The Spinning Wheel

The spinning wheel is an old tool and important in American history. It is thought that spinning wheels were first created between the years 500 and 1000 (Flax, n.d.). It is unknown where they were invented, but they may have originated in India (Spinning, n.d.). Their use spread across the world, appearing in the North American colonies in the 17th century (Flax, n.d.). They were used in the creation of yarn and cloth (Spinning Patriotic, 2018). To make yarn, the spinning wheel would take fibers and twist them together (Spinning, n.d.). A variety of fibers could be used, such as wool, flax, and cotton (Bryk, n.d.). This yarn could then be put on a loom and woven into cloth (Spinning, n.d.).

At one time, the spinning wheel was also a way to show patriotism in the colonies. The textile industry was one of Britain's largest industries, but it was being disrupted by the American colonies. Near the end of the 1600s, the Americans began exporting their own textiles. To protect their industry, the British created the Wool Act of 1699, which stopped the colonies from selling wool yarn and cloth. The colonists decided to protest against the act and began to make their own clothes instead of buying them from the British. One example of these protests were the spinning bees organized by the Daughters of Liberty (Spinning Patriotic, 2018). These were events where women would get together and use spinning wheels to create fabric (Boomer, 2022).

Written by Austin Beatty, 2023