Ashford Handicrafts Ltd

In 1934 Walter Ashford founded Ashford Handicrafts Ltd, a company that has become a world leader in the manufacture of quality spinning wheels, weaving looms and textile equipment.
Today we, together with our loyal team, have produced over 900,000 wheels and looms.
We use the finest Beech hardwood, sourced from sustainably managed forests with Forest Stewardship Council approval.
At our woollen mill in Milton, New Zealand, we source and process high quality fleeces and fibres.
Experience the joy and pleasure of creating your own unique yarns, fabric, garments, and homeware using our wheels, carders, looms, fibres and yarns. Relax knowing your crafts are sustainable, renewable and environmentally friendly.

---

Caterpillar Cotton

100% cotton variegated dyed yarn with a beautiful crimpy, spiral plied texture. 

Lovely and light weight – perfect for weaving, knitting and crochet – so soft and great to work with. Voluminous but not heavy with twice the bulk for the weight of the yarn.

Use alone or in combination with any of our solid colour cottons. Refer to the Colour Palette to see the solid colours used to create the variegated colourways.

Creates a woven fabric that is so light and soft, lovely to wear against the skin.

weight/type	ne 2/lace weight
composition	100% unmercerised cotton
unit weight	200gm cone
length per unit	680m/743yds
wraps per inch	20
needle size	2.75-4
weaving sett	10-20
care instructions	gentle machine wash warm, tumble dry at low setting, do not bleach

---

Mercerised Cotton 5/2 and 10/2

BRIGHT, FUN and FABULOUS!!
100% mercerised cotton weaving yarns. Choose from two yarn weights. 18 colours available in 10/2. 22 colours available in 5/2. Weave on your table loom or rigid heddle looms. 

weight/type	5/2 or 10/2
composition	100% mercerised cotton
unit weight	200gm cone
length per unit	ne 5/2, 848m/927yds, ne 10/2, 1696m/1854yds
wraps per inch	5/2 – 30, 10/2 – 40
weaving sett	5/2:15-20, 10/2: 20-28
care instructions	warm iron, dry cleanable, do not bleach

---

Unmercerised Cotton 5/2 (10/2 is discontinued)

BRIGHT, FUN and FABULOUS!!
100% Unmercerised cotton weaving yarns 5/2, 200gm cones. Available in 22 beautiful modern colours. Weave on your table loom or rigid heddle looms. 10/2 is discontinued and limited stock available.

weight/type	5/2
composition	100% unmercerised cotton
unit weight	200gm cone
length per unit	ne 5/2, 848m/927yds,
wraps per inch	5/2 – 30
weaving sett	5/2:15-20
care instructions	warm iron, dry cleanable, do not bleach

---

Yoga Yarn 8/2 Core Spun Cotton

Yoga yarn is 35% lighter in weight than the 100% cotton in an equivalent weight. 

So, knit and weave your fabrics, jackets, pull-overs, scarves, shawls and homewares which will have the bulk and density you want but at the same time staying light!

Our Yoga yarn has a nylon filament core completely covered by a cotton outer wrap! Get the best of both worlds: strength and elasticity of nylons and natural comfort and beauty of cotton!

It is a 2 ply (two threads plied together) yarn – each ply is cotton spun over the nylon filament – the nylon filament is not visible and it will dye like 100% cotton. 

It is such a pleasure to weave with this yarn. Due to the slight elasticity of the yarn there will be no more “saggy shed” when weaving on a rigid heddle loom!

This is Ne 8/2, but looks and weaves like Ne 5/2. You can use it in warp and weft and in any combination with other yarns.

weight/type	8/2 equivalent
composition	82% cotton, 18% nylon core
unit weight	200gm cone
length per unit	1260m/1386yds
wraps per inch	28
needle size	2-3mm
weaving sett	15- 20 epi
care instructions	machine wash warm, tumble dry at low setting, do not bleach, warm iron

---

tapestry loom warping thread

Strong loom warping thread for the Ashford Tapestry Looms. 

weight/type	6 plies medium twist
composition	100% cotton
unit weight	200gm cone
length per unit	560m/612yds approx.
wraps per inch	24

---

SILK MERINO FIBRE

---

---