Weekly Spindle Review ~ Wooly Designs Heart

I'm a big fan of hearts and when this spindle was gifted to me, I fell in <3


Maker: Wooly Designs
Weight: 32 g /  1 1/4 oz
Length: 9" Shaft   3" Whorl
Style: Top Whorl
Woods: Multi-laminated Baltic Birch


My sample is SW BFL/Kid Mohair from Susses Spindehjrne.  I got 39 yards.

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This is one of the production Wooly Designs spindles.  The hearts have been cut out with a scroll saw which makes this spindle lighter and distributes the weight to the outer rim to help with a longer spin time.  These spindles are a decent size and would make a great starter spindle for beginners and a workhorse spindle for more advance spindle spinners.  

One feature that I think is really awesome is the bottom of the shaft has been reinforced with a metal tip.  This helps reduce damage when your spindle drops and I just love that they  thought to add that.  This is my only spindle with this feature.

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I also quite like spindle with a cut out whorl like this one.  Its fun to wind your cop and see how colours are progressing or how your singles look.  It's kinda like a stained glass window and it looks neat when spinning.   The sample I used this time looks really sweet behind all those hearts.


There are two notches in the whorl at each side, and the hook is cup hook shaped, perfectly centered and not too open.  The shaft is very plain and if it weren't for the carved hearts in the top, this spindle is very non-descript.   This spindle is fairly top heavy but I didn't find there to be any wobble when suspended.

You can also see that the bottom of the whorl has been signed;  "Tracy '98".  I like that personal touch that some spindle makers do, it adds to the story of the spindle. I appreciate how this signature has been carved into the wood unlike other spindle makers who write on their spindles with markers (argh)

Spindle rating:
Length of spin: 26.3 seconds (average of three tests)
Fibre storage ability: Excellent
Looks: Simple but cute
Overall Rating: 6.5/10


If you are looking for a workhorse spindle that looks nicer than a toy wheel/learner spindle this is a great addition to your collection.   This is also a good spindle to use when teaching a friend to spin because you don't have to hold your breath when it drops to the floor. Try one out, they are fairly inexpensive and very practical.