurement and documents the real output, not just the target.

Draft speed measurement for the documentation record: spin 30 seconds of singles onto the bobbin under the intended technique and treadle cadence. Remove the singles from the bobbin (or measure the length added to the bobbin by the 30-second sample). Multiply by two to get the inches per minute. This is the actual draft speed under the creator’s real conditions, which varies with fiber type, humidity, and physical state and is more informative than a calculation from theoretical hand-movement rates.

Twist angle documentation and yarn use category

Degree ranges and use categories

Twist angle is the angle at which individual fiber helices cross the yarn axis. It is the primary mechanical determinant of a handspun yarn’s durability, hand, and suitability for each use category — more directly predictive of performance in use than the micron count or the preparation method alone.

At 15–20 degrees from the yarn axis, the yarn has a low-energy, soft character with limited mechanical resilience. The fibers are secured by the twist but can be pulled free by repeated abrasion at the surface, making this angle range suitable for garments and accessories that do not receive friction contact: shawls, open-work lace that is blocked and displayed, fine knitted drape garments that slip on and off without mechanical contact. A lace weight yarn at 18 degrees in fine Merino produces the soft, drapey hand that large-needle lace requires; the same fiber at 30 degrees produces a firmer yarn that does not drape as freely. The tradeoff is durability: a 15–20 degree shawl yarn held up to a window will occasionally show light transmission at the thinnest sections, indicating that the twist is just sufficient to hold the fiber against casual handling but not against sustained abrasion.

At 25–35 degrees, the yarn is the balanced garment range. Fiber is secured firmly enough to resist normal laundering, moderate abrasion, and the mechanical stress of knitting and wearing. Most commercial yarn falls in this range because it optimizes for the broadest range of uses. A 30-degree singles in Corriedale or BFL produces a yarn that knits evenly, holds stitch definition in cables and textured patterns, and wears well for two to three years in a garment that is laundered monthly. Document whether a specific session’s yarn fell in the 25–30 range (toward soft) or the 30–35 range (toward firm), because the difference within the balanced range affects how the yarn behaves in color work (firmer yarns produce sharper color boundaries), cables (firmer yarns produce tighter, more defined cables), and drape (softer yarns fall better in garments with intentional drape).

At 35–45 degrees, the yarn has the high-twist character suited for socks, woven-in warp threads, and hard-wearing accessories. Sock yarn at 40 degrees in a Merino-nylon blend has the abrasion resistance to survive the shoe interior and ground-contact wear of six to twelve months of regular wear. A pure Merino singles at 42 degrees is firmer than comfort requires for most garment applications but makes an excellent warp thread for lightweight weaving because the high twist gives the yarn the tensile strength to survive loom tension without breaking. Document whether the intent is sock or warp: the finishing after spinning differs (sock yarn is typically wet finished with a thorough thwacking to set the twist and bloom the fiber; warp thread is often sized rather than thwacked, depending on the weaving structure).

Above 45 degrees, the yarn is in the crepe or high-energy singles range. This range is used deliberately for weaving warps that need maximum strength, for crepe-effect knitting where the over-twisted singles curls and puckers the fabric into a crinkled texture, or as a component in cable plying where the high singles twist energy is consumed by two rounds of plying. Spinning above 45 degrees requires a high wheel ratio and a slow draft speed; the yarn is tightly coiled and will kink severely if released from tension during spinning. Document the handling technique: high-energy singles must be plied immediately after spinning or wound on the bobbin under sufficient tension to prevent kinking. A session post that shows a high-energy singles skein in the balance test — wound off the bobbin, cut to 18 inches, folded — should photograph the tight multiple coils that form when the yarn is released, so patrons understand the visual marker of a successful high-energy singles.

Measuring and documenting twist angle

Two measurement methods are appropriate for Patreon documentation: the protractor method and the photograph-and-grid method. Both are accurate to within two to three degrees when applied carefully, which is sufficient for use-category classification.

Protractor method: hold a 10cm sample of finished singles yarn taut under the weight of the sample alone on a flat, light-colored surface. Place the center point of a standard 180-degree protractor at a position where a visible fiber helix is crossing the top of the yarn surface. The 90-degree line of the protractor should align with the yarn axis. Measure the acute angle between the fiber helix and the yarn axis at the point where the helix crosses the top surface. Take three readings at different positions along the 10cm sample and record all three; average them for the reported twist angle. Include the full notation: “Twist angle: three readings at positions 2cm, 5cm, 8cm from one end — readings 31°, 28°, 33°; average 30.7°; reported as 31°.”

