Artisan Crafted Yarn Bowls for Knitting & Crochet
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​As The Yarn Bowl Turns.

"A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working."

​~ Author unknown

How Big Is That Yarn Bowl?

5/21/2022

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Our biggest marketing challenge is helping yarn lovers imagine just how big our XXL-Jumbo Yarn Bowls actually are  when just looking at tiny photos and reading dimensions. Here's a few tips to to help you make the right choice as you navigate through the five general sizes offered.

​The first dimension listed is the diameter of the bowl; measured (in inches) across the center from one side to the other out (outside edges; see photo). Depth of the bowl is the second measurement listed from the top rim to the base (where it sits on the table).

The diameter is what we usually use to determine the size/category of a #HeckathornYarnBowl. To keep things simple we use these standard bowl measurements knowing that the circumference is a much more impressive figure.
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That's why we also include circumference for our bowls. If you want to convert these measurements to circumference (or even meters) this site has a quick and easy tool: OmniCalculator.com

We may upsize an XXL (diameter), for example, to the XXXL category if the yarn bowl is unusually deep. All dimensions are outside dimensions (od) and approximate as wood has a tendency to warp making the top diameter vary slightly depending on where/when it's measured across.

The depths of our XL - Jumbo Yarn Bowls vary considerably. For that reason, depths aren't listed below on this sizing chart; however, depths are always included on each individual listing:

• MEDIUM: 5 - 6" + diameter x 4- 5" deep. This size is rarely turned; as smaller bowls start with the same size wood speciman and same amount of time/labor to produce. Medium bowls are perfect for any project accommodating a single 5 oz+ skein of worsted yarn (sometimes more). Medium bowls are perfect for sock, mitten and hat projects where smaller quanties of yarn are needed. Nice for dk, fingering and fine cotton spools.

• LARGE: 6 - 7" diameter x 5+" deep. Our classic "workhorse" yarn bowl; perfect for any project accommodating a single 5-7oz skein of worsted yarn, rolled into a ball ready to glide like silk making all yarn projects easier. Nice for "frogging" as well.

​• XL: 7+ - 9+/-" diameter (depth varies considerably depending on style of the bowl).

​• XXL: 10 - 12" diameter (depth varies considerably depending on style of the bowl).

• XXXL: 12 - 13+" diameter (depth varies considerably depending on style of the bowl).

JUMBO CUP/HUB SETS: 14" (plus!?) It's rare that Bob gets to turn a 14" Yarn Bowl. He would if more jumbo wood stock was available here, however, his XXXL yarn bowls are very close in size to Jumbo, and we usually have a few in both shops.

JUMBO is the MAXIMUM SIZE WE OFFER! 
Bob's bowls max out around 15-16"(finished). These Jumbo Yarn Bowls start with a huge log; approx. 20" diameter x 10" deep. Extremely heavy at around 40-50 lbs.; factoring age, water content, wood properties, etc. Anything bigger (ie. heavier) is difficult and dangerous to turn on the lathe.

​That said, Bob broke this rule in Sept. '21 –read about it at the end of this post.
Make sure you know exactly what you're buying.
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Looks are deceiving... In photos, our Large and XL yarn bowls appear to be the same size (or larger) than our XXL – JUMBO bowls. All our images “fill the frame” to show the finest details.
A great trick is to find a glass or ceramic bowl of similar diameter/depth to be sure it will suit your needs. It's important that you know what you're getting before the bowl arrives at your door! ​
In order to show off the distinct features of each yarn bowl it’s necessary to “fill the frame” of each photo. These close-up, tight product shots can be deceiving. When all the sizes are grouped and viewed together on our main product pages, the smaller bowls will fill more of the frame than the larger bowls because they are not as wide; thus they appear to be much taller than the larger yarn bowls.
This is why we always include one or two images of every yarn bowl, filled with yarn and tools as a reference point. We hope this helps you choose the perfect Heckathorn Yarn Bowl for your work style
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LARGE Yarn Bowl #617, 20-1/2" circumerence around middle, LOOKS same size as >
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XXXL Yarn Bowl #1119, 29-1/2" circumerence. Photos are sized to fill space & show detail, similarly proportioned bowls look same size!?
 HINT:
Make sure you know exactly what you're buying
Find a similar glass or ceramic bowl at home to be sure it's the size you want....  Know what you're getting before the bowl arrives at your door! 
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When considering a "Jumbo Yarn Bowl" XXL & UP, the bulky yarn cakes on the left, give you a good idea how much bulky yarn would fill or fit in the bowl all at once.
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P.S. We've had requests for bigger yarn bowls, but there is a limit to how big...
UPDATE: Spurred on by a couple requests for bigger (!?) yarn bowls, Bob broke his rule and turned two COLOSSAL pecan bowls last fall. While stunning, they were both a difficult make –so enormous and heavy, they are both too cost prohibitive to ship! 

The colossal spalted oak bowl (above); is a magnificent cup/hub bowl. That said, the spalting/special properties combined with heavy ship weight and massive size meant these bowls would cost around $700!

