Hand Spinning News
Is it an accident that Mother's Day (in the UK) coincides with peak lambing time? Kristin Nicholas has posted some short videos of playful lambs from her farm and Fossil Fibres has written about the Border Leicester breed.
Combo-spinning is a topic that's come up again and again this month. Pamela has some tips and Gaelle Troude writes about combo-spinning as a reflective practice and using combo-spin techniques to achieve an intentional gradient. If you've heard of combo-spinning, have you also heard of combo-drafting and combo-plying? Deborah expounds on those.
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.
This is a bumper issue due to cutting off a little early last month for family reasons, so 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 March 2026.
Cover photo: Global public content from Nova Scotia Archives.
Contents
In the media
12,000-year-old fabric scraps
Some fragments of clothing have become available for analysis and radio carbon dating shows them to be 12,000 years old. Although there's plenty of evidence that people wore clothing and worked with fibres long before, this may be the oldest example that has been found so far. Twining and sewing are evident.
The fragments were preserved due to the dry air in the cave. The discovery was made by an amateur archaeologist in 1958 but only recently became available for analysis by experts.
See also evidence of indigo dyeing and nalbinding bronze-age fragments found in Anatolia.
www.smithsonianmag.com...oldest-known-examaples-of-sewing...
Handspun stories
How can I get more on my spindle?
I'm very happy to see Amelia blogging again. In taking an interest in her blog once more, she discovered some unpublished drafts. This is one of them, it's from 2012, bookended with her thoughts from 2026.
She gives some thoughts followed by practical tips for winding on neatly and thus fitting more yarn on your spindle. The reason for the pile of logs will become clear.
askthebellwether.blogspot.com...how-can-i-get-more-on-my-spindle.html
Weaving on the highway
Elisabeth Hill took her rigid-heddle loom on a cross-country road trip for warping and weaving on the go.
The trip included visits to mills and yarn stores, designing scarves for each state visited and finding creative opportunities for warping and conversations with strangers.
littlelooms.com/weaving-on-the-highway
Alpenglow closing down sale
Alpenglow are known for bridging the gap between fibre crafts and electronics and have produced tools such as skein winders and swifts. Sadly Carrie and Robyn are closing the business and so if there's anything you've had your eye on, this is your opportunity. If you already have any of their products then there may be spares that you want to stock up on.
www.alpenglowindustries.com/blogs/all-blogs/closing-the-business
Three heddle twill sampler on rigid heddle
HighlandHeffalump has finished this sampler from Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom by Syne Mitchell. It includes six three-heddle patterns which HH wove on her 10" Samplit loom.
This blog post includes her notes on each of the twills along with her feelings about working with three heddles.
highlandheffalump.com...twill-sampler-on-rigid-heddle-sampleit-fo
Recent, current and forthcoming events
What you've made - Unravel 2026
John Arbon Textiles have blogged about their weekend at the Unravel festival - their first visit to that show for a while.
There are many, many pictures of finished items made from their yarn and fibre.
www.jarbon.com/blogs/news/what-youve-made-unravel-2026
Tips and tutorials
How do you spin a braid?
"How do I tackle a beautiful hand-dyed braid?" is a common question. Spin Off have addressed it in this 'spin a long' video course.
It's being released in an interesting way. The introduction, Lesson One and a chain-plying tutorial are all available from this page. Further lessons will be released for free between now and June. Spin Off subscribers and those who purchase the course will have access to all lessons right away, with bonus materials to come.
spinoffmagazine.com/how-do-you-spin-a-braid
How to fix unwanted floats in your weaving
Christina says that this was one of the first things that she learned as a weaver.
We make floats intentionally when knitting stranded colourwork but in plain-weave they're undesirable. Fortunately the fix is easy.
littlelooms.com/how-to-easily-fix-unwanted-floats
Products and Reviews
Baby dragon mini blending boards
As per Suzy's Andean plying tools and niddy-noddies, these baby dragon mini blending boards are laser-cut, sanded and hand-painted in a surprise colour scheme. Each comes with a tiny carder and fibre fork for making mini rolags.
There's a video on this page demonstrating its use, but sadly the shop update is now sold out.
This kind of short-lived shop update or sale has always been a problem with a monthly newsletter. It occurs to me that this would be a good use of Patreon - If I post such a story there between issues, both free and paying members will receive a notification by email. Details are here if you're interested.
www.fiberygoodness.com...baby-dragon-mini-blending-boards
Devon Naturals fibre tops
John Arbon Textiles have added a range of naturals to their catalogue.
There are 10 undyed shades and three blends of 100% traceable British wool tops to choose from.
www.jarbon.com/products/devon-naturals-tops
Video and audio
Swapped Skeins
Are you interested in a knitting-based whodunnit?
Clara Parkes has written this "Miss Clarple" mystery story, which is to be serialised weekly through to the end of March.
