Weekly Spindle Review ~ Texas Jeans Tibetan

Maker: Texas Jeans
Weight: 24 g /  3/4 oz
Length: 10" Shaft  1 7/8" Whorl
Style: Tibetan Support Spindle
Woods: Osage Orange with Maple Shaft

My sample this week is an Alpaca blend by Spotted Circus.  


I first learned about these spindles when I went out for coffee with friends.  Deb had one in her bag and I spun it in my hand just to get a feel for it and I was absolutely amazed because it was the smoothest spinning supported spindle I had tried.  I asked who the spindle maker was and she told me Texas Jeans.  I hadn't heard of them and I wasn't really schooled in supported spindles because at the time I only had one.  Even now, after acquiring a lot more supported spindles and trying many out the Texas Jeans spindles are still the smoothest spinning. 

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The whorl is rim weighted which ensures a long spin time coupled with the small whorl size which adds spin speed makes these spindles wonderful to use.  Since the weight is so light, this spindle seems to be running on batteries.  After my initial spin tests I had another spin that continued well after 40 seconds (without fibre).   

The golden whorl shimmers as it spins and the top has a nice smooth point on it which limits friction and this spindle works well with either wood or glass/pottery bowls.   

The detailing on the base of the shaft right near the whorl draws the eye to the heart of the spindle.  Attaching the start of your fibre is easy because of this, whether you tie on your fibre or leader or push your spun fibre down the shaft.  


Once dressed with yarn, you don't lose this detailing because it is also continued onto the tip under the whorl.  

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This spindle is perfectly balanced and you barely see it moving aside from the depths in the grain.  You could just spin these spindles between your fingers without using fibre and still have fun, they twirl so nicely.  

The tip is very sharp but yet amazingly, hasn't chipped, split or anything.  Your yarn will spin off the point without any effort and the shaft tapers without any abrupt edges.  The shaft has been polished very smoothly but not so over polished that it's slippery.  It has brought out the best in the wood.

I am afraid of breaking the tip off though. I store this spindle with rubber tubing on the end and wouldn't take this spindle when traveling.  It is one of the sharpest supported spindles I own.  

Attention to detail and care went into making this spindle.  No part of it looks like it was rushed and each piece sits flush with no signs of glue or anything like that.  These spindles have very nice curves.


I received this spindle from my friend Michele.  She had told me that she had a beautiful tibetan spindle to offer that she loved but the length wasn't quite as long as she preferred.  She told me she had a hard time making the decision to destash but knew it would get more love if she passed it on.  When I found out the spindle she was talking about was a Texas Jeans I couldn't resist.  It spun as smooth as Deb's spindle that I had tried earlier and after looking at the Spindle Candy group on Ravelry and his Etsy shop I could see that these spindles were popular and wanted to own one myself.  

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If you are looking to try supported spindling and you want a quality, affordable tibetan then I highly recommend Texas Jeans spindles.  He also makes Russian style spindles as well as lap bowls and top whorls.  He also uses contrasting woods/colours in his work and they are just wonderful spindles to have in your collection.


Spindle rating:
Length of spin: 29.9 seconds (average of three tests)
Fibre storage ability: Good
Looks: Incredible
Overall Rating: 9.5/10

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