Värttinään

Värttinään is a type of wooden spindle used in spinning fiber into yarn. It is traditionally used in Finnish and Baltic folk spinning techniques. The spindle consists of a shaft, typically made of wood, with a whorl attached to one end. The whorl acts as a weight, providing momentum and stability to the spinning motion. Fibers are drawn out from a distaff and twisted together by the rotation of the värttinään, creating yarn. The process involves the spinner flicking the spindle to set it in motion, then drafting and twisting the fibers as the spindle descends. Once it reaches the end of its descent, the spun yarn is wound onto the shaft. The värttinään is a simple yet effective tool that was essential for textile production in many cultures for centuries. Its design has remained largely unchanged, reflecting its efficiency and practicality. Different sizes and shapes of värttinään may have been used depending on the type of fiber being spun and the desired thickness of the yarn. The practice of spinning with a värttinään is a significant part of textile heritage and is still preserved by craftspeople and historical reenactors.