If you are moving beyond the basics with your spinning, then you may have heard the terms woolen and worsted but still not be sure how or why you would spin either. Two different articles by Rudy Amann and Jillian Moreno this month deal with the subject.
Do you have a dedicated space for your crafting? Would you like one? Thread Head gives us a tour of her 'multi-craftual room' and Fiber Sprite gives us the benefit of her research and experiences with getting the right amount of light in her spinning and weaving studio. If your space is cluttered, then Interweave editors have reached out to the community and have some advice for clearing those UFOs.
Read on for this month's round-up of news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers.
This free issue for March 2023 is brought to you in association with Audible. I'm a member and enjoy listening while I spin and knit. The new Audible gives you unlimited listening to thousands of titles.
Find out how to receive a longer, ad-free* version of Hand Spinning News earlier in the month.
Cover photo: Manx Loaghtan Sheep by robbinsbox.
This is Derek Bird who has experience building textile machinery and was drafted in to help get Leeds Industrial Museum's Victorian spinning mule running again.
The museum was once the world's largest woollen mill. This article has lots of information about the museum and the machinery.
news.leeds.gov.uk/news/museums-old-school-mule-is-still-alive-and-kicking
local knitwear designer Donna Smith has taken the job of curator for Shetland Wool Week.
The patron and hat pattern will be announced next month.
www.shetlandtimes.co.uk...local-designer-to-curate-shetland-wool-week
Wool producer Jenny Shepherd has been donating wool to Ukraine through the Wool for Ukraine initiative.
This is a radio interview in which Jenny talks about how touching it is to receive thank you messages. The country has a strong tradition of knitting and the recipients are finding the donation therapeutic.
www.manxradio.com...manx-wool-supporting-families-and-troops-in-ukraine
"What do you call the rolls of fibre that you make with your handcards, blending board or drumcarder?" asks Anne.
The words rolag and puni have become a little interchangeable, with some offerings described as "rolag punis".
Anne decodes the terms, looks at how you might spin them and invites you to "pick up a handful of fibre cigars and spin happy".
Whether or not you're lucky enough to have a dedicated room for your crafting, it's always fascinating to have a tour of someone else's space, to see what crafts they do and how they've organised their space.
Thread Head Joanne quilts, spins, dyes and weaves. This is a tour of her creative space.
joanne-threadhead.blogspot.com/2023/03/my-multi-craftual-room.html
Pamela also discusses her studio in this post, in particular how she has managed to get enough light to work by without calling an electrician.
She links to a couple of books that she found useful.
Jeni Hankins made a weekend trip to Edinborough and writes about three exhibitions that she visited. Two of those are drawing to a close as I write this, but all the same, it's an interesting travel log and may inspire you to make your own textile-themed weekend break.
www.moderndailyknitting.com/2023/03/02/knitters-weekend-edinburgh-hankins
Interweave editors have reached out to the community to discover the main reasons why so many of us have so many UFOs - unfinished objects, and offer some advice for clearing your crafting space. All without judgement!
www.interweave.com...ufos-reasons-crochet-knitting-projects-go-unfinished
Kate has bought some Saxon Blue Liquid from Botanical Colors. She has tried using a resist to create speckles in the yarn for a traditional Norwegian flammegarn look. These are her samples
See also, from 2019, Linda Login brewing her own Saxon Blue dye.
spinoffmagazine.com/roving-reporter-dyeing-flammegarn-socks-twist
For the last couple of years Sarah has been trying her hand at 3d vessel knitting.
She has tried paper, willow bark, dogbane and milkweed cordage and she finds the fibres "simply glorious".
If you're curious about this, she gives some details of her experiments to find the best starch to use. It's good to see Sarah blogging again, her words, her projects, her photographs and her sketches are all delightful.
If you're feeling the need for something fresh with your crochet, Marissa Bouska has 12 challenges. See how many you can conquer.
www.interweave.com/article/crochet/crochet-inspiration-ways-challenge-yourself
I'm sneaking in one of my own posts as I do sometimes.
I finished this jumper a while ago, but there was an aspect I wasn't happy with.
It involved buying more fibre and spinning more yarn. Fortunately I have found John Arbon blends to be very consistent.
blog.handspinner.co.uk/2023/02/a-little-bit-of-extra-work-to-bbc-micro.html
This is an interview with fibre artist Lauren Halsall of Rooted Fibres. It's an interesting discussion of her background and gallery of her work.
www.ashford.co.nz/blog/ashford-artist-of-the-month-feb-23-lauren-halsall
Simone has bought a Tibetan support spindle and taught herself how to use it. Here are her experiences.
sandandskycreations.com...wip-wednesday-support-spindle-spinning
Sue has found a small mill that advertises washed fleece.
