hanker, a

hankerA special device is used in parts of North America for the winding of yarn into skeins. One device, called a reel or clock-winder, resembled a windmill. Wool from the spindle was wrapped around the circumference of the winder as it was turned around. A much simpler device consisted merely of a pole approximately two feet long that contained two shorter poles fastened to each end, at ninety degrees to the pole and each other in the same plane. This device was called a niddy-noddy. Reel winders and clock winders were unknown in Newfoundland. On some areas of the Southern Shore, though, a type of (over [reverse] niddy-noddy was used. A woman in Renews showed me a device that was used by the old people to skein up the yarn. This device was definitely a primitive form of a niddy-noddy, though the woman could not remember its name, nor how it was used..A woman from Cape Broyle reported that she often used a device which she called a "hanker' to make skeins of wool. This device was placed on the table, and was probably a type of niddy-noddy..DNE-cit G. M. Story JAN 1976JH JAN 1976Used IUsed IUsed IReverse side of H_13432