If you are new here, welcome. If you are new to spinning then there are some stories this month that you may find valuable. Tracy Murphy has some advice on finding a space and buying tools and fibre and Abby Franquemont has written a small glossary of some of the many forms of fibre.
This is a bumper issue with some stories carried over from last month due to a cockup on my part, so there's plenty for everyone from beginner to veteran.
If you prefer to watch while you craft rather than unplug, there has been plenty of sport to spin along to. The Tour de France came to a finish on 21 Jul so we have a Tour de Fleece finish-line round-up. The Olympic Games followed closely and our gallery this month contains some yarn and finished projects from the Ravellenic Games. Christina writes about why she feels that the Games are the perfect time to weave.
So without further ado, read on for more news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers. This is the free round-up for August 2024.
Find out how to receive the full version of Hand Spinning News in your inbox, earlier than the free edition appears online.
Cover photo: Finished Tour de Fleece handspun art yarn by Jill of centeringwithfiber.
Set against the picturesque countryside of rural Scotland, the knitters will tackle two challenges: 'The Big Knit' where they'll be working together in teams on an extremely complex project and 'The Wee Knit' where they'll take on individual briefs that will test their skill.
www.channel4.com...new-competitive-knitting-series-game-wool
friends of HSN, Haworth Scouring of Bradford, have applied to install anaerobic digestion tanks to process their own wastewater and dirt.
The process will produce biogas which would help to power the factory. It would help towards the factory's 'net zero' goal as well as reducing the number of vehicles in and out of the site.
This Cotswold sheep sculpture is by Jonathan Sanders and has been placed to mark Corsham's history as a wool town.
Sustainable wool from Shaniko Wool Company was worn by athletes at the Opening Ceremony on July 26.
These unusually early scraps of linen and wool fabric from the middle bronze age contain a very special red dye and are an important find because they show how advanced textile dyeing was at such an early stage.
It's very fast and comes from a scale insect which is hard to find and only produces the dye during a certain stage in their life.
There are several possibilities with pros and cons. Elizabeth Prose explores the options.
The Olympics are in full swing as I write this.
Christina writes about why she feels that the games are the perfect time to weave, and has some advice for crafting as you watch.
This post from Kat makes quite a contrast to the story above.
Kat describes her experience of 'unplugging' from social and corporate media and concentrating solely on her spinning. Her description is quite compelling and may be something that you'd like to try.
There are now more preparations of fibre available to the handspinner than at any time before.
If you're new to the craft you may be puzzled by some of the terms, which may overlap or be interchangeable.
Abby Franquemont has written this small glossary which may help.
Also see 'carded cloud' which Kate spins three ways later in the issue.
Deb Essen says that there is no perfect loom. It depends on many factors.
Here are no less than seven questions that you can ask yourself before you decide which is the perfect loom for you.
It's disappointing when you've spent time making a large project with handspun yarn and it doesn't fit or parts of it don't feel right.
This is where sweater surgery comes in. Pamela had no way to test this jumper for fit until she'd steeked the armhole openings. In this video she explains how she unravelled and grafted it back into shape.
www.fibersprite.com...what-to-do-when-it-doesnt-fit-sweater-surgery
If you have finished a warp but would like to weave more things with the same threading, then Katherine suggests that you tie a new warp to the old.
In this essay she discusses the process. It is time consuming and you have to take a lot of care but it can be worthwhile.
It's always very satisfying to see a series of pictures which show a raw fleece transformed into a basket of neat rolags ready for spinning.
leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.com/2024/07/fiber-doings-spinning.html
Jean is spinning border collie. To help to stop it flying away and prevent the finished yarn shedding too much, she's mixed in a little silk.
If you are very new to spinning, then this is for you.
Tracy Murphy has some advice on finding a space and buying tools and fibre.
This is the third and final post in Highland Heffalump's breed study and contains notes on fifteen breeds. She has tested no less than 36 breeds altogether over 39 months. It's a fascinating and impressive achievement.
highlandheffalump.com..25g-breed-project-the-spinning-part-3
I think we conventionally spin singles in the Z direction and ply in the S direction but if your habit is the opposite, does it really matter?
