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Illustration of Lois (Timothy's grandmother) holding a distaff. A distaff holds fibers which are spun into yarn on a spindle held in the opposite hand.

Lois Holding the Distaff

Illustration of Lois (Timothy's grandmother) holding a distaff. A distaff holds fibers which are spun…

"The spindle proper is simply the metal rod and horsehoe-shaped piece of wood with its two rows of little hooks or teeth." - Beard, 1906

Diagram of a spindle

"The spindle proper is simply the metal rod and horsehoe-shaped piece of wood with its two rows of little…

A spindle is a cone shaped weigh that hooked the thread to one end and would allow the person to spin the wool to create thread. The distaff is a tool to keep the thread untangled in the spinning process.

Distaff and spindle

A spindle is a cone shaped weigh that hooked the thread to one end and would allow the person to spin…

A woman spinning.

Spinning

A woman spinning.

"The spinning-wheel." - Beard, 1906

Diagram of a Spinning-wheel

"The spinning-wheel." - Beard, 1906

Young and old sitting in a circle listening to stories. A younger woman holds a distaff. there is a spinning wheel in the foreground.

Story Time

Young and old sitting in a circle listening to stories. A younger woman holds a distaff. there is a…