A favorite winter pastime is still enjoyed by many today -- the art of the spinning wheel. Yarn or fiber is spun using the winding technique, as it is converted onto a spindle or bobbin.

If you're new to the Mac ecosystem (maybe you've recently made the switch from Windows), nobody would blame you for mistaking the friendly-looking rainbow-colored spinning wheel for something benign.

These simple-looking spools are part of a larger tool – a spinning wheel – used to spin sheep, alpaca, rabbit and other natural fiber (more experienced folks can even spin dog and cat hair!) ...

Opinions expressed are those of the author. ­When making clothes before the 19th century, one important tool was the spinning wheel. The spinning wheel helped improve the task of turning fabric ...