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

Weekly Spindle Review ~ Texas Jeans Tibetan

5/4/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
Maker: Texas Jeans
Weight: 24 g /  3/4 oz
Length: 10" Shaft  1 7/8" Whorl
Style: Tibetan Support Spindle
Woods: Osage Orange with Maple Shaft
Picture

My sample this week is an Alpaca blend by Spotted Circus.  


I first learned about these spindles when I went out for coffee with friends.  Deb had one in her bag and I spun it in my hand just to get a feel for it and I was absolutely amazed because it was the smoothest spinning supported spindle I had tried.  I asked who the spindle maker was and she told me Texas Jeans.  I hadn't heard of them and I wasn't really schooled in supported spindles because at the time I only had one.  Even now, after acquiring a lot more supported spindles and trying many out the Texas Jeans spindles are still the smoothest spinning. 

The whorl is rim weighted which ensures a long spin time coupled with the small whorl size which adds spin speed makes these spindles wonderful to use.  Since the weight is so light, this spindle seems to be running on batteries.  After my initial spin tests I had another spin that continued well after 40 seconds (without fibre).   
Picture


The golden whorl shimmers as it spins and the top has a nice smooth point on it which limits friction and this spindle works well with either wood or glass/pottery bowls.   

The detailing on the base of the shaft right near the whorl draws the eye to the heart of the spindle.  Attaching the start of your fibre is easy because of this, whether you tie on your fibre or leader or push your spun fibre down the shaft.  



Once dressed with yarn, you don't lose this detailing because it is also continued onto the tip under the whorl.  



This spindle is perfectly balanced and you barely see it moving aside from the depths in the grain.  You could just spin these spindles between your fingers without using fibre and still have fun, they twirl so nicely.  
The tip is very sharp but yet amazingly, hasn't chipped, split or anything.  Your yarn will spin off the point without any effort and the shaft tapers without any abrupt edges.  The shaft has been polished very smoothly but not so over polished that it's slippery.  It has brought out the best in the wood.


Picture



I am afraid of breaking the tip off though. I store this spindle with rubber tubing on the end and wouldn't take this spindle when traveling.  It is one of the sharpest supported spindles I own.  
Picture
Attention to detail and care went into making this spindle.  No part of it looks like it was rushed and each piece sits flush with no signs of glue or anything like that.  These spindles have very nice curves.


I received this spindle from my friend Michele.  She had told me that she had a beautiful tibetan spindle to offer that she loved but the length wasn't quite as long as she preferred.  She told me she had a hard time making the decision to destash but knew it would get more love if she passed it on.  When I found out the spindle she was talking about was a Texas Jeans I couldn't resist.  It spun as smooth as Deb's spindle that I had tried earlier and after looking at the Spindle Candy group on Ravelry and his Etsy shop I could see that these spindles were popular and wanted to own one myself.  

Picture
If you are looking to try supported spindling and you want a quality, affordable tibetan then I highly recommend Texas Jeans spindles.  He also makes Russian style spindles as well as lap bowls and top whorls.  He also uses contrasting woods/colours in his work and they are just wonderful spindles to have in your collection.


Spindle rating:
Length of spin: 29.9 seconds (average of three tests)
Fibre storage ability: Good
Looks: Incredible
Overall Rating: 9.5/10

2 Comments
Nika link
5/6/2014 06:59:25 am

A great review! I have heard of Texas Jeans before and now I will keep an eye on his spindles next time I can buy a support spindle. The pictures you took really showcase the beauty of his spindles :D

Reply
Susie
5/6/2014 08:15:25 am

Thanks Nika :) The Texas Jeans spindles are superb, the hardest part will be trying to decide which one you want. The woods/colours he uses are awesome. I took these pictures with my husbands HTC phone, now I'm thinking I may need one (haha).

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