Woollen spinning consists of three main steps:

• Drafting
• Twist insertion
• Winding onto the cop

There are two major types of woollen spinning machine: mule spinning and ring spinning.

The main difference between them is that these three steps are performed differently by each machine and on the mule they occur in a discontinuous way whereby the drafting and twist insertion occur separately from winding onto the cop. The ring-spinning machine combines them into a continuous sequence and so is more productive.