On Sunday, we asked “What is that tool?” on social media. It seems we confounded some spinners and some of you really know your tools! This tool is a rakestraw spinner, also known as a Mayan spinner. Traditionally found in north and central America, the rakestraw spinner was used to spin coarser materials, such as
Like with most of the topics we discuss, opinion is nine-tenths of the law. However, let’s talk a little about the physics behind what makes a good spindle bowl. The bowls pictured are my two favorite spindle bowls. The ceramic, divot bowl is from Monger Ware Arts. The concave, wooden bowl is from Skaska Designs.
What do they look like? I had the pleasure to learn about Russian spindling from Galina Khmelva, author of Gossamer Webs and one of the most knowledgeable knitters when it comes to the Orenburg lace tradition. Galina Khmelva describes the Russian spindle as a lady. The round portion at bottom is the lady’s head, then