Amanda considers what differences this makes.
sweetgeorgiayarns.com...why-twist-direction-matters-in-your-making
Blaze is number six in craftmehappy's Questionable Blend series. It's a blend of four fiery merino colours.
As usual, she began by allowing the colours to blend, which made a very pleasing orange this time. Then she tried several different preparation and drafting methods, making a mitre square from each.
www.craftmehappy.com/2024/07/questionable-blend-number-6-blaze.html
Jean links to an article in the current Selvedge magazine which reports the passing of textile artist Hiroyuki Shindo.
She made what felt like a pilgrimage to meet him in 2016 and posts many pictures and her thoughts.
This two-part blog post is a complete tutorial using Carol Leigh's Non-fading Pokeberry Recipe.
The fade in colour you see in my thumbnail is not the colour fading in the light but four batches dyed using increasingly exhausted dyebath. The first batch is an incredibly rich colour.
leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.com...non-fading-pokeberry-dye-part-1.html
The story above had me searching for information about growing pokeweed here in the UK.
Susan Dye has this very informative piece by Ashley Walker.
They found that the plant didn't grow particularly well outside but in a greenhouse it grew "with extraordinary rapidity".
They appeared to follow the Carol Leigh method (high acidity, high berry-to-fibre ratio) but found that it did fade significantly in the light (to be fair, in a window for 80 days).
Structo looms were originally made with two shafts by a toy company. They developed into a model with four shafts and were widely used for teaching as well as therapy.
Peggy owns seven and uses them in workshops today.
"The fact that we had no coffin weavers in Australia was always in the back of my mind", says basket weaver Zimmi Forest. "I mean, weaving a coffin is just weaving a bigger basket."
Cat's Claw is an invasive species out there and is the perfect material for coffins. Zimmi offers people the opportunity to weave a coffin for themselves or a loved one.
https://manlyobserver.com.au...art-design-finalist-zimmi-forest
Some favourite posts from the finishing post
Sometimes for texture you need a little variation and for some projects you need consistency. Guzzisue uses her spinning from day 14 to illustrate this.
travelfibreandthread.blogspot.com...day-14-through-thick-and-thin.html
On day 17 Sue published this picture which shows the extraordinary difference that washing yarn can make to the yardage.
travelfibreandthread.blogspot.com...tdf-day-17-is-this-shetland-worth.html
This amazing picture is Sue's 'finish line' photo, her skeins are washed dried and labelled.
travelfibreandthread.blogspot.com...day-21-and-22-over-and-out.html
This is Thread Head's finish-line photo, which is 1230m/456g of yarn in total. She achieved her goal, which was to spin for at least 30 minutes a day.
Araignee loves the race and the French countryside.
She finished some laceweight that she has been spinning since 2021 and is already thinking about what she'll do for next year's Tour.
This beautiful basket nicely links the Tour de Fleece with the Revellenic Games.
Rockfield spun the singles before the Tour as 'training' and plied during that event.
Then she crossed the finish line of the Household Heptathlon (especially for Home and Decor projects) at the Revellenic Games.
The pattern is Easy Modern Storage Basket by Sigoni Schaap.
www.ravelry.com/projects/rockfield/easy-modern-storage-basket
Jill has made this superpost with a large number of pictures of her spinning and her art yarn from every stage of the TdF.
centeringwithfiber.blogspot.com/2024/08/all-my-hand-spun-art-yarn-for-2024-tour.html
You may remember from a couple of months ago (and prior to that) articles about 'combing milk' or lubricant to prevent static when you are combing.
Spin Off have published three favourite recipes sent in by their readers.
If your wool is in 'carded cloud' form then Kate Larson, Spin Off's 'roving reporter', has three drafting techniques for you to try.
spinoffmagazine.com/roving-reporter-spin-carded-wool-cloud-three-ways
If you're curious about rigid-heddle weaving and fancy making your own heddle, the Durham Weaver has instructions. It's simpler than you'd think!
