Win an Elizabeth 30
Ashford Wheels and Looms – the global leader in the manufacture of quality spinning wheels, weaving looms and textile equipment – is celebrating 90 years in business. We are excited […]
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October 2020
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Fun with Pickup Sticks – Part 1
We were thrilled with the fantastic response to our recent blog post about colour and weave techniques on the rigid heddle loom! It’s always exciting to see such enthusiasm for […]
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Simply Wool – Local wool empowering local women
In the heart of South Africa’s Free State, an inspiring initiative is empowering local Busuto women to transform their lives. Chantelle Hamilton founded Simply Wool to help mothers earn an […]
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2 Scarves – Houndstooth and Log Cabin
Christmas is approaching quickly but there is still plenty of time to make handmade gifts. Here are two of my favourite colour and weave patterns, woven in plain weave on […]
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Ancient Techniques from Modern Day Masters
Elizabeth and Richard have just returned from a trip to Canada and were honoured to visit Haida weaver Evelyn Vanderhoop in her Masset home on Haida Gwaii. Evelyn has helped […]
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Cromwell Spinners & Weavers workshops
In August the Cromwell Spinners & Weavers held two weaving workshops with great success. Over two days (10-11 August) 6 students learned the basics of Rigid Heddle Weaving. The course […]
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NEW Table Loom Shuttle Race
When our current folding table loom was designed in the late 1990’s, Richard sought advice from weavers around the world to ensure we incorporated the most important features requested by […]
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Hemstitching
Hemstitching is a way you can secure the ends of your weaving without having to sew or tie knots in the warp ends. There are several variations of hemstitching – […]
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Colour and weave on a rigid heddle loom
Colour and weave is a way to create the illusion of complex, interesting, and just a bit fancy patterns within plain weave. So your rigid heddle loom is perfect for […]
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Hybrid warping on a rigid heddle loom
There are several ways to warp your rigid heddle loom, the two most common methods are direct warping and indirect warping. Direct warping is fast and easy and is the […]
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Tea Treasures – A Hand Spun Art Yarn Tea Cosy
Lea transports us to a magical wonderland of creativity and delight. This hand spun, crocheted tea cosy is fun, creative and very functional! A great addition to your afternoon teatime. Lea […]
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16 Shaft Twill
The Ashford 16 Shaft loom – Twill – featured in Handwoven Fall 2024 This threading can also be woven as a tumbling blocks pattern. I have included both drafts below. […]
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Inkling Around: Turned Krokbragd
Joan Sheridan created these beautiful sheepscapes in turned krokbragd woven on an Inkle loom. The first band (in the 5/2 cotton) featured in The Wheel magazine, Issue 32. Joan has […]
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Australian Sheep and Wool Show
Libby recently attended the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, held in Bendigo, Victoria. In conjunction with Ashford dealer, Winterwood Felt & Craft Supplies, owned by sisters Verity and Clancy King. […]
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Stash busting with a multi-coloured twill
By Robyn Spady. ‘As seen in Heddlecraft, issue #42, shared with permission. Robyn Spady was introduced to handweaving as a baby with her handwoven baby blanket woven by her great-grandmother. […]
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Unique Experience
Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Scottish isles and the Faroes? Joy Ashford ‘s family came from the Orkneys and Richard and I have always wanted to visit – […]
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Cottolin yarn review
Can Ashford’s cottolin yarn change my mind? A yarn review by Robyn Spady, Heddlecraft As seen in Heddlecraft magazine, issue #42 and shared with permission. I like weaving cotton. I […]
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Ashford Artist of the Month – Aug 24 – Michaela Cordes
Imagine living and working, together with your husband, on a beautiful canalboat travelling the waterways of England and Germany. Michaela Cordes does not need to imagine it – it is […]
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Treasured Gift
Elizabeth was overwhelmed when she received two beautiful shawls from Daniela Rýznarová from Dalin Praha, on Elizabeth’s stepping back from the daily operations of the business. We have had the […]
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Felted Frilled Vessel
I meet Helene when she visited us here in Ashburton last year. Helene has been felting for over 10 years and enjoys working on flat and structured 3D pieces, loves […]
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Ashford Open Day at Artifilum
8th May – Plombières-les-Bains, France. Kate and James visited our French distributor Artfilum. Located just out of the beautiful town of Plombières-les-Bains, Lina Lundquist has been our French distributor since […]
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Das Wollschaf visit
2nd May – Zweibrücken, Germany. Kate and James spent the day with Michael and Eva of Das Wollschaf. Thank you Michael, Eva and their team for all your hard work […]
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Wolboerderij Blij Bezuiden visit
30th April – 1st May Koewacht, The Netherlands. Kate and James visited with Janny and Jean Paul of Wolboerderij Blij Bezuiden, our Dutch Distributor. They hosted a demonstration day along […]
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Wonderwool Wales 2024
27th – 28th April – Builth Wells, Wales. Kate and James worked with David and Kathy of Frank Herring and Sons, our UK Distributor, at Wonderwool Wales hosting a demonstration […]
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Zebra belt woven on an Inklette loom
Blanca De La Sotilla, from Menorca, Islas Baleares, Spain, was kind enough to share this fabulous, fun and pratical project you can weave on your Inklette or Inkle loom. A […]
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The Wheel Magazine – Digital copies
Issue 18 (2008) to issue 35 (2023) are now available on-line to download for free! Spinning, weaving, felting, dyeing and knitting projects, patterns and articles from around the world. Limited […]
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Ashford Demo Days with Adelaide Walker
On April 24th and 25th, 2024 Kate, along with Kathy and David, from Frank Herring and Sons, our UK distributor, displayed and demonstrated the full Ashford range at two Ashford […]
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New Extra-long Boat Shuttle and Bobbin
Due to high demand, we have added a NEW extra-long XL nylon boat shuttle bobbin to our range. They are 50% longer – which means 50% more yarn capacity than […]
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The Ashford Award Winner for 2024
École de la Laine, Vasles, France We are delighted to announce the winner of the 2024 Richard and Elizabeth Ashford Textile Award is École de la Laine (School of Wool). […]
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Shuttles and Needles, Chennai, India, Expands
Naresh Ramasubramaniam, owner of Shuttles and Needles, is our distributor in India, and has recently opened a second studio and shop in Bangalore, the garden city of India. On 14th […]
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New Diz Stick and Yarn Gauge
We are excited to now offer the Diz Stick available individually (previously only included with the e-Carder). The Diz Stick is used to create consistent, even ready-to-spin sliver directly from […]
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New Ashford Website
We are live! Welcome to our new website. We have a new look and hope you are finding all the information you require. We will be continuously adding more information, […]
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Ashford Textile Award 2023 – Interim Report
Lauriston Farm were thrilled to win The Ashford Textile Award last year. The Farm enables their community, including those with special educational needs, to gain skills and achievement through involvement […]
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Threads of History: An Icelandic Varafeldur in the South Highlands
A wonderful article that takes you on a journey that includes wild weaving, vikings, history and challenges shared by Sarah Rosenthal-Almirall of Ardbeag Crafts. Written by Sarah’s daughter-in-law Alicia Anne Adams Nestled in front […]
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Travels of Ruby the eight shaft table loom
We are very grateful to be able to supply so many craftsfolk, textile artists, teachers and passionate creators with our products all the way from New Zealand, pretty much at […]
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Ashford Artist of the Month – Jan 24 – Annabelle Johnstone
Inspiration on an Italian holiday was the catalyst for Annabelle's weaving journey - drawn to the beauty created in plain weave with stunning combinations of natural fibres, colours and twist and plys. One journey opened the doors to another journey. I hope you enjoy reading her story.
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Big Blanket, Little Loom
I love weaving with wool and one of my favourite things to weave at this time of year (it’s winter here in New Zealand) is blankets. On a rigid heddle […]
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Waffle weave
If you haven’t tried waffle weave yet – you will be amazed at the magic that happens when you take it off the loom and wash it. Stefan Moberg wove […]
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Wheel 34 – Infinity Cowl French Seam
By Karuna Peralta. Sewing a French seam by hand – And draft ERRATA For the draft correction (errata) made to PATTERN BLOCK A – Please click here to view Sewing […]
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Pukaki Swallowtail Shawl
This stunning hand dyed, hand blended, hand spun shawl by David Schulz, of Southern Cross Fibre, was featured in issue 23 of The Wheel magazine. A stunning result using a […]
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Buttonholes in hand woven fabric
Have you wanted to put buttonholes in your precious hand woven fabric? Here is an easy way to do it. Don’t be afraid to make buttonholes in your hand woven […]
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Ashford Artist of the Month – Nov 23 – David Schulz
David, of Southern Cross Fibre, was first featured in The Wheel magazine, Issue 23 with a beautiful hand dyed, hand carded and hand spun shawl. He has been a full time dyer since 2008 and has a fabulous eye for colour and exceptional spinning and weaving skills. He is the also the reason we have the beautiful 30" Elizabeth spinning wheel!
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Ashford Artist of the Month – Oct 23 – Astrid Tauber
Richard and Elizabeth had the pleasure of first meeting Astrid at SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair) in Fletcher, North Carolina, in October 2019 as a young and very enthusiastic fibre artist. […]
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New Needle Felting Kit – Owl
The latest addition to our needle felting kits is a super cute little sleepy Owl. The new Owl kit includes step-by-step colour instructions, a felting needle, Corriedale fibre and needle […]
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New Cottolin Weaving Yarn
Introducing Ashford Cottolin – a lovely blend of 70% Cotton 30% Linen. More absorbent than 100% cotton and easier to weave than 100% linen. The combined softness of cotton and […]
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New Needle Felting Kit – Halloween
Due to the popularity of needle felting and the requests for more kits we are very happy to introduce another new needle felting kit. The Needle Felting Kit – Halloween The […]
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Patsy Zawistoski
Patsy, master hand spinner, international lecturer and teacher, and author, has recently visited us with her husband Rich. This was her fourth trip to New Zealand, and she was honoured […]
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Inkle looms – Texsolv heddles hack
Using Texsolv heddles for the leashes on Ashford Inkle looms are super easy and quick – why didn’t we think of it sooner? Here is how you can use the Texsolv heddles […]
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Spring Shawl in Caterpillar Cotton
Here is a simple but beautiful, drapey, lightweight summer shawl using only one cone of Ashford Caterpillar Cotton. I hope you enjoy this fun project. Happy weaving! Add colour, texture and […]
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Creative Fibre 2023 National Exhibition Award Winners
Congratulations to the winners and merit awardees of our Ashford awards at the Creative Fibre 2023 National Exhibition! Come and check out these fabulous creations on show at the Bottle […]
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