Which invention significantly improved yarn production?

The spinning jenny was a pivotal invention in the textile industry that greatly enhanced the efficiency of yarn production. Developed by James Hargreaves in the 1760s, it allowed a single worker to spin multiple spools of thread simultaneously—initially up to eight—thereby significantly increasing the output of yarn compared to traditional spinning wheels, which could only produce one thread at a time. This innovation was crucial during the Industrial Revolution as it enabled the mass production of yarn needed for weaving into fabric, thus fueling the growth of the textile industry.

The other inventions, while important, focused on different aspects of textile manufacturing. The power loom, invented later, automated the weaving process itself rather than yarn production. The cotton gin, created by Eli Whitney, revolutionized the processing of cotton by quickly separating seeds from cotton fibers, which aided the supply of raw materials but did not directly improve yarn production techniques. The water frame, developed by Richard Arkwright, did improve yarn production by using water power and allowing for stronger threads, but it was the spinning jenny that initially transformed the spinning process on a larger scale, making it the key invention in enhancing yarn production efficiency.