With thanks to Pamela for the link.
durhamweaver64.blogspot.com...making-rigid-heddle-very-simple-way.html
When you've put so much time into handmade socks, you want them to last as long as possible.
Kathleen presents ten tips from Allison Van Zandt which will help you to make socks that last. The article requires a free account at Interweave.
www.interweave.com/article/knitting/10-tips-for-longer-lasting-knitted-socks
I think that this is probably a common predicament: what happens when you don't have the perfect reed for your weaving project?
Janet Dawson explains how to choose the best reed that you have.
"We've all had the 'floppy head' problem at one point or another, right?"
This and other stability and stiffening problems are covered here by Chanel Beauchamp.
cbfiberworks.com/how-to-add-stability-to-your-amigurumi-projects
These tips relate to the recent book MDK Field Guide No. 27: Sock Odyssey. However, I guess they will be relevant for any pattern that you knit with the afterthought heel.
There's a related article here which has tips on placing the afterthought heel.
Ruth reasons that if you have a record of the gauge you achieved using a certain yarn and needle size, it's reasonable to assume future results will be similar.
Creating a 'gauge library' will help to speed things up but she notes that it's still important to swatch if fit is important because numerous variables outside our control can impact gauge results.
I guess we're all familiar with these little corkscrews of over-twisted singles. Leigh found that after a break, it took a while to reacquaint herself once more with her wheel.
She wondered whether this might be a deliberate design feature in someone's book and this led her to think about some experimentation.
leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.com...accidental-corkscrew-nub-yarn.html
Emily looks at the different knitting decreases and how you can use them to make your knitting unique.
Traditional krokbragd is a point twill woven on three shafts, so you need the ability to make three different sheds.
Debby describes three methods of weaving krokbragd using a rigid-heddle loom.
lovestoswatch has made her first inkle woven band but before she did, she used this tip that she picked up from Annie MacHale.
It's a very quick way to see whether your plan will work before warping.
Jane and her late husband Mark were told that they'd have to send their wool to India for processing but they proved that assertion wrong. Their wool is grown, scoured and felted in New Zealand.
The products are designed to last for years and then be compostable.
My main link goes to Jane's story, and her shop is here:https://www.kaioradownsmats.co.nz.
https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350351596/sheeps-back-downward-dog
Ganseys are traditionally made from a worsted-spun, high-twist sportweight yarn constructed of five plies. You can buy this surprisingly specific yarn from a few manufacturers. The Interweave Editorial Team have reviewed three of the options.
www.interweave.com/article/knitting/traditional-five-ply-gansey-wools
John Arbon's Mill Open Weekend (MOW) was in June and as part of the celebrations, Emily from Tin Can Knits designed a MOW special blend for their Yarnadelic range of yarns and tops.
I believe this special blend is still available but contact JAT to check.
This page is a look behind the scenes at how to design a blend recipe for reproduction at the mill.
Emonieiesha Hopkins doesn't include instructions for using a yarn balance but does link to pages which give instructions (plus, as she points out, the instructions are often printed on the device itself).
Instead she makes a case for keeping one in your spinning toolkit.
This series of books captures the knitting styles of a particular place and time, the Shetland islands in the 1970s.
Gudrun's mother ran a business called The Shetland Trader and Gudrun began reverse-engineering some of the garments which didn't seem to have written patterns.
This is quiteayarn's review of the third book in the series.
The textile industry is a major polluter.
Professor Abigail Clark-Sather and her team have been developing a machine which breaks waste fabrics down to recyclable materials, pulling them apart rather than cutting the fibres.
The machine needs more work before it will handle more volume but the team hopes that the technology will be adopted by the textile industry.
This shoe is made of fabric, printed with ink that contains a living algae. This helps to shape the shoe with an effect similar to smocking, and "can photosynthesise to absorb carbon dioxide and could potentially be able to self-clean", says maker Jessica Thies.
www.dezeen.com/2024/07/15/jessica-thies-synthiesis-footwear-shoes
I find it a little disappointing that instead of switching away from plastic fibres such as polyester, the textile industry is looking at techniques for treating it so that it breaks down more quickly.
