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EEW Newsletter – June 2025

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots


EEW Nano 2.1 Improvements

Check out this video of the new improvements in the EEW Nano 2.1! It now features a new purple color, smoother bobbins with bearings, upgraded sliding hooks, a redesigned stronger flyer, and a spring tension system for better uptake. The biggest change? A major upgrade to the flyer and tension system for an even smoother spinning experience.  This new version should be shipping from my store in September.  I am not taking pre-orders, but I will over a discount for the first week it’s available as a way to thank my community.  I will let everyone on this email list know when that sale starts.

Llama Cut

Each spring, we give our llamas a much needed haircut to help them stay cool through the summer.  In return they graciously share their fiber with us. This year, we had a little fun with Alfred’s trim and gave him a “dinosaur cut.” Do you see the resemblance?

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival Recap

Last month I went to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival to meet the community, and explore the fairgrounds. I made this video to share my product roadmap, show our booth setup, and highlight some memorable moments.

One of my favorite events is the after hours Spin In where hundreds of spinners get together to chat and do contents like longest thread while blindfolded.  There were a lot of all types of spinning wheels, including EEWs.

The Bigger Bobbin Question

I often get a support email asking if I sell bigger bobbins for one of my eSpinners.  I know some other spinning wheel manufacturers do this so that’s why people ask.  For me though it makes no sense to offer a jumbo bobbin because I always ship with the largest bobbing the eSpinner can support.  The reason is a lot of an eSpinner design is about size since that affects motors, electronics, and case size.  Which are all big drivers of speed and price.  So instead of offering bigger bobbins, I just sell the biggest bobbin an eSpinner can hold with it.  While there could be an argument for a smaller flyer that does lace yarn at higher speeds (I give away 3D printable files for this), that is always a more special case and not a default configuration.  Also for my injection molding process the high cost of making new smaller bobbins molds means it’s generally cheaper for me to just offer only the bigger bobbins.  For these reasons it is unlikely I will ever sell an eSpinner with a smaller bobbin than its max bobbin size.  For 3D printing it would be cheaper to make smaller bobbins, but I have never seen that become popular amongst the many companies that make 3D printed accessories for my eSpinners.  Maybe that will grow in the future though since I love seeing other small businesses making accessories for my eSpinners.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Nano 2.1 – September 2025
  • EEW Yarn Counter 2 – December 2025
  • EEW Fold – March 2026

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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EEW Newsletter – May 2025

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots


Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

Emily and I will be attending the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on May 3 & 4.  Be sure to stop by my booth if you are attending!  I’ll be in the main building.

Tariff Update

I’ve had a lot of folks ask how the recent tariffs might affect my business. The honest answer is… I’m not entirely sure yet.

My upcoming products rely on manufacturing partners in China. If elevated tariffs remain in place for an extended period, it would impact pricing down the road. But I’m hopeful that the US and China, as two of the world’s largest economies, will find a constructive way to resolve their differences.  Both sides have indicated they want tariffs to come down, but expect something from the other side. I really believe both sides ultimately want a strong and fair global economy where everyone wins.  The first product this will affect is the EEW Nano 2.1 which should arrive around August.

In the meantime, I’m staying focused on what I can control.  Namely making the best fiber tools I can. Shifting production would be a huge undertaking and probably push back product development by a year or more so that is not something I will look into in an unpredication market like we have. I’ve also built long standing relationships with small businesses in China over the past decade, and I value those partnerships deeply.

While there’s plenty of uncertainty right now, one thing is clear. I’m committed to this community and to continuing the work I love. I’ll keep building great tools and helping grow the fiber craft movement.  When more people take up fiber crafts, the world doesn’t just get cozier… it gets kinder. 🙂

200+ Videos

If you’ve been around the fiber world for a while, you probably know I’ve been making videos about fiber crafts for just as long as I’ve been building fiber tools. Yes, I’m a little biased toward my own creations, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feature plenty of other cool stuff too!

