Organizing Spinning Tools at the Hardware Store – Retractable Key Ring

I could spend just as much time organizing my spinning tools as I do spinning. One of my favorite places to hunt for ways to organize my tools (and to look for new tools) is the hardware store.

One of my favorites is the retractable key ring.

 

Schneider and his retractable key ring

 

I might have a little thing about retractable key rings that goes back to my childhood viewing of One Day at a Time. I was simultaneously delighted and horrified that Schneider regularly broke into Ann Romano’s apartment, uninvited, using a pass key that he had on – his retractable key ring. It was practical, a little dangerous and very, very cool to 12 year old me.

 

 

 

 

Retractable key ring and new spinning gauges ready to go.

 

Imagine my delight when I figured out a way to use one for spinning. When I bought my Twist Angle Gauge and WPI Guage from Hipstrings, I noticed that they had holes drilled into the top. I remembered an old WPI guage I had that came on a retractable cord and it all clicked.

I took myself to my local hardware store and hunted in the key section until I found the perfect, light and small , with a clip on the back, retractable key ring. I thought about getting, for old times sake, a big silver metal one like Schneider’s, but I knew it would weigh down my tool kit.

 

Gauges assembled and ready to spool and retract

 

 

It took me 2 minutes to put it all together in the parking lot. Yes, I brought it with me, I was excited. Now I have a set of gauges to keep at hand, hanging on my wheel, on a lanyard or on an apron while I’m spinning and an excellent throwback to my childhood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now if someone could tell me how to incorporate my other childhood tool obsession into my spinning…….

A steel money changer. I’ve always wanted one.

 

Interested in going to PLY Away this year? Classes are up! Registration is in October, so you have some time to plan your perfect retreat. I’m teaching a two day spinning variegated braids class, it’s going to be fun……..

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Jillian is the​ author of the best-selling spinning book Yarnitecture. She is the editor​ of Knittyspin and Developmental Editor for PLY and PLY Books. She kinda loves this spinning thing and wants everyone who spins to love it too, so she teaches and writes a lot. She knits, weaves, and stitches and tries to do as much of it as she can with handspun yarn. She's always cooking up all kinds of exciting and creative things combining fiber arts. She likes her mysteries British, her walks woodsy, and to spend as much time as she can laughing. Spy on her on her website jillianmoreno.com

6 thoughts on “Organizing Spinning Tools at the Hardware Store – Retractable Key Ring”

  2. Louise

    My dad was a bus driver for a time when I was little. We had his coin changer for years to play with. It served as a piggy bank as well as a toy. I remember quite clearly how heavy it was on my waistband.

  3. Lindsay

    You’re participating in a long tradition of tool organization! You’ve devised a modern version of the chatelaine, which is well worth the Google image search for some beautiful examples of decorative versions of your retractable key ring.

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