I am desiring a skein winder if I am going to be spinning regularly -- and I certainly plan to be. I have a homemade one from a former acquaintance, and a horizontal 4-arm swift that can also be used to wind. Neither works well. The homemade one was not as well thought out or built as it could have been. As its aged, the 'windmill' portion has started to droop so that the heaviest arm hits the main post in use, and there's no way to fix it because that person used wood glue instead of bolts to fasten it to the post. The horizontal one does not work well for me because I'm five feet tall, which means short arms, which means it's difficult for me to reach the handle without having the end of the arm slam into my tummy.
So, I've been in the market for a vertical skein winder. I had it narrowed down to either a Fricke, or a Will Taylor. Both have marvelous reputations. The Fricke's disadvantage was higher cost, especially for an adjustable one. The Will Taylor's downside is a 2-4 month waiting period, and no built-in counter. A counter is really a necessary to me, and not nearly as common a feature as it should be on skein winders, so I would be hoping that Noellenoodle was still selling her electronic ones when the WT came in. I wouldn't want to order it in advance, since the counter warranty period is about the same as the wait for the winder itself.
It's shocking to me how hard it is to find those add-on counters. It's just a magnetic pick-up! (*eye roll* 'just'. That's the engineer in me talking. ^_~).
Well, I was about ready to order the Will Taylor, realizing there was a risk of not being able to get a counter for it later. But before I did so, I decided to stop in Ravelry's 'Spinner's Marketplace' group to see if anyone was selling a skein winder, or even if I could get a Will Taylor secondhand without a potential 4-month wait. And from there, I was directed to WoodenSpinner's Etsy shop.
Wow. I ordered one of her skeiners right there. I won't be able to comment on the manufacturing until it arrives, but the engineering looks positively brilliant. It's adjustable, but with pegs instead of screws -- no stripping holes with age or having yarn tension slide your skein a little smaller as you go. There's a tensioned bobbin holder right on it, so you don't have to dig out a lazy kate. And of course, a counter. I am a little concerned about one feedback comment that complained about the windmill hitting the main post, which I didn't see until after I had ordered. I'll just have to see how it goes there. With cotter pin construction, though, worst case scenario I could probably knock out the pin and put a shim in place to fix that if it happens.
Anyway, I'm excited. I can't wait until it arrives and I can try it out. I guess I should ply something between now and then. (Ah, plying. My mortal enemy.)
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