My mother bought me this tiny supported spindle for Christmas, and I have put it to work! It measures 8 inches long and is perfectly balanced. I frequently use this spindle to spin Silk fibres into fine "lace weight" thread, and then, after winding off the thread onto bobbins (spools), I ply the thread back onto itself, turning it into yarn.

Here it is laying on a pile of commercially combed Cultivated Bombyx Silk fibres, which are sold in long snake-like coils commonly called Top. I think, of all my assorted spindles, this one is my most favorite.