PLY article index

Antique wheels are often a budget choice, but they can be complex to maintain. This article follows the author’s experience with acquiring, learning, repairing, and loving an antique wheel.

Spindles, whether suspended or supported, offer spinners a wide range of options for creating yarn, each with distinct advantages based on fiber type and spinning style. Suspended spindles are ideal for mobility and mid-range yarns, offering control and visibility during spinning, while supported spindles excel at producing extremely fine or heavy yarns and accommodate a broader variety of fiber types. Ultimately, spindle performance depends on the balance between tool, fiber, and spinner—and the joy found in the process.

Supported and suspended spindles each have strengths suited to different fibers and spinning techniques. This article offers a table with the considerations for choosing a spindle type for a particular project.

Support spindles come in a wide variety of forms, each suited to specific fibers, spinning techniques, and yarn types. This article describes the various types of support spindles and includes pictures of each type.

Supported spindles offer an efficient, accessible way to spin yarn—especially woolen-style yarns—thanks to their fast spin, portability, and suitability for seated use. They encourage techniques like long draw and double drafting, which are ideal for spinning soft, airy yarns from short-stapled fibers, rolags, or even prepared tops. With a manageable learning curve and the right setup (including fiber, spindle, and bowl), supported spindles can improve both your handspinning and wheel-spinning skills.

Transitioning from suspended to supported spindle spinning comes with a learning curve, but the rewards are worth the effort. Challenges like mastering the flick, maintaining sustained spin, and preventing the spindle from lifting can be overcome with consistent practice, proper equipment pairing, and techniques like park and draft. With time and patience, supported spindles become not only manageable but highly portable tools for productive, everyday spinning.

Supported spindles are ideal for spinning short-stapled fibers and those requiring a high degree of twist, such as cotton, cashmere, yak, and baby camel. Their design enables faster spinning without tugging on delicate fibers, allowing greater control over twist and draft, especially using techniques like “park and draft.” Matching spindle type, weight, and fiber preparation—such as punis, rolags, or clouds—is essential for an efficient and satisfying spinning experience with both luxury down fibers and fine wools.

Supported spindles are versatile tools ideal for spinning short or slippery fibers and creating lofty woolen yarns, offering ergonomic benefits and a range of styles tailored to different spinning needs. The choice of spindle depends on factors like spindle style, weight distribution, tip material, and spinning surface, all of which influence spin speed, duration, and comfort. While they may not be the fastest or most beginner-friendly tools, their beauty and functionality make them beloved by experienced spinners who enjoy long draw techniques and a more meditative spinning experience.

The behavior of a spindle is largely influenced by the shape, weight, and radius of its whorl, which affect how easily it starts spinning, how fast it spins, and how long it maintains rotation. Spindles with smaller or lighter whorls tend to spin faster but for shorter durations, while those with larger or rim-weighted whorls offer longer spin times but require more effort to flick. Different spindle designs suit different spinning goals: larger, heavier whorls work well for thicker yarns, while smaller or lighter ones are better for finer yarns, and a parabolic shape offers a versatile middle ground. This article experiments with these spindle factors and how they shape the spinning experience.

Mastering the flick is essential for transitioning from park-and-draft to continuous supported spindle spinning. A strong, well-executed flick—achieved through proper body mechanics and spindle construction—extends spin duration, enabling more fluid fiber handling and a rhythmic, meditative spinning experience.

Spinning from the fold is an efficient method for converting worsted prep, like combed top, into a woolen-style yarn, making it easier to spin on a supported spindle. This technique involves pulling small amounts of fiber, folding it, and using a support spindle to introduce twist while maintaining fiber alignment and achieving a lighter, airier yarn. Key tips include managing fiber quantity, avoiding excessive amounts for tidier spinning, and mastering the joining process for smooth transitions.

The takli spindle, developed in India under Mahatma Gandhi’s influence, is a portable, metal support spindle designed primarily for spinning cotton. Its design allows for high twist ratios, making it ideal for spinning short-staple fibers like cotton, cashmere, and camel down. The article provides detailed instructions on how to spin with the takli, including setup, fiber handling, and finishing techniques, as well as advice on winding, plying, and storing the yarn for weaving or further use.

