A spindle is a straight spike, usually made of wood, used to spin and twist fibers such as wool, flax, hemp and cotton into yarn. It is often weighted at the bottom, middle or top, commonly by a disc or spherical whorl, though some spindles are weighted simply by thickening their shape toward the bottom, as with the Orenburg and French spindle designs. A spindle may also carry a hook, groove or notch at the top to guide the yarn as it forms. Spindles come in many sizes and weights, chosen according to the thickness of yarn the spinner wants to produce.
Facts
Introduced When (Circa)Whorl weighted spindles date back at least to Neolithic times, among the oldest textile tools in continuous use. 1 OriginPossible spindle whorl remains were found at the Natufian village site of Nahal Ein Gev II in Israel, dated to about 12000 years ago. 1 Introduced era (class) Still Made Today Connections
Works Material
Source Spindle (Textiles) (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Era Of Origin
Also in History Atlas: the era this subject comes from.
Also in History Atlas: the era this subject comes from.
Also in History Atlas: the era this subject comes from.
Sources
1. Spindle (Textiles) (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHistory section, Neolithic reference
Whorl-weighted spindles date back at least to Neolithic times
History section, Natufian find
Possible remains of spindle whorls were found in a Natufian village at Nahal Ein Gev II archeological site, Israel, from 12000 years ago.
Lead section
Spindles come in many different sizes and weights depending on the thickness of the yarn one desires to spin.
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