Whether you’re new to the EEW community or just curious about the videos I’ve shared over the years, check out my Spin Channel on YouTube. You’ll find everything from videos of our llamas and massive knitting needles, to a nostalgic look at older tools like my wooden EEW Mini.  Have fun and look through all those old videos.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Nano 2.1 – August 2025
  • EEW Yarn Counter 2 – December 2025
  • EEW Fold – March 2026

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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EEW Newsletter – April 2025

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots


This past month has been a whirlwind of activity, and stress! I found myself juggling more projects than I’d like, and each one brought its own set of challenges. Although it was hectic, I do enjoy tackling tough problems and pushing things forward. Here’s a quick rundown of where everything stands.

EEW Nano 2.1

  • The samples arrived and looked great, so I sent them to a few beta testers.
  • One tester used the wrong USB power supply and thought the Nano was too slow, which was nerve-racking because I’ve already invested in parts for thousands of units. Thankfully, it was just user error.
  • Manufacturing is on track, and I’m excited to get these wheels out into the world.

EEW Yarn Counter

  • The circuit board assembler used the wrong screen plug, but since it was only on five sample boards, I was able to fix them myself. Everything on the hardware checked out after that.
  • After fixing out a few of my software bugs, I’m happy with the progress. I’m waiting on some improved mechanical parts, and once I confirm they work as intended, I’ll proceed with mold changes.
  • The new magnetic sensors perform much better than the original optical ones. I’ll do a video once the final samples arrive. If you already love your original EEW Yarn Counter, it might not be worth upgrading.  But this version addresses most of the little issues people have reported over the years.

EEW Cone Winder

  • I tried migrating from an Atmel processor to an STM8 and quickly realized the support and tools weren’t ideal for my needs.
  • I’m now switching to an STM32C0 microcontroller which is a low-power ARM processor. It’s more modern, more powerful, and should even use less power at the speeds I need. I’m also taking this opportunity to revamp the power system for greater efficiency.
  • Although this is taking longer than I’d hoped since I’m testing out multiple families of microcontrollers, I believe laying this groundwork now will make future development easier and set me up with a better platform for new fiber tools so it’s worth doing a few versions of this circuit board.

EEW Fold

There are more detailed updates on my Kickstarter updates for this one, but I’ve done lots of software improvements and have been improving several of the custom plastic parts.

The Threshing Barn Closing Announcement

I’m sad to share the news that The Threshing Barn, one of my valued UK retailers, will be closing at the end of April. Sara, the owner, has supported Dreaming Robots since the release of the EEW Nano 1.1 and has remained a steadfast advocate ever since. Her go-to wheel is the EEW 6.0!

Sara will be hosting a closing-down sale. The sale will run in-store (Reeth, North Yorkshire) from  April 7th and online (UK only) from April 9th, but please note: when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Sara would like to extend her thanks to everyone who has purchased Dreaming Robots products from The Threshing Barn over the years and wishes you all a happy spinning future.  And I would like to thank Sara for her running a fiber store for all these years since these brick and mortar stores are very important to many in the fiber craft.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Nano 2.1 – August 2025
  • EEW Fold – March 2026

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

View web version of this email

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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EEW Newsletter – March 2025

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots

March 01, 2025


Thanks to CraftMeHappy for providing this beautiful photo of the latest EEW Fold prototype in action!

Product Updates

Periodically, I like to provide a roadmap of the things I’m putting effort into.  Most of these don’t have timeframes yet, but these are all the things that are high on my priority list and expect to ship eventually.

EEW Nano 2.1

I’m working on an updated EEW Nano with a much-improved flyer, tension system, and more. What started as a quick update has turned into a longer process due to ongoing mold issues.  I still haven’t approved the final molds. I’m hopeful that will happen very soon, with shipping targeted for August (sorry for another date slip on this one).

The 3D-printed prototypes worked great right away, but transitioning from prototype to full production has been more challenging than ever before. Despite the delays, I’ve learned a lot, and I appreciate everyone’s patience. I know many of you have been eagerly waiting for this release, and I’m doing everything I can to get it right.

EEW Fold

I’m addressing the last few details and testing some new software features before moving this into production. I gave myself plenty of time to refine everything, and things are looking great for the planned March 2026 release.

