Different classes of Drop Spindle

Drop spindle are easy to use to spin fiber into yarn. They are a great way to begin learning how to spin, are transportable and simple to make. A drop spindle can be made out of almost any material and decorated so that each one is unique and shows off personal style. One can paint drop spindles or decoupage them to add a unique twist. Whatever one needs is a length of dowel rod and wooden wheel to get started. The form and function of the spindle is basically the same everywhere. Materials used to make the spindle in the past come from whatever was available at the time. The majority of the spindles available today, have wooden shafts with a wooden disc as the whorl (weight). Choosing the type of spindle to use, will be determined by the type of yarn one wants to produce, and the type of fiber being used. There are basically two types of spindles; suspended and supported.

The bottom or low whorl drop spindle is a type of spindle that is commonly referred to as the drop spindle. It is widely used in Europe and easily found in the United States. The whorl is located at the bottom of the shaft and there is either a hook or a notch at the top of the shaft to catch the yarn. The spun yarn is wound onto the shaft directly above the whorl.

The bottom-whorl spindle is a suspended drop spindle and is best suited for spinning thicker yarns and heavier fibers. With the weight at the bottom of the shaft, the spindle will spin slower (low-whorl spindle). The spindle rotates freely suspended from the yarn leaving both hands free to hold and draft the fiber.

A top-whorl spindle is also a suspended drop spindle and has the whorl at the top of the shaft and is usually light in weight. There is a hook on top of the drop spindle just above the whorl for catching the yarn. Top-whorl spindles rotate at a higher speed (high-whorl spindle), which makes them ideal for spinning thin yarn and fine fibers. It is believed that the top-whorl drop spindle originated in the Middle East.

The Navajo spindle is a representation of a supported spindle. It has a long shaft and a heavy whorl, which makes it too heavy to be spun while being suspended in the air. The spindle has a shaft about 30" long for use while sitting on the floor, or 33" long if used from a chair. The whorl is near the bottom of the shaft and is about 4" in diameter.

The spinner can sit on the floor or in a chair with the bottom part of the shaft resting on the ground and the top part on the thigh. The drop spindle is rolled up the thigh allowing it to twirl, then sliding it down and rolling it up again, as the yarn twists off the tip of the spindle. After the spun yarn reaches arms length it is wound and stored onto the shaft just above the whorl. Using drop spindle on a carpet or sitting it in a small bowl will help to keep it from sliding on the floor.

The one-handed long draw technique is the only way that yarn can be spun on the Navajo spindle. Therefore, the fiber must be carefully prepared so that the drafting will flow smoothly.