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West Virginia’s traditional spinning wheels fall into two main types: smaller, foot-operated flax wheels suited to spinning linen fibers, and larger, hand-driven great wheels, or walking wheels, designed primarily for wool and capable of producing yarn efficiently. Before industrialization, rural families commonly spun their own yarn, supported by a thriving sheep industry. The resulting fibers could be spun into different materials—including thread, string, twine, cord, and yarn—each suited to particular uses, from fine sewing and embroidery to tying, binding, weaving, and knitting. Built by local woodworkers, great wheels were durable, practical tools whose construction varied by region, with distinctive features such as spoke patterns, tensioning systems, and the rare hinged-post design helping identify their origins and makers. Notable West Virginia wheelmakers included Lemuel Chenoweth of Beverly and regional craftsmen such as Richard Fossett, Old Tommy Henning, Jacob Wickline, and William Madison Bostic.
This Exhibit has 10 Sections