Description
These Turkish spindles are lovely little gems, available in four sizes: Standard, Sci-Fi, Reekalf, and Mini. Each shaft is hand-turned with a finial that helps secure the half-hitch in the leader. Choose from light wood (Maple), Dark wood (Walnut) and Medium Wood (varies).
Turkish spindles are unique – after you fill your spindle, you can slide the arms and yarn off the shaft, then slide the arms out of the yarn one at a time, leaving you with the ball of handspun. You don’t have to unwind the spindle!
Handcrafted by Scott Snyder of Fond du Lac, WI.
Standard
Weight: 1-1.2 ounces (26-30g)
Arm Length: approximately 4.5″
Shaft Length: approximately 8″
Materials: various hardwoods
Finish: wood polish
Sci-fi
Weight: approximately 0.8 oz (18-22g) (Medium wood is 1oz)
Arm Length: approximately 4.5″ (Medium wood is 5″)
Shaft Length: approximately 7″ (Medium wood is 8″)
Materials: various hardwoods
Finish: wood polish
Reekalf
Rekalf is the Dutch word for “Fawn”
Weight: Approximately 0.8 oz (20-23g)
Arm length 3.5″
Shaft Length: 6″
Materials: various hardwoods
Finish: wood polish
Mini
These are for spinning very thin, lace-weight yarns, and are not intended as beginner spindles.
Weight: 0.3-0.4 ounces (9-12g)
Arm Length: 2.5″
Shaft Length: 4.25″
Materials: various hardwoods
Finish: wood polish
Deb in MD –
I have had a Snyder turkish spindle, standard size, for a year or two. While I love my other turkish spindle, the fit and finish of this one isn’t up to acceptable standards. I had to finish the shaft with a wood hardener because the wood was too soft and kept snagging on my fiber. The arms don’t quite fit together as well as I’d like, but that’s less of an issue. I’m hoping that the issues have been resolved in newer models.
Andrea Schroer –
Thank you for your feedback, Deb.
Yes, Scott has been continually improving his spindles. We only stock the spindles in hardwoods, and he puts a generous coating of finish on them.
When we started stocking his spindles in February 2015, we spoke to him about the leeway in the arm connection, and he has improved the fit, so there is not so much movement before the yarn is wound on.
We are proud to stock these Wisconsin-made spindles.
Janice Murphy –
I love my Sci-Fi. I had tried to spin over a decade ago with a regular heavy spindle and just couldn’t do it. Luckily I bought a reasonably priced wheel so I didn’t give up. But wheels don’t travel well. I am so glad I got this Turkish style because it spins like an absolute dream.
Andrea Schroer –
Thanks so much for your review, Janice! We love the portability of spindles, too! 🙂