Some wheel, silently spinning yarn (5)
I believe the answer is:
lisle
'yarn' is the definition.
(I know that lisle is a type of cotton)
'some wheel silently spinning' is the wordplay.
'some' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (some of the parts of the word are used).
'spinning' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'elsil' is hidden in the letters of 'wheel silently'.
'elsil' reversed gives 'LISLE'.
(Other definitions for lisle that I've seen before include "Strong tightly twisted cotton thread" , "Cotton stocking thread" , "Fine smooth cotton thread for stockings" , "Fine cotton thread used in stockings" , "(Fabric woven with) a fine cotton thread" .)