You can read each instalment at MDK, or listen to Clara read it - there's a link at the top of this first episode.
www.moderndailyknitting.com...swapped-skeins-chapter-1-a-visitor
Michigan farm holds annual shearing day
A Michigan farm invites visitors to an annual shearing day. Skirting and baling are demonstrated as well as the shearing.
It's designed to dispel myths as well as educate. This two-minute video is an enjoyable watch and the model could be adopted more widely.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJNV9l6X3o8
Gallery
Sometimes just a picture is enough
Meandering into existence
Sarah has entitled this piece K tog, A Manifesto. It includes one of her trademark four-letter words.
Based on the previous post, I believe that this is made from spindle-spun wool yarn, although Sarah isn't always very explicit.
This blog post features pictures of the work on and being cut off the home-made loom she used.
sarahcswett.substack.com/p/meandering-into-existence
Old pattern, new ideas
Franklin has made this men's traveling cap from a historical pattern. He didn't need a hat, particularly not this one, but as he puts it, "I wanted with all my yarn-loving heart to knit this funny hat, and line it with silk, and add a tassel and ribbon ties, and figure out how to make and attach the cute little visor."
And so he did.
www.moderndailyknitting.com/community/old-pattern-new-ideas
How to weave with three distinct wefts
This is Deb Essen's stunning Montana Sunrise Scarf. It has three distinct weft threads; each outer edge has a different shade of blue with a bright variegated yarn in between.
She used the double-clasped weft technique on a rigid-heddle loom. This article reveals the trick.
handwovenmagazine.com/double-clasped-weft-technique
Free patterns and projects
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
Sangria Sunset by Tabetha Hedrick
Make this scarf with the suggested light fingering weight yarn for a light and airy scarf. One knitter doubled the yarn for a thicker scarf and describes it as 'lovely'.
www.ravelry.com...sangria-sunset
Bare Bones Sock Pattern by Knit Spin Farm
This is a sock recipe or vanilla pattern that you can use with your own favourite elements.
It doesn't include a heel or toe, so you'll need previous experience and use your favourites.
knitspinfarm.com...bare-bones-sock-pattern-striped-kelp
Pattern and project suggestions
Bladlilje / Lily Leaf by Lene Tosti
This summery top has sizes from XXS to XXL. The suggested yarn is a cotton / linen mix but the finished projects use various fibre blends.
It seems fairly economical too. My thumbnail shows Sharon's Lily Leaf. She comments that it "used barely any yarn". The yardage given is 437 - 842 yards of DK-weight yarn.
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bladlilje---lily-leaf
Adoe by Linda Marveng
Linda says that the focus of this light cardigan is the wavy lower edge. It has a deep V neck and you could join it with a brooch or pin. Most makers seem to wear it open.
The suggested yarn is 100% silk but some have gone for a luxury fibre such as baby alpaca or yak.
It uses around 1000-1500 yards of Sport weight (12 wpi) yarn.
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/adoe
But is it art...?
Pernille Knudsen
The Annual Swedish design festival Stockholm Creative Edition at Industricentralen featured some textile works including this sculptural textile piece by Pernille Knudsen. The viewer can move around the sculpture, which features hand-dyed wool forming colour gradients and layered volume.
I'm linking to the exhibitor page so that you can explore all of the works.
stockholmcreativeedition.com/exhibitors
Water | Craft
Water | Craft is a group exhibition featuring water-related works from ceramic and textile artists. Some are shown in the pictures on this page.
mmam.org/water-craft
Quilt Shanty by Emily Quandahl and Madeline Cochran
There's a stained-glass as well as patchwork quilt look to this ice hut. The 9x16-foot quilt is made of studio scraps, vinyl, and drop cloths. It's draped over a 'hoop house' frame.
www.thisiscolossal.com...quilt-shanty-minneapolis
Damselfrau's masks turn disguise into decadence
Magnhild Kennedy's masks hide the wearer's identity but certainly don't leave them inconspicuous. She works with a range of found materials. Beads, feathers, fringe, and various glitzy baubles layer onto mesh panels
www.thisiscolossal.com...magnhild-kennedy-damselfrau-masks-2
UK Events
2026
TexStyle
14 - 15 March 2026, Manchester Central
A brand-new fibre and textile festival n the north of England. A hall full of knitting and crochet, sewing and quilting, weaving and more.
texstyle.uk
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.
www.eastangliayarnfestival.com
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.
www.woollygood.co.uk
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!
www.springintowool.co.uk/index.htm
The Sodbury Yarn Over
18 - 19 April 2026, venue tbc
Yarns, fibres, weaving, crochet, knitting, spinning, accessories and workshops and more.
thesodburyyarnover.co.uk
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.
www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk
Yarnies at the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
May 2, 2026, Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
Celebrate the art of wool. A fantastic day for enthusiasts to showcase talents and connect with fellow yarn lovers.
yarniesattheflaxmill.co.uk
Buxton Wool Gathering
16 - 17 May 2026 Pavilion Gardens, Buxton
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.
