Drop Spindle (Hand spinning)

The drop spindle is the first true rotary tool in the history of spinning. It externalized continuous rotation from the human body into an object, marking a decisive technological leap in textile history. In principle, nearly all later spinning machines—from the spinning wheel to industrial frames—can be traced back to it.

What is it?

A drop spindle has a very simple structure:

• Spindle shaft – a slender rod
• Whorl – a weighted disk fixed to the shaft to add rotational inertia
• Hook or notch (optional) – used to secure the yarn

During use, the spindle hangs freely and spins under gravity, maintaining twist through inertia.

In essence, it was the first invention that could spin by itself and continue spinning once set in motion.

How does it work?

A typical drop-spindle spinning process:

1. One hand holds the fiber supply (wool, flax, cotton, etc.)
2. The other hand gives the spindle a gentle flick, setting it spinning as it drops
3. As the spindle descends:
4. 
   

• rotation continuously adds twist
• gravity helps draft the fibers

1. Once the yarn reaches a workable length:
2. 
   

• it is wound onto the spindle shaft
• the spindle is flicked again to resume spinning

1. This cycle repeats, producing a long, continuous single yarn

The process can be described as rotation → energy storage → controlled release.

Basic Drop Spindle TutorialBasic

Basic Drop Spindle Tutorial 2 - Finishing Your Yarn

What can it spin?

• Suitable for a wide range of fibers:
• wool
• flax
• cotton
• early silk
• Capable of producing:
• fine yarns (previous methods struggled with this)
• uniform, consistent thread
• controlled twist levels
• Supports:
• single yarns
• plying (twisting multiple strands together)

At this stage, spinning entered a scalable craft phase rather than remaining purely bodily labor.

Historical and archaeological significance

• Emergence:
• roughly 6000–3000 BCE (dates vary by region)
• Found across:
• China
• the Middle East
• Europe
• India
• the Americas
• Key archaeological evidence:
• stone, ceramic, or bone whorls
• From the weight and diameter of whorls, archaeologists can infer:
• yarn thickness
• fiber type
• level of technical sophistication

Spindle whorls are among the most important indicators of textile-producing societies in archaeology.

Place in the history of technology

In the sequence of spinning technologies:

Finger-twisting

→ Thigh spinning

→ Drop spindle

→ Spinning wheel

→ Spinning Jenny

→ Industrial spinning machines

The drop spindle represents the critical break:

from humans providing rotation

to tools generating rotation.