These are the common parts found on a traditional spinning wheel. The arrangement of these parts may vary from wheel to wheel.
A. Fly Wheel – The wheel that rotates when treadling and causes the other various parts to operate.
B. Drive Band – A cord that goes around the fly wheel and the flyer whorl.
C. Flyer – A U-shaped piece of wood with hooks lined up on one or both arms. The hooks are used to store the yarn evenly on the bobbin. The flyer is rotated by the drive band which as a result puts the twist into the fiber.
D. Flyer Whorl – A pulley attached to the flyer and operated by the drive band. The different sized grooves on the flyer whorl determine how fast the wheel will spin.
E. Maidens – The upright posts that hold the flyer and the bobbin.
F. Mother-Of-All – The bar that mounts the maidens, flyer, bobbin, and tension knob.
G. Tension Knob – Used to adjust the tension of the drive band by lowering or raising the mother-of-all.
H. Bobbin – Rotates on the spindle along with the flyer and stores the yarn. It can operate with or independent of the drive band.
I. Treadle – The pedal(s) that operates the wheel by using your feet.
J. Footman – The bar the connects the treadle to the fly wheel and causes it to turn.
K. Orifice – The opening at the end of the spindle where the yarn goes through to connect to the hooks of the flyer.