buxtonwool.co.uk
Threads Textile Festival
16-17 May 2026 Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ
Celebrating textiles through a series of talks, workshops and a market featuring 50+ textile stalls each day
www.sunnybankmills.co.uk...threads-textile-festival-2026
The Big Flock
16 - 17 May 2026, University of the West of England, Stoke Gifford, Bristol
A curated yarn festival, aiming to celebrate diverse makers and designers of high-quality yarn, fibre, garments and accessories
www.thebigflock.com
Tangled Galashiels Fibre Festival
Fri 29 May - Sat 30 May 2026, 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
www.tangledgalashiels.com
The Great British Fibre Festival
30-31 May 2026 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.
www.thegreatbritishfibrefestival.co.uk
Mill Open Weekend, John Arbon Textiles
6 - 7 June, 2026, The Assembly Rooms, South Molton Town Hall with tour of JAT Mill
A weekend of woolly shenanigans in North Devon.
Tickets for tours, talks and workshops are now available for booking.
www.jarbon.com/mill-open-weekend
The Wool Monty
13-14 June 2026 Magna, Magna Way, Sheffield S60 1FD
Accessible, inclusive, welcoming.
thewoolmonty.co.uk
Cumbrian Wool Gathering
20 - 21 June 2026, 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.
cumbrianwoolgathering.co.uk
Midlands Wool Festival
11 - 12 July 2026, Wolverhampton Racecourse
70 top class exhibitors from all over the country in an accessible venue, great food, free parking, workshops, free demos from local guilds, charity magazine stall
www.midlandswoolfestival.co.uk
Summer Wool Festival
25 - 26 July 2026 Redborne School, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2NU
over 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.
summerwoolfestival.co.uk
Eden Wool Gathering
1 Aug 2026 Whithorn Roundhouse, Dumfries & Galloway
A new event to promote and showcase wool and wool-related crafts. All proceeds to Stranraer Cancer Drop In Centre.
www.facebook.com/EdenWoolGathering
North East Wool Show
8 - 9 August 2026, Newcastle Racecourse
90 amazing stalls plus a great range of workshops. cafe, demonstrations.
www.northeastwoolshow.co.uk
Pop Up Wool Show
15 August 2026, 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.
www.coastal-colours.co.uk/pop-up
Southern Wool Show
22 - 23 August 2026, 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!
www.southernwoolshow.co.uk
The Scottish Yarn Festival
12 - 13 September 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
thescottishyarnfestival.com
unravel... autumn
Fri 11 - Sat 12 September 2026, 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.
farnhammaltings.com...festivals/unravel-autumn
Yarndale
26 - 27 September 2026, Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire
Over 180 makers, craft workers, retailers, and artisans in the picturesque market town of Skipton, North Yorkshire.
yarndale.co.uk
Shetland Wool Week
27 September - 6 October 2026
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.
shetlandwoolweek.com
Yarnstock
2 - 4 October 2026
A cosy weekend festival for crochet lovers, yarn crafters, and wool enthusiasts. Camp or visit for the day.
www.yarnstock.co.uk/index.php
West Wales Wool Show
Saturday 3 October 2026, Queen's Hall and Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Narberth, Pembrokeshire
A celebration of all things woolly. From beautifully hand crafted items, clothing and footwear to knitting wool, fleece and all the equipment needed to make at home. Demonstrations run throughout the day with stall holders sharing their skills and knowledge with visitors plus wool skill workshops such as felting.
westwaleswoolshow.weebly.com
Stafford Wool Gathering
17 - 18 October 2026 Staffordshire County Showground
Bakewell Wool Gathering has moved to Stafford.
Over 100 exhibitors showcasing their skills and offering everything you need. Or take part in workshops to learn and improve on your own skills.
Whether you enjoy spinning, felting, weaving, knitting, or crochet, it's an event you won't want to miss.
staffordwoolgathering.co.uk
Knit + Stitch Show Northern Ireland
12-15 November 2026, The Eikon Exhibition Centre
Meet up with like-minded crafters, discuss ideas, learn new skills, find inspiration and shop for your annual craft supplies, including wool, fabric and beyond from big brands and specialist suppliers.
www.knitandstitchshow.co.uk/northernireland
Christmas Wool Show
14 - 15 November, National Conference Centre, Birmingham
80 amazing exhibitors from all over the country in a fabulous venue. Free parking, café, free demonstrations from local guilds, charity magazine stall, yarn winding service and plenty of room to sit and chat.
www.christmaswoolshow.co.uk
Knit + Stitch, Harrogate (previously The Knitting and Stitching Show)
19 - 22 November 2026, 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.
www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/harrogate
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.
Nor would it exist without your support, so thank you for that.
Please share a link to hand-spinning-news.com with anyone who may be interested.
Alternatively, share a link to the new Patreon page. New readers can become a free member and receive a notification when each free issue is available. It's also an alternative way for people to become paying supporters.
It's always good to hear from readers for any reason and I'd particularly like tip-offs about about any relevant stories, websites or social media accounts that I should be following.
Happy spinning!
Shiela Dixon - Editor / curator
shiela@hand-spinning-news.com
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