Photograph-and-grid method: place the yarn sample on a sheet of printed grid paper (5mm grid is fine enough for this measurement). Photograph from directly above the sample, with the camera perpendicular to the paper surface. In image editing software or a photo measurement tool, draw a line along the long axis of the yarn and a second line along a clearly visible fiber helix at the top surface of the yarn. Measure the angle between them. The photograph-and-grid method has the advantage that the image is a natural archive format — it can be included directly in the Patreon post as a visual annotation, with the angle lines drawn in and labeled, so patrons see the measurement process rather than just the reported number.

Document twist angle consistently: at the same point in the finishing process (before wet finishing, or after wet finishing — the distinction matters because wet finishing can relax the twist angle by 2–5 degrees as the fiber blooms and the twist distributes more evenly). For a Patreon post that documents both pre- and post-finishing twist angle, the difference is itself informative: a post-finishing angle significantly lower than the pre-finishing angle indicates that the fiber had substantial residual stress before finishing that wet finishing released, and the pre-finishing angle overstates the actual yarn energy.

Plying mechanics and balance documentation

Singles TPI and ply TPI matching

A 2-ply balanced yarn is produced when the ply TPI approximately matches the singles TPI, because the ply twist unwraps the outermost layer of the singles twist at a rate that approximately equals the rate at which the singles’ own twist was applied. In practice, the exact ratio for balance depends on the yarn structure (a 2-ply is not exactly two singles — the combining of two singles under ply tension changes both components’ twist distribution), so the balance target is not a calculated number but a measured one established by sampling.

The calibration procedure for a new spinning session: spin approximately 10 yards of singles at the target TPI (measured). Wind a test skein of 4 yards (two 2-yard wraps around the hand). Ply the test skein immediately by folding the 4-yard length in half and treadling in the opposite direction at the ply ratio. Perform the balance test on the 2-yard plied sample: hold the two ends of the ply sample together and allow the free loops to fall. Count the coils. Two to four coils is balanced. If the ply test produces zero to one coil, increase the ply TPI (slow the draft pace or increase the ply wheel ratio). If it produces five or more coils, reduce the ply TPI. Adjust and retest with a second sample before committing to the production bobbin. This calibration procedure, documented step by step with the test skein photographs, is a Patreon deliverable in itself: patrons who do not calibrate in this way before plying a full project bobbin are producing unbalanced yarns unknowingly.

Plying ratio and treadle cadence for the ply stage

The wheel ratio used for plying is typically 60–80% of the spinning ratio. If the singles were spun on an 10:1 whorl, a 6:1 or 8:1 whorl for plying produces the twist insertion rate needed to match the singles TPI at a comfortable treadle cadence and drafting pace. A common beginner error is to ply on the same whorl ratio used for spinning, which inserts more twist per inch than needed for balance and produces an over-plied yarn even when the treadle cadence and drafting pace feel the same as during spinning. Document the whorl switch explicitly: “Singles: 10:1 whorl, 60 RPM, 30 inches/minute draft, 20 TPI measured. Ply: 7:1 whorl, 60 RPM, 30 inches/minute ply advance, 14 TPI plied; balance test: three coils, balanced.”

The ply advance rate (how fast the plied yarn feeds onto the bobbin) is the equivalent of the draft speed for spinning. A ply advance of 30 inches per minute at a 7:1 ratio at 60 RPM inserts (7 × 60) ÷ 30 = 14 TPI in the plied yarn. If the balance test shows under-plying at 14 TPI ply, reduce the advance rate to 24 inches per minute: (7 × 60) ÷ 24 = 17.5 TPI ply. Test again. The combination of measurable variables — whorl size, treadle cadence, advance rate, and balance test result — produces a reproducible ply recipe that a patron can follow on their own wheel with different physical specifications by substituting their own measured values into the same formula.

Cable plying documentation

Cable plying takes a 2-ply yarn and plies it again with a second 2-ply strand in the reverse direction, producing a 4-ply cable with extremely high structural integrity. A Z-singles → S-2-ply → Z-cable sequence is the standard orientation. The cable TPI is lower than the 2-ply TPI because each plying round adds structural twist while consuming some of the stored energy from the previous round; the final cable typically appears slightly over-plied by the balance test standard (four to six coils rather than two to four) because the cable-plying step reintroduces a modest excess of twist that cannot be fully balanced without another plying stage. Document all three stages independently: singles TPI, 2-ply TPI, cable TPI, and the balance test result at the cable stage. A cable-plied yarn that forms exactly two coils in the balance test is extremely rarely achieved and should be noted as an exceptional result; four to six coils is the expected outcome and is not a problem in a cable-plied yarn whose structural properties come from the multi-stage twist architecture, not from a perfect energy balance.

