Supported Spinning

- Georgia, India, Japan, Russia, Vietnam

Georgia

In Georgia, They use beautifully carved wooden one piece supported spindles as their main type of spindle.[1]

 

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A really pretty Georgian style spindle. These ones are sold on The Woolery, and I super want to try one![2]

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India

Indian hand spinning was assumed to have been done, but almost no written records survive of the hand spinning process. The takli is a type of supported spindle that has survived to now, but there is no evidence for suspended or drop style spinning. The takli was very small, made of metal, and would have been used to spin silk and cotton fibers super fine.[3] The hand spun tradition is mostly lost wheels became very common in India in the early 1900s.[4]

 

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Picture of a takli. This is a supported spindle, very much like the kind I have on display. I'm not very good at it, but I can make decently thin silk threads with it. They just are a little lumpy.[5]

 

Japan

Hand spinning in Japan- it was likely supported spinning, done in small dishes or small rocks on the floor. As wheels were pretty common, hand spinning was not likely done by many. [6]

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Russia

Russia primarily used a supported spindle, which is really nice for short staple fibers.[7]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Russian supported spindle. It’s made of purple heartwood. I really want one (It’s purple and spinning!)[8]

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Vietnam

The only spindle type I’m finding evidence of in Vietnam is the Ahka spindle, which is a supported spindle. Very colorful, made from wood.[9] The Ahka spindle was used by the Ahka people, who live in the higher elevations of Vietnam. I love the decorated spindles, and this one is just beautiful and looks like it would be fun to play with, if on the heavy side (not that weight matters as much in supported spinning).