On the positive side, at the Functional Fabric Fair there were advocates for natural fibres as well as innovators producing such things as paper yarn made from a type of banana and yarn made from plants that require no chemicals to grow and contribute to soil and water conservation.
www.printandpromomarketing.com...compostable-polyester-paper-yarn...
This fibre lights up in response to touch without any other power than that from the wearer's body and can be woven into fabric.
Sometimes just a picture is enough
Sarah has a long history of weaving herself into her tapestries.
This post contains current and some earlier work and in typical Sarah Swett style, cartoons of herself at work.
These bowls contain old flax stricks from the maker's village, some of it grown as far back as the 1920s, gifted linen thread from handweavers who have passed away and flax that she has grown herself.
This article contains lots of background detail.
Spin Off have published this gallery of readers' handspun haps, inspired by the Shetland Old Shell Hap created by Shetland spinner and knitter Elizabeth Johnston.
This is artist Tomás Varela, or at least a tiny model of himself on his fafourite horse. This page has a gallery of his very realistic needle-felted horse sculptures.
This Spin Off gallery contains finished projects from their 2024 spin-along.
This is Susan's second Sorrel, which allowed her to choose a slightly better size second time round.
The pattern is designed for sock yarn with a fade, held together with a fluffy yarn. Susan used an advent calendar pack from The Wool Kitchen with an amazing transition of colours, along with matching mohair silk.
We saw Josefin's trip to the fulling mill a couple of months ago.
She had mentioned then that she had woven fabric especially from a commercial yarn that she had, so that if it didn't work out well she wouldn't have ruined a lot of handspun yarn.
However, it did work out well and she has since made these cushion covers, complete with specially-made handmade buttons.
I have been lurking at the finish line of the Synchronized Spinning event of the Ravellenic Games. (Previously called Ravelympics but the USOC came down hard.)
This beauty is called Purple Beehive and is by KraftyMumma. It's made from a batt from Twisted Zisters.
This hat is also from the Ravellenics finish line. In this case anua-k finished the Hat Dash with this handspun hat.
The yarn is spun from BFL/cashmere/nylon.
The pattern is a free one - Multycolor Horizon Hat by Maria Petikhina. It looks great worn with the brim turned up.
Thread Head has finished these handspun socks which she made from fibre that she dyed herself. In this post she discusses the choices that she made and how they played out into the yarn and the finished socks.
Two lambs play in this felted work by Holly Guertin.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
I'm suggesting this pattern because I've started one myself and love it so far. I'm not using handspun myself for reasons in the blog post, but I wouldn't hesitate to do so.
It's a very lightweight cardigan with lace around the neck and edges. I can tell you that the construction isn't straightforward but that's a plus because it keeps things interesting.
It uses 1531 - 1969 yards of a 4-ply-weight (14 wpi) yarn.
This deceptively-simple pattern appears in the current issue of Knitty.
According to the pattern, it's "perfect for warmer days or a great layering piece as the weather turns colder". They suggest a a drapey, plant-based yarn.
Notice anything unusual about this picture? That's right, the pattern is reversible and one sock is being worn with stockinette side (by the toes) out, the other with smooth side in (mmmm). The heel flap uses a stitch that makes it look good either way.
Elbrus appears as a free pattern in the current Knitty. A solid-coloured yarn might be best.
This cute sheep coaster is reversible with reversed colours on the reverse side. Instructions for the double-knitting technique are included.
This pattern is free with a newsletter sign-up, or you can buy it for a small amount.
This shawl features lace work on right side rows only with wrong side rows all in purl, so this design makes a great first shawl project for newer knitters and a quick diversion knit for veterans.
It requires 900 yards (823 m) of DK-weight yarn.
At 1531 - 3084 yards (depending on which of the nine sizes you make) this is quite a commitment if spinning but I love the A-line design.
As I write this, the introductory price is still showing although it was to only have run until 1 August. I don't know when that will change but you may be lucky and get in under the wire.