Wet finishing documentation

Wet finishing — soaking the skein to set the twist, thwacking on a hard surface to distribute the twist energy, and drying under controlled tension or free — changes the yarn’s physical character and should be documented as a separate step with its own variables. The finishing process is not neutral: it can relax twist angle, bloom the fiber surface, change the skein length and wraps-per-inch, and, if done incorrectly, felt or mat the surface of fine Merino or other high-crimp fibers.

Document soak time (minimum 20 minutes in tepid water to allow the fiber to fully hydrate; shorter soaks leave the core of the skein dry and produce uneven twist distribution after finishing). Document temperature and any additive (wool wash, hair conditioner used as a fiber softener — both should be logged by product name and dilution if applicable). Document thwacking method: number of thwacks, the surface thwacked against (a smooth counter produces different results than a bathtub edge or a wooden table — harder surfaces distribute the thwack energy more evenly but increase felt risk for fine fibers). Document drying: free-hanging in a cool room with no tension (produces the most twist relaxation), hanging with a specified weight (produces tension-set twist, useful for yarns intended for warp use), or board-dried (maximum dimension setting, produces the smoothest surface but least loft).

The pre-to-post-finishing comparison is the Patreon deliverable for finishing documentation: measure the skein length in yards before soaking, after finishing, and after drying. Measure wraps per inch (WPI) before and after finishing on the same yarn sample (wraps around a ruler at no tension, counted per inch). Record twist angle before and after. A typical well-finished Merino skein at 15 TPI singles shows: 5–8% length increase post-finishing (the fiber blooms and the skein relaxes); WPI drops by one to two wraps per inch as the yarn thickens from blooming; twist angle drops by 2–4 degrees as the twist distributes. These three numbers together, compared across multiple finishing sessions, give patrons a reference for what “correctly finished” looks like in measurement terms rather than in tactile terms that cannot be transmitted through a screen.

Apple Tax for spinning creator audiences

The Apple Tax is Apple’s 30% fee on iOS-billed app subscriptions, applying to Patreon subscriptions made through the iOS app starting November 1, 2026. The relevant number for spinning creators is the iOS rate of their specific audience, which varies by the platform on which their audience finds and follows them.

YouTube hand spinning and wheel spinning tutorial audiences run 55–68% iOS. Spinning YouTube sits toward the middle of the craft-content iOS range: higher than DIY and woodworking (which skew more desktop), roughly comparable to knitting, lower than Instagram-discovered fiber content. Spinning tutorial viewers include active spinners who watch during fiber preparation and project setup on mobile (contributing to the iOS rate) and reference-focused learners who watch at a desk with a notebook open (contributing to desktop and lower-iOS use). YouTube breeds-specific spinning content — fleece documentation, fiber comparison videos — skews slightly more desktop because the reference nature of the content encourages multiple rewatches and note-taking.

Instagram fiber photography and spinning documentation runs 70–80% iOS. Instagram’s primary user base is mobile-first and the iOS-to-Android split on visual discovery content — skein photographs, fleece displays, fiber palette posts — is weighted toward iOS. A spinning creator who builds their audience primarily through Instagram photographs of finished skeins and fiber preparation can expect the iOS rate of their Patreon referral traffic to be in this range. TikTok spinning content (fiber transformation, drop spindle demonstration, raw-fleece-to-finished-yarn sequences) runs 75–85% iOS, matching the platform’s general iOS dominance.

Dollar amounts for November 1, 2026: a YouTube-primary spinning educator at $350/month Patreon revenue with 60% iOS faces approximately $350 × 0.60 × 0.30 = $63/month ($756/year) in Apple fees. A breed-specific fleece educator at $500/month with 65% iOS faces approximately $97.50/month ($1,170/year). An Instagram-primary fiber and spinning account at $400/month with 75% iOS faces approximately $90/month ($1,080/year). A TikTok-primary drop spindle creator at $250/month with 80% iOS faces approximately $60/month ($720/year).

The fix: enable Patreon’s web-only billing toggle before October 31, 2026. Update the bio link on all platforms — YouTube channel page and video descriptions, Instagram bio, TikTok bio — to the direct Patreon page URL. Verify by subscribing to your own Patreon from an iPhone using Safari: a subscription completed through Safari is browser-billed, not iOS-billed, and does not generate an Apple Tax charge. For spinning creators with mixed-platform audiences, the blended iOS rate is a weighted average of the platform rates by Patreon referral share; the web-only toggle neutralizes the rate entirely regardless of how each patron originally discovered the Patreon page.

More explainers on Patreon fees and Apple Tax · Patreon for spinning creators (SEO guide) · Patreon for knitting creators · Patreon for weaving creators

KeepTier is a self-hosted membership page for creators who want 100% of their tier revenue and zero Apple tax. Plans start at $9/month.