Shaker Drying Rack & Swift

Posted on | January 11, 2010 | 6 Comments

Last night, I was flipping through the January issue of Martha Stewart Living when I spotted a Shaker drying rack. I really need a drying rack. When I come back from laundromat half the time my clothes are still wet. They get scattered all over the house for days as they dry. The three-sided pine rack originally designed in the 1800′s can be used for drying towels, delicates, and herbs. The drying rack can be folded up for easy storage. The design is seducing. Purchase through Hancock Shaker Village for $71.

The Shakers were ingenious designers. When I visited Canterbury Shaker Village last fall my tour guide explained that the Shakers strove for efficient designs that would allow more time for worship. Did you know Shakers were one of the first to put garden seeds in printed paper packets for sale?

My local yarn shop winds skeins of yarn into balls using a tabletop Shaker Swift. A swift is a wooden contraption invented by the Shakers that resembles a umbrella to aid in winding balls of yarn. If you ever tried to wind a ball of yarn by yourself you know how it can end up in a knot disaster. Below an antique maple Shaker Swift from the 1860′s. Brilliant, right? Modern day pine versions can be purchased for around $70 from yarn.com and Purl Soho.

swift 500x500 Shaker Drying Rack & Swift

Category: accessories

Comments

6 Responses to “Shaker Drying Rack & Swift”

Brittany Noel
January 11th, 2010 @ 2:34 pm
i am falling swiftly in love. ha! i didn’t do that on purpose, actually… but it was a good one! anyway, that drying rack is simply beautiful and so very useful. great find!
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Elena
January 11th, 2010 @ 4:07 pm
Practical and stylish! Shaker designs always seem to be a combination of the two. Thanks for sharing!
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Lisa
January 11th, 2010 @ 9:39 pm
I saw that Shaker drying rack In Martha Stewart Living too and stared at it for 10 minutes trying to figure out how I could make it myself.
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Jane Flanagan
January 11th, 2010 @ 11:53 pm
I’m crazy for this! I think I need one too.
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Katy Elliott
January 11th, 2010 @ 11:57 pm
Lisa,
When the bf read my post today he said the same thing. We’ll make one. I’m like…I’ll just buy it. Here we go again….
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Nariman
May 24th, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
i’m curious and would like to build this as i can’t afford the $85

anyone figure out how it folds away?
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