Hand spinning

Hand spinning was traditionally carried out by women and girls. Three methods were used: the hand spindle (rock spindle, drop spindle), the spindle wheel and the treadle.

1. The best quality yarn for worsted weaving was spun on the hand spindle from the combed sliver with its fibres lying parallel. This produced a strong smooth yarn. The spindle consisted of a wooden stick with a clay weight fixed near the bottom. The spinner rubbed the spindle against her thigh and let it drop. The resulting spinning of the weight pulled out and twisted the fleece to produce yarn of a constant thickness and twist. Generally a lighter weight was used to produce a thicker yarn and a lighter weight gave a thinner yarn. Spinning was one of the basic and constant household tasks, often carried out while the woman was minding livestock or young children. Although universal, it required still and experience to produce the best quality yarn. In Norwich, only members of the Norwich Worsted Weavers Company and the Norwich Russell Company were allowed to use ‘rock spun’ yarn.

2. The spindle wheel imitated the action of the hand spindle but the spinning action was produced by the turning of a large wheel to insert the twist, and then separately to wind on the yarn. The yarn was woven by the women at home and was often called a ‘cottage wheel’. The yarn the ‘Strangers’ produced on wheels was known as jersey yarn and was widely used instead of rock spun yarn.

3. The final development was a foot-operated (treadle) wheel known as a ‘Flyer Wheel’ which was used from the late 15th century. This was preferred for spinning yarns for worsted cloths. The treadle left the spinner free to use both hands to even out any lumps and regulate the yarn. The design of the great wheel varied according to what type of yarn was being spun. But they all allowed yarn of a consistent quality and increased quantity.

These three methods were in use in the 18th and 19th centuries. Even after the introduction of power spinning, hand-spinning survived in many a Norfolk home.