Introducing Schacht's Sidekick Spinning Wheel---Your New Best Friend

Barry Schacht and Jane Patrick take the Sidekick for a walk. (Note: this is a staged photo we shot at the end of our photo shoot--the "leash" is actually the shoulder carrying strap for the wheel.)
photo: Michael Lichter

Here at Schacht we've been working on a traveling spinning wheel for the good part of 2010. Barry and team (Dave, Will, Cindy and Filip) are making final tweaks, purchasing component parts, and gearing up for production. I love the process of working on a new product. Asking, first what the requirements of the product are, and then proceeding to build models and prove or disprove ideas that work. Then, comes the refining of the model, trying it out, getting input from the sales department and expert spinners. Then more refining before beginning to look at the best and most efficient way to manufacture it. This can lead to slight modifications in the design, as can finding the best component parts. At last, here we are in the final phase of design, almost ready to begin production.

Finding a name that fits is important. Sometimes the product design begins with a name, as we did for the Ladybug Spinning Wheel. For the Sidekick, we came upon what seemed like the perfect name almost at the end. I think it reflects what we wanted: a wheel that was easy to take with you and a joy to spin on. Like all of our spinning wheels, we wanted the Sidekick to be responsive, friendly and simple to use, as well as pleasing to the eye. "Sidekick" seemed to fit just perfectly.

We don't have pricing yet, but it shouldn't be too long. We'll pass it along when we do. We have sent out information to our dealers, and we're already getting favorable response. We'll start shipping in May--it's not too early to request further information from your dealer for future Sidekick updates.

Schacht Logo--updated

When I first met my husband-to-be, at the Weaving Shop on Walnut Street in Boulder, Colorado, the first thing he did was to give me his catalog. It's cover featured a photograph of our now well-known sheep. I was charmed. I soon found that Barry was playing around with the logo: there were woodcuts, T-shirts, posters, line drawings, paintings, wood burning, and die-cut paper. He then tried to use the die for molding chocolate...which didn't meet with success....

Our sheep logo has served as well for over 40 years, but now in the digital age, we needed a logo that was more streamlined. Featuring our endearing flock of sheep was a must.

We enlisted the services of Michael Signorella, who has been designing for Barry since way before we met. It's been a long time since we looked at all of our materials and freshened things up. It's been super fun working with Michael, and I just love the new logo he's designed. We're also working on a new catalog, website, and on-line newsletter. Look for these to start appearing in 2011. In the meantime, have a joyous, relaxing, and healthy holiday season.

Schacht School Loom with heddle bar

Schacht School Loom with optional heddle bar

I've been preparing looms for the photo shoot for our new catalog. Since I have a lot of weaving to do, I've been trying to speed things up. Here's how I'm weaving on the Schacht School Loom.

The Schacht School Loom comes with two heddle bars and a weaving needle (for when you reach the top and can't use the pick-up stick to make a shed). Normally to weave, you leave one pick-up stick in at all times and take out the second pick-up stick after each pick. Since it takes a bit of time to pick-up the second shed each time, I sped up the weaving by using some string heddles that I had made for my inkle loom. I folded them over every other warp thread and placed them on a heddle rod. To prevent the heddle rod from falling out, I taped the string heddles onto the heddle bar with non-sticky painter's tape.

I also used a 12" stick shuttle for each of my weft colors, and a tapestry beater beat the weft into place.

To weave, then, I inserted one pick-up stick which stayed permanently installed, and made the opposite shed with the heddle bar. To make the shed, I simple pulled up on the heddle bar and slid the second pick-up stick into place. When finished with that pick, I simply removed the pick-up stick and made the next shed with the pick-up stick already in place.

The little orange puffs are rya knots.

Warp: Dark blue cotton carpet warp
Weft: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky in Fresh Moss, Tahiti Teal, Khaki, Rust, and Aran