Snuneymuxw spinning
This is from the Snuneymuxw exhibit at the Nanaimo Museum:
The Salish used the same technique to spin all fibres. While spinning the spindle whorl is pointed upwards and the fibres are drawn down onto it. As the spindle rotates, it creates tension and a twist in the fibres, producing yarn. When the spindle is full, yarn is removed from the spindle and wound into a ball. Dog wool, nettles and mountain goat wool were the most common fibres. The disk, or whorl, was often made of a heaveier hardwood and actedas aa flyweel, smoothing the rotation of the spindle. A design was often incised into both surfaces.
Did you notice that bit about the nettles? I’m going to see what I can make out of nettle fibres this spring.
See also: Snuneymuxw dogs
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