Ashford Handicrafts
Encyclopedia
Ashford Handicrafts, a small company in Ashburton, New Zealand
are the largest manufacturer of hand spinning wheel
s in the world, exporting worldwide.
-based business in kitset furniture when in 1938 he designed a hand spinning wheel kit that could be used to make knitting yarn. The kits were popular, and several thousand were sold during the next few years to create yarn for woolen socks and caps for New Zealand soldiers, sailors and airmen fighting overseas in World War II
.
With the end of the war hand spinning went into rapid decline and remaining stock of kits was sold off at a discount.
where a new and larger factory was constructed.
Walter Ashford's son Richard Ashford is the current Managing Director.
Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
are the largest manufacturer of hand spinning wheel
Spinning wheel
A spinning wheel is a device for spinning thread or yarn from natural or synthetic fibers. Spinning wheels appeared in Asia, probably in the 11th century, and very gradually replaced hand spinning with spindle and distaff...
s in the world, exporting worldwide.
Early history
Walter Ashford had built up a modest RakaiaRakaia
The town of Rakaia is seated close to the southern banks of the Rakaia River on the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island, on State Highway 1 and the Main South Line. Immediately north of the township are the country's longest road bridge and longest rail bridge, both of which cross the...
-based business in kitset furniture when in 1938 he designed a hand spinning wheel kit that could be used to make knitting yarn. The kits were popular, and several thousand were sold during the next few years to create yarn for woolen socks and caps for New Zealand soldiers, sailors and airmen fighting overseas in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
With the end of the war hand spinning went into rapid decline and remaining stock of kits was sold off at a discount.
Craft revival
In 1965, a craft spinner asked if wheels could again be made - she wanted ten immediately. Walter was initially skeptical but found that a new-found appreciation of wool's qualities and a burgeoning craft movement meant that demand was strong. New models were designed and soon orders began coming in from Australia, America and Europe. The business grew and mover to Ashburton, New ZealandAshburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
where a new and larger factory was constructed.
Walter Ashford's son Richard Ashford is the current Managing Director.