Ashford Standard Niddy Noddy

The Standard Niddy Noddy is Ashford's classic skein-winding tool and the workhorse of the family's three sizes. Each complete wrap around its four arms measures 1.5 m (60 Inch, about 1.67 yards), the European default and the right circumference for most everyday handspinning: worsted-weight singles, two-plied yarns, and most finished knitting and weaving yarns. Ashford's current catalog also markets this tool as the "Classic," the same niddy noddy under either name. The crossbars are specially shaped so finished skeins slide off the arms cleanly rather than catching.

The geometry matters more than the marketing. A 1.5 meter wrap is not a 1.5 yard wrap. The "1.5 yards" label is a common mislabel that has been around for years. The actual circumference is 60 Inch per wrap, which works out to roughly 1.67 yards. When you count your wraps and multiply, use the meter or inch figure for an accurate count.

Turned from New Zealand Silver Beech sourced from sustainably managed, FSC-approved forests, the Standard 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 dismantle for storage or travel. Ashford has been making spinning tools in Ashburton, New Zealand since 1934, and the same family runs the company today, now in its third generation of family leadership.

Specifications

How to Use a 60 Inch Niddy Noddy

Set your bobbin on a tensioned lazy kate placed below shoulder height, and hold the central bar in your dominant hand. Lead the motion from your wrist rather than your shoulder. Shoulder-led winding gets tiring fast and can leave your arm sore after a long session. 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. The most common beginner mistake is reversing direction partway through, which creates a tangle that only shows up later when the skein hits a swift. Keep direction consistent for the entire skein.

Tension matters. Wind firmly enough that the yarn lies flat against the arms, loose enough that the niddy itself does not bow. Changing tension mid-skein skews the count. For silk, alpaca, and other slick fibers, plan on extra ties spaced around the skein at finishing time; their smooth surface lets the skein shift in ways a four-tie wool skein would not.

Yardage math is wrap count times 60 Inch (or 1.5 m). The table below covers the common ranges.

One caveat worth knowing: the counted yardage off any niddy noddy is a theoretical maximum, not a guarantee. Yarn relaxes when you take it off tension, wet-finishing pulls the fibers in further, and on a thick skein the outermost wraps ride at a slightly larger circumference than the innermost. The combined effect varies with yarn type and finishing method. For any use where yardage matters precisely (commercial sale, state-fair entries, pattern matching), measure the finished, dried skein with a tape measure rather than trusting the count. For personal record-keeping the counted figure is close enough.

Care and Storage

The Standard ships unfinished by design. Spinners with strong opinions on either side coexist in the category: some let yarn polish the wood naturally over time, others apply a thin coat of finish for protection. If you prefer a finished tool, Ashford Finishing Wax is the manufacturer-matched option; food-safe mineral oil or pure beeswax also work. Apply a thin coat, wait several hours, buff with a soft cloth. Reapply once or twice a year for normal use.

Do not wet-block a skein on the niddy noddy itself. Wooden tools warp under repeated wetting, can mildew, and unsealed beech may pull tannins into light or undyed yarn. Slide the tied skein off the tool first, then wet-block or weight-block hanging free. Brief light steam-setting near the arms is fine; soaking the tool is not.

Store flat or horizontal rather than standing on one arm. Avoid damp basements, hot cars, and sunny windows where alternating wet and dry cycles can eventually pull the crossbars out of square. Disassembled storage in a cotton bag is the long-term standard.

The Ashford Niddy Noddy Range

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

• Ashford Sampler Niddy Noddy: 90 cm (36 Inch, 1 yard) per wrap. The size for sample skeins, drop spindle output, laceweight singles, travel, and classroom teaching.
• Ashford Standard Niddy Noddy (this page): 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, and skeins over 1 kg.

If you want to browse the full category across brands, the niddy noddy collection shows every option Paradise Fibers carries.

Tools That Pair With Your Niddy Noddy

A niddy noddy works best as part of a short workflow: bobbin to niddy, niddy to finishing, finishing to storage. A tensioned lazy kate keeps the bobbin from over-spinning as you wind, which protects the consistency of your yardage count. Once the skein is washed, blocked, and dry, an Ashford wooden umbrella swift paired with an Ashford ball winder turns the finished skein into a center-pull cake at knitting or weaving time. For sealing or refreshing the wood, Ashford Finishing Wax is the brand-matched option.

If you spin in our Spokane shop's neighborhood, we keep all three Ashford niddy noddies on the wall. Call ahead so we can have it ready and you can compare sizes in hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this say 1.5 meters, not 1.5 yards?

Because they are not the same. A 1.5 meter wrap is 60 Inch, which is about 1.67 yards, not 1.5 yards. If you count 60 wraps on this niddy and multiply by 1.5 yards you get 90 yards, but the honest measurement is 100 yards. Use the inch or meter figure for an accurate count.

Why is my finished skein shorter than my counted yardage?

The counted figure is a theoretical maximum, not the finished length. Three things combine to shrink it: yarn relaxes when you release the tension you wound under, wet-finishing pulls fibers in further, and outer wraps on a thick skein sit at a slightly larger circumference than inner wraps. The exact gap varies with yarn type and finishing, so for commercial sales or competition entries, measure the finished dried skein with a tape measure. For personal records, the counted figure is close enough.