I use yarn at times for my quilting projects and I was thinking about taking a class to learn to 'spin my own yarn'. The course description says, "Learn the ancient and meditative art of spinning your own yarn on a drop spindle". Has anyone done this before?

yes, I spin my yarn on a drop spindle and also an old ashford spinning wheel

I live in Indiana

Wow!

Oh my, is it difficult? I love Indiana too, I just moved to SoCal from northern IN, near South Bend :)

MPO is that anytime you can learn something new you should do it. Since you're all ready interested in it you'd probably really enjoy the class or then again you might totally reject the idea but at least you'll know.

Crafty Bear! Do you buy your own wool or do you raise sheep?

Are you being silly? I hate Elkhart County,
Kosciusko County!

Woooooo....do you actually USE your spinning wheel? We need pics!!!

And, I've tried drop spindle. I was not very good at it. Didn't care to practice enough to GET good at it, either. So, I just buy handspun from the experts. :D

I used to spin, too, before I learned how to quilt. It's a very relaxing thing to do...but I'm sure if I had to make enough yarn to make clothing I wouldn't have enjoyed it so much!

I sold my wheel a long time ago, and I'm not sure I could use a drop spindle any more. I made one sweater out of home spun yarn, then moved on to other things.

I've used a drop spindle, and it is fairly easy to learn - plus, you can't beat the price (as compared to say, a spinning wheel).

I don't do it as a regular thing, but the first yarn I made with it, while lumpy, was useable.