Spinning wheels are loaded with historical significance and symbolism. These tools have been associated with fairy tales and folklore, quite often as dangerous objects that help drive the story, i.e. the spindle in Sleeping Beauty. However, spinning wheels are simply tools used for spinning fibres into yarn.

In I Shall Wear Midnight,  Terry Pratchett explores the idea of the dangers of spinning wheels, by creating the unfounded fear that Tiffany could get hold of a spinning wheel and use it as a weapon. 

In reality, a spinning wheel is a totally benign piece of equipment that is only a danger if you are a cat that gets too close to the twisting yarn and your whiskers get caught!

Spinning wheels are tools that were once essential for survival, as a vital tool for earning a living. The themes and ideas in I Shall Wear Magic, remind me of the privilege we have today in being able to use a spinning wheel as a form of creative expression, when for many of our ancestors, the spinning wheel was a means to a meagre living, and a way to provide clothing and warmth for their families.

In today's fast-paced world, where instant gratification is often prioritized over slow, intentional work, taking the time to sit at a spinning wheel can feel like a luxurious indulgence. The rhythmic motion of the wheel, the feel of the fibres between my fingers, the satisfaction of creating something beautiful and useful with my own hands - these are experiences that connect me to my past and ground me in the present.