Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

The spindle and whorl was the earliest device used for spinning fibers into thread or yarn. This tool allowed spinners to draw out fibers while the whorl kept the spindle rotating, adding the necessary twist to create yarn. This method was later replaced by the spinning wheel. Modern spinning machines also use spindles to draw out and twist fibers, but they operate on a much larger, automated scale.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.