Supremely Beautiful
Seriously Functional
Textile Tools

Bluster Bay skein winders

Skein winders or reels are most often used to create a skein of yarn in preparation for washing, dying or storage. The skein may be wound from yarn on a cone, in a ball, on a spinning wheel or from a larger skein held on a swift. In other words, reels are used to wind yarn into skeins. To unwind yarn from a skein into a ball or onto a bobbin, typically a yarn swift is used.

Three different styles of skein winders
make winding skeins effortless!

• Tabletop Arts & Crafts Skein Winder
• Tabletop Arts & Crafts Skein Winder/Blocker
• Bluster Bay Clock Reel

Our skein winders are hand-made, one at a time. They are only available directly from Bluster Bay Woodworks. Please see our ordering information.

TABLETOP ARTS & CRAFTS SKEIN WINDER

Our four-arm, two-yard skein winder is inspired by the robust and practical oak furniture of the Arts And Crafts era. Many design features that were typical of the American oak furniture of the early 1900s have been incorporated into this winder. The pedestal base, lateral corbels supporting the pillars, exposed joinery, and bronze and copper metal components all clearly identify this winder as belonging to the Arts And Crafts tradition. And like the furniture of that period, this winder will endure through generations of hard use.

One of the characteristics of Arts And Crafts oak furniture is the distinctive figure on the surface of the oak, produced by cutting the lumber parallel to the rays, or quartersawing. We have continued this tradition, and offer this winder in quartersawn white oak only.

This is a tabletop winder. The base measures approximately 12” by 18” and the winder stands 32” high at its highest point.

TABLETOP ARTS & CRAFTS SKEIN WINDER

• Creates skeins 2 yards in circumference
• Solid, stable base has soft cushion feet to protect any surface.
• 32" high; 18" wide; 12" deep
• Available in quartersawn white oak only

• Tabeltop Arts & Crafts Skein Winder – $375.00

TABLETOP ARTS & CRAFTS SKEIN WINDER/BLOCKER

Our winder/blocker incorporates all the features of the Arts And Crafts skein winder described above, PLUS it is a robust and rigid blocker that can stand up to the stresses of blocking large wet skeins.

As a simple skein winder, wide heads allow for creating bulky skeins with many strands, or several smaller skeins. This winder produces two-yard skeins, and is built slightly oversize to allow for springback when skeins are removed.

For blocking or setting the twist in yarn, the wide heads provide room for strands to be spread out for drying. Plastic caps are provided for the blocker heads. (See them in use in the photo below.) These prevent light-colored yarn from becoming discolored by the oak's tanin and protect the wood from the damp yarn.

TABLETOP ARTS & CRAFTS SKEIN WINDER/BLOCKER

• Creates skeins 2 yards in circumference
• Solid, stable base has soft cushion feet to protect any surface.
• 32" high; base measures approximately 18” by 20”
• Available in quartersawn white oak only

• Tabeltop Arts & Crafts Skein Winder/Blocker – $475.00

Pictured at left: the distinctive figure of quartersawn white oak graces the Arts & Crafts Skein Winder/Blocker

Plastic caps, shown here in use, are provided for the blocker heads. These protect light-colored yarn from becoming discolored by the oak's tanin and protect the wood from wet yarn.

BLUSTER BAY CLOCK REEL

This skein winder makes winding skeins effortless!

Our six-arm, two-yard clock reel is not an exact reproduction of any one historic reel, but rather an interpretation that incorporates elements of several traditional designs and uses modern components to improve function and durability.

Our reel functions much like many historic winders. Each increment on the clock face represents 2 yards, and each full rotation of the clock dial represents 80 yards of wound yarn. The clock face is also marked with double dots that represent 10 yards. The clock pointer is a friction fit on the clock shaft, which allows it to be reset to zero before winding a fresh skein.

Behind its wood face, the clock mechanism is completely modern, with low-friction bearings and bushings, bronze shafts, and machined gears. These modern components make up a mechanism that is extremely smooth and durable. Unlike traditional reels with wooden gearing, our reels may be turned in either direction without fear of damaging the inner workings. The clock will count equally well in either direction, adding one way and subtracting the other. This feature allows the skein to be unwound if the desired length is accidentally exceeded, while maintaining the exact yard count on the clock.

BLUSTER BAY CLOCK REEL

• Creates skeins 2 yards in circumference
• Solid base is heavy for stability and three legs insure a solid footing on any flooring.
• 40" high; 25" wide' 12" deep

• Bluster Bay Clock Reel – $750.00

Bluster Bay clock reels are made from a variety of domestic and imported hardwoods. Currently we are offering reels made from your choice of:

• Black cherry
• Black walnut
• White ash
• Rock maple

Please visit our wood list for descriptions and photographs of the woods we currently use.

Bluster Bay clock reels are hand-made and each is one-of-a-kind. They are only available directly from Bluster Bay Woodworks. Please see our ordering information.