About Clotho's Handspinners guild

The mission of Clotho’s Handspinners is to promote handspinning through education and demonstration, to preserve our cultural heritage and promote its future in Central Virginia, as well as to provide opportunity to our members to share and understand techniques, knowledge, and love of the craft.
Who Was Clotho?

Clotho was one of the Greek Fates. The Fates were the sisters of the Seasons and the daughters of Zeus and Themis. The Fates were three goddesses who ruled the lives of men and women. They were thought to be present at the birth, marriage and death of each man.

Clotho was the youngest sister. Her name derives from the Greek word klothein, which means "to spin." Literally, she was "The Spinner." She spun the thread of life. She was usually depicted carrying a spindle and a distaff. The middle sister was called Lachesis. She was "The Measurer." She carried a rod to determine the length of the thread. She personified chance, the element of luck in each man's life. The oldest sister was called Atropos. She was "The One Who Cannot be Avoided." She carried shears to cut the thread at death. She personified man's inescapable fate.

The Fates were highly revered in ancient Greece. Robed in white, they were thought to be "the daughters of the just heavens." They personified destiny.

By calling ourselves "Clotho's Children," we are linking ourselves to the past, our human heritage. We are the descendants of the original spinner. As spinners, we are carrying on an ancient craft, one rooted in history and mythology.

Linda Snead , Clotho's Children, Handspinners,
Newsletter # 1 August 5, 1982