Cynthia Wood Spinner

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United States
Amherst, VA
Cynthia Wood Spinner

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

05/29/2026

Multiple views of my full shelves. I made these shelves to use in my booth at festivals. I set it up behind my desk until October when I need it for the booth again. I managed to fit almost my whole webstore on the shelves. Now I have tools in reach to answer questions and show on Zoom meetings.

Which one do you want me to feature in my posts next week?

05/28/2026

Tool Thursday: Niddy-noddy

A Niddy-Noddy is used to wind big loops of yarn forming a skein, hank. This allows you to estimate yarn length and secure it against tangles prior to washing or dyeing. Cynthia makes three sizes of Niddy-Noddy. The full size which makes a 2 yard skein (two yards per wrap). Sample size for an 18″, half yard, skein (two wraps per yard). Mini size for a 12″ skein (three wraps per yard).

First photo a full size 2 yard Niddy-noddy in Tulip Poplar.
Second photo a sample size 18" Niddy-noddy in Curly Ash and Black Walnut.
Third photo a mini 12" Niddy-noddy in Black Walnut

I have a how to use a niddy-noddy video on my website along with these niddy-noddies in my webstore.

05/27/2026

Wood Wednesday
Sycamore

Wood from a Sycamore tree Platanus occidentalis one of my favorite turning woods. The wood varies in color from cream to pale pink to a rare darker pinkish brown. Sycamore wood does not change color over time. The interesting patterns in the grain are the best feature. It grows in the Eastern half of the US. A large tree found throughout the forest, most noticeable along rivers. It is easy to recognize by the stark white bark exposed by the thin tan bark peeling. You could confuse the leaf with Maple though it lacks the deep cuts between the tips.

I used Sycamore for the arms of this sample size niddy-noddy photo 1 and the whorl of the twig size top whorl drop spindle photo 2. You can see the interesting grain on the arm of the niddy-noddy closest to the handle. The 'normal' grain pattern is on the underside of the upper arm. Both arms are turned from the same piece, you are just seeing two different orientations. With the niddy-noddy in your hand you can see both grain patterns on both arms. I used Cherry for the body and handle. Cherry darkens with age and compliments the darker shade in the Sycamore grain beautifully.

In the spindle the tiny Twig size whorl has a hint of the interesting grain on the top of the whorl, facing you. I used a Maple shaft on this spindle to compliment the lighter 'background' part of the Sycamore grain.

Both tools and others I turned from Sycamore are in my webstore.

05/26/2026

Tip Tuesday
A spindle stops and spins backwards immediately. When the yarn is too thick for that weight spindle.

For example my tiny Twig Size Top Whorl Drop Spindles average 1/4 oz. total weight. They spin very thin yarn, thread like thickness, very easily. Try to spin a sock thickness single and the spindle will stop very quickly.

I start my Beginner Friendly spindles at 3/4 oz. in my Branch size so that they will spin with a thicker yarn. Any spindle lighter than 3/4 oz. does not meet my beginner friendly criteria.

I guide spinners to a heavier spindle when they want chunky, bulky type yarns. My large Trunk size get up to around 3 oz. plenty heavy for those needs.

What about spinning thin on a heavy spindle? Eventually you risk the spindle weight breaking the fibers and your yarn. More common is to accidently put too much twist into thin yarn, also breaking it.

The spindle fights friction and yarn resistance when spinning supported. So weight has more to do with how frequently you need to flick the spindle to keep it spinning.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day
May you have appreciation for those who died for our freedom.
May you reflect on happy memories with those you knew.

05/22/2026

Finished! I spun this Rambouillet top plying on the fly. I shared the full spindle earlier. The skein is wound and I finally washed to set the twist. I was pleased to see very little color in the water despite being a nice rich color spin.

Photo the skein on a Tulip Poplar Full size Niddy-noddy I made. This is pre washing. I secured it with scrap yarn ties and took it off the Niddy-noddy to wash.

Fiber dyed by

05/21/2026

Tool Thursday
Or***ce Hook

The hook part is obvious. But or***ce? This tool is used to thread a spinning wheel. On a wheel the spun yarn is stored on a bobbin. It passes through the or***ce receiving twist before being wound on the bobbin. Every time the yarn breaks or the bobbin is changed the spinner needs to thread the or***ce to resume spinning.

It is the one tool I make but do not use. Being exclusively a spindle spinner I don't need an or***ce hook. Instead the hook of my spindle functions as an or***ce no threading required. I appreciate my wheel spinning friends helping me size my or***ce hooks to fit their various wheels.

This hook is Bronze with a Cypress handle I turned. More choices are on my webstore under specialty tools.

05/20/2026

Wood Wednesday Pau Rosa

The tree is one of many in the legume family. Bobgunnia madagascariensis native to Africa. The wood has a nice reddish brown closer to mahogany than cherry.

I used Pau Rosa for the whorl of this luxury branch size top whorl drop spindle. I shaped the whorl for a long duration beginner friendly spin. I also turned the shaft from Maple and made the hook from Sterling Silver. The spindle is currently available in my webstore. Dot com same as my business name, Cynthia Wood Spinner.

Have you ever seen anything made from Pau Rosa?

05/19/2026

Tip Tuesday

Spindle whorl shape and spin duration are related. Try using a long spinning whorl.

Having a long duration whorl shape increases the success and enjoyment in drop spindle spinning. When people start without a spindle that gives a long duration spin they often give up.

What does a long duration whorl shape look like? A whorl that looks like a bowl with most of the wood away from the shaft. Some spindles have weight added away from the shaft to achieve the same result.

I make all my Beginner Friendly Spindles with long duration whorls. The shape whorls great for most spinning projects and any skill level.

05/18/2026

Mail Monday

A beginner friendly branch size top whorl drop spindle found a spinner.

I turned the whorl from Cherry and shaft from Maple. The wonderful thing about cherry is it gets darker with age.

Address

1601 Falling Rock Drive
Amherst, VA
24521

Telephone

+14342828461

Website

https://CynthiaWoodSpinner.com/

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