EEW Yarn Counter Update

I’m making improvements to the yarn guides and circuit board. Parts for prototypes have been ordered, and I’ll begin testing soon. I don’t have a firm timeline yet.  Once I’ve done some tests with the new circuit board, I should have a clearer timeframe.

That said, the current stock is running low, and it will be out of stock for a while as I work through these updates. I want to ensure these improvements are in place before ordering a new batch.

EEW Cone Winder Update

I’m making small improvements to the cone holder, and I’m also introducing a bigger change.  I will be switching from the ATTiny microcontroller to an STM8.

This new microcontroller is more powerful, easier to source in large quantities, and half the price. While the end user might not notice an immediate difference, this upgrade will lay the foundation for future enhancements in more advanced projects.

Switching microcontrollers is a big undertaking—I need to rewrite all my code since STM8 operates differently. But once I complete this transition for the Cone Winder, I’ll likely migrate other products to the new microcontroller over time. It’s a lot of work upfront, but it’ll improve my products in the long run.  This is one of those investing for the future changes.

EEW Drum Carder

The electric drum carder is moving forward, albeit slowly. There’s a lot of excitement around this project, and I’ve received great feedback from a beta tester. That feedback led me to a major redesign, which I believe will make the product much better. We’ve hacked the current prototype to test the new configuration, and the results have been great.  This is why I have the confidence to do a large redesign now instead of waiting for more testing.

I’m waiting to see how the STM8 microcontroller transition goes for the cone winder.  If that is successful, I’ll likely use it for the drum carder as well.

This is my “when time allows” project, so I don’t have a firm timeline yet. However, my goal is to launch a Kickstarter in 2026, and I hope to have the drum carder in a more polished state than the EEW Fold was at its campaign launch so it can ship sooner after the Kickstarter completes.

EEW 6.1 Motor Testing (Maybe You Can Help!)

I’ve significantly reduced motor failures on the EEW 6.1 by updating the circuit board, and I’ve extended the motor warranty to one year. However, a small number of motors are still failing more often than I’d like. To investigate, I’d appreciate getting back failed motors and the circuit boards that were used with them.

  • If you have a failed EEW 6.1 motor and still have both parts, please contact me if you would be willing to send these back to me.
  • If you didn’t receive a replacement board, I can mail you one first, and then you can send back the failed motor and board.
  • I’m hoping volunteers can cover the shipping cost to simplify the process, but if that’s a hardship, let me know and I’ll help.

The most common failure is when the motor sometimes won’t start until you push the flyer—and this issue tends to worsen over time. Thank you for helping me pinpoint the cause!

EEW Fold Prototype Video

Check out the latest prototype of the EEW Fold in action! This version features injection-molded parts, a redesigned control system, an improved clamp, and several other exciting upgrades. Watch the video to see the progress and get a closer look at what’s coming next for this new eSpinner.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Nano 2.1 – August 2025
  • EEW Fold – March 2026

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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EEW Newsletter – February 2025

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots

February 02, 2025


Last Chance to Back the EEW Fold

The EEW Fold Kickstarter is closing in just a few days! If you’ve been considering getting this brand new eSpinner at a discounted price, now is the time to act. A huge thank you to all of you who have already supported this project.  It means the world to me!

One of my favorite things about running a Kickstarter campaign is the opportunity to dive deep into the story behind a new product. Over the past month, I’ve shared many updates about the EEW Fold, but one of my favorites was about the new control software. This exciting upgrade will make the motor work even better, enhancing your spinning experience.

Progress on the injection molds is going great.  I recently received new samples from updated molds and it solved all the major issues with the first set of molds.  I’ve just finished assembling a few test units and will be sending them off to some of my beta testers to get their feedback after I do some testing with them.

Over 1500 people have joined this Kickstarter so don’t be the one to miss out, support the EEW Fold on Kickstarter today!

