What textile machine did Leonardo da Vinci design to twist several strands of thread together?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a spinning machine to twist several strands of thread together.

Leonardo’s textile studies included mechanisms for spinning and winding thread. A spinning machine applies twist to fibers so they become a stronger, continuous yarn. His designs explored how rotating parts could automate work that was often performed by hand, improving regularity and reducing repetitive labor.

The machine was part of a wider pattern in Leonardo’s notebooks: he examined mills, gears, transmission systems, and devices for manufacturing. Textile production was economically important in Renaissance Italy, so a reliable spinning mechanism could have practical value for workshops.

A spinning machine is not a loom. Spinning creates yarn from fibers, whereas weaving on a loom interlaces prepared threads into cloth. Leonardo did not create the entire modern textile industry, and his sketches were not equivalent to the powered factory machinery developed during the Industrial Revolution. They nevertheless show his interest in mechanizing production through carefully arranged rotating components.