'Nuf said. For now, I'm really enjoying them both –one for huge blanket projects/backup skeins; the other is a killer fruit bowl... I don't want to let these colossal anyway. 
🫢

I still keep getting requests from yarners (who haven't read to the end of this post) requesting "bigger bowls" or "14" or bigger..." this update is here to explain why we stop at 14".
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Turning, Drying & Wabi-Sabi

4/20/2022

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Fresh hardwoods are not always available here, and while Florida live oak is plentiful, premium hardwoods like cherry, pecan, cedar and camphor; to name a few are a rare find. Recently, Bob found a reliable source for prime cherry hardwood; a particular favorite for its minimal warping, stunning tones and a very hard durable finish that resists dents and dings.

Turning fresh hardwood into yarn bowls is a lengthy process spanning several months. Each bowl starts after a fresh log is cut into blanks. Each log is stripped of bark and trimmed with a chainsaw. Next the blank is mounted on the lathe for a rough turning, shaping and hollowing.

​After roughing out, each bowl is set aside for a drying period of one to four months time depending on weather conditions (humidity, barometric pressure and temperature). 
Heckathorn Yarn Bowls Drying
Rough turned yarn bowls, drying over time. Notice how the front left and top front right bowls are dramatically warped and cracked! All the other yarn bowls are cherry, with minimal warping and cracking.
The drying period is the most critical stage for fresh turned wood. A stretch of dry, cool weather for example can cause the bowls to warp and crack. Some hardwoods (like cherry) are less prone to warping and cracking, other hardwoods gently warp, while many crack considerably, or warp and crack. Nature determines the condition of the bowl when it’s dry enough; as interesting wood patterns and challenges emerge. The choicest bowls are finished first. 

Most wood turners reject cracked and warped bowls; discarding them to focus on more pristine specimens. Bob sets these nature challenged bowls aside until his supply of hardwood gets low, and he has the necessary hours to rescue these gifts from nature. This is when the real magic begins –with restoration techniques that result in his most artful offerings. 
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Here's an example of natural cracking during the drying process. These bowls are extreme examples of how a combination of certain weather conditions can crack and warp bowls.
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​Bob has several techniques to prevent drastic warping, however, when nature takes its course, the wood can have a mind of its own!

The larger cracks are filled with our proprietary sparkle inlay; in custom colors mixed to complement the bowl. Fine cracks are filled to match the wood tones. Bob’s process follows the ancient Japanese philosophy “Wabi-Sabi” using ancient "Kintsugi" techniques, embracing the flawed or imperfect; highlighting the cracks and repairs to honor the life of an object rather than allowing its service to end at the time of its damage or breakage. 
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Large yarn bowl #644 (SOLD) had 2 dramatic cracks on it's east and west sides, Wabi-Sabi makes gives it life!
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Large yarn bowl #690 (SOLD) had 2 dramatic cracks on it's north and south sides, Wabi-Sabi adds interest.
For more examples of this ancient technique, see "Wood Wabi-Sabi Trending Home Decor"
Drying Jumbo yarn bowls is Bob’s biggest challenge to date. These HUGE hardwoods usually crack considerably -even before they are removed from the lathe!
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fThis colossal oak bowl developed multiple cracks on its east/west sides and valued black line spalting on the north/south sides. Fine cracks were painstakingly filled to match the darker grains, Larger cracks were filled with custom matched inlay –a tricky process as wood and fill colors will change when the piece is finally inished.

This particular set is too big to sell/ship and the yarn fanatic loves it… 💭🧶👍🏻❤️
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The Value In Spalted Wood

8/17/2020

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#1202 XXXL Spalted Pecan Yarn Bowl Set with Star Groove & Bonus Cup Hub
Spalted Wood Makes Beautiful Yarn Bowls; but what makes spalting in wood so special to wood enthusiasts? Spalting is the beginning of decay in wood due to natural invasion of fungal spores. These spores start colonies and grow in the wood forming interesting discolorations as the wood fibers begin to decay. If caught at the right time and stabilized, spalting can result in various stunning effects; enhancing the value of the piece.
'Getting spalted (wood) is like ‘finding truffles in the forest’.
–J. Hicks, Woodshopnews.com
Some spalting forms  "zone lines" –sharply defined black lines, often called "black-line spalting". Zone lines may appear as single or double lines. This is the result of the spore colonies creating a protective barrier either around themselves (single-line spalting) or in what is basically a "war" with a neighboring colony (double-line spalting).
In some trees, such as oak or maple, spalting is rarely black-line often resulting in vague, amorphous, blotchy black or dark-gray areas. On rare occasions, spalting may cause colorful changes other than black. ​​
When nature gifts Bob with an interesting piece of wood that nature has spalted, it makes a rare and particulary beautiful yarn bowl. He usually sets these specimens aside for up to a year to encourage more spalting. Then, when his wood supply is depleted and with no fresh wood on the horizon, Bob will turn 2-4 highly spalted  bowls at one time. Once these uncommon yarn bowls are finished, the spalting process stops, embedding artful designs into the wood.
Spalted Maple. Heckathorn Turned Wood.
XL Spalted Pecan Yarn Bowl #1186
These rare offerings are usually snapped up quickly by collectors! So, on the rare occasions we list a couple spalted bowls at one time; it's a clue that Bob's wood is in short supply!
For more on spalting, please visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spalting
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/spalted-wood-trend
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Magnificent Cedar Yarn Bowls.

