Ashford Sampler Niddy Noddy

The Sampler Niddy Noddy is Ashford's smallest, made for the 1 to 2 ounce sample skeins that handspinners use to test grist, twist, and finishing before committing to a full project. Each complete wrap around its four arms measures 90 cm (36 Inch, 1 yard), which keeps small yardages looking proportional rather than visually anemic. Drop spindle output, laceweight singles, and other small yardages sit cleanly on the 1 yard size rather than stretching thin on a larger tool. Specially shaped crossbars let the finished skein slide off the arms without catching.

The use cases reach well beyond sampling. Drop spindle yarn is the natural pairing, since spindle bobbins hold far less yardage than wheel bobbins. Travel skeining works because the assembled tool is short enough to pack alongside a spindle and a small bag of fiber. Classroom and teaching settings prefer the Sampler because the smaller arms make the figure-8 yarn path visible to students who are learning the motion. Competition spinners often keep a dedicated 1 yard tool for laceweight and fine-yarn entries alongside their main working size, since consistent skein dimensions matter when entries are judged. Indie dyers run strike tests on the Sampler, and knitters re-skeining a frogged project for re-dyeing find the small size cooperative.

Turned from New Zealand Silver Beech sourced from sustainably managed, FSC-approved forests, the Sampler ships unfinished, with a sheet of sandpaper in the box so you can smooth any rough spots before first use. The arms slip onto the central shaft by friction fit, and the design supports a permanent glue-up if you prefer a fixed tool over a take-apart one. Ashford has been making spinning tools in Ashburton, New Zealand since 1934, now in its third generation of family leadership.

Specifications

How to Use a 1 Yard Niddy Noddy

For drop spindle work, support the spindle low and to the side or rest it on a knee, and feed yarn off the cop directly onto the niddy. For wheel-spun singles or plies, place the bobbin on a lazy kate below shoulder height. Before you start, number the four arms 1 through 4 in your head so the yarn path is a clear sequence rather than a guess. Yarn goes over arm 1, under arm 2, over arm 3, under arm 4, then back over arm 1 to begin the next round. Keep direction consistent for the entire skein, and lead the motion from your wrist rather than your shoulder.

Yardage math is the wrap count times 1 yard. The clean unit math is part of why this size is the standard for sample-grade work: no conversion, no rounding, no risk of mislabel.

Note that finished and washed yardage falls short of the counted figure: yarn relaxes when released from tension and pulls in further during wet-finishing. For competition entries or yarn sales, measure the finished dried skein directly with a tape measure rather than relying on the count.

Care and Storage

The Sampler ships unfinished. If you prefer a sealed tool, Ashford Finishing Wax is the brand-matched option; food-safe mineral oil or pure beeswax also work. Apply a thin coat, wait several hours, buff. Reapply once or twice a year. Many spinners just let yarn polish the wood naturally over time, which works fine for the bare-beech surface.

Do not wet-block a skein on the niddy itself; wood warps and may pull tannins into undyed yarn. Slide the tied skein off first, then block hanging free.

If you plan to glue the arms in permanently for a fixed tool, wood glue on the friction-fit joints with the crossbars clamped square at 90 degrees is what the manufacturer specifically supports for this size.

The Ashford Niddy Noddy Range

Ashford makes three sizes. Each has a distinct purpose and the same construction.

• Ashford Sampler Niddy Noddy (this page): 90 cm (36 Inch, 1 yard) per wrap. Sample skeins, drop spindle output, laceweight, travel, classroom, competition entries for laceweight.
• Ashford Standard Niddy Noddy: 1.5 m (60 Inch, about 1.67 yards) per wrap. The everyday size for worsted singles, plied yarns, and finished handspun.
• Ashford Jumbo Niddy Noddy: 2 m (78 Inch, about 2.2 yards) per wrap. Specifically tagged for Country Spinner and e-Spinner Super Jumbo output: art yarn, bulky textures, skeins over 1 kg.

For the full cross-brand range, the niddy noddy collection lists every option Paradise Fibers carries.

Tools That Pair With Your Niddy Noddy

For drop spindle handspun, the Sampler pairs naturally with the drop spindle collection if you are still building out your spinning kit. For wheel-spun yarn, an Ashford upright lazy kate holds plied bobbins while you wind off. Once the skein is washed and dry, an Ashford wooden umbrella swift with an Ashford ball winder turns it into a center-pull cake. For sealing the wood after break-in, Ashford Finishing Wax is the brand-matched care product.

If you want to compare sizes in person, we keep all three Ashford niddy noddies on the wall at our Spokane shop. Call ahead so we can have them ready for you to handle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should this be my first niddy noddy if I'm new to spinning?

Probably not. Small niddies amplify counting errors and the figure-8 path is easier to see and stay consistent on a larger tool. For learning the motion and for everyday handspun output, the 1.5 m Standard or a 2 yard noddy is the better first purchase. The Sampler shines once you already have a working-size noddy and you want a dedicated tool for sample skeins, drop spindle yarn, laceweight singles, or laceweight competition entries.

Is the Sampler big enough for actual project skeins, or only for samples?

It depends on the yarn. Laceweight and fingering-weight singles look balanced as 50 to 80 yard skeins on the Sampler. Sport and DK skeins of 100 yards work fine, just with more wraps. Worsted and heavier yarns are happier on the 1.5 m Standard or 2 m Jumbo because the longer arms keep dense skeins from compressing. For a single project of more than about 150 yards in any weight, step up to the Standard.

Can I glue the arms in permanently?

Yes. The Sampler is the one Ashford niddy noddy the manufacturer specifically supports gluing as a one-piece tool. Wood glue on the friction-fit joints, clamp at 90 degrees while it cures, and you have a rigid heirloom tool that will not loosen over decades of use. Only do this if you are confident you will not want to disassemble it for travel later.