A drum carder is a big investment and a seductive one but it may not be the tool that you need. Debbie Held aims to help you make a more intentional decision. If you do go for a drum carder, Emily demystifies some of the confusingly-similar accessories.
Twist is also on the agenda this month, Jacey answers the question how much twist is correct (spoiler: it depends) and Debbie has written about achieving balance when plying.
So without further ado, read on for more news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers. This is the edited free round-up for March 2025.
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Cover photo 'Natural Dyeing' by Anna Ansone on Unsplash.
Archaeologists have discovered a five foot piece of purple fabric woven with gold threads, thought to be 1600 years old.
The purple dye has now faded to a barely-red tint but was a rare colour worn by the elite.
If you're interested in trying natural dyeing for the first time then this rollercoaster ride is for you.
Engineering Knits had a goal to achieve a pink colour from avocados, learned some lessons along the way and eventually produced results that she is over the moon with.
Daryl needs a dyepot that she can set to simmering temperature and forget, but this has proved harder than it would seem. After felting wool due to a hotplate that she's not used to, she's tried two induction burners and even the better one needs some fiddling.
There are several similar accessories for your drum carder with slight differences; flicker, packer, burnisher, cleaner.
Emily demystifies and explains how these tools can improve your carding experience and your results.
Anne tells the story of how her Tour de Fleece almost finished early, but changing her spinning technique allowed her to continue in comfort.
There are many benefits to coned yarn besides the neat look of it but the same yarn can look, feel and behave differently from the skeined version.
Jillian tells a cautionary tale.
Peggy has recently been spinning and weaving paper. Here she tries newspaper.
Linda gave up the corporate life to make her felted wool animals full-time and she certainly has a talent for it. She makes various sizes from miniature to life-size and uses clay for some parts. This is a short but informative video in which Linda talks about her work.
In this page and vlog, Felicia talks about using the mountain of handspun yarn that you may have accumulated.
When I learned to spin, my teacher showed me how to regularly check for balance while plying. Personally I found that this resulted in underplied yarn and I now compensate by adding more twist when plying.
Debbie Held has written about balance with her own thoughts and tips. Her tip about the 'plyback sample' is a good one.
This is a worthwhile photo gallery showing some traditional Nepalese weavers and their work.
Kath Andrews has reviewed the North West Winter Wool Festival, Blackpool from a vendor's point of view.
It was this festival's first time, Kath hopes that it'll happen again next year.
kathandrewsdesigns.com...oh-i-do-like-to-be-beside-the-seaside
Sonja has written about the recent Unravel festival in Farnham, again from a vendor's perspective.
This post has many images from the weekend, mostly of people holding or wearing the things that they've made from John Arbon fibre or yarn.
A new spinner asks how much twist is the right amount. Jacey gives the short answer which is 'it depends'. She goes on to explain how to decide whether you want a lower or higher twist yarn for your project.
In this extract from a longer video, Sara gives five tips for using pick-up sticks with a rigid heddle loom. The text below the video has two more bonus tips.
This is also for the beginner. Devin Helman looks at which tools are must-have and which are nice-to-have.
This is a very useful series in which Gabi Van Tassell explains a surprising number of ways to turn your 2D pin loom hexagons into 3D objects. You can pull threads, fold, ruffle, sew, share, double and more.
This page is an introduction to a mini-course which is free (with a free login to longthreadmedia) so if this topic is one that interests you then you've nothing to lose.
Susan E Horton says that many weavers stumble when it comes to the final steps in their projects. She has tips for finishing.
This book contains repeating patterns that resemble different types of terrain or other things you would see in nature. You can knit them into blocks or strips to create a larger collage.
The drum carder is seductive but it's also a big investment and may not be the creative tool for you.
Debbie Held aims to help you make a more intentional decision.
The Weaver's Perfect Memory is a tool to help with threading and treadling.
I'm linking to a brief introductory video.
Pamela reveals her top ten books on the topic of colour.
We've seen plenty of examples of sensors and lights made into yarn form but this is the most advanced 'smart yarn' that I've seen.