It requires a sport-weight (12 wpi) yarn on 3.25 mm needles, so it won't be a fast knit either. The suggested yarn is merino/silk.
According to the pattern page, this is a "a great year-round layer you can take anywhere". It's made of bias-knit rows making for an interesting but intermediate knit.
It's intended to be worn with quite a bit of negative ease, so you'll be making a size that's smaller than your actual measurements. The example shows the 20.5" size on a model with a 33" bust.
It uses 5 ply (12 wpi) yarn and is made on 3.5 mm needles. The construction is one-piece. The suggested yarn is cotton, which along with the open stitch pattern all add to the comfort when worn in Summer.
www.interweave.com/product/kindling-cardigan-knitting-pattern-download
This stole or scarf is as light as a feather but has a heavily-textured stitch pattern.
It uses a heavy laceweight yarn in a solid or semi-solid colour.
Almost all of the finished projects on Ravelry use the suggested linen yarn and those that don't use some kind of linen or cotton, which is probably sensible for a skirt.
It susprised me to see that it uses worsted-weight (9 wpi) yarn, 705 - 1478 yards of (depending on size) and is made on 3.75 mm needles, so I guess it would knit up quickly.
With thanks to MDK for the suggestion. They said, "it's the coolest, and by coolest we mean actually cool during this steamy season".
Alice Fox nurtures and processes plant fibres such as nettle, bramble, and bindweed (which probably makes her very popular with her fellow allotment-holders) to make yarn for her work, which involves wrapping delicate materials such as eggshells and seashells.
Nastassja Swift is influenced by family history, textile traditions, West African masks, and Yoruba rituals. These works include countless little felted faces.
Mika Obayashi says of her beautiful sculptures. "A central ingredient is empty space". Other ingredients include wool yarn and handmade paper.
Alison was influenced by time that she spent in Norway and Sweden. Her paintings are inspired by tapestries and folk art.
Her website contains this worthwhile studio tour.
Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo uses a traditional Tibetan technique. "I wrap strands of horsehair with silk thread and couch the resulting horsehair cords to silk fabric. Then I assemble pieces like a jigsaw puzzle into portraits and sacred images, all stitched together by hand", she explains.
www.textileartist.org/leslie-rinchen-wongmo-the-ancient-art-of-tibetan-applique
Wally Dion stitches translucent textiles into large-scale pieces.
In this bio, Beatrice Mayfield says that she loves making work that is abstract and minimal, using reclaimed materials.
Erick Medel highlights the vitality of his home city.
Tininha Silva's inspiration comes from the sea around her. She uses beachcombed materials as well as wool, silk and hand-dyed raffia.
This is another video studio tour.
7 and 8 September 2024, Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
7 - 8 September 2024, Dewars Centre, Perth, Scotland
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
13 and 14 September 2024, 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.
14 - 15 September 2024
A weekend celebration of rural crafts, food, entertainment and of course, sheep farming.
Sunday 15 September 2024, The Pavilion Centre, Royal Cornwall Showground
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.
28 - 29 September 2024, Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire
Over 180 makers, craft workers, retailers, and artisans in the picturesque market town of Skipton, North Yorkshire.
'Spinning a Yarn' opens at Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury from 14 September to 30 November
An exhibition in the Mapstone Gallery will feature historic collections alongside work by contemporary artists whose work uses wool. The Nicola Turner and Trevor Pitt commissions in the Abbey Barn will close on 2 November.
The project aims to tell the story of wool in Somerset.
28 - 29 September 2024, 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.
29 September - 5 October 2024
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.
10 - 13 October 2024, Alexandra Palace, London
Saturday 12 October 2024, 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.
Saturday 5 October 2024, Liskeard Public Hall.
19 - 20 October 2024 Bakewell Agricultural Centre
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.
18 - 20 October 2024, 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.
26-27 October 2024 Leicester Racecourse, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4AL
30+ trade stalls, 30+ courses, food and free parking.
2 and 3 November 2024, 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 2024, Sandburn Hall, York YO60 7RB
More details to follow
21 - 24 November 2024, 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.
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.
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
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