Spinning Wheel

Developed in India around 500 bc, the great wheel was used for spinning until about 200 years ago, when it was largely replaced by industrial machines. The wheel creates fine, even yarn by maintaining consistent tension and a good speed. The thread which turns the spindle is called the drive band; as the wheel turns, the wool is drawn into thread, then twisted and wound by the bobbin.

Dorling Kindersley

Appears in these articles

Spinning; Textiles

*	Exclusively for MSN Encarta Premium Subscribers Join Now