Spindles
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Working Spindles made from Traditional or Ancient Whorls


Spinloodje - Spin Lead Working Spindle Test Spinning Cotton

This spindle is made from an 18mm (.71 inches) diameter Dutch 'Spinloodje' (literal translation - Spin Lead) from the Middle Ages. This whorl was found in a field in Holland by a Dutch metal detector, and is mounted on a newly hand-whittled wooden shaft 220mm (8.75 inches) long. Shown here with the results of test spinning some cotton.


Modern Mali Spindle whorl fitted to a newly whittled hard wood shaft Spinning a fine thread

The spindle above is made from a modern example of a carved clay bead whorl from Mali, Africa. It has been fitted to a new hardwood shaft which is almost 8" long, and is shown here being used to spin a dyed cotton and silk blend tops.


Old Mali spindle whorl bead made into a working support spindle Spinning cotton wool

This whorl is also from Mali, but is a slightly older example than the one above. Mounted on a newly whittled shaft again to make a practical well balanced support spindle. It is shown here in the middle of spinning a batch of cotton wool that I dyed in an Online Guild workshop.


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