EEW 6.1 – Staying Ahead of the Game

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve managed to restock my products before running out—a rare achievement for me! While I thought I had plenty of time with my last order of EEW 6.1s, the new batch arrived just two weeks before I would have sold out. Thankfully, this means the EEW 6.1 has stayed consistently available in my store. For someone who isn’t exactly known for perfect stock planning, I’ll count this as a big win. The EEW Nano 2’s current out-of-stock status is a case in point.

On a related note, the EEW Yarn Counter has been selling much faster than expected. Based on current trends, it will likely go out of stock in 3–6 months. I’m working on some exciting improvements for it, but that means there’s a good chance it will be unavailable for a while during the transition. Rest assured, I’m doing everything I can to keep that downtime as short as possible.

Thanks for your continued support and enthusiasm for my products.  It keeps me motivated to do better every day!

This is the container as it arrived to my warehouse with all the EEW 6.1s.

How Tariffs Affect EEW Products

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about tariffs lately, so I want to explain how they affect my pricing without diving into the broader political debates.

How Tariffs Affect My Pricing

My products are priced primarily based on how much they cost to produce. If production costs go up, my store prices eventually go up as well. However, I won’t raise prices until these increased costs actually affect me.  That typically happens when a new batch of products arrives.

For example, the U.S. recently announced a 10% tariff increase on goods imported from China, including mine. You won’t see any immediate price increases unless that 10% tariff remains in place by the time I receive my next shipment (likely in June). And even then, only newly arrived products would reflect the tariff-driven price increase. I’m committed to not using tariffs as an excuse to raise prices prematurely; I’ll only do so if necessary to cover increased costs.

How Tariffs Are Paid

When I import a large container of products into the Boston port, I have paperwork showing the total cost of the goods. Previously, I paid a 7.5% tariff on that amount. With the new 10% increase, my tariff could go up to 17.5% total. My import agent collects that amount and sends it to the U.S. government.

Which Costs Are Affected by Tariffs

Tariffs are paid on the direct cost of goods, which includes:

  • Bill of Materials: Motors, circuit boards, pedals, plastic parts, and everything else that goes into the final product.
  • Machine Time: Operating mold machines, circuit board assembly robots, and more.
  • Human Labor: Wages for assembling and testing products.

These are my biggest expenses, so tariffs on them can have a noticeable impact.

Which Costs Are Not Affected by Tariffs

Many business costs fall outside the “cost of goods” and are not subject to tariffs, including:

  • Design & Engineering: I do most design work myself which keeps this low, but occasionally hire consultants for specialized problems.
  • Prototyping: Ordering parts for product prototypes and testing.
  • Injection Molds: The steel molds used to produce plastic parts.
  • Container Shipping: Sending finished products from China to the U.S.
  • Warehouse Space: Storing goods locally until they are sold in my store.
  • Insurance: Various policies to protect against potential business risks.
  • General Overhead: Software, corporate tax filings, tools, and other operational expenses.

Anticipated Price Changes

While tariffs may go up by 10%, I don’t expect my final prices to rise by that exact amount because not all costs are tariffed. That said, the largest portion of my costs does face tariffs, so a moderate price adjustment could occur. If China imposes retaliatory tariffs on U.S. components (oddly, some chips in my products come from the U.S. and are then assembled in China), those parts could be taxed twice.  Once going into China and once coming back.

Assuming no further tariff increases, I anticipate my overall costs might rise by 5–9%, and I would likely increase prices by a similar range.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Nano 2.1 – June 2025

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

View web version of this email

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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EEW Newsletter – EEW Fold Kickstarter Edition

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots

January 02, 2025


I’m thrilled to introduce my latest invention – the EEW Fold! As a valued member of the Dreaming Robots family, you’ve been an essential part of our journey, and I couldn’t wait to share this exciting news with you.  It is on Kickstarter now!

What is the EEW Fold?

The EEW Fold is a quiet, fast, and ultra-portable electric spinning wheel designed to meet the needs of modern fiber artists like you. Whether you’re spinning at home, taking it to a retreat, or using it on the go, this compact eSpinner is built to fit seamlessly into your crafting lifestyle.

