As I was perusing through Fleegle’s excellent book, Fleegle Spins Supported, I read about making a temporary cop. This was not a new concept to me but I guess it seemed like an unnecessary step. Sure, lots of people do it and swear by it but to me, it was more of the “W” word. (work)
C.S.PEARCE, Labor Mural by C.S.PEARCE, 1896
A temporary cop is made you you wind-on your support spindle yarn in a smaller area near the top of the spindle. It can be quick and dirty. No need to try to make a perfect cop as the yarn will be resting there for only a short time. After you have spun enough yarn where you feel the temporary cop is large enough to wind-on, you butterfly it onto your hand, and wind it onto the main cop on the rest of the spindle shaft.
Not that kind of butterfly! Image by Bert de Tilly, 2012, CC
For some strange reason, I blame the concussion I am nursing right now, I tried it a few days ago. Let me tell you, I LOVE it.
Neal Brand Tibetan showing temporary cop in progress. (Bowl by Bristlecone)
Here is some lovely BFL by DyeKnttink.com being spun for the August spinning club at Spindle Candy on Ravelry. I am using a Neal Brand Tibetan and a Bristlecone support bowl. (It’s okay to mix and match, don’t you think?) Notice the massive main cop that takes up a large portion of the shaft and the smaller, temporary cop wound closer to the top of the spindle.
What I love about the temporary cop is the feeling of a more continuous spinning experience. The butterfly wind on is a great chance to balance your fiber-hand’s muscles by stretching it out. Both the butterflying and the proper wind-on go quickly and mindlessly after a few times. Just wonderful stuff.
Close-up of temporary cop.
So if you haven’t tried the temporary cop, please give it a go. Try it for one night. I am hoping that you will feel the benefits as I did. Support spinning is quickly becoming one of my favorite ways to spend an evening.
Side note: If you are thinking about getting Fleegle’s book in the printed version, you may want to order it sooner rather than later. I read a post of hers where she said she thinks she will run out. Glad I got mine. (No, I don’t get kickbacks from Fleegle. I just like the book.)
Kneyda Spins 