Chinese Spinning Wheel (纺车Fǎngchē)
By: Irene A, Leslie V, and Libni C
The Idea of the Spinning Wheel
The spinning wheel was created to replace hand spinning during 1035 AD in China. It is unknown who exactly came up with the idea. The spinning wheel is used to make yarn out of cotton.
Rumplestilskin
A humorous story told to children about the spinning wheel.
How does the spinning wheel work?
The spindle and the drive wheel are rotated by a drive band. The spindle is either on the flyer or attached to the spindle. It has two to three pulley sizes which control the speed of the flyer. The flyer has a row or hook on one or both sides of the U shaped arm to guide the yarn into the bobbing evenly. On double drive wheels, the bobbing is rotated by it's own pulley. On single drive wheels, the bobbing has a seperate brake to control speed. The fiber is twisted as the flyer rotates and the spindle holds the yarn. One revolution of the flyer puts one twist into the yarn. The longer the yarn is held before letting it wind into the bobbing, the more twist it recieves.
Double Drive Spinning Wheel
Spinning Wheel Painting
By: Wang Juzheng
Spinning Wheel
How To Spin Yarn On A Spinning Wheel
Invention led from Spinning Wheel
The sewing machine is an invention that came from the spinning wheel however there is no specific proof to support it.
Expansion to Europe
The idea of the spinning wheel expanded to Europe because some Italians came to China and saw it during the 14th Century and then took the idea back to Europe. This is a story that is said to have tooken place, but there is no evidence to support it.
Summary
The Chinese spinning wheel was and still is a very basic way making yarn to make clothing from cotton. However since the spinning wheel was a very basic way, it was very easy to make a mistake causing you to start over. For example, if you didn't put the cotton together right then the yarn would tear. One invention that would be considered an innovation from the spinning wheel is the sewing machine. There is no specific proof.
There is no evidence to support how the idea of the spinning wheel was taken to Europe. However there is a story said that Italians liked the use of the spinning wheel and was taken to Europe in the 14th Century. Also a story that was created from the spinning wheel is Rumplestilskin.