Whorls and Lazy Kate

The whorl on a spinning wheel determines the spinning ratio: the number of revolutions of the bobbin to the wheel. One type of whorl is illustrated in the picture to the left. The whorls are interchangeable on the Castle Wheel displayed in the first illustration. The largest whorl provides spinning ratios of 9:1 and 11:1, that is, for each revolution of the large wheel the bobbin makes either 9 or 11 revolutions depending on which grove is used. The smallest whorl has ratios of 23:1 and 27:1.

Pictured to the right is an Industrious Kate. Usually called a Lazy Kate, it holds the bobbins for plying yarn. This Kate is industrious because it contains a tension band to control the amount of yarn released from each bobbin.