Key Features:

  • 4-ounce bobbins: Perfect for versatile spinning.
  • Foldable design: Compact and travel-friendly for easy storage, fast bobbin changes, and portability.
  • Max 3,000 RPM: Spins beautifully at slower speeds for smooth worsted yarns, while excelling at higher speeds for woolen or short-staple fibers like cotton and cashmere.
  • Digital RPM Display: Keep your twist consistent and document settings for precise, repeatable results.
  • Smooth, quiet performance: Powered by a brushless motor and precision bearings for quiet operation.
  • Affordable: Available now for just $199 (limited-time pricing on Kickstarter).

See it in action and learn more on our Kickstarter page: EEW Fold on Kickstarter

Please look at this right away and consider backing now since it will help my project to do this early!

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Nano 2.1 – June 2025

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

View web version of this email

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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EEW Newsletter – December 2024

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots

December 01, 2024


Drum Carder Update

I made a new video for an updated EEW Drum Carder prototype.  It’s a huge improvement since the previous prototype.  A big thanks to my wife and daughter for helping me test the new one in this video!

Some of the big changes since the last prototype are:

  • New easy to detach optional handle
  • Tray to catch fiber
  • Better way to attach carding cloth to drums
  • New motor and pulley system
  • Overall, just about everything has been changed since that prototype, and I’m much happier with this version.  Still lots of things to improve though

I have lots of quality of life improvements already implemented that weren’t in this version.  I still need to do a big update on the circuit board.  I also have a solution using a timing belt that eliminates the motor slipping I mentioned in the video.  I’m very impressed with the motor power when that belt isn’t slipping.

Check out the video linked above for more details.

eSpinner Bag

I posted an update to my Instagram page about this eSpinner bag.  This updated version has lots of improvements suggested by the community like an increased size and a shoulder strap.  There are more details in that link to my Instagram page.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Fold Kickstarter – February 2025
  • EEW Nano 2.1 – June 2025 (sorry for the delays, manufacturing is slower than expected)

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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EEW Newsletter – November 2024

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots

November 01, 2024


Product Roadmap

I released a roadmap of my future products in a video where I talk about my future projects while walking around a fiber festival.  I go over an updated EEW Nano, EEW Fold, EEW Drum Carder, and then other farther out projects.  If you’re interested in what I’m doing, this is a good one to watch.

Purr Protector

The Purr Protector is a 3D printed case that goes around your EEW to protect it from cats and other things that like to touch the spinning flyer.  I made fun videos for the EEW Nano and EEW 6.x versions.  I’ve also made the 3D printable files freely available on printables.

Weighting Your Yarn

In this video I show several progressively more optimal ways to weigh your yarn.  The most optimal lets you quickly get your yarn weight by putting your whole eSpinner on a scale, but there is a trick to make this easier involving adding a custom weight.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Fold Kickstarter – January 2025
  • EEW Nano 2.1 – Febuary 2025

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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EEW Newsletter – October 2024

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots

October 01, 2024


EEW Nano 2.1

Spinning raw llama fleece on the EEW Nano 2.1

The EEW Nano 2.1 injection molds are complete and I’ve approved them!  These “injection molds” are steel blocks with the shape of the plastic part removed so all the custom plastic pieces can be made quickly and affordable.  For example if I used 3D printing making one EEW Nano would take around 20 hours and with injection molding that’s around 30 seconds.  The downside is these steel molds are expensive, but as long as you are making a lot of something (usually thousands) then injection molding is better.  In the photo above you can see many different colors of plastic are used for different parts.  That is because when verifying the molds my factory just uses whatever color of plastic is in the machine.  I’m really happy with how this version has turned out.  I won’t be running a Kickstarter for it, but when it’s available I will send out an email to this community and give a discount for the first 7 days it’s on my store.  There will also be an affordable upgrade kit that will convert the EEW Nano 2.0 to an EEW Nano 2.1.  I’m still working out the exact pricing of everything, but my hope is to keep the EEW Nano 2.1 the same price as the EEW Nano 2.0.  My current estimate on timeframe for the EEW Nano 2.1 is February 2025.

There are major improvements to the uptake system, and the noise noise is reduced due to the new flyer and bobbin system.  Here is a more detailed list of the improvements of the EEW Nano 2.1 over the EEW 2.0.