The components that make a simple computer* have become so small that it's been possible to embed them into a single strand that can be woven into clothing.
* actually microcontroller, which I would argue qualifies as a computer but it's not the same kind of thing as a desktop computer or touch-screen mobile device.
Superwash yarns have been treated with chemicals to remove the scales from the fibres and then coated with a polymer. This generates harmful chemicals in the waste water and also reduces the strength of the fibres.
This very dry academic article describes a new process which has been found to be more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Sometimes just a picture is enough
Knit/Wit found this to be a fast project and she says that she has really been enjoying knitting garments for herself with handspun.
The pattern is All Season Vest by Noriko Ichikawa. The yarn is handspun from three HipStrings batts (fibre content unknown).
SeaFlowerSpins made this pouch from Zoom Loom squares for her watercolour paints.
This is craftydebbi's Heirloom Quilt Cardigan. The pattern is by Katryn Seeburger.
The pattern, suggested by The Crafty Side Of Life has been very popular, having an unusual shape, lots of colour and the connection to quilting.
www.ravelry.com/projects/craftydebbi/heirloom-quilt-cardigan
Josefin has made this journal cover from a woven cotton piece from a German dowry 1900 - 1950. She has lined, reinforced and monogrammed it. All of the details are in this post.
An unnamed editor at Sweetgorgia (possibly Felicia) has used the pattern for machine knitting their handspun yarn and gives all of the details here.
The pattern is Wraps-Per-Inch Hat and I've included it in the pattern suggestions below.
Jean says that it is delightful to spin on her tiny Turkish drop spindle in the afternoon sun and feel some warmth. The skein is a handcarded blend of Border Collie and silk.
In the same blog post Jean presents this stitched box. It doesn't have a lining because she likes to see the stitches but the next will have a lining for stiffening.
Guzzisue has been using remnants and oddments to knit this hat and these mitts, all spun from fleece.
travelfibreandthread.blogspot.com...february-spinning-and.html
Last month quiteayarnblog showed off two of the Laura Nelkin knitted jewellery kits that she'd made. She commented that she was rationing herself with the kits because she enjoyed making them so much.
These are the last two that she had.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
Almost all of the projects for this pattern use a striping yarn. Since it has a very busy texture, I prefer it in a solid or semi-solid, as per Sheryl295's which I've used for my thumbnail.
I guess the name is from the eye-of-partridge heel.
This pattern was a surprise addition to Knitty's winter issue. The designer's blog post is a worthwhile read. She says that the pattern looks more complicated when written down than it is to execute. It has a lot of garter stitch.
The elephant in the room is the elephant-sized pile of yarn you'll need to spin for this project, 1526 - 2398 yards depending on size, in a main and three contrast colours.
Plaidage is available for free (or in exchange for an email address) from Expression Fiber Arts for an unspecified limited time, so if it's still showing as free when you read this and you like it, don't hesitate.
It's totally knit stitch, you add the plaid effect later by weaving with a tapestry needle.
My thumbnail shows knitmom's handspun Grettir. She processed the yarn from fleece; all but the white comes from Isabelle, a sheep with a coat of many colours (pictured on the project page). The white is from a different sheep.
Grettir is a pattern with a choice of two outlines, two necks and a wide range of sizes.
The pattern calls for a woollen spun, worsted-weight yarn, which Suzy says is uncommon in the UK and this is the big advantage of spinning your own yarn for a project!
Note that the brooklyntweed website offers three free patterns in return for agreeing to receive news and updates by email.
Shown here in a tweedy yarn, the pattern calls for 177 - 252 yards of DK-weight.
The designer has made a social media post showing that by reducing repeats, the pattern lends itself to being a beanie.
Peperomia uses knit and purl stitches with occasional increase and decrease to create a fabric which looks complex but is, according to Sonja, "a breeze to knit".
It can be worn as a caplet or a cowl. The suggested yarns include Harvest Hues and Appledore from John Arbon, all of which are available in top form as well as millspun yarn.
These socks can be knit toe-up (the correct way - I'll die on this hill) or cuff-down, the choice is yours. I'm told that in this picture, one has been knit one way, the other the other.
This pattern was suggested by Crafty Side Of Life in her 'weekly pattern' feature.
One nice feature of the example in the photos is the drape and indeed it's made using banana yarn, so I think this would be a candidate for some especially exotic or unusual fibre that makes a drapey fabric. One of the handspun examples on Ravelry is made from a banana / wool blend.
You can buy the pattern, or the book in which it appears, Wabi-Sabi, The Beauty of Artisanally Made Yarns.
This hand embroidery by Stewart Easton tells a story of a fictional family. It uses conductive thread which triggers music composed by Michael Tanner so each person touching the work creates their own soundtrack.
This is an older project, it has been on display in Birmingham and London, I've been unable to find its current location.
The best write-up I've found of the project is an extract from MagPi magazine hosted on journalist Sean McManus' own site.
Vinny Stapley makes etherial art using transparent and sheer farbrics along with faded imagery and mixed media to "suggest the precarious nature of memory".
www.textileartist.org/vinny-stapley-shades-of-feminine-seascape
This wooden jacket is made from 250,000 tiny pieces of American walnut, stuck to a woven cotton twill.
Dot Replinger's woven work is part of the 'Making Place for the Arts at Home: Performance and Mid-Century Modern Architecture' installation at Krannert Art Museum.
The family have this blog which features many of Dot's weavings and is a joy to browse:
Cyrah Dardas' sensual work has connections to the earth. She uses oxidized metals, foraged plants, and botanical inks and dyes.
Jennifer J Lee paints photorealistic images on loosely-woven burlap. This gives them a pixellated look, "playing with the relationship between digital and analog representations of everyday objects".
Emily made the move from paint to stitches. She found that 'not knowing the rules' gave her the freedom to experiment.
Tyrrell Tapaha uses handspun and commercial yarn in their Navajo weaving, naturally dyed.
26 - 27 April 2025, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells
First held in 2006 to promote the market for Welsh wool and add value to product for small wool & fibre producers in Wales, the festival celebrates the green credentials of Welsh wool and its versatility as a material for creative crafts, designer clothes, home furnishings and more.
Wonderwool Wales has grown year on year. It covers everything from the start to the end of the creative process.
A list of accommodation and camping in the surrounding area is available on the Wonderwool website.
Fri 4 - Sat 5 April 2025
Since 2019 Edinburgh been missing an important festival: a yarn festival!
A new event to celebrate knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners and fibre lovers with a festival of crafts, workshops, talks, food, music and good company.
12 - 13 April 2025 - The Grammar School, Leeds
90 stalls, food, free parking, workshops, demos.
The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
12 - 13 April 2025, venue tbc
Yarns, fibres, weaving, crochet, knitting, spinning, accessories and workshops and more.
17 - 18 May 2025, Grand Octagon room, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton
50 exhibitors will be displaying the best of yarn, knitting, and crochet in the gateway to the Peak District. The website contains an exhibitor list and ticket information.
The event's home page contains some charity patterns raising money for Macmillan.
17-18 May 2025 Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ
Celebrating textiles through a series of talks, workshops and a market featuring 50+ textile stalls each day
Fri 30 May - Sat 31 May 2025, Galashiels, TD1 3JX and tba
The two-day festival isn't just a yarn festival, it's a celebration of independent textile artists, crafters, dyers and spinners, as well as its local community.
Textile exhibitions, interactive activities, workshops, a brand new Fleece Market and over 30 craft stalls
7-8 June 2025 Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, Devon
A yarn and fibre show with a twist - it's aimed to educate and connect people with the origin of their yarns, wool fibre and more...you'll find flax, leather, nettle, wood, ceramic and more at the show!
Brought to you by the organisers of Stitch Fest South West.
7 - 8 June 2025 Magna, Magna Way, Sheffield S60 1FD
Accessible, inclusive, welcoming.
7 - 8 June, 2025, The Assembly Rooms, South Molton Town Hall with tour of JAT Mill
This legendary event returns. Includes mill tour and workshops, talks and even a few other vendors at the beautiful 18th century function rooms in South Molton Town Hall
Tickets for tours, talks and workshops are now available for booking.
14 -15 June 2025, Dilham, Norfolk, NR28 9PT
Hosted by the historic Worstead Guild.
21 - 22 June 2025, J36 Rural Auction Centre, Cumbria
A gathering of people with a love for wool and yarn, and the associated crafts. The first Cumbrian Wool Gathering is organised by the same team responsible for Bakewell Wool Gathering and Buxton Wool Gathering.
5 - 6 July 2025, Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare
A new Summer yarn show by the sea!
Expect a fantastic selection of premium exhibitors, hands-on workshops, and exciting demos all wrapped up in a wonderful seaside atmosphere.
26 - 27 July 2025 Redborne School, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2NU
100 of the very best stalls from all over the country, a great range of workshops, a street food area, lots of room to sit and chat, free demonstrations and advice from several local guilds.
Picks up where Fibre East left off.
9 - 10 August 2025, Newcastle Racecourse
90 amazing stalls plus a great range of workshops. cafe, demonstrations.
16 August 2025, Hulme Hall, 23 Bolton Rd, Bebington, Wirral
A selection of vendors selling everything from hand dyed yarns and fibres to felting kits and needles
Entry £4 per person, available on the door or online.
30 - 31 August 2025, Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
A festival of woolly goodies. The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
30 - 31 August 2025 at Perth Concert Hall
The Scottish Yarn Festival is the new name for Perth Festival of Yarn.
The Vendors' Gallery Marketplace is the place to find materials and inspiration for your future crafting projects, the chance to meet and talk with the makers behind your favourite independent brands, to indulge in a little celebrity spotting.
Past tutors and lecturers have included Jeanette Sloan, Françoise Danoy, Andre de Castro, Di Gilpin, and Amy Palko
A fringe programme of social events has included books signings, gala dinners and fashions shows, and Perthshire gin flights
12 - 13 September 2025, Farnham Maltings
unravel... autumn is a celebration of all things yarn making from knitting and crochet to spinning and weaving
At the core of unravel... autumn is the curated marketplace which showcases independent producers, well established makers alongside first-time yarn show exhibitors from around the UK. In addition, on each day of the festival, there is an inspiring programme of bookable workshops.
20 - 21 September 2025, the centre of Llandovery
A weekend celebration of rural crafts, food, entertainment and of course, sheep farming.
27 - 28 September 2025, Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire
Over 180 makers, craft workers, retailers, and artisans in the picturesque market town of Skipton, North Yorkshire.
28 September - 4 October 2025
Shetland Wool Week is a world renowned celebration of Britain's most northerly native sheep, the Shetland textile industry and the rural farming community on these islands.
Includes classes, talks, drop-ins, art. See website for the full events listing.
Sat 4 - Sun 5 October 2025 The Corn Hall, Cirencester
A two-day celebration of all things wool and yarn, including stalls, talks, demonstrations and workshops
Tickets available online now.
9 - 12 October 2025, Alexandra Palace, London
17 - 19 October 2025, The Trades Hall, Glasgow
Scotland's longest running yarn festival, championing local and innovative makers since 2011.
GSoY has an abundance of beautiful yarns, fibres, and accessories for every crafter.
18 - 19 October 2025 Staffordshire County Showground
Bakewell Wool Gathering has moved to Stafford. More details tbc
1 - 2 November 2025, Newton Abbot Racecourse.
Since 2016, Stitch Fest has moved to bigger venues and is now held under one roof at Newton Abbot Racecourse, showcasing some of the best independent makers, dyers, spinners and designers and a fabulous workshop and demonstration timetable.
8 - 9 November 2025, Sandburn Hall, York YO60 7RB
More details to follow
20 - 23 November 2025, Harrogate Convention Centre
Meet up with like-minded crafters, discuss ideas, learn new skills and shop for your annual craft supplies, including wool, beads and beyond from household name brands and special suppliers alike including Fabric Godmother, Toft and more.
I'm Shiela Dixon, I've been doing this for almost fifteen years in order to promote and encourage spinning and related crafts.
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Shiela Dixon - Editor / curator
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