Okay, it's been a crap month or so all round, Nuff said. Lets get back to spinning. Here's something interesting for you to admire. Front view.... Side view.... Rear view... Okay, hands up who knows what it is. Thought so...not many of you. Well don't feel bad about it because I had not a clue either before I brought it home from spinning group on Tuesday and got going on Google looking for it. All I knew about it was that it was called a Wind Wheel, that it belonged to a very elderly and now long retired spinner that lives locally and that she had given it on long term loan to the group. She said she never got on with it. (We got her Ashford Traditional too.) None of us could get on with it either...umpteen years of collective spinning between us and we could not get it to spin. It does not have a drive band per se you see. It has a weighted pulley arrangement at the bottom that flicks over and a drive belt that rotates the massive flyer. It is very, very different from anything I've used before. I regard myself as a bit of a wheel geek-groupie, but this wheel is something else again. Anyhow, after a bit of Googling I discovered my ...err, our new aquisition was an Ettrick Windwheel, that it was pronounced "wind" as in wind up the bobbin rather than "wind" as in gentle breezes and it comes from Australia. Actually this last bit I could have discovered much more quickly if I'd looked round the rear of the wheel. "Tasmanian Blackwood". How cool is that? If you stuck a knitting needle through a globe you'd find Tasmania is the furthest part of the other side of the world from Musselburgh. And the tree from which this wheel is made grew there. (It's a type of acacia.) It's fabulous wood and the whole wheel, from design to wood to style to polish is just so exotic. It sat there at spinning group in amongst our Ashfords and Kromskis and Haldanes looking like a rare tropical bird that had got lost. Anyhow, there was still the problem of the fact that none of us could get it to spin. So as official Wheel Geek and Person that Hangs Out on the Internet Most I was given the task of sorting this out. I emailed the maker, Norman Walters , asking for scans of the assembly plans and spinning instructions. He very kindly sent these and now...I'm barraging him with techie questions, poor man. And some queries as to the design history. I'm also talking to two Ravelry members from Australia, Zephyrama and Jenwren, both of whom own Windwheels. Now this is one of the most amazing things about Ravelry IMHO...the fact that I can go into it and hunt down a couple of spinners who knew exactly what I need to know to get this wheel going. Wow....! Still can't spin on it though. I'm pretty sure I've got it set up right but it's the action of this pulley bit that really gets to me. You have to sort of tap the treadle with your toe to get it up over the top of the turn, then the brass weights pull it down and round and momentum carries it up to the top of the turn and then you toe-tap again...but inbetween taps, if you push down on any part of the treadle plate the drive band will slip on the pulley. If you don't tap at the right moment the band slips up top here..... ...and the pulley reverses and you lose momentum and really, it all goes to hell in a handcart. It's the complete opposite of normal treadling on a single treadle wheel, where you have to be smooth and think rouuuuuund treadling, with only a little extra over the hump at the top. I feel like a beginner spinner again...you know, when you're kicking the wheel halfway across the room at every treadle stroke and it keeps reversing on you? Well this is it all over again. I'm going to crack it by Saturday though. Saturday is the monthly meet up day for the Edinburgh Guild of Spinners and I am taking the Windwheel along to be admired. I'm going to look a bloomin' prat if I can't get it to work, am I not? Off to practice....
The Ashford Ball Winder allows you to wind small to really late balls quickly and effortlessly. It is manufactured from beautiful beech timber in New Zealand. Things to Note: Winds balls up to 500 grams. Winds both clockwise and anti-clockwise. 8 mm yarn guide. Has mounted rubber feet and a table clamp.
With the wonderful green doll house from PlanToys, your child will have a lot of fun. It can give free rein to its imagination and play on two floors in the large wooden dollhouse. The set includes not only the house, but also the furniture for each room. It comes in ecological design with solar cell panel, wind turbine, shade canopy, biofacade, rain barrel and recycling bins. The doll house itself is made of recycled rubber trees and comes from a sustainable timber economy. PlanToys dollhouse highlights Green dollhouse made of wood Foldable shade canopy Moving wind turbine Adjustable solar cell panel Biofacade and rain barrel Recycling bins Furniture for the bedroom, living room, children's room and kitchen For children from 3 years From sustainable timber management Dimensions: 45.5 x 55.5 x 56.7 cm Caution: Not suitable for children under 36 months. Only for domestic use. Use under the direct supervision of an adult.
Ted Baer's Bicycle Wheel Windmill: Ted Baer has created a series of small windmills designed for third world use over a period of three decades. This first in the series has evolved in simplicity and power. The aluminum vanes are constructed from a building flashing roll utilizing th…
Teaching wind to preschoolers is important, yet merely discussing the topic isn’t enough. Keep your class engaged by incorporating wind-themed activities. Not only will these activities teach them about the wind, but they can also help develop many other essential skills. Take a look at the wind activities presented below and add them to your ... Read more
Are you feeling fatigued by big box stores, chock full of cheap home decor pieces produced factory-style on a conveyor belt? So are we. Would you like your home to be a reflection of who you are and not a cookie-cutter copy of your neighbor’s? Us too. It’s why we began importing unique pieces from Indonesia - to provide our community with alternatives to the low quality products so common these days. Our best selling windchimes have elevated thousands of outdoor spaces with their gorgeous colors and tranquil melodies! Featuring: - translucent, alternating square + circle capiz shells - natural teakwood top - harmony of relaxing sounds Dimensions: Chime: 26 inches long Teakwood top: 4 1/2 inches in diameter, 3/8 inch thick. Capiz shells: 2 inches wide Happiness Guarantee: We want you to feel 100% comfortable with your purchase, so your order is covered in full by our Happiness Guarantee. If you aren’t happy with any product you buy from us, let us know within 60 days of purchase by emailing us at [email protected]. We’ll confirm your order and then provide instructions to return your new, used, or broken product to us. Once we receive it, we’ll give you a 100% refund. It’s that simple!
Ashford products are so beautifully made - we are thrilled to stock their ball winders as well as their looms, and e-spinner! Wind small to really large balls of yarn quickly and effortlessly with these amazing, simple-to-use Ball Winders. Features: Wind really large balls up to 500gm (17½ozs) Infinitely variable speed Wind balls both clockwise and anti-clockwise Soft start allows you to control the yarn as it starts to wind onto the cone Instant stop when you need it Foot switch for better control of your yarn included 8mm (5/16in) yarn guide Mounted on rubber feet, one clamp included Powerful 12v 2.0-amp DC motor drives balanced cone assembly 12v mains power cord included Size 30 x 20 x 28cm (12 x 8 x 11ins) Net weight 2.5kg (5.5lbs) Optional extra: 12 volt car cord enables you to wind balls away from mains power Manufactured from beautiful native New Zealand Silver Beech hardwood with a lacquered finish, assembled and ready to go! Ships with DHL Express for next day delivery! For international shipping, please contact us for a quote. For best results, use in conjunction with a KnitPro Swift (sold separately).
Ashford products are so beautifully made - we are thrilled to stock their ball winders as well as their looms, and e-spinner! Wind small to really large balls of yarn quickly and effortlessly with these amazing, simple-to-use Ball Winders!Features Wind really large balls up to 500g (17½ozs) !! Wind balls both clockwise and anti-clockwise 8mm (5/16in) yarn guide Mounted on rubber feet Includes one table clamp Net weight 1.5kg (3.3lbs) Manufactured from beautiful native New Zealand Silver Beech hardwood with a lacquered finish, assembled and ready to go! Also check out the e-ball winder for the motorised version!! For best results, use in conjunction with a KnitPro Swift (sold separately).
e-Ball Winder
