Dowels from the hardware store are nice, straight and regular, conveniently available… and made from wood that has traveled quite a lot :(

Yesterday I had a chance to collect a few hazel sticks and made sure not to miss it: one is going to become a distaff, another has been cut into two #spindle stick size bits

The one that has been already carved into shape look pretty irregular, but I've tried it with one of the salt dough whorls I've made last week and it is surprisingly well balanced. With the other one I'm going to try to let it cure a bit before carving.