4/26/2018

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Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a lovely Florida native that adds year-round greenery and texture to our landscape. While Cedar is classified as a soft wood, it is a particularly strong soft wood that is not prone to warping or sagging. The contrasting red and butter tones make stunning, interesting bowls with a color pop that’s nicely enhanced by Bob's signature silky smooth, brilliant finish.
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Juniperus virginiana; Eastern Red Cedar.
While his lengthy finishing process hardens the wood (and sadly masks its nice scent); Bob notes that cedar yarn bowls are more prone to small dents and dings over time, which give personality to your heirloom bowl for future generations.​
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Cedar yarn bowls can be more prone to small dents and dings over time, which give personality to your heirloom bowl for future generations.
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Place your Yarn Bowl on a round cutout of non-skid fabric or crocheted mandala.
Harder woods (like cherry, oak and pecan), are more resistant to dents and marks with continued use; although if you love the look of our cedar yarn bowls like we do, place it on a round cutout of non-skid fabric or crocheted mandala and give it a little extra TLC! Your magnificent and functional cedar bowl will turn your #wip into a conversation piece wherever it rests.
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Translucent Qualities in Wooden Yarn Bowls

8/21/2016

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Translucent Qualities in Heckathorn Turned Wood Yarn Bowls
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Translucence in Heckathorn Turned Wood Large Yarn Bowls
Many of our segmented pine yarn bowls mention “translucent qualities” in the wood, usually indicated by dark brown markings in wood grains. When held up to a strong light, these areas are transformed to a beautiful, rich translucent gold color. This is due to the heavy concentration of resin or sap, a natural secretion of the wood, which glows a reddish amber color when it collects in high concentration.
Amber is a result of fossilization of this sticky sap resulting in varnishes and many other by-products made from it throughout history. Some wood turners enhance the effect by many soakings in solutions of their choice. I prefer to achieve this effect naturally and let nature take its course by simply hand-buffing each pine bowl as usual with several layers of finish. However, when resin laden spots occur naturally, it’s a nice bonus; enhancing that bowl even more.
Usually, you need to hold the bowl over a bright light to see the translucent areas. Or, if placed in bright sunlight* will light the bowl up naturally. So, look for these features if you want a little “hidden surprise” when choosing your yarn bowl!

*Note: Any wood product can suffer damage if subjected to excessive heat. Never display/store your yarn bowl in direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time!


​
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What The Heck Are “Perfectly Imperfect” Yarn Bowls?

8/15/2016

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Perfectly Imperfect Yarn Bowls at Special Pricing from Heckathorn Turned Wood Yarn Bowls.
​On rare occasions Bob finds some fresh “green” hardwood (Cherry, Pecan and Maple to name a few) from a fallen tree or local tree trimmer. And, although turning green wood bowls on a lathe is easier because it’s in a soft state, the necessary drying process that ensues is risky!
 
After a fresh wood yarn bowl is turned, it is set aside to dry. Depending on the current weather conditions (like relative humidity, barometric pressure and temperature to name a few) the drying process takes one to three months. As the hardwood dries, it has a tendency to warp and crack. Warping usually adds nice character to the yarn bowls; however, Bob feels that cracking; which is easily repaired in the finishing process, is an undesirable feature in some of his collectible art bowls. As his partner, I try to respect those high standards while at the same time viewing the cracks that ensue as the final word from nature!
 
Too often, I’ve watched Bob throw a beautiful yarn bowl into the recycling bin and felt that his lack of control over a few small cracks deprived a fellow yarn crafter of a unique and naturally beautiful piece. After some whining on my part, Finally, Bob acquiesced and started finishing these natural wonders when the occasion arises. Now, I’m able to offer a distinctive piece at deeply discounted price.
 
There’s a lot of value in our “Perfectly Imperfect” Yarn Bowls. Each one takes ten to twenty hours (at the least) to make –the same amount of time it takes to create a first quality bowl. For those who may not be able to invest in our first quality yarn bowls, I consider these pieces to be a special offering from Heckathorn Turned Wood as they are all authentic gifts of nature!

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Custom Sparkle Inlay

11/23/2015

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Some #HeckathornYarnBowls feature our proprietary "Inlay" or "Sparkle Inlay" enhancing a knot or set into the rim of the bowl for added appeal.

In 2014, with no real colorful options for inlays, we developed a special process of mixing custom colors and textures to match or compliment the style/color tones of each individual its intended for.

When so inspired, Bob will add a channel to the rim of a bowl, a few orbits or a star to the sides for those that like a little bling. Sometimes he uses this special inlay to restore/repair natures damage to a piece which can occur when it dries; using age old "Kintsugi" techniques.

Custom Sparkle Inlay set into the rim. Large Wood Yarn Bowl; Heckathorn Turned Wood.
This eye-catching element raises the bowl value and collector status -a one of the kind yarn bowl with a bit of glitz that will never be duplicated.
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