I have many thousands of images on my computer of all things fiberish, and from time to time as I'm browsing through them something will emerge as a common theme, feature, or phenomenon. I present to you one such:
Romanian Spindle Spinners and Their Crazy Fat Distaves
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I mean, really! How fast is she planning on spinning all that up??
And here are some of her relatives:
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And the prize for the biggest damn distaff goes to this lady:
She must be some fast spindler.
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I mean, really! How fast is she planning on spinning all that up??
And here are some of her relatives:
(click for big)
(click for bigger)
And the prize for the biggest damn distaff goes to this lady:
She must be some fast spindler.
OK. ow I see how it is possible to take their drop spindles for supported. Their drop spindles are worn out on the bottom end by costantly scratching the ground.
You have most incredible collection of old photos. Thank you so much for posting your collection, I am most appreciative viewer.
Posted by: Vereteno | March 24, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Amazing photos - thanks!
Posted by: Sandra D | March 18, 2009 at 02:44 PM
Lotsa production in that. Bet they have strong forearm muscles from hefting that. Bottom whorls...I guess we are pansy-asses with our top whorls. Not really SERIOUS spinners.
Posted by: Laurie | March 17, 2009 at 08:16 AM
Maybe wrapping the distaff is a pain and they don't want to do it very often?
Posted by: Kate | March 15, 2009 at 07:29 AM
Holly s***.
That's... damn big distaff. And she probably spins so fast and could beat a wheel productivity in spinning.
Posted by: Rina | March 13, 2009 at 11:50 PM
well, they can certainly spin continuously, just about for forever by the looks of it!
Crazy big.
Napolean complex of handspinning, perhaps?
Posted by: Jennifer | March 07, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Here is an illustration of a spindle. Just some fun.
http://www.linesandcolors.com/2009/03/04/jean-baptiste-monge/
Posted by: Charlene | March 07, 2009 at 05:48 AM
It seems that spinning would so much more proficient without the weight of that distaff, because she can't get all that wool onto one spindle - scratching head...
Posted by: Sharon | March 04, 2009 at 06:11 PM
Thank you! I laughed to tears at these!! Always a joy to see what you've found!!
Posted by: HistoricStitcher | March 03, 2009 at 02:41 PM
I think they're just low maintenance pets!
Posted by: Amy | March 02, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Wow! I never realized how much a distaff looks like a broom! And with it propped between their legs like that, and with the black capes and all, it looks rather witchy!
Posted by: elizabeth | March 02, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Looks like all (but maybe one) are *sitting down*; I'm with the idea that there're just sheep on sticks. What impressive pictures! (You always brighten my day and very often my desktop as well)
Posted by: dale-harriet in WI | March 02, 2009 at 10:36 AM
They all look like wool on the distaves. I think it's a nice way to store your wool, ready to work with when you need it! Better than big ol' plastic hefty bags like I use! It's not nearly as civilized to be hauling a garbage bag of wool around as it would be to stroll along with a giant distaff in my pits. Advertises what an industrious spinner I am too!
I don't think you'd want to load a distaff like that when working with flax tho...
Posted by: janel | March 02, 2009 at 03:06 AM
When Steph was here on Thursday I showed her your blog (she doesn't have enough bandwidth at home) and she got a good chuckle.
Just think how long it would take me to convert one of those monzo distaffs of fiber into froghair. Five or six lifetimes? Yikes.
Posted by: Sylvia | March 02, 2009 at 01:21 AM
If big is good, then bigger is better, right??
:)
Posted by: Janice in GA | March 01, 2009 at 08:34 PM
And it wasn't uncommon to double load 'um either (flax and wool!)
Thanks Marcy, your posts always make me smile ;-)
Posted by: cyndy | March 01, 2009 at 07:58 PM
Hmmm. I was going to say something interesting, but I forgot what it was and I want to go find some cotton candy to eat.
Posted by: Judith | March 01, 2009 at 07:46 PM
I'm pretty sure I saw them at SPA this weekend.
Posted by: Carole | March 01, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Perhaps they just tie the sheep to a stick, and when they're done, it's time to have roast mutton? Wow, those are hefty distaves!
Posted by: Andrea (noricum) | March 01, 2009 at 03:15 PM