The Tour de Fleece is an event that encourages spinners to challenge themselves. The challenges don't just relate to quantity, so there is plenty of amazing yarn on show following the finish of that event.
Two fibrey stories this month relate rather topically to the Apollo moon missions. Once again there's plenty of natural dyeing in the blog selections, and some unnatural dyeing using Skittles.
Read on for this month's cunning curated collection of inspirational information and entertainment for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers. This is the free issue for August 2019.
Find out how to receive a longer, ad-free version of HSN earlier in the month.
Photo right: Zoom Loom Summer Sachet by Jillian Moreno. The zen cover photo is by Nick Casale on Unsplash
Once again, Craft House Magic has made a vlog containing a walkaround at Fibre East 2019 which really does capture the atmosphere of the event.
It's a long video, but only half of it is the walkaround, the rest is Ellie showing her purchases (the yarn bowl is particularly nice).
crafthousemagic.blogspot.com/2019/07/fibre-east-2019-vlog-and-confessions.html
Goldilox managed to spin so much during the Tour de Fleece. Her time included a road trip on which she took a spindle.
Now that the Tour de Fleece has arrived at the finish line, we can see how productive people have been during those three weeks.
Araignee presents her finished skeins, including her California Red which is actually white. Later on we see a blog post in which she gets bored with the white and dips the remaining batts in solar jars.
"After 21 days of spinning, I need a break", she says.
araigneestangledweb.blogspot.com/2019/07/aux-champs-elysees.html
A nearly-200-year-old blanket is the centrepiece of an exhibition at the Hibulb Cultural Center in Tulalip.
The blanket was said to contain Woolly Dog fibres, a breed now extinct. The curators needed to verify this, and tests proved that the blanket did indeed include woolly dog as well as mountain goat, cotton and other natural fibres.
Pictures do exist of the woolly dog and it does live up to its name.
This is a very good article about a fascinating exhibit.
"Interwoven History: Coast Salish Wool" is on display at the Tulalip Tribes Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve, 6410 23rd Ave. NE, Tulalip
via the Knitty Blog
www.heraldnet.com/life/exhibit-weaves-together-tulalip-tribes-traditions-with-wool
This is Her Majesty the Knitted Queen, which I have featured before when she was on display at the Forum, Norwich, along with a 1950s knitted sitting room.
Petal and Purl's 50s themed project has grown to remarkable proportions. They have made 15 scenes featuring 60 life-sized figures which have been on display around the village of Caston, Norfolk.
https://www.metro.news/wool-done-knitters-recreate-1950s-village-life/1622883/
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have teamed up with Heathrow for some conservation projects.
This hand-made creation by Vanessa Barragao took more than 520 hours to weave. It uses 8kg of jute and cotton and 42kg of recycled wool.
Kew hope that this will help build an understanding of the world's plants and fungi.
"I hope that people enjoy getting up close and personal with the tapestry in Heathrow as they head off on their summer holidays", said the maker.
www.traveldailymedia.com/heathrow-unveils-massive-tapestry-at-t2
This 'behind the scenes' story appears on a newspaper's website. It's the interesting story of an enthusiast's journey from a few animals to a successful fibre mill.
Chris Armbrust is happy to process any fibre including pets "if it is long enough".
www.inforum.com...Behind-the-scenes-of-local-yarn-producer-Dakota-Fiber-Mill
If you're a gardener then this will be an interesting read. Woad is a two-year plant. In the first year it produces leaves that give the blue colour that you associate with woad.
In the second year it sends up tall shoots with no dye value, but the ripe seeds can produce a pink. Unlike the leaves, the seeds will keep.
Sarah explains how to grow and use them.
coloursofnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2019/07/dyeing-with-woad-seed.html
I do find it slightly sinister that the strong colours used in drinks and sweets aimed at kids (and big kids) can be used to dye fibres.
The pastel colours here are more subtle and pretty than I expected, particularly in the fibre and spun yarn.
www.chemknits.com/2019/07/can-you-dye-yarn-with-skittles-candy.html
Josefin has made a very tranquil 'slow fashion' video about preparing, sampling, designing, spinning and weaving this shawl / blanket.
Riihivilla says "There is so much dye in madder roots, that it is worth extracting them multiple times and they yield colour long time".
In this case the used madder had been stored over winter and even frozen. She used it to dye five skeins and was pleased with the result.
riihivilla.blogspot.com/2019/08/used-madder-kaytetyt-krapinpalat.html
This is a 'twofer'. Vampy has written two consecutive posts about using Japanese indigo leaves.
The main link goes to her blog post about picking and using fresh leaves.
This bonus link goes to the other post which is about the ice extraction method which I'd not heard of.
Amy continues her Back to Basics series with a look at the Turkish spindle.
If you've not yet experienced 'the Turk', then you'll enjoy this introduction. This type of spindle spins well thanks to its arms. You build a neat cop which slides off to leave a centre-pull 'turtle' for plying.
As usual she has posted text and pictures, along with a video demonstration.
boogieblather.wordpress.com/2019/07/12/turkish-spindle-basics
Spinning from the fold is one of my favourite drafting methods. It's very fast, produces an even yarn and requires little or no prep.
Josefin says that it's also perfect for getting crisper colours from a lengthways striped top.
I've never seen it done with a spindle, but now I want to try it. Josefin has lots of pictures and tips.
This article by Jacqueline Harp appears on Ply magazine's website. It contains plenty of tips for travelling with a spindle on foot, by car, or by aeroplane.
plymagazine.com...travel-with-a-suspended-spindle-on-foot-by-car-or-by-airplane
Is this a familiar sight or do you make a bracelet with the bobbin end and continue until it's all gone?
Even if you usually use up your ends, you might like to try keeping them to make a colourful skein like this.
Amy demonstrates in this video.
What looks like cat's cradle here is actually 'ply on the fly' or navajo plying at the same time as spinning the singles.
I don't think it would be easy to learn the technique from this video unless you're already familiar with navajo or chain-plying.
Which yarn is stronger and finer than silk, won't stretch or burn and is functional from minus 150 degrees to 650 degrees?
Beta yarn is made from ultra-fine fibreglass, coated with teflon. Beta cloth has a tight weave to make it durable.
NASA specified that all fabric used in the Apollo missions should be non-flammable after the first manned Apollo mission ended fatally with the flammable nylon fabrics taking a large part of the blame. So Beta cloth was used for socks and underwear, sleeping bags, harnesses and many other things as well as the space suits themselves.
This article contains some personal background for Neil Armstrong as well as some technical details about the yarn and fabric. For further reading, see Wikipedia's Beta cloth entry.
This story also refers to the fatal Apollo 1 fire and the search for flameproof materials.
That specification also required anti-static properties.The material chosen to insulate the command module was wool.
thebogotapost.com/apollo-11-to-the-moon-