The problem is that it's an overly simplistic explanation. A skilled spinster can spin either spindle in either direction with equal ease. We do it all the time when we're plying threads after spinning; we spin one direction and ply the other, and we do it on the same spindle. In addition, there are fabrics found in Danish bogs which have S-spun warps and Z-spun wefts (the yarns "nest" into each other and create a smoother surface on the fabric), and still others with stripes of Z-spun alternated with S-spun in both warp and weft, creating plaids, but instead of color, the plaids are formed from twist directions which reflect the light differently.
FWIW- I'm an anthropologist/archaeologist with a special interest in textiles. I've been spinning since I was 12 (mom taught me on my great-grandmother's spinning wheel), and spindles are my spinning implement of choice. I'm teaching a brand-new course in our department on Ancient Technology, with textiles as one of the major topics, so I've been working with this material a lot recently. Katrina -- Katrina Worley [email protected] History: special people, in special places, at special times. Anthropology: everyone else the rest of the time. On Feb 5, 2014, at 10:07 PM, [email protected] wrote: > I found this explanation of the two twists rather > interesting. - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
