How Did Sleeping Beauty Prick Her Finger on a Spinning Wheel?

On Saturday, July 30, Kathleen Crippen will be exhibiting part of her collection of antique and modern spinning wheels at the historic Holmes-Hendrickson House in Holmdel.

There will be two dozen wheels from all around the world on display. The collection includes wheels from the United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, India, Ireland, Germany and Lithuania. 

Many of the wheels still work. And Crippen enjoys explaining to visitors how Sleeping Beauty could have pricked her finger on a spinning wheel, a part of the story parents retell today but probably don't understand. 

According to Crippen's research, spindle wheels probably first came into being around 1000 A.D., possibly from China or Persia. They spread quickly across the European continent.

She has a photo from the Bayeux Tapestry that chronicles the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 – there is a spinner depicted using a spindle wheel. (it is attached to this story.) This type of wheel has many different names: Great, walking, jersey, wool, spindle, or muckle wheel are all variants.

This was the standard type of spinning wheel up until around 1500 when the bobbin and flyer assembly came into being, Crippen explains. As there is no place on a flyer wheel to conveniently prick one’s finger, it would stand to reason that Sleeping Beauty was using some type of spindle wheel, she believes. 

Typically, spinners keep a cork on the spindle tip when the wheel is not in use as the spindle is about 6 or 8 inches long and can be quiet treacherous to bump up against. 

Crippen welcomes questions about her rare collection of spinning wheels. The event is free. 

Longstreet Farm is located at 62 Longstreet Road in Holmdel. The event runs from 11 a.m.  to 4 p.m.