The spinner took a small quantity of fibres from the mass positioned on the distaff or held in the hand, which she twisted with her fingers and fixed on the horizontal spindle, then gave speed to the wheel and spindle thanks to the crank or pedal and continued to supply fibres little by little. The rotation of the spindle combined with the action carried out by the fins on it allowed the fibres to twist, with the consequent formation of the thread, which was deposited on the shuttle on the spindle.
Of fundamental importance was the spinner's ability to supply a sufficient and regular quantity of fibres to the twist given by the spindle, so as to produce a regular and good quality thread.