WPI Tools
It's always nice to visit my parents in Ann Arbor. I get to check out what's going on in my mother's sewing room and I get to see what's going on in my dad's workshop as well. Dad, whose spinning just keeps getting better and better, has been inspired to create some spinning related tools. In the picture above are 4 wraps per inch tools that he turned using his lathe and some exotic woods that had been cut for pen blanks, but which work equally well for his purpose.
For those of you who aren't familiar with these tools, they are actually quite useful for knitters as well as spinners. You take your yarn and wrap the yarn around the tool between the gauge lines and measure how many wraps fit in an inch (for bulkier yarns or yarns that do not have a regular diameter, you might measure how many wraps are in two or more inches and divide as appropriate). This measurement tells you a couple of things: first, WPI can give you an estimate of the size of your yarn. For instance, yarns in the 21-17 WPI range often are considered sock weight yarns. You can also use this tool to determine if a yarn will easily substitute for another yarn. For instance, let's say you've got a pattern that calls for a yarn that, when measured, gives you 12 WPI. However, that yarn is wool, and you're allergic to wool and you want to substitute a cotton yarn. All you need to do to determine if you're likely to get gauge with that cotton yarn that you have in your stash is to take it out and measure the WPI. If it's close to 12 WPI, it's going to be a decent possible substitute (at least when it comes to gauge, WPI definitely can't tell you about elasticity or memory or other similar qualities which help factor into making a substitution decision).
* The yarn shown here is one of my dad's hand spun and plied yarns from his first stash of BFL. It's beautifully soft and lofty and I love the irregular quality of it. He's done a three ply as well and is spinning some blue corriedale fiber that is going to be absolutely gorgeous when he plies it up.
Those are such gorgeous wpi tools. Your dad does wonderful work.
oh those are just stunning!!! your dad should consider selling some, I would buy them without a doubt
Those are beautiful! How fun to have the same interests as your parents. You'll have to let us know if you dad opens an Etsy shop -- it would be a hit! :-)
Your dad brings a very interesting sensibility to spinning. Practical. "I can do that better!"
Very pretty, all of it. But what is the shell shaped object in the bowl? I'd laugh if you said a shell, but it looks like marble some how...
So, is he going to sell these WPIs? They are gorgeous!
You've inspired me to show my FIL (a very talented woodworker) those tools, I'd love to have such beautiful tools made by someone I love. The idea of handmade, well loved & used tools moving down through the generations brings tears to my eyes. I'm going to his place today to look at his Grandmother's spinning wheel & see if it will work for this generation. He remembers sitting below while she worked, but it's been a display piece since she died. Hopefully the two of us can bring it back.
Beautiful! I concur, I'd buy one of those as well. ;-)
I love seeing your dad's work, the wood is so pretty! Look at those colours and patterns in the different wood types! (and yeah, I would totally buy some if they were for sale).
I love the WPI tools, but I have to say that I like the beautiful ammonite in the bowl even better. Being a trained geologist married to a practicing geologist I can't help but be a sucker for a good fossil.
Damn he's smart for keeping the design so simple. I've tried WPIs on my lathe out of pen blanks, but I was trying to get too fancy for my current skills. Must try again.
Your dad does such lovely work (wood & wool)!
That is impressive. I wish I could get either of my parents interested in fiber arts!
You would think since I'm a spinner I would own at least one wpi tool, but alas I don't have any. Now I'm inspired to get a pretty one :)
WOW! your dad continues to do great woodworking and he's getting even better on his spinning! what a great dad!!! He's definitely one of a kind! :o)
I wish my dad spun! That's beautiful.
Beautiful tools - love the wood.
I want to sell them! Seriously... would he?
I love that your dad spins. And his wpi tools are beautiful. I'd buy one!
Your Dad is very talented. What fun. The wpi tools are beautiful. What is the green colored one made from?
When oh when is he going to start selling stuff?!?!