She doesn't mention the name, and that may be deliberate, because unfortunately she found the fleece sticky and could only spin it after re-washing it, which defeats the object a little.
What's a darning egg?
Ewespecial explains, while asserting that this isn't her most favourite activity.
This short, beautiful video is an insight into the craft of kumihimo, a braiding / cordmaking technique.
If you're within reach of London, the exhibition Kumihimo: Japanese Silk Braiding, features installations, looms, and dozens of examples of the braids.
See also, another 3-minute video on the same subject, featured in May 2019
This is an incredible resource developed by Fossil Fibers and provided free as an ad-free web page, with a downloadable simple checklist that you can take with you when looking at fleeces to make sure that you don't miss anything.
It covers, with good images, imperfections like kemp, breaks, second cut and yolk as well as looking at characteristics such as staple length and dual-coat.
My browser's 'reader view' and 'save to pdf' made great work of viewing and saving the guide. I highly recommend if you're interested in spinning raw fleece.
fossilfibers.wordpress.com...identifying-and-tackling-fleece-imperfections
In this series, craftmehappy is spinning the same top - John Arbon Appledore - using a variety of techniques.
Techniques 4 and 5 are dizzing the fibres off a blending board, and spinning from the end without pre-drafting.
You can see a comparisonof these two techniques in this article, and by the end of the series she hopes to knit a garment which will show the different levels of colour blending in order, so that the colours appear to come into focus across the garment.
www.craftmehappy.com/2023/03/spinning-into-focus-with-john-arbons.html
Is your drive band showing signs of wear? Have you run out of adjustment, or is the drive band material fraying?
Heavenly Bresser takes a look at the different drive systems, the various drive band materials and how to attach them.
For folks who don't have handmade clothes, the idea of having to treat knits differently than other clothes may be offputting.
However, the effort required to keep them up over many years is small compared to the many hours put into the item.
Alexa Ludeman covers how often to wash, blocking, washing, spot cleans, de-pilling and storing your knits.
The flat 3-needle bind-off joins two pieces with a neat chain and without the ridge of the standard 3-needle bind-off.
www.interweave.com/article/knitting/how-to-flat-three-needle-bind-off-tutorial
If you are moving beyond the basics with your spinning then this may be for you.
Spinners tend to agree on the definition of true worsted or true woolen yarn, but most of us tend to spin something between. Rudy Amann describes four categories with samples.
spinoffmagazine.com/worsted-woolen-or-semi-something-by-rudy-amann
By coincidence, Ashford present this article by Jillian Moreno on the basics of woolen and worsted spinning.
www.ashford.co.nz/blog/spinning-woolen-and-worsted-by-jillian-moreno-2
A wave stick is a tool you can make yourself or buy and Kaz Madigan says that it's "a whole lot of fun".
Liz has four options for weaving half-twill on a rigid heddle loom, using one, two or three heddles.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each.
yarnworker.com/four-threading-options-for-the-same-structure
Mattress stitch is a basic essential for garments that are knitted in parts and sewn together.
If done well it can 'zip up' your pieces without leaving a visible seam (on the outside anyway).
Sandi Rosner explains three variations - horizontal, vertical and perpendicular.
www.interweave.com/article/knitting/how-to-work-mattress-stitch-seams-three-ways
There are a number of considerations that mean that there's not one perfect sett for a given yarn and weave.
Peggy's article will help you to find the perfect sett for your purpose, width and yarn type.
peggyosterkamp.com/2023/03/select-the-sett-for-purpose-width-yarn-type
I'm including this product pick because of the 50th anniversary of the album that has inspired the colours here.
I imagine that many of the HSN audience are around the same age as me, and/or have similar musical tastes.
In this range of yarn, Alexandra has dyed 2-inch areas of bright colour, which give around half a dozen stitches of accent colour before being eclipsed by the main dark colour. (I tried to buy some but she seems to ship within the US only.)
alexandratheartofyarn.com/shop/yarn/dk-weight/dark-side-of-the-moon-midnight-dk
tinyStudio is a digital magazine that you can subscribe to or buy a single issue.
The blog post I'm linking to is a very good preview of the latest issue, number 18, which will certainly appeal to you if you enjoy HSN.
Among the articles are Art Yarn Knits by Lauren Halsall, Jen Johnson's Shetland flock, Priscilla Bradburn's amazingly detailed amigurimi dolls and Arlene Thayer talking about 'new' tech in spinning.
(See an earlier story for an interview with Lauren Halsall.)
