Spindle whorls were used to weight spindles when hand-spinning yarn. They were made in a variety of materials including stone, ceramic fragments and fired clay.

How were spindle whorls used?

Spindle whorls were used to weight spindles when hand-spinning yarn. They were made in a variety of materials including stone, ceramic fragments and fired clay.

What is a spindle stick?

A spindle shaft is the stick that you wind your spun thread onto. Its also the stick you turn to put twist into your thread. From pictorial and archaeological evidence we see spindles in the middle ages taper at both ends and are thicker in the middle.