A Turkish spindle is wings on a stick. It’s the perfect travel spindle. Everything you need to produce a plyed yarn is right there in one break apart, flat, stick it in your pocket or bag, package. What more could you ask for. Last October when I posted pictures of my "antique" Turkish spindle, I was contacted by Wanda of Fiberjoy. Her husband, Ed, of Jenkins Woodworking, makes beautiful contemporary Turkish style spindles. I visited their site. Gorgeous! Thus began the tale of two spindles…
Saturday night, when I went out to the mailbox, there was a small package. Not a box mind you, but a rather soft sided package addressed simply to "Judy", at my address. I knew Wanda was sending me a spindle to try out, but I figured a box would come, lots of packing, protection. But no. That’s the first thing to understand about these remarkable spindles. They come apart like tinkertoys. This makes them truly portable. It would be possible to slide one right into your briefcase on top of your laptop, just for instance. I removed the three pieces from the envelope and put them together. Beautiful.
The spindle is light in color and weight and very smooth to the touch. It is made of bamboo. I particularly like the idea of a bamboo Turkish as it not only keeps the weight down, this one weighs in at 1.2 oz., but it is made of a "green" material. Bamboo is the sustainable wood. Not only is it the fastest growing plant on the planet, but it is also one of the strongest woods.
These pictures show the spinning of 72 yds, (.9 oz, that translates into about 1300 yds/lb.) of medium staple wool, into a 2 ply yarn. Notice how the yarn gets wound onto the wings of the spindle forming a center pull ball. Instead of having to use a kate or winding several spindles worth of yarn onto a felted ball before spindle plying, you can ply directly from the ball. It couldn’t be easier.
it stands up when you put it down
comes apart to release the center pull ball…
for plying…
Don’t think that because these spindles look large that they can only spin a heavier weight yarn. I’ve just started some silk and it spins fine. Wanda posted pictures of some cashmere she’s spinning on her .9 oz. Turkish spindle.
For those of you who seem to have some sort of death wish for me… how about off the deck instead of off the roof..
Bet you can hardly see it!
18 responses to “the tale of two spindles or wings on a stick”
Wow! Thanks for the tutorial, I have often wondered just how a turkish spindle came apart I may have to add one to my spindle collection:-)
It looks simply wonderful to spin with. And how convenient. Sometimes it makes you wonder why we’ve tried to “improve” on some things, eh?
Too funny! Never mind about the roof. We were talking about dropspindling from a ski lift chair the other day. Ha!
Very nice tutorial on something I haven’t seen before.
Hehehe. Death wish for you? Nah! From a deck is far more practical. Thanks for humoring me. Great tutorial- will have to seriously think about getting one.
Interesting! They look so heavy and unwieldy in a picture – thanks for the description!
You’re right, I can hardly see it!
Nice spindle, nice yarn. Looks like a nice day too :).
You make that look awfully fun, I must say, and I’m a committed top-whorl spindler. 😉 Is it any more time-consuming to wind the single around those arms than around a spindle shaft?
I suppose I’ll let you work your way up to the roof. It’s neat how the spindle pulls apart to release the ball.
I love your clear, information pictures. Thanks, JJ, for such a great review!
The deck shot is inspiring. Did you have someone take it, use a tripod, or take it yourself? How high is your deck?
If you didn’t already know how to spin, would that be a good spindle to start learning to use?
It looks so beautiful and with a cat that is addicted to yarn, it would be really handy to cut out the unwinding/rewinding step.
I am always impressed with anyone who can spin on a spindle. I have tried and haven’t mastered it. A wheel just feels more natural to me. Something about the long draft that my hands just “get”.
So cool. I’ve been admiring the engineering of those for ages. You make it look VERY tempting! (And, really, glad you stayed off the roof.)
what a beautiful spindle. really. and i like your handspun, very nice. :0)
Very clever title! Very dexterous spinner!
And very talented woodworker! Ah, the skill of it all! Great post!…(but I do feel a slight case of vertigo coming on after looking down off that deck!)
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing this and yes, I like off the deck much better. Heights make me dizzy and I sure don’t want to hear of you getting hurt.
You will have to show me this at spa…well except the deck/roof part..LOL. Fascinating!
That spindle reminds me of the “God’s Eyes” that we used to make with popsicle sticks and yarn. Very nice looking.
Oh, I got a thrill seeing that last photo! Thanks, Judy! 🙂 (I like the rest of the photos, too)