  • Bobbins now use a bearing system that makes them rotate smoother and more quiet
  • Completely new flyer out of glass reinforced nylon to make it last longer and it uses a different bearing at the back to prevent extra tension on the bobbins if there is flex in the maidens
  • New sliding hook system that works better and reduces snags on fiber
  • Tension system changed to use a spring and string to improve the tension system
  • Base colors are black and purple (bobbins are gray, purple, and ivory)

Custom Bag Plan

I made this video to show the first prototype of a custom bag I’m making to carry my eSpinners.  I plan to eventually sell them in my store and would like your feedback.  This video also gives you a good size comparison between the EEW 6, EEW Nano, and EEW Fold.  The EEW Fold pre-orders will start with a Kickstarter later this year or early 2025.  At the end of the video I mention I’ll be giving this prototype bag to a random person who leaves a comment in the youtube comments.

Upcoming Fiber Festivals

We’re going to be attending the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival (Oct 5-6) and the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival (Oct 19-20).  Jessica will be  in charge of the booth at both of these.  Stop by and say hi if you’re at either of these.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Fold Kickstarter – December 2024
  • EEW Nano 2.1 – Febuary 2025

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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EEW Newsletter – September 2024

Electric Eel Wheel Newsletter by Dreaming Robots

September 01, 2024


EEW Fold Update

I spent most of my time this month working on the EEW Fold.  Basically it went like this.  Change some 3D files on my computer.  Print it with my 3D printer.  Test it to see what else I can improve.  Change it, print it, test it again, and repeat many more times.  I don’t keep track of the exact number of prototypes, but I’m sure I’ve done more iterations on this product than any other.  The folding mechanism makes a lot of the parts depend on other parts in non-obvious ways.  For example when I adjusted the flyer design it caused problems with magnet placement on the bottom cover, which didn’t seem like they should be related.  Also the folding mechanism gives more opportunity to figure out little improvements with more iterations.  I’m pretty sure in the end it will just seem like this is a simple obvious design.  If that’s the case and none of the details I’ve been working on these past several months are noticed, that is a mission accomplished for me.  Overall, I’m very excited about the EEW Fold.  I think there are a lot of advantages over the EEW 6.1.  I’ve mentioned many of them before like quicker bobbin changes, faster speeds, less vibrations, and an RPM display.  I’ll be going into more details in the future when I am testing molded versions.

I’m going to keep the Kickstarter target in December, but we might miss that.  I’m pretty confident the design will be done well before December, but I plan to get the molds made which will take a few months and then I need the video and documentation for Kickstarter made using the molded version.  I prefer using the molded version for Kickstarter over 3D printed versions because having molded parts in hand, even if they aren’t completely final.  This makes it easier for me to predict when I’ll be able to ship it, and I like having a fairly accurate ship date estimate for my Kickstarter campaigns.

The Seasonality of Selling Fiber Tools

It’s September!  I live in Massachusetts where September usually starts off pretty warm, by the time fall starts (officially September 22nd) the nights are usually cooler.  This causes more people to start thinking about spinning, knitting, and other fiber crafts they set aside for the warmer months.

I’ve been selling fiber tools for about 15 years and have seen some trends in my sales.   I wanted to give some concrete percentages of how my sales have done in different seasons, but after looking over my data it’s just too noisy for that information to be useful.  The biggest issue is I often run out of stock on my top items and that causes sales to slow, but then there is a huge spike in sales when that item is in stock.  Also I’m fortunate that this community has continued to grow and that leads to different demographic mixes year after year.  This makes the data more difficult to compare year after year in an attempt to smooth out the issues from the inventory issues.  After looking at my data in various graphs I’d estimate that during these summer months I see sales drop around 15-30%.  Then in November/December I see sales increase by about 30-50%.  For the rest of the year I’d say sales are pretty regular.

While other fiber businesses are going to be different, I suspect most yarn shops see similar seasonal trends.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

  • EEW Fold Kickstarter – December 2024
  • EEW Nano 2.1 – Febuary 2025

– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server