Suzie Blackman reviews three books that will "inspire you to explore new possibilities with your craft"; Spinning Hand Dyed Fibre by Katie Weston, Yarnitecture by Jillian Moreno and The Spinner's Book of Yarn Designs by Sarah Anderson.
itsastitchup.co.uk/review/spinning-reimaged-books-that-inspire-creative-approaches-to-handspinning/
We had a review of this book last month, but if you're interested, this review from Jillian Moreno is worth reading.
Somehow I'd missed this video when it was published 4 months ago but happily Felicia referred back to it in a more recent one.
Here she discusses the topic of making socks using her circular sock machine (CSM) with handspun yarn in mind. She talks about the considerations you have to make when you spin the yarn, getting the fit right, colour, working heels and toes. She provides a link to a pdf containing her notes and photos.
If you're interested in tools such as 3d printers and laser cutters as well as in spinning wheels, then you'll be excited by this machine.
It's an open hardware spinning machine which means that in principle you could make your own from freely available files.
It does require a polyjet or other very accurate 3D printer for some parts.
If you watch the video, you'll see that the focus is on plying. It spins singles but it requires pre-drafted roving which it drafts a little more and adds twist. I look forward to further developments on this front.
Note the link in the text to the home-made drum carder.
hackaday.com/2023/01/21/an-open-hardware-automatic-spinning-machine
Brigitte kock has been working on various ways of connecting 3D prints to make textiles. The various types of interlocking designs she has come up with have resulted in fully 3d printed garments with some pretty unique looks.
makezine.com...brigitte-kocks-3d-printed-textiles-have-us-re-thinking-design
Sometimes just a picture is enough
If art yarn is intended to be appreciated in its own right, then making an arrangement or assemblage using the skein of yarn is the natural next step.
The colours and arrangement here make me think of Spring and Easter, although the maker hasn't tagged it as such.
There are Spring colours too in this sexy spindle shot by thecraftyredfox.
Iseaulte of the Clews bought these wooden bag handles a while ago but didn't have the courage to cut her fabric.
She finally found the nerve. I'm not sure that the diamond twill is handspun yarn but the plain-weave liner is.
Pictured here before blocking, these are Hive Mind mittens by Adrian Bizilia from Yarnitecture by Jillian Moreno.
Knit/Wit has made then using yarn that she spun from two Southern Cross Fibre colorways
In this post, Joanne talks about her 2023 Spin the Bin, which is a personal challenge to collect at least 24 ounces of fibre from your stash and spin it within the year.
She has already finished the spinning and the first project with the yarn was this overshot table runner.
Sally has made this cowl even more beautiful with the addition of beads.
The pattern is Zuzu's Petals by Carina Spencer
These beautiful gloves feature alpaca as well as colourful full spindles.
batbetty has made them in entirely handspun yarn. All of the details are on her Ravelry project page.
www.ravelry.com/projects/batbetty/rehe---alpaka-spindel-liebe
ThePenguinUnicorn has made this Avena sweater using Harvest Hues from John Arbon.
She had to order more fibre to finish the sleeves and unlike myself, she found that the next batch of fibre wasn't a match and so blended the old yarn with the new for a little way and also improvised a pattern on the sleeves to disguise the fact.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
This very practical project is aimed at a 'confident beginner'.
There are options for strengthening, lining and adding leather straps. The pattern also includes a tutorial on crocheting jogless stripes in the round.
The bag is 19" wide and 13" tall. The pattern suggests a modern 'tubular' yarn, but I guess that you could try anything that makes a sturdy fabric, gauge isn't critical.
As usual with M&DC patterns, you can pick your way through the ads on the web page or buy an ad-free pdf.
This kind of headband is practical and warm. This one is made using Zoom Loom squares (other square pin looms are available).
Schacht have provided full instructions as a downloadable pdf.
April's Center Stage Socks are more engaging than plain stockinette but plain enough to allow your yarn to take centre stage.
They're toe-up, which allows you to halve your yarn and knit the legs until you've used it all.
Although the download is free, April invites you to buy her a coffee if you like it.
The year of the rabbit inspired this poseable rabbit doll.
It's a character that you can dress. The pattern includes some clothes, some of Claire's other patterns include other clothes.
Claire says that the yarn suggestions (alpaca and a kid-silk held together) are mere suggestions.
Since Andrea made the very popular Pressed Flowers Shawl pattern, she's added Pressed Flowers Cardigan, Pressed Flowers Hat and Pressed Flowers Cowl.
This page is a showcase for all of the Pressed Flowers patterns, and shows how it looks in some dramatically different colour choices.
www.moderndailyknitting.com/2023/02/14/a-pressed-flowers-cowl
With its 'espresso art'-inspired design This brioche cowl is perfect for enjoying a coffee outdoors.
contrasting yarns in 4ply weight with good stitch definition.
www.interweave.com/product/ristretto-cowl-knit-pattern-download
Double-ended, double-thickness hats have been trending You can use all of a skein if you're careful. The unique feature of this hat is the cast-on and crown shaping, which Sarah created because she didn't love that of a popular similar pattern.
