Spindle is an elementary tool which helped to start development of spinning.

Classic Russian spindle is a straight spike with a hollow on the under end to fasten the thread, thickening in the middle and smooth narrowing towards the upper end.

Such type of the spindle is called support spindle. It means that the spindle

rests with its heavy tip pointed on the flat surface.

There are many types of spindles with different sizes and elements of design.

Longer spindles can be put on the floor during spinning, shorter ones can be put on the wood support with the side which limits spindle movement.

To spin with the help of a spindle is a long process, but on the other hand, a spindle does not occupy much space and does not need electricity. Moreover, one can study to spin without haste sitting on the sofa in front of the television.

The spindle revolves slower than a spinning-wheel. However, it has some advantages: it can be kept at hand, it is cheap and it is simple to use. Due to a spindle you can produce marvelously long thread during several minutes of spinning.

The spindle needed its place for keeping. In old times in the north of Russia spindles were kept in the special basket “machechnik” or “mochechnik”. The word originated from the word “mochka”. That means yarn. The basket was made of birch bark, it was beautifully painted. Frequently, the words of spell preserving magic spindles from evil were written on it.