Etsy's Handmade Blog
Etsy Finds: Bike Spinning Wheel
Story by brepettis
Published on September 13, 2008 in Spotlight 		Photo by ford4him

I just saw this wonderful spinning wheel — using a bike wheel! — by ford4him. My family has a sheep farm, and I once sheared a sheep, spun the wool (it was smelly), and knit a hat. Within a few days, I had lost it. Even though I miss that hat to this day, I think back on that time I spent sitting at a spinning wheel with fondness, as it's a mix of being very focused and very relaxed.

To spin wool, you have to set up the wheel and feed the wool while stepping on the pedal. You must also make sure you're holding the wool with just the right amount of tension. It takes a while, but it's something you definitely get better at with practice. Using a bicycle wheel seems like a brilliant idea: it's got bearings for smooth and efficient spinning. It also looks very modern!

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Tags bicycles, bikes, equipment, Etsy Finds, fiber art, Ford4him, knit, knitting, sheep processing, shopping, spin, spinning wheel, tool, wool processing, yarn making
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26 comments     Login to add your own!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. blondechicken

Awesome!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. fringe

inspired and fabulous!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. ModFarmgirl

Cool!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. wildroostercrows

Sounds great to me.

Sept. 13, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. MyFairyBabies

The fairies probably made off with your lovely hat!
~Hyla
http://earthyfinds.blogspot.com

Sept. 13, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. UglyBaby

I love it!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. Thinkoutsidethebox

OMG..how cool and ingenuitive...I love using items intended for another use and making them into something completely different! Bravo to ford4him!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. AthenaCreates

I've used one of his wheels and it rocks!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. AthenaCreates

Oh and their customer service is amazing! As in above and beyond the call of duty amazing!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. mosey

woot! woot!
nice reporting!!
xo

Sept. 13, 2008 at 5:51 p.m. SpunOutOriginals

Wow, can see me wanting one for my next wheel

Sept. 13, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. ladywaiting

mh very cool

Sept. 13, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. kibblesnknits

I'm so happy to see spinning make it to the Storque! Etsy seller spindlecatstudio got me hooked on spinning. I just got my first wheel after a year with a drop spindle. Spinning is so fun and so relaxing!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. woolhandcrafts

Oh what fun!!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. laughingrat

I first saw these several months ago and thought they were cool--glad the shop is getting some exposure.

True spinners love the smell of sheep's wool. ;) But it's a lot easier to process and spin once it's washed!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. shoofly

brilliant!

Sept. 13, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. hobbledehoy

that's cool! my first wheel was bought on Etsy- a used Babe (made out of pvc and a wheelchair wheel)

Sept. 14, 2008 at 12:23 a.m. luxe

i love it. liz, it kind of takes the babe, but makes it more useable. it is actually really similar to the louet kit wheel, but more fun with that wheel. i had a babe electric bulky spinner and it sucked, i got the regular electric spinner and it is kind of a one trick pony. i would love to try out one of thse. and i wish they had been around when i first started spinning and wanted a decent wheel that was affordable!

Sept. 14, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. AileenFairycat

All the cool kids spin!!!

Your wheels are stunning!

Sept. 14, 2008 at 1:30 a.m. wooldancer

yah i 2nd that motion.. ford4him are awsome innovators of spinning equipment.. they are certainly doing their bit to make spinning accessible to all! SPIN ON!!

Sept. 14, 2008 at 5:25 a.m. BPyarns

great `` creativity

Sept. 14, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. ForYourJourney

Fabulous creativity!!

Sept. 14, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. dotscatsuzi

Thanks for featuring this one... I know just who I'm sending it to!

Sept. 15, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. confections

I have ford4him's Mother Marion Kick Spindle and it is a fabulous portable spinning tool, too!

Sept. 15, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. girlscantell

this is amazing. i totally want one!

Oct. 7, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. stitchcleveland

I can't believe how many spinning wheels we've sold in the past 2 months (offline and on-). As someone who wrote a spinning how-to book (Spin to Knit), I am totally psyched to see everyone getting into it!

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