It uses 400 - 500 yards of Fingering / 4 ply (14 wpi) yarn. The pattern has five sizes. It includes a photo tutorial for the cast-on method.
This crochet shawl is made from hexagons with a beaded lace border.
As I write this, the pattern is free, but as is often the case, these offers are limited-time and don't often work well with HSN release dates. So apologies if it's no longer free when you read this.
Signs of Life is a site-specific installation at Galerie Templon, New York.
Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota has knotted and wound string and other objects to form structures reminiscent of the human brain's neural networks to the digital realm today's world relies on.
1-2 April 2023, The Grammar Schol, Leeds LS17 8GS
22-23 April 2023, 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.
Rescheduled for 7 and 8 May 2023, Grand Octagon room, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton
(Originally planned for 11 and 12 March 2023 but cancelled due to snow)
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.
13 - 14 May 2023 Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire
A celebration of all things woolly, just 25 mins from J13 of the M6, in the beautiful landscaped gardens of Staffordshire's grade II listed Georgian mansion, Bishton Hall.
Saturday 3 June 2023 Leeds Industrial Museum
This popular event includes a packed out craft market, expert demonstrations, talks, performances, tea rooms, a gin palace pop-up and loads more
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk...leeds-wool-festival
10 - 11 June 2023, Dilham, Norfolk, NR28 9PT
Hosted by the historic Worstead Guild,
Friday 16 - Sunday 18 June, 2023, John Arbon Textiles, Hacche Lane Business Park, South Molton
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.
24 and 25 June 2023, J36 Rural Auction Centre
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.
3 June - 9 July, actual events and venues tbc
A celebration of innovation in textiles across Kirklees
29 -30 July 2023 Redborne School, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2NU
For all lovers of woolly crafts - spinning, knitting, weaving, crochet, feltmaking and dyeing.
Picks up from where Fibre East left off.
2 and 3 September 2023, Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
Fri 8 and Sat 9 September 2023
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.
9 & 10 September 2023. Dewars Centre, Glover St, Perth PH2 0TH
Scotland's contemporary yarn and fibre festival. Bringing together independent dyers, farmers, knitters, spinners, felters and weavers. In 2018 nominated for the best yarn festival in the UK. Vendors' gallery marketplace, over 80 vendors, keynote event, social events and classes run over the weekend.
Cornwall's Yarn and Fibre Festival - Sunday 17 September 2023, The Pavilion Centre, Royal Cornwall Showground
A new event in Cornwall 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.
23 and 24 September 2023, Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire
over 180 makers, craft workers, retailers, and artisans in the picturesque market town of Skipton, North Yorkshire.
23 September - 1 October 2023
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.
30 September and 1 Ocober 2023, Masham Town Hall
Craft market and fleece stalls, specialising in British wool to compliment the sheep-related events that fill the square of Masham over the weekend.
October 2023 Bakewell Agricultural Centre (actual date tbc)
A wool festival dedicated to the best of yarn, knitting, and crochet, in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales.
There will be exhibitors, demonstrations of fibre crafts and a fleece stand selling plenty of local fleece.
5-8 October 2023, Alexandra Palace, London
Saturday 7 October 2023, Liskeard Public Hall.
20 -22 October 2023, 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.
Last weekend of October 2023, Kendal Town Hall
Kendal Wool Gathering mixes demonstrations, fun activities and displays, all connected to the cloth on which the town's wealth was built.
All things woolly - exhibitions, patterns, demonstrations.
26 November 2023, Sandburn Hall, York YO60 7SG
Exhibitor applications now open
I'm Shiela Dixon, I've been doing this for around ten years in order to promote and encourage the craft of spinning.
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 ad-free* version (approx half the number of stories again) of HSN earlier in the month.
All that remains is for me to thank everyone who blogs, writes articles or posts pictures on the subject of spinning, knitting, crochet or weaving. This newsletter wouldn't exist without them.
If you enjoy Hand Spinning News, please do share a link to hand-spinning-news.com by email or on social media with anyone who may be interested.
It's always good to hear from readers for any reason (or no reason!)
Happy spinning!
Shiela Dixon - Editor / curator
If you're reading this newsletter on the web and would like it delivered to your email inbox for free every month, just fill in your email address in the box somewhere below. If you've reading this in your inbox and would prefer not to receive any more, just use the Mailchimp 'unsubscribe' link at the foot of the email.
A PeacockMedia publication
Hand Spinning News as a free monthly email.
Please share HSN with your friends:
Follow me on Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
