Apparatus and method for managing craft supplies
A yarn minder includes a substantially circular base and a connectable spindle. The spindle is substantially flat and is somewhat anchor-shaped, including a head, a shaft, and two arms. The spindle can be inserted through a slot in the circular base and the arms of the spindle will catch on the bottom of the circular base, thereby connecting the spindle to the circular base. With the spindle in place, a crafter can insert the yarn onto the spindle, where the potential for tangling and knotting is greatly reduced. An optional ring and strap may be connected to the head of the spindle with a swivel connection, thereby allowing for greater flexibility in managing the yarn. The swivel connection allows the circular base to freely rotate in a circular motion as the yarn is pulled from the spindle.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a substantially flat, disc-shaped base, the base comprising a slot;
a spindle, the spindle having a flat, planar cross-sectional shape extending upwardly from the base, wherein the flat planar shape of the spindle is configured to receive and support a yarn ball wound thereon the spindle comprising:
a head;
a shaft; and
two laterally spaced arms;
wherein the head of the spindle is inserted through the slot in the base, with the two arms supporting the base, thereby connecting the spindle to the base without the use of threaded fasteners.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head comprises an aperture and further comprising:
a connector inserted through the aperture; and
a strap affixed to the connector.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the strap comprises a strap manufactured from leather.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the strap comprises a strap manufactured from plastic.
5 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the connector comprises a swivel connector.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising yarn wrapped around the spindle.
7 . A method of managing yarn, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a substantially flat, disc-shaped base, the base comprising a slot;
providing a spindle, the spindle having a flat, planar cross-sectional shape extending upwardly from the base, wherein the flat planar shape of the spindle is configured to receive and support a yarn ball wound thereon, the spindle comprising:
a head;
a shaft; and
a distal end, the distal end comprising a pair of laterally spaced arms, and
inserting the head of the spindle through the slot in the base, thereby supporting the base on laterally spaced arms without the use of threaded fasteners.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the head comprises an aperture.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:
attaching a connector to the head of the spindle via the aperture; and
attaching a strap to the connector.
10 . A yarn holder device, comprising:
a base having a substantially flat, disc-shaped body, the body comprising a slot;
a spindle having a flat, planar cross-sectional shape extending upwardly from the base, the spindle comprising two laterally spaced arms, wherein the flat planar shape of the spindle is configured to receive and support a yarn ball wound thereon; and
a head element at an end of the spindle, the head element comprising an aperture extending therethrough,
wherein the two arms of the spindle engage the base by extending through the slot in the base and are secured to the base without the use of threaded fasteners.
11 . The yarn holder device of claim 10 , further comprising a connector inserted through the aperture of the head element, and a strap affixed to the connector, wherein the strap comprises at least one of nylon webbing, leather, or polypropylene webbing.
12 . The yarn holder device of claim 11 , wherein the strap is a wrist strap configured to be worn around a user's wrist.
13 . The yarn holder device of claim 11 , wherein the connector is a swivel connector configured to permit rotational movement of the strap relative to the head element.
14 . The yarn holder device of claim 11 , wherein the strap and connector assembly is detachably connected to the aperture of the head element.
15 . The yarn holder device of claim 10 , wherein the spindle is configured to have yarn wrapped directly around the flat planar body of the spindle between the two arms.