Weekly Spindle Review ~ Tabachek Deluxe

So much to love with these spindles

Maker: Ed Tabachek
Weight: 50 g /  1 7/8 oz
Length: 10" Shaft  3" Whorl
Style: Top Whorl
Woods: Kingwood with Maple Shaft

My sample this week is Falkland wool from Tale and Tendril in the colourway Madonna & Child. 

This spindle holds a special place in my heart because it was my very first spindle.  I first heard about Tabachek spindles from my spinning teacher Deb, she told me they were the best and luckily they were available in my LYS.  Since I was just learning to spin, I was looking for a spindle that I could use as a beginner but I still wanted it to look really nice.  I was happy that this spindle was lightweight and that, as my spinning evolved I could still use it to spin a variety of yarn weights.  The size was also big enough that I could pack a substantial amount of yarn on it.  It still hasn't let me down.  

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The hook is strong and much nicer than your average cup hook and there is nice detailing at the top of the shaft.  Each of his spindle models are similar but the woods he uses set them apart.  I love how he uses contrasting woods/colours and the grain in this particular spindle is really pretty.

He bowls out the underside of the whorl which makes these spindles rim weighted.  Upon closer inspection, the carving is flawless.  The top of the whorl has concentric circles and even the side of the whorl is shaped with carvings as well.  


There are 3 notches in his spindles; at 2:00, 6:00 and 11:00 which is different from the regular placings.  I like these better.  The notches are also neatly made, and look like they are integrated into the whorl as opposed to an afterthought. 


Look at that grain!

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The end of the shaft also has the circle detailing and much of this is signature of Tabachek spindles.  You could definitely use this as a bottom whorl if you wanted.  

The shaping on the end also makes it easy to flick start no matter how full your spindle is.  I really like when a spindle maker turns the shaft as well, its a detail that shouldn't be overlooked. 

I made this spindle bag out of my first handspun yarn.  I wheel spun two bobbins and plyed them together.  The yarn was so underplyed I re-plyed it on this spindle. It important to save your first handspun and a spindle bag is a great item to make.

I was lucky enough to have Ed Tabachek in my Spindle class I took at Olds last year.  He is a very humble man and very friendly.  His wife Jo-Anne is also a recent graduate of the Master Spinners Program and for her thesis she used Tabachek spindles exclusively.  

Spindle rating:
Length of spin: 24.4 seconds (average of three tests)
Fibre storage ability: Excellent
Looks: Wonderful
Overall Rating: 10/10


Ed has been going through some health issues and his spindles have become difficult to obtain.  I have seen some for sale on the Spindle Candy group and people are asking a lot more than they bought the spindles for.  I am very lucky to have at least one of each of his spindles (The Deluxe is the largest).  He also makes Russians and Tibetan support spindles as well as spindle bowls and nostepinne's.  


I'm very glad to have Tabachek's in my collection and if you come across one you will love them too.  

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