The mass of fibres to be spun was positioned on the upper end of the distaff and often blocked with a conical cap. The distaff was then inserted and blocked under the arm, or slipped into the belt or between the knees to be held still. The spinner took a small quantity of fibres from the distaff, which she twisted with her fingers and fixed to the base of the swollen part of the spindle with a special knot. At this point the spindle was rotated quickly, with a decisive movement given by the palm of the hand, and while the spindle rotated the spinner continued to take, little by little, the fibres from the mass on the distaff, twisting it between the thumb and forefinger. The fibres, rotating and twisting, were thus transformed into thread. Of fundamental importance was the spinner's ability to provide a sufficient and regular quantity of fibres to the twist given by the spindle, in order to produce a regular and good quality thread. When the spindle reached the ground the spinner stopped and wound the thread on it.