Perfection Found In Nature
  • Journal
  • Designs
  • Unraveled
    • Spreads
  • About
    • Press

Weekly Spindle Review ~ The Clay Sheep

10/13/2014

3 Comments

 
Picture





Maker:The Clay Sheep
Weight: 43 g /  1.56 oz
Length: 2 1/2" Whorl, 10 1/2" Shaft  
Style: Top Whorl
Wood: Polymer Clay Whorl set atop a Red Oak Base and Shaft



Anita from The Clay Sheep has been well known for her amazing polymer clay stitch markers, diz's and orifice hooks.  She puts wonderful detail into each item she makes.  A few months ago I saw on her Facebook page that she had made a couple spindle prototypes and knew that once they became available I had to give them a try.  My spun skein is a rolag from Naturally Knitty.

Currently, these spindles come in 3 sizes; small, medium and large (1 oz, 1.5 oz, 2 oz).  I decided on the medium spindle, mostly because its the middle ground and I tend to gravitate towards sport - worsted weight yarns.  I also instantly fell in love with the design of the whorl - who wouldn't?  The detail is evident right down to the little feet and the curls in the sheep's wool.  I also like that because each of these polymer clay whorls are handmade they are also truly one of a kind.  If you look at the other spindles with this design, no two are a like.  There are different flower colours and different sheep combinations.  I also quite like the sky and the colours she used are so vibrant.  
Picture
Picture
The frame around the picture is sterling silver filled wire, and this distributes the weight to the outer rim of the spindle.  She has added 2 notches; at 12:00 and 6:00 and they are of a decent depth.  The hook is made of Argentium Silver hard tempered wire and it suits the personality of the spindle very well. Its not too thick, or too thin and it lined up my spun yarn exactly in-line with the shaft.  The neck is long enough that I can wrap some of the singles around the hook without anything getting in the way.  I also found that it is closed enough that when things got a little out of control (on my part not paying attention to the fact that my arms aren't long enough when the spindle reaches the floor) the hook held the yarn securely as I fumbled to grab the flying spindle. This also goes to show the spin time.  I am able to spin quite a length of yarn before the spin even slows down. (This is the 3rd place for the longest spinning spindle I have reviewed so far) All in all, with the combination of all the thought and detail that went into the top portion of this spindle, it is VERY well balanced.  While spinning, it danced smoothly and effortlessly.  

Picture

And that's just the top side of the whorl!  Underneath, she has engraved the spindle's weight and its number.  Mine is already #30.  She has also etched her initials.  Yet, more detail she hasn't overlooked.  I think it's really cool to have numbered spindles, they are works of art.  I'm also glad she burnt this information into the wood and didn't use a sharpie.  

Picture
At first when I looked at this spindle, I thought the shaft was a little long (10.5") for the whorl diameter but I was wrong.  I LOVE the length!  I can pack on a lot of yarn and still have room to grab the bottom of the shaft to give it a good spin.  If you are a thigh roller, you will have no problem giving this spindle a fast rotation.  I wish more of my spindles were like this.  The end has been smoothly tapered to make transferring cops easy and I think it would be able to handle a few drops (even though no one drops a drop spindle right?).  The shaft is very smooth and she lists in her description that the spindle has been hand rubbed with Tung oil which really brings out the depth in the wood.  
Picture
Picture


Spindle rating:
Length of spin: 31.6 seconds (average of three tests)
Fibre storage ability: Extremely good
Looks: One of my most beautiful looking spindles
Overall Rating: 10/10


If you are looking for a really unique, really well handcrafted spindle, then check out what Anita from The Clay Sheep has to offer.  Fully functional works of art, and not a single detail overlooked.  I can see this spindle becoming one of my favourite, go-to spindles. I am searching through my stash to start a new spinning project on it ASAP. I am SO happy that this spindle is in my collection, I think I may need the other 2 sizes as well :)
3 Comments
Anita
10/13/2014 06:33:42 am

Oh my, thank you so very much for the wonderful review Susie!!! You pinpointed so many of my specific design features that I was after when I started on these spindles. I'm so happy that you love it. :)
Anita

Reply
Susie
10/13/2014 06:56:05 am

And thank you Anita for all your hard work. I hope that this review convinces others to head in your direction for their next spindle purchase. I will be right in line with them :)

Reply
Kody L link
12/14/2020 07:55:17 pm

Thanks for possting this

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Follow Me:

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    The Wardrobe Architect
    Picture
    Knit Natural
    Follow Knit Natural's board Knit Natural on Pinterest.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Patterns

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Bankhead
    Blocking
    Blue Hills Fibre Festival
    Braiding
    Classes
    Contest
    Cool
    Cotton
    Coupon Code
    Crochet
    Dyeing
    Eco-dyeing
    Etsy
    Events
    Fibre
    Field And Fable
    Flatlands Collection
    Friday Fibre Update
    Giveaway
    Guest Blogger
    Guild
    Handmade Wardrobe
    Handspun
    Inspiration
    KAL
    Knitter's Oracle
    Knitting
    Manitoba Fibre Festival
    Manitoba Makers Challenge
    Memberships
    New Design
    News
    Olds
    Patterns
    Press
    Products
    Project
    Review
    Sale
    Sask Fashion Week
    Shawl
    Sheep
    Silk
    Soak
    Socks
    Spindles
    Spinning
    Storage
    Thank You
    Thank You
    Thank-you
    TourdeFleece
    Tradeshows
    Tutorial
    Unraveled Oracle
    Weaving
    Wolseley Wool
    Wool
    Wool Judging
    Workshop

    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    January 2012
    October 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Journal
  • Designs
  • Unraveled
    • Spreads
  • About
    • Press