How many spindles does a medieval lady need?
Answer, five more than she has!
Yes, I ordered a few (ok five) spindles from Niddy Noddy
When I first started spinning I couldn’t find many places selling medieval style spindles or spindle shafts, now I can find a lot. I think there is a lot more opportunity for small sellers to set up shop online these days. Maybe there are more people interested in spinning with appropriate tools at re-enactment events too? Whatever the reason, there are spindles out there that I don’t have and I thought I should change that.
I have a few other spindles on my wish list, but if you see anything you think I should buy… enable me!
One thing I find with my current spindles is that I buy the spindles and whorls separately (though both sellers sell whorls to match their spindles) and many of my whorls don’t fit my spindles as low as I would like. Nothing wrong with the spindles, they are fantastic, but I do love my whorls too. So I talked to Neil first about my needs and he came up with a few ideas.
I bought two medieval spindle sticks (one with a spiral notch, one without), two medieval style spindle sticks which Neil shaped to my specifications (one with a spiral notch, one without) and a Dealgan just because I wanted to.
I’ve done a series of videos covering each spindle, but the below is just me chatting about the spindles I got and talking about what I got and why and how they fit my whorls.
I tried to upload this yesterday, but the internet was too slow, so I had to finish uploading it today, hence why video ‘Wednesday’ is on Thursday.
15thcenturyspinning 
You couldn’t have done better than order with Neil (NiddyNoddy) – I did, and I love his spindles!
Thank you for the new video. I love your work.
Yours truly,
Mastinomama
Thanks! The service was wonderful. Some of the spindles I like more than others, but all are very well made- a spindle is a personal thing. I will be posting reviews of all of them in the comming weeks.
Oh, man! Another spindle supplier that I can become addicted to 🙂 Thanks/No Thanks 😀
Haha, I know how you feel!
Oh yes, NiddyNoddy’s are one of those I like. Although mine are from HersheyFibreArts on Etsy, which predated the ones from NiddyNoddy, as far as I know.
Pallia also has nice, simple ones. Not quite as refined, but more robust. And she has nice clay whorls.
But I have to admit, although I spin medieval european style, I love using my Matthes spool spindles (www.drechselwerkstatt.com). It’s so nice to simply pull of the full spool and put on an empty one. And they use wonderful wood. I prefer the european wood usually, you never know, if the rare wood comes from endangered places like the rainforests.