This is how little I know about spinning... an eagle-eyed reader commented that she's seen a spindle like mine in a machine in a spinning museum in Barrington, Nova Scotia. It may not even be a hand spindle - it may only be for machine use. I must confess, I was confused by the lack of little hooky thing...
(It was given to me by a friend who can't actually remember where she got it from, hence the possible confusion... )
Really terrific picture and story of the museum at this link.
Anyway, Denny will help me figure it all out, I'm sure.
I've been reading Respect the Spindle, and from the book, yours is a hand spindle. Just not to traditional. BTW, it's a great book, I'm hoping to produce some yarn myself by hand spinning.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw it on your last posting, I thought it looked like a supported hand spindle, but at the same time, the shaft looks a bit thick. Maybe it is meant to give it some weight...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Denny will be able to help you learn different techniques to use it, I am sure...
Way to go Kate! You will certainly have a lot of fun making your own yarn!
Happy New Year!
Cheers
Maria
A question: is your "spindle" hollow? I have a couple of objects that are nearly identical to yours, and I've always thought they were bobbins for industrial spinning. The only use I've found for them, apart from looking pretty/interesting, is for winding extra singles off my wheel when I need to empty a bobbin. I can poke a rod through the hollow shaft, and use these in a makeshift, untensioned kate for plying.
ReplyDeleteI'm a weaver. I pretty sure your spindle is actually the pirn to an industrial end feed shuttle. (A pirn is a stationary bobbin in a special kind of shuttle. The metal rings around the top mean it was used in a commercial, metal ended end feed shuttle).
ReplyDeleteLili