PaperPhine’s Petite Wooden Bobbins with Ratcheted Tops

Sometimes I’m not sure why I’m selling my paper yarns and bobbins at all – but I guess that’s a good sign: treasures so beautiful that it’s hard to part with them. But on the other hand I’m quite certain that their future owner will cherish them and their “piece of history” as well. I was delighted when I found these small wooden bobbins with ratcheted tops – they’re just too cute! But now it’s time to part at least with a few of them (and I have a lot of great pictures of them to keep me company on my screen anyway…).

PaperPhine’s New Paper Yarn: Strong White Paper Yarn on a Vintage Bobbin

Before founding PaperPhine I had not spent much time on etsy (or dawanda, for that matter) – my strategy was more “wait and see” (or trial and error). Luckily I haven’t made too many mistakes since even though it’s amazing how many topics and details you have to consider when selling your work. Nowadays I feel like I’ve grown into it a bit – and I’m still learning each day to keep pleasing my customers and provide paper yarns worldwide.

A feature I’ve learned to love are etsy’s “Treasuries” in which people put together their choice of products to a self-chosen topic. By having a look at well-chosen treasuries I’ve discovered a whole lot of great artisans and designers who produce wonderful products. I’m really grateful to all the fabulous people who spend much time and care on putting together their “treasure chests”!

By now I’m also accustomed to the numerous special-sales-promotions on etsy – and therefore PaperPhine is currently participating for the first time in the “Christmas-in-July”-Sale on etsy with 15% off all items..

project 42 by design studio fortytwo – page 17 of their “collection” of pictures

I especially enjoy hearing from customers how much they enjoy working with the paper yarns, what projects they are about to realize – or in what galleries my bobbins can be seen! Heike sent a picture of her bobbin with Finest White Paper Yarn to one of her relatives who is partly responsible forproject 42. project 42 is run by design studio fortytwo who collect everything that the numer 42 implies.

Photograph of the Paper Yarn Bobbin submitted to project 42

This is the photograph of the Vintage Paper Yarn Bobbin submitted by Heike – I guess you can find the detail on the picture above? I think it’s not exaggerated to state that the bobbins are a timeless design coming with its own share of history…

Paper Yarn can be a quite stubborn material – I guess that’s a reason why I like it, anyway. But it makes the topic of spools and bobbins quite significant because rewinding paper yarn like other yarns (e.g. wool or cotton) doesn’t work.

Industrially rewinding paper yarn does work up to a certain point when the yarn starts to uncoil itself again (the yarn is stubborn, as I mentioned). Therefore bobbins with a “head” are really important when rewinding paper yarn by hand.

Until now I used Austrian bobbins to rewind the paper yarn. Unfortunately Austrian bobbins are in short supply because most of them ended up in the boilers. After a lot of research I managed to get vintage bobbins from New England where huge spinning and weaving mills closed down and bobbins are therefore still available – and I just love them! Currently they are a nice installation in my boyfriend’s loft and probably they’ll stay for a while because they fit perfectly with the modern and vintage furniture.

For those want bobbins for their yarns – or as decoration for their flats – the smaller bobbins will also be available in my little shop after tomorrow. As long as I’m willing to give them away at least.