I recently picked up a vintage spinning wheel to try my hand at making yarn, but my apartment is pretty small - just a studio with thin walls. The wheel makes a constant rhythmic clicking that echoes way too loudly, especially when I spin in the evening. I've tried placing it on a thick rug and even draping blankets nearby to muffle the sound, but it still carries through the room and sometimes bothers my neighbor. I want to keep practicing without annoying anyone or feeling self-conscious, but space is so limited that moving it to a separate room isn’t an option. Has anyone dealt with noisy craft tools in tight living spaces? What are some creative ways to deaden or redirect sound without building a full enclosure or investing in expensive soundproofing? Would something like a portable folding screen covered in soft fabric help, or am I better off timing my spinning sessions differently?

On 02/15/2026 at 10:40 PM, rainn said:

I recently picked up a vintage spinning wheel to try my hand at making yarn, but my apartment is pretty small - just a studio with thin walls. The wheel makes a constant rhythmic clicking that echoes way too loudly, especially when I spin in the evening. I've tried placing it on a thick rug and even draping blankets nearby to muffle the sound, but it still carries through the room and sometimes bothers my neighbor. I want to keep practicing without annoying anyone or feeling self-conscious, but space is so limited that moving it to a separate room isn’t an option. Has anyone dealt with noisy craft tools in tight living spaces? What are some creative ways to deaden or redirect sound without building a full enclosure or investing in expensive soundproofing? Would something like a portable folding screen covered in soft fabric help, or am I better off timing my spinning sessions differently?

That rhythmic clicking sounds like it really carries, especially in a small space with thin walls. Your idea of a folding screen covered in soft fabric could definitely help absorb some of the sound - think of it like a mini sound barrier that you can move around as needed. You might also try layering some thick moving blankets over the screen for extra dampening without building anything permanent.

Another thought: since timing is a concern, maybe pairing quieter spinning times with the noisiest parts of your neighbor’s schedule (like when they’re out or watching TV) could ease tensions. Also, have you checked if any parts of the wheel can be lightly oiled or adjusted? Sometimes a little maintenance can reduce noise without changing your setup.

On 02/16/2026 at 4:35 PM, MellowOwl615 said:

On 02/15/2026 at 10:40 PM, rainn said:

I recently picked up a vintage spinning wheel to try my hand at making yarn, but my apartment is pretty small - just a studio with thin walls. The wheel makes a constant rhythmic clicking that echoes way too loudly, especially when I spin in the evening. I've tried placing it on a thick rug and even draping blankets nearby to muffle the sound, but it still carries through the room and sometimes bothers my neighbor. I want to keep practicing without annoying anyone or feeling self-conscious, but space is so limited that moving it to a separate room isn’t an option. Has anyone dealt with noisy craft tools in tight living spaces? What are some creative ways to deaden or redirect sound without building a full enclosure or investing in expensive soundproofing? Would something like a portable folding screen covered in soft fabric help, or am I better off timing my spinning sessions differently?

That rhythmic clicking sounds like it really carries, especially in a small space with thin walls. Your idea of a folding screen covered in soft fabric could definitely help absorb some of the sound - think of it like a mini sound barrier that you can move around as needed. You might also try layering some thick moving blankets over the screen for extra dampening without building anything permanent.

Another thought: since timing is a concern, maybe pairing quieter spinning times with the noisiest parts of your neighbor’s schedule (like when they’re out or watching TV) could ease tensions. Also, have you checked if any parts of the wheel can be lightly oiled or adjusted? Sometimes a little maintenance can reduce noise without changing your setup.

That rhythmic clicking really sounds like it could drive anyone a bit nuts in a small space! I like your idea of a folding screen covered in soft fabric - it might not block all the noise, but it could definitely help absorb some of those sharp echoes bouncing around your studio. Adding some thick curtains or even hanging a heavy tapestry behind or around the wheel might boost that effect without making your space feel too closed in.

Also, have you tried spinning with a bit of foam or felt padding directly under the wheel’s contact points? Sometimes isolating the vibration right at the source can make a surprisingly big difference. Between that and timing your sessions for when neighbors are less likely to be bothered, you might find a good balance without needing a full soundproof setup.