The thigh-roll (flat hand) technique is used to obtain increased speed in spindle spinning.
Thigh-rolling rivals the speed achieved with a spinning wheel. However, a wheel can wind the spun yarn onto a bobbin very quickly, while you will have to wind the spun yarn onto your spindle yourself at a slower rate. That's ok - a spinning wheel can't fit in your pocket as a spindle can! Each tool has its own strengths.
To perform a long-draw draft, you will need the fast, thigh-roll spin in order to maintain an even level of twist as you draw the fiber out.
Stasia is spinning singles, so she makes the spindle rotate clockwise by rolling it up her leg. If she were plying, she would make it spin counter-clockwise by rolling it down the same leg, instead.
In this example, Stasia is spinning from the fold, with the fiber source wrapped over her left index finger.
Watch how Stasia's right hand controls the amount of twist let into the long drafting area, pinching the yarn when she feels it is stretched too thin, and releasing it when enough twist has built up to support the spindle.
Notice that even though this is a large spindle, a very fine yarn can be spun because of the speed of the spin.
The spindle featured is from Jonathan Bosworth of Journey Wheels.
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