Spinning Wheels

[toby webb]

Are there experts on board who might be able to answer whether a spinning wheel for linen differed from one used for wool?
Many thanks for any help. Toby.

[jc26red]

Have a look at this website.

https://ulsterlinen.com/flax-to-linen/


There are plenty of other websites and videos on the process of producing linen.  I used search terms flax to linen process

[toby webb]

Thank you jc26red. That source suggests that spinning is much the same. Odd therefore that a farm in 1617 had two machines , one wheel  for wollen and the other for lenon! T.

[jc26red]

Could be when spinning wool it left oils on the spinning wheel which they didn’t want to taint the linen or they were industrious and several ladies wanted to spin at the same time. Spinning wheels are not large and wouldn’t take up much space.. Why do you think it odd?

[GR2]

Thank you jc26red. That source suggests that spinning is much the same. Odd therefore that a farm in 1617 had two machines , one wheel  for wollen and the other for lenon! T.

The household would have spun both wool and linen, with two women working the wheels at the same time. It was probably just a convenience to use one for wool and the other for linen rather than that the design of the wheels were different.

[goldie61]

From a Google search:
"Most wheels can spin wool or cotton, but flax requires a double-drive wheel with a distaff (holds the unspun fibers to keep them untangled) and a foot/breaking system."

[toby webb]

They clearly differentiated between the 2 machines and, I think, perhaps goldie61 has the answer. A visit to the most suitable museum might make that clear.
Thanks for all the help. Toby.

[jc26red]

Quote from the link I posted

“Step 10: Spinning
Depending on the preference of the spinner, flax linen can either be spun from a distaff, or the spinner may simply lay flax fibers in their lap. From this point on much of the process is the same as that for wool”

[youngtug]

https://youtu.be/Az2VNllZhEE