Comments for Crazy Monkey Woodshop

Comment on A better tour of the shop … by joe

joe — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:16:32 +0000

the bandsaw is Swiss. 10.5inch Inca

Comment on Preferred Skein Size for Dyeing by Carrie

Carrie — Sat, 08 May 2010 03:23:10 +0000

I clicked “Vote” before I was ready on your first question about skein size. I tend to dye a lot of 2 yd skeins because it’s a common size, and also the largest that most swifts and winders accommodate. I dye mostly semi-solids because that’s what I enjoy knitting with the most. However, I’d love to be able to easily wind a huge skein of 10 yds or more in order to dye long self-striping blocks. And I’d also love a winder that would be able to do that, and not take up a huge amount of space. I’ve been experimenting with squirrel-cage-style swifts, but find that the yarn very easily gets hopelessly tangled because the skein itself moves in relation to the cages. There’s no good way of securing the end. So if you have any crafty ideas on how to make a smallish swift/winder that can handle giant skeins, I’d love to hear about it! The only reason I’m not dyeing long blocks now is that the skeining process is too time-consuming. There’s also a correlating issue of how to rewind your skein so that it displays the striping effect best – probably a cake is the answer, though I’d love to be able to wind a more commercial-style ball.

Comment on How many skeins would you prefer to wind at once? by Lindsey

Lindsey — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:39:25 +0000

I actually have a triple winder, but I never wind 3 at a time. Working from cones, the different cones usually need to be wound different lengths, so I can’t wind them at the same time. Maybe my volume will increase & I’ll have multiple cones of the same base yarn to wind from so I can work simultaneously. Winding from skeins, I’m working from a swift and my swift holds 1 skein. I suppose if there were a swift designed to hold multiple skeins, that might be useful?

The only time I’ve ever wound multiple skeins thus far is when winding off my spinning wheel bobbins. Sometimes I fill a few bobbins before I wind off, then I will do them at the same time.

Comment on Preferred Skein Size for Dyeing by Lindsey

Lindsey — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:34:19 +0000

I voted for 2 yards, because some of my skeins are that size–but a lot of them are also 1.5 yards, which works great for me (I have one of your 1.5 yard winders, so the ones I wind myself are generally close to that). Maybe that should be an option?

Comment on R&D Surveys by gail white

gail white — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:30:10 +0000

We skein off 200 to 400 yds per skein for dyeing. Yardage depends upon what the yarns use is intended.
No answer for winder cord, as we don’t use one.
We’ve skeined off 600 yds for a customers order.
We do reskein most of our dye yarn.
We use the bobbins from our twister. However, I also wind off of yarn on dye tubes.
We skein as few as 1 up to 9 at one time.
Our main skein winder is set to 1.75 yds. We reskein using a manual winder at 2 yds. It moves the strands
around taking the color blocking out of the skeins.

Comment on Slow and Steady Progress… by Ben

Ben — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:28:45 +0000

I am so glad you are pleased with your winder Shannon. I think your winder ended up having the longest lead time of any winder I have ever produced due to everything that has been going on. I really appreciate your patience.

Comment on Slow and Steady Progress… by Barb - knittingquilter

Barb - knittingquilter — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:08:09 +0000

Ooh, could there possible be some buttons in the Box of Blocks? HINT!

Comment on Slow and Steady Progress… by Shannon

Shannon — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:58:13 +0000

Oh my goodness! This winder is awesome! I am so tickled to have this for my shop. I wound over 4,000 yards in just a couple minutes. Now I can spend more time dyeing & knitting. Thank you so much!

Blessings,
Shannon

Comment on How many skeins would you prefer to wind at once? by Angela

Angela — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 04:11:44 +0000

I can’t wait until I can afford one of your skein winders and swift! It would make my life so much easier and I’d have more time!

Comment on A better tour of the shop … by dave tribbett

dave tribbett — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:33:22 +0000

Nice shop, I just posted a tour of mine HERE this week.