Archaeological discoveries from sites like Qina Cave in Israel, Cyprus, and El Palmillo in Mexico reveal the deep history and global diversity of support spindle use, dating as far back as 4000 BCE. Analysis of spindle whorls, shafts, and surviving fibers shows how ancient spinners adapted their tools to available materials and fiber types such as flax, wool, and cotton. These artifacts provide insights into ancient textile production, social structures, and the evolution of spinning tools that remain fundamentally unchanged today.

This article explores the techniques and tools used to spin ultra-fine, cobweb-weight yarn with support spindles, emphasizing fiber preparation and spindle characteristics. It details the benefits of using lightweight, well-balanced support spindles and the “flick, park, and draft” method to achieve consistent, gossamer threads. Fiber selection, particularly superfine Merino and well-prepared blends like Merino/bamboo/silk, is crucial to success in spinning fine singles.

This article offers practical guidance on building stable cops when spinning with support spindles, focusing on maintaining consistent tension and minimizing overlap during winding. It explains the benefits of using a temporary cop and outlines strategies for shaping cops on various spindle types, including Tibetan and Russian styles. The emphasis is on creating a solid, gradually sloped structure to prevent yarn collapse during plying or storage.

This article explores the process of spinning fine art yarns on support spindles, demonstrating techniques for creating slub, puffed, lock spun, and eyelash yarns. It details fiber preparation, spinning methods, and spindle choice—often favoring Tibetan-style spindles for their longer spin times. Emphasis is placed on controlling twist and drafting to achieve desired textures and visual effects in artistic singles.

This article explores worsted spinning techniques using support spindles, highlighting the challenges and adaptations required to replicate the smooth, compact yarn typically produced on a spinning wheel. It examines methods for maintaining a twist-free drafting zone and controlling fiber flow using tools like Navajo spindles, taklis, and hand-held distaffs. Topics include twist management, fiber prep for worsted draw, and spindle-hand coordination for fine, smooth yarn production.

This article describes traditional handspinning practices in Ladakh, India, focusing on the use of the phang, a locally crafted support spindle with no whorl, used primarily by women for wintertime garment yarn production. It covers the physical characteristics of the spindle, unique drafting and fiber management techniques, spinning methods, and fiber preparation practices.

This article explores an experimental handspun yarn design that incorporates crocheted motifs directly into a single during spinning using a support spindle. It details fiber preparation, managing twist, using a temporary cop, and the technical challenges of spinning and plying a yarn with built-in crochet flowers.

This reflective essay draws parallels between supported spindle spinning and personal recovery from a severe stress injury, exploring how both require balance, resilience, and continuous connection to internal and external forces. It discusses the technical and emotional aspects of spinning delicate fibers on a support spindle, while also using it as a metaphor for rebuilding life with community, mindfulness, and self-awareness.

This knitting pattern is centered on a lace and cable cowl design that symbolizes support and friendship, featuring a motif resembling wings and constructed with a provisional cast on and grafted finish. It includes reflections on personal and professional growth within the fiber arts community and detailed instructions for creating and finishing the cowl using handspun yarn.

This article details the traditional wool carding and spinning techniques used by Berber women in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, focusing on the processes of cleaning fleece, preparing wool, and spinning yarn with handmade tools like spindles and carders. It highlights the cultural significance of spinning in community, weaving it into the daily lives of women who continue these practices for functional items like rugs and blankets.

The article explores the author’s journey into support spindling, inspired by a combination of online influences and personal experimentation. After initially hesitating, the author tried using recycled materials, such as paper tape, bamboo tape, newspaper, and even VHS tape, to create unique yarns. The experience led to the discovery of how support spindles can provide better control and efficiency, particularly for unconventional materials.

This article examines the ergonomic considerations when using support spindles, focusing on factors like friction, the interface between the spindle and its support device, and the user’s hand and body positions. The author discusses how to minimize friction between the spindle tip and the support bowl, the best grip techniques to reduce muscle strain, and the importance of maintaining neutral arm and shoulder positions to avoid injury. Practical tips are provided for optimizing comfort and efficiency during support spindling.