Savina Wooden Hardwood Drop Spindle Top Whorl Yarn Spinner Wheel for Beginners & Advanced,Hand Spinning, Spin Roving into Yarn - Ideal for Sewing Projects

I bought this so I can learn to spin my own fiber from my alpaca and it was super easy to put together and worked just like it should.

The weight on this spindle makes it an absolute dream to use! I have a feeling it will become my main drop spindle for the time being.

Micro review: This is a fairly large and heavy spindle with a few non-ideal design features (like the slippery surface, non-adjustable hook, and seams between pieces), but you can make yarn on it, and it does come apart to store flat. Possibly better for plying or chunky yarn than for lighter yarn, though that depends on your spinning style.Detailed review:For background, I’ve been spinning yarn for 20 years (gulp!). I learned to spin on homemade drop spindles, used spindles exclusively for several years before getting a wheel, and I still use and collect spindles. This is legit the chunkiest spindle I’ve ever laid hands on, though not the largest or heaviest I’ve ever seen.Spindle design preferences are extremely personal, but at 3 oz, this is what I think of as a plying spindle, although you can still spin yarn with it. It’s decently balanced and has a long spin time — I can spin to an arm’s length above my head and it’s still spinning when it touches the floor. You can disassemble it and pack it flat for storage or travel. It’s a visual upgrade from a plain, basic spindle. Those are the good bits.That said...* It’s heavy. It weighs 2-3 times as much as my other spindles. I prefer spindles for making medium to fine yarn (vs. making chunky yarn on my wheel, which can hold more yardage), and the 3-oz weight is a tad awkward for making lighter yarn. The heavier weight also makes my arms and hands tired faster, and if I’m spinning for hours, that matters.* It’s large. (See the photo with some of my other spindles for comparison.) The shaft is quite thick, which is a little cumbersome if I try to flick to spin rather than rolling off my leg. The whole thing is also longer than I prefer. It hits the floor sooner than my shorter spindles and forces me to stop and wind on more frequently.* The surface is too slippery for my taste. It’s usable, but I prefer a more satin/matte finish with a bit of grab, so the yarn stays where I want it.* The hook is non-adjustable. I prefer hooked spindles to have a malleable hook that turns in different directions, so I can customize the shape, angle, and direction.* Since it screws together, I suspect the yarn stored on the spindle might wedge itself between the whorl and the shaft at some point — but to be fair, it didn’t while I was spinning a sample. I also wonder whether the parts will slowly unscrew themselves over time and need regular tightening.To me, this spins like a decent homemade spindle — a tad clunky, not fancy or elegant, but solid and functional. The difference between a plain, usable spindle and a spindle made by a knowledgeable, experienced spindle-maker is pretty stark ... but spinning isn’t complicated, and this would be completely fine to learn on, or if you just like/need heavier or longer spindles. Do I recommend this over other spindles in the same price range? Not unless you really need a spindle that you can take apart and pack flat.

Beautiful and well made drop spindle. Perfect for spinning yarn or twine.

I haven’t figured out how to use it yet, but it assembles easily and seems well made. I have good faith I’ll be very happy with it. It’s study!

I have used a few Savina products recently and I absolutely love them. These are fiber tools by fiber people for fiber people. I love that this comes apart for easy storage. The wood is super smooth, it has a notch on the whorl, and a spindle that could be used as a supported spindle.It is heavy, so that will take a bit of getting used to. I love that this is more of a middle whorl because it's much more balanced. I have been working with moreno but I think this will be an amazing flax spindle.

Recived the product in a really bad shape. Box has been opened and inside the box it has mold everywhere. Very disappointed.

I don’t yet have a huge amount of experience with spinning yarn with a drop spindle, but I’m enjoying it so much I’m sure I’ll improve as I go.The design of this drop spindle is essentially the same exact thing women have been using for hundreds of years. If you’re a beginner, I highly checking out some videos on spinning yarn from fibers. Seeing it done is exponentially more helpful than words. I feel like there’s a quote there…For beginners, I recommend starting with wool, as it’s the most forgiving, I feel.While the design and hardware are fine, the wood needed to be sanded in places to keep it from snagging fibers. Aside from some rough areas, it was mostly fine. And with a couple standings and a beeswax polish, it’s got both form and function!