The 1764 Shepherdess

Grab a few items around the house and make a Wool Gypsy Wrist Distraff for your travels.

Items needed:

Strong cotton string

Yard Stick

Scissors

Beads

Bead needle or tiny crochet hook

It’s easy, just:

Cut 9 pieces of cotton string in 3 yard lengths

Fold in half, around a chair, leaving about 8-10 inches before knotting.

Divide into three sections and braid until about 10 inches of length remain. Cut the part wrapped around the chair in half.

Once braided and off the chair, drape it over your wrist and adjust until you find a comfortable opening to move the braid on and off the wrist or hand. Then take a small piece of cotton, secure it through the braid, add a few beads, and cut off the extra length.

Start adding beads to increase weight at the bottom of the wrist distaff. Be creative, add a few beads to each thread or just one. I also had some jingle bells to include.

Presto! A finish wool gypsy wrist distaff to be a wool wanderer and spin.

Until next time…