Cloud Dancer named Pantone Colour of the Year 2026
Pantone have announced the colour of the year for 2026 and it's a curious choice. The understated neutral greyish-white has "a natural and human quality", says Pantone's Laurie Pressman.
Hand Spinning News
The Popcorn Garland yarn pictured right features squished coils to make the popcorn shapes. It's one of two festive art yarn tutorials published this month, the other features corespinning, automatic wrapping and jingle bells!
Long Thread have announced the winners of their Cashmere on Ice competition and there's now a Winners Gallery with pictures and details of the winners in the Best Art or Decor, Best of Ladakh, Best Wearable and People's Choice categories.
There may still be time to knit your winter jumper, particularly if you use aran-weight yarn for a quick knit. This month's pattern suggestions include two such jumpers, one free and one paid.
Shoelaces also feature this month. Highland Heffalump has finished two pairs and if you fancy tablet-weaving your own laces, LittleLooms have made this tablet-weaving project free.
If you'd like an email notification of when the free issue goes live each month, I've launched a page at patreon.com/handspinningnews where you can become a member for free.
If you like HSN and would like to support the endeavour, find out how to receive a longer version in your inbox, earlier than the free edition appears online.
without further ado, read on for all of this and more news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers. This is the shorter free round-up for December 2025.
Cover photo: Thanks to Jenn of fibreworkshop.co.uk, Norfolk Horn sheep
Contents
- In the media
- Handspun stories
- Recent, current and forthcoming events
- Tips and tutorials
- Products and reviews
- Video and audio
- Technology
- Gallery
Some of the best spinning images I've seen this month - Free Pattern and project suggestions
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn - More Patterns and projects
More project ideas which will work well with handspun yarn - But is is art...?
- UK Events
The first few events for your 2026 calendar
In the media
Handspun stories
The big, docile Cotswold Lion
The Cotswold is a longwool breed with fleece so good that it was known as the 'golden fleece'. The woolsack in the House of Lords is stuffed with the stuff.
Adam has written about this large docile breed this month.
Wool mill feature: Ewethful Fiber Farm and Mill
Ply Magazine has featured Ewethful Fiber Farm and Mill, a small mill specialising in making small batches of roving from local sheep and alpaca.
Replica George Washington sash
Inspired by seeing a photo of a sash dating frrom 1709, 300 years earlier, Carol decided to make a replica.
Edvard Munch's Christmas Tree Baskets
These decorations were made by Edvard Munch and his siblings. This article goes into detail about the tradition and about these four examples, which are now kept by the Norsk Folkemuseum.
Angela Knipe's gansey fish
Angela Knipe's 'impossibly small' gansey fish demonstrate some of the stitches found in traditional ganseys and this chart gives the meaning of some of them.
In this article Jeni takes a deeper look into the history and possible origins of this garment.
Meet Paul Vervoorn
Over the last couple of years we've been watching the story unfold of Paul Vervoorn's acquisition of Louët and Schacht as well as Venne.
Schacht have published this Q&A with Paul in which he answers some questions about the future of the companies and their identities.
Rug hooking with handspun
Rug hooking is usually done with strips of wool cloth but in the current Spin Off print magazine, Betsy Alspach shares her passion for hooking with handspun yarn.
In this article, Pamela introduces the technique with a 'getting started' video and some tips.
Mini Sweater Pin Loom Day
This annual event invites pin loom crafters to make a mini sweater.
I'm amazed by the creativity. The page of previous years' sweaters includes Christmas jumpers, hoodies, Fair Isle, Argyle, even one for an Elf on the Shelf.
The invite is still open as I write this, the deadline for 2025 submissions is 18 December, with the publication of this year's creations in the form of an e-book on the 20th.
Recent, current and forthcoming events
Tips and tutorials
Yarn that jingles all the way!
This yarn uses corespinning and autowrapping techniques plus it has beads or even little bells.
Rachel says that these are relatively straightforward techniques that will look stunning. She has step-by-step instructions.
sweetgeorgiayarns.com/spin-a-corespun-yarn-that-jingles-all-the-way
Tulle and tools for blending boards
In this very useful article, Amy talks about the tools that you might use with a blending board and then describes three different ways to use your board.
Weaving without a shuttle
Durham Weaver has written about two ways to weave a narrow band without a shuttle.
Measuring wraps per inch (WPI)
Wraps per inch is an important measurement of your yarn. If you're not familiar with what this means or how to measure it, SweetGeorgia have written this guide with a chart that you can download in return for an email address.
WPI tools are common but it's just as easy to use a ruler or a piece of dowel with an inch marked on it.
Playing with fractal spinning
Fractal spinning is a technique for distributing the colours in a hand-dyed braid.
Jillian shows here that it can also be used to blend more than one braid.
So you want to spin with a spindle
If you're very new here then this may be for you. Jillian has some 'getting started' advice with links to a few resources.
Deck The Halls with Faux Popcorn Garland Handspun Yarn!
It's so good to see an art yarn tutorial and this one is appropriately festive. Make a Festive Popcorn Garland to hang around your tree.
Diana says that it's "really simple once you get the rhythm".
Threading the loom ergonomically
Laura Fry has written this post for The Handweaving Academy with tips for threading your loom more ergonomically.
Products and Reviews
Listen to the Wool by Josefin Waltin
Spinner, teacher and writer Josefin Waltin has published her first book entitled Listen to the Wool with photography by Dan Waltin.
Says Josefin, "it's a journey of connection, creativity, and mindful craftsmanship. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced spinner, this book is your perfect companion, offering insights into every aspect of wool preparation and spinning."
It's now available to order at multiple stores.
Five budget-friendly weaving tools
Cristina has compiled this collection of clever weaving tools, including this yarn holder, adhesive measuring tape, hand lotion bar, skein keepers and a magnetic needle minder bracelet.
https://littlelooms.com/five-fabulous-fiber-related-finds...
Majacraft Luna limited edition
Majacraft released four one-of-a-kind Luna wheels, each representing a season (my thumbnail shows 'Winter').
They've been hand-decorated by Suzy Brown and finished with Majacraft's usual clear coat.
They held a draw to select who could buy them, which closed on 1 December. (One of the limitations of a monthly newsletter is that the timing sometimes doesn't work out.)
The Fourth Edition of Weaving for Beginners
The fourth edition of Peggy Osterkamp's Weaving for Beginners includes a poster with directions for warping your loom.
Here's Peggy's announcement on her own blog.
tinyStudio Issue 29
The latest issue of TinyStudio marks the 7-year anniversary. It features Charlene Wibbing's spindles, Salley Mavor's embroidery, a felted scarf project with Natasha Smart and more.
Video and audio
Bog bodies
Kay of MDK recommends a recent episode of the Haptic & Hue podcast in which host Jo talks about the styles of clothing found on archaeological finds.
This all relates to a recent book, Bog Fashion: Recreating Bronze and Iron Age Clothes . External Link. Opens in new window.by Nicole DeRushie.
Technology
Beer yeast leftovers spun into a promising sustainable yarn
A group in the US has reported that protiens can be extracted from brewery yeast waste and spun into a fibre stronger than wool.
Smart fabric gives robots a soft touch
Researchers have developed a twisted yarn which responds to a magnetic field. They've made this into a fur-like fabric, where the fibres can stiffen and be used, for example, to grip fragile things. They've also woven it into cloth with self-opening ventilation flaps.
The video demonstrates how the fibre works and is made. There is a little more detail in this news article.
The darkest fabric ever made
This dress isn't just black, it's ultrablack.
Researchers in the university's Responsive Apparel Design (RAD) Lab dyed a white merino wool knit fabric with polydopamine, which is a synthetic melanin. This wasn't enough to create the darkest known fabric ever created. To do that they had to etch the fabric to create spiky nanoscale growths called nanofibrils.
Gallery
Sometimes just a picture is enough
Cashmere on Ice winners
This news features four projects for the price of one. Back in March, Long Thread Media held a competition called Cashmere on Ice to highlight the threats to the production of luxury fibres from melting glaciers. Participants were invited to submit original work involving cashmere.
Here are the winners of Best Art or Decor, Best of Ladakh, Best Wearable and People's Choice.
Good Vintage
Thread Head Joanne made this cardigan from various scraps of handspun and reclaimed yarn. It's vaguely based on the Good Vintage Cardigan by Fran Morgan.
Shifu flowers
These flowers are made from shifu or handspun paper thread
it's very strong; Jean says that it weaves on the pin loom without ever breaking.
onesmallstitch.wordpress.com...shifu-flowers-and-knitted-squares
Shoelaces
This is the second pair of shoelaces that Highland Heffalump has woven. They both now have their aglets fitted and in this post she shares what she has learned along the way.
If you'd like to learn more, LittleLooms have published a free project this month.
Neck Warmth
Ewespecial created this lovely texture by using wool containing stainless steel, then after knitting, tying in large wooden beads and then fulling the yarn a little. More details are in the blog post.
Fruiting baskets
These beautiful vessels are presented in Sarah's usual style. They're made with handspun coffee filter yarn, milkweed and dogbane (some naturally dyed).
Free patterns and projects
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
Between the Trees by Amy Gunderson
This jumper uses three colours, with the 'trees' extending into the next colour for some blending. Two colours are carried during these blending sections.
The design has nine sizes, using 1320 - 2640 yards of aran (8 wpi) yarn.
Easy tablet weaving shoelace project
LittleLooms have made this tablet-weaving project free (with a free account).
This project is beginner-friendly - it doesn't necessarily require a loom and you can make your own cards.
Pattern and project suggestions
The Traveler Shell by Andrea Mowry
This is an easy-to-slip-on open cardy with big pockets. It has been popular with hand spinners, I particularly like JiayiK's (pictured in my thumbnail).
Sharon wasn't happy with the style of the pattern-writing but was still happy with her result.
Minecrafty Pullover by SweaterFreak
The designer recommends an Icelandic-style low-twist yarn because they're light and warm.
This jumper also has a wide range of sizes and uses aran-weight (8 wpi) yarn.
Rib Welt Cowl by SweaterFreak
This is designed for a luxury fibre so indulge yourself. You may like to consider hand-dyed yarn too, if not self-dyed, which is SweetGeorgia's suggestion.
It's a clever design, almost a caplet. lovetorun calls her handspun version "the best fitting cowl ever!"
Twig Shawl by Tin Can Knits
This shawl features texture and a ribbed edge that drapes around your shoulders.
It calls for DK yarn and Tin Can Knits have chosen John Arbon Knit by Numbers DK, which is of course available in a large number of colours for spinning.
The December Hood by Karysha
Thanks to Tina for this seasonal recommendation.
One of the reasons she particularly liked this pattern was the inclusion of WPI so that she could create a suitable yarn.
It can be worn as a cowl or pulled up for a hood and drawn tight with the i-cord.
Bedizen Socks by Meiju Kallio
Cuff-down colourwork socks with geometric and organic motifs.
The suggested yarn is John Arbon Textiles Exmoor Sock which is available as undyed top for spinning .
Worsted Tree Coasters by Amy Marie
Thanks to Knit/Wit for this suggestion. She made hers (pictured in my thumbnail) using "colours that would read as wintery but not necessarily Christmas". She calls the pattern "fun and straightforward to knit".
Each requires just 34 yards of worsted-weight (9 wpi) yarn, preferably cotton or similar.
But is it art...?
Tiny crocheted porcelain vessels by Jeremy Brooks
Jeremy Brooks has developed a clay which behaves more like yarn when extruded and can be crocheted.
Vibrant, beaded portraits by Felandus Thames
Felandus Thames renders photographic portraits using beads more commonly used in hair braids.
Rikako Nagashima - Irreversible Scale
The left-hand box, which looks like a temperature blanket, contains a selection of calendars printed on sustainable wool and rolled. Each is unrolled and put in the right-hand box to display it.
Rikako Nagashima's goal is to highlight the urgency of the climate crisis.
Abdoulaye Konaté translates ancient spirituality into lush tapestries
Abdoulaye Konaté's giant tapestries are created by hand. They dye, cut and stitch strips of fabric according to sketches which include ancient symbols and motifs.
www.thisiscolossal.com....abdoulaye-konate-textile-tapestries
Adrienna Matzeg's embroideries
Adrienna Matzeg's most recent pieces capture the essence of a greasy spoon.
www.thisiscolossal.com...adrienna-matzeg-order-up-embroideries
Meticulously stitched leaves by Susanna Bauer
Susanna Bauer transforms leaves into elegant, tiny textile pieces.
Her latest work is featured in the show Rock Paper Scissors at Close gallery, Somerset.
April Sproule mixed media
April Sproule's work contains a large number of materials and techniques such as hand appliqué, hand embroidery, stencilling. Linen, silk, cotton, textile paints, handmade paper.
Choi + Shine crochet the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac
Jin Choi and Thomas Shine's work "Distance" comprises crocheted sculptures representing all 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac suspended above a reflective surface.
UK Events
2026
Waltham Abbey Wool Show
Sun 18 Jan 2026, Delta Marriott Hotel, Old Shire Lane, Waltham Abbey
All-day and timed tickets available.
Chosen charity since 2017 is Knit for Peace. Workshops range from beginner to intermediate.
50 exhibitors, a selection of crochet, knitting, spinning and other craft workshops at a variety of levels.
The theme for the 2025 Competition is Neckwear!
Blaise Wool Festival 2026
1 Feb 2026 Bradford Industrial Museum BD2 3HP
Celebrate the patron saint of Woolcombers, Bishop Blaise, and the history of wool in Bradford.
Alongside local traders selling wool and textile-based products, visitors can enjoy craft workshops, music from Hallroyd Brass Band and Bradford Voices Choir, talks and demonstrations from local institutions with links to the wool industry in Bradford.
Textiles East Fair
21 - 22 February 2026, Rowley Mile Racecourse, Cambridge Road, Newmarket
Aims to provide a dynamic, active platform for textile artists to exhibit and retailers to showcase their beautiful products for purchase.
textileseastfair.wordpress.com/spring-into-textiles-east-fair
Unravel
Friday 13 - Sunday 15 February 2026, Farnham Maltings, Hampshire
unravel brings together a vibrant community of knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and makers for several days of textiles, creativity and connection.
farnhammaltings.com/artists-and-makers/craft/festivals/unravel
North West Winter Wool Festival
14 - 15 February 2026, Norbreck Castle Hotel Blackpool
A gathering dedicated to the rich traditions of knitting, crocheting, weaving, and spinning. Created by an indie yarn dyer in response to the increasing call for more fibre arts events in the North West, this festival offers a warm, welcoming space for creativity and community.
Kernow YAFF - Cornwall's Yarn and Fibre Festival
Sunday 22 February 2026, The Pavilion Centre, Royal Cornwall Showground PL27 7JE
Showcasing the best of hand-dyed, hand-crafted and sustainable yarns, fibres and related products, all in an exciting market-style show with a vibrant festival feel.
East Anglia Yarn Festival
21 - 22 March 2026, Norfolk Showground Arena
East Anglia's premier fibre festival, bringing amazing exhibitors to Norwich for the second year. Classes, crochet and knit-a-long, The Big Stitch Night, podcaster meet-up.
The Woolly Good Gathering
17 - 18 April 2026
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.
Spring Into Wool
11 - 12 April 2026, The Grammar School, Leeds
80 stalls, food, free parking, workshops, demos.
The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
The Sodbury Yarn Over
18 - 19 April 2026, venue tbc
Yarns, fibres, weaving, crochet, knitting, spinning, accessories and workshops and more.
Wonderwool Wales
25 - 26 April 2026, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells
2026 is the 20th Anniversary. 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.
Support Hand Spinning News
I'm Shiela Dixon, I've been doing this for around sixteen years in order to promote and encourage spinning and related crafts.
It's made possible by a number of readers who contribute financially. You can join them with a regular contribution (pay what you like, no matter how small) and in return receive a longer version of HSN delivered to your email inbox earlier in the month than the free edition appears.
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Archive
All issues since January 2015 still exist but due to old and dead links making bad SEO, I had to remove them from public view.
However, Patreon is slowly becoming a new archive since free members have access to free issues since January '25, and paying members have access to full editions since then.