Turkish Spindles (midi Dragons)

Turkish Spindles

Midi Dragons aka medium weight

by  Lair of The Bearded Dragon

The Turkish spindle is a pretty old style of spindle, with the first ones found in the Middle East, include a shaft and one arm across the bottom. Nowadays, the Turkish type spindle has two crossed arms with a shaft going up through the centre. The weight of the spindle is on the bottom and that means the low centre of gravity keeps it spinning stable and for a long time.

These medium weight Turkish spindles have three pieces which come apart, leaving an instant centre pulled ball plus making the spindle easily transportable.

The thing that makes spinning on a Turkish spindle extra special, is the winding of the cop on the spindle, or as I call it “a turtle” 🐢  To get started winding your a Turkish spindle, or as they call it “dressing your spindle” with center-pull balls, make a half hitch in the leader yarn. Slide the arms of the spindle up the shaft and place the half hitch on the bottom of the shaft. Slide the arms back down so that a bit of the yarn is caught under the arms. To start the wind-on, bring the yarn over two arms and under one arm, over two arms and under one arm again. Bring the yarn up the shaft and make a half hitch on the top of the shaft under the groove on the tip of the shaft (if there is one). It is ready to go.

You can dress your spindle in various ways: the quick & easy way or, the super cute turtle way aka very slow but oh so cute!

 The Quick & Easy way: Flip the half hitch off the top, make a butterfly on your fingers with the spun yarn; wind on over two arms, under one arm, over two arms, and under one arm until there is no more yarn; don’t worry about lining up the yarn you’ve spun. Place a half hitch back on top and start spinning again.

The Super Cute Turtle way: When you have enough yarn spun up to wind on, flip the half hitch off the top of the shaft, begin to wind on close to the shaft, over two arms and under one, over two arms and under one. Carefully line up each new row of spun yarn next to the last. When the yarn will not easily go down the arms anymore, it is time to begin the next layer. Bring the yarn right up to the shaft again for the second layer and repeat the over two, under one sequence, making careful rows. This layer will extend farther down the arms before it is time to make the next layer; always go back up to the shaft to start each layer. This super cute turtle cop is built up layer after layer, and with a fabulous looking result.

The Lair of the Bearded Dragon Turkish Spindles come in a variety of Timbers, lovingly turned and crafted in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia.

If you can't find the fibre tool you’re looking for please contact us to arrange for your very own custom Turkish Spindle.