The Elizabeth and Richard Ashford Textile Award 2021
Ashford New Zealand are thrilled to announce the winner of the 2021 Award is Watch Us Farm, Indiana, USA. Watch Us Farm is a private, non-profit organisation that provides high functioning adults with special needs the opportunity to learn vocational skills they can use throughout their lives.
In a secure and nurturing environment Team Members are given the opportunity to learn, work, and thrive in job programmes on a farm.
In the textile room, Team Members design and weave beautiful rugs, table runners, scarves, baby blankets and towels that are sold in local shops and online.
Watch Us Farm will receive $5000 of Ashford products to expand their textile room to provide even more adults with real jobs, relationships and community.
See https://www.watchusfarm.com/
Read more.. https://www.ashford.co.nz/news/the-elizabeth-and-richard-ashford-textile-award-2021
Ashford Club Members – only competition winner
In the last Ashford Club Members newsletter we invited members to tell us about their Covid craft. How did they spend the weeks in the first lockdown?
Thank you all for entering! Lockdown gave many of you an opportunity and the need to be creative. Carol said all the yarn, scarves, woven and knitted, bags and more bags she made were the only thing in her life that has kept her sane. Tracy wrote “Hubby camped in the loom room deciding it was the only way he was going to see me.”
I am so glad that the textile crafts provided much needed comfort and joy during these stressful times.
The winner of the competition is Paula, from Aramits, France, with her Theo Moorman throw using an 80cm (32ins) Rigid Heddle Loom with a 30/10cm (7.5dpi) reed in front and a vari dent reed behind. Her art yarn was spun from a custom batt, then corespun, coiled and thread plied and was laid in an undulating wave along the fabric, secured by the tie-down warp as she wove the ground cloth.
Read more… https://www.ashford.co.nz/news/ashford-club-members-only-competition-winner
40 Year Anniversary – October 5th 2020
Recently we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Ken Meehan joining the company as a young but enthusiastic after-school boy on the 25th August 1980.
Ken started his 8000 hour apprenticeship in December 1980 and after four years graduated as top woodworking apprentice. Since then Ken has been a supervisor, factory manager, and since 2001 the Production Manager. He’s been an active member of the Health and Safety, LEAN and R&D Committees.
Ken saw the potential for CNC technology to improve safety and productivity and has been instrumental in the company acquiring eight of these machines.
Ken’s tireless energy, enthusiasm, knowledge and loyalty has made a huge contribution to the success of the company.
Thank you Ken.
NEW Rigid Heddle Loom Stand
We have redesigned the loom stands for our standard rigid heddle looms. One size will fit all!
We now offer one stand that will fit the 40cm (16″), 60cm (24″) and 80cm (32″) standard rigid heddle looms. The stand is adjustable – in more ways than one.
*Note – 120cm (48″) rigid heddle loom has it’s own loom stand.
Features
- Adjustable loom angle for comfortable weaving
- Side support rails
- Comfortable foot rest
- Compact storage when not in use
- Quick and easy bolt and barrel nut assembly, with storage for the Allen key
(loom not included)
NEW e-Ball Winder – Quick & Consistent!
Perfect for converting skeins, hanks or balls into yarn cakes that can be used from the outside or from the centre.
• Wind really large balls up to 500gm (17½ozs)
• Infinitely variable speed
• Wind balls both clockwise and anti-clockwise
• Soft start allows you to control the yarn as it starts to wind onto the cone
• Instant stop when you need it
• Foot switch for better control of your yarn included
• 8mm (5/16in) yarn guide for very fine to very thick yarns
• Mounted on rubber feet, one clamp included
• Powerful 12v 2.0-amp DC motor drives balanced cone assembly
• 12v mains power cord included
• Size 30 x 20 x 28cm (12 x 8 x 11ins)
• Net weight 2.5kg (5.5lbs)
• Manufactured from beautiful native New Zealand Silver Beech hardwood with a lacquered finish, assembled
• Optional extra: 12 volt car cord enables you to wind balls away from mains power
NEW Ball Winder – Smooth & Effortless
Perfect for converting skeins, hanks or balls into yarn cakes that can be used from the outside or from the centre.
• Wind really large balls up to 500gm (17½ozs)
• Wind balls both clockwise and anti-clockwise
• 8mm (5/16in) yarn guide – suitable for very fine through to thick yarns
• Mounted on rubber feet
• Includes one table clamp
• Net weight 1.5kg (3.3lbs)
• Manufactured from beautiful native New Zealand Silver Beech hardwood with a lacquered finish, assembled.
NEW Ashford Double Knit Yarn Range
We are very pleased to release our new yarn range – Ashford DK. Natural, sustainable, ethical, 100% pure New Zealand wool. From our back yard to you!
A soft, traditional Double Knit weight yarn with a three-fold twist to give great stitch definition and durability.
Ashford DK is available in a total of 40 colours, made up of four exciting collections.
- Neutrals – 11 timeless shades that work perfectly alone or with colour accents
- Pastels – 9 delicate, soft and ever-so-pretty shades – not just for babies!
- Fashion – 11 on-trend, gorgeous inspirational shades
- Classics – 9 bold classic shades
Read more.. https://www.ashford.co.nz/products/yarns/product/ashford-dk
New Zealand Wildlife Felting Kits
We are very pleased to introduce our New Zealand wildlife series needle felting kits.
Meet the whole gang!
Kelvin the Kiwi, Pete and Pam the Penguins, Theodore the Tui, Pauly the Pukeko and Sammy the Seal
Each kit contains fibre, felting needle, accessories, felting foam and full step-by-step colour instructions.
Great gifts for young and old!
By purchasing the Kiwi or Penguin kits you will also be contributing to the welfare and preservation of these two wonderful creatures! We will be donating 10% of the profit of each kit sold to the following national charitable organisations:
NEW Hand Carders for Cotton
Designed specifically for cotton and extra fine luxury fibres our new hand carders are lightweight and easy to use.
Specifications
- Suitable for Cotton, Cashmere, Angora and other super fine fibres
- Large carding area – batt size 265 x 90mm (10½ x 3½”)
- Very fine 190 PPSI wire teeth with flexible rubber back for long life
- Lightweight timber handles and batts – only 495gm (17.5oz)
- Ergonomic turned round handles for comfortable grip and use
- Tapered curved batts
- Natural timber finish that can be enhanced with Ashford Finishing Wax
Content retrieved from: https://www.ashford.co.nz/news