Spindle Spinning Workshop in April 2023

Many people had brought their spindles - some of us had experience, others were learning. Good fun was had by all.

Top whorl spindle

Madeline presented the workshop with a few tips and tricks, which were much appreciated. She also showed us a couple of possibilities of setting up for plying - to easily remove the singles cob from the spindle, it was suggested that a quill of card was wrapped around the spindle shaft.

Shoe boxes and knitting needles come in very handy

A very advanced lazy kate

Many different types of spindle were in use - mainly suspended spindles, which included a couple of Turkish spindles. Towards the end Laura demonstrated supported spindling.

A display of spindles.

The displayed spindles are as follows:

A takli spindle for short fibre spinning - a very fast supported spindle, which needs to be supported in a container which doesn't get damaged by the sharp metal shaft.

3 further supported spindles, the middle one being a Russian type spindle, these are all made of wood and can be supported in a wooden bowl.

The right-hand spindle is an Ahka spindle, this type also spins very fast and is used to spin cotton as a suspended spindle.

Spindling fun:

Top whorl spindle

Top whorl spindle

Turkish spindle

Turkish and bottom whorl spindles

Top whorl spindle

Laura made some spindle bags to keep her spindles safe.

The bags are made from Paisley/buta inspired embroidery appliquéd onto calico.

From left to right: a bottom whorl spindle, a supported spindle with an egg-cup support, and a Turkish spindle.

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