Sunday, April 26, 2009

Introducing the "Whiz Bang Windomatic"......(patent pending)

This is something I am very proud of and so excited about. My grandfather and I got together and spent a whole day designing and building this machine.
I call it the WHIZ BANG WINDOMATIC. We had so much fun making it together. It is an equal collaboration of design and effort. Granddad and I make a great team. I told him we should apply for the "Amazing Race", I feel confident we'd have a good chance of winning... LOL.
Anyhow, this is going to revolutionize my hand dyed threads....ok maybe "revolutionize" is not the right word LOL. It will however save a lot of wear and tear on my wrists and shoulder...and it is about 4 times faster than hand winding....so it has made my work fun again.

Here is my first batch of hand dyed thread "HDT" using the W.B.W.



I saw these wild pansies growing along the road while walking my dog.
So of course it has inspired:

"WILD PANSY"


My new skeins will look a little different than the old ones and it has changed my dye patterns just enough to further distinguish my work from other dyers. But don't worry you will still get the same great quality at the same great price!

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Cool! I want mine "WBW-o-matic" in pink, okay!? LOL! :)

Zarina said...

You are right about the handspinning - I hate that part too.

Pls come by my blog in the next few days to see my experiments involving dye and fabric. Its going to be great.

Thank you for inspiring me to work on dyes (well you have to share that credit with Marilee though).

Unknown said...

Congratulations on your new invention. It is always nice when we can create something to make our lives easier.

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

Your W.B.W. is wonderful! I have a similar skein winder for yarn, but it requires a separate ball winder, which is way too big for thread! If TattingChic can get hers in pink, I'd like blue please... cobalt blue, of course... maybe with a little tatting design painted on, and... ; )

Marilee Rockley said...

Tell us more about the machine! Does it work just like a standard skein winder? Your granddad must be very clever - now we see where you get it from :-)

BTW, nice job on "Wild Pansy" - never can have too many pansies, LOL.

*♥* Heather *♥* said...

That is so neat... I want one nooo I **NEED** one!! Great job!

MimiD said...

Hi Sherry,
I'm so glad you're back and enjoying your time at home. I've seen similar table-top skein winders for yarn but considerably larger (and no handy place for the cone of thread!).
Here's an idea for enhancement: Pegs that can travel part way to the inside of the legs from the ends so that I could put my skein of HDT on it and push the pegs out to stretch the skein, allowing me to unwind onto my shuttle! Saves me lots of sit ups :)))
Mimi

SY said...

Very nice Sherry! I dyed my first batch of silk thread yesterday, this would be a great help! I'll post pics of the 2 skeins that I did on my blog. I'm glad to see you back on your blog.

Stephanie said...

Oh, why must you do this to me? I am a pansy fanatic, you know. First Yarnplayer coming up with new Pansy threads, now you!! Very pretty. That winder is awesome. Now if only there was something that can unwind the skeins back into balls!

Tattycat said...

I love the WBW. You and your grandfather sound like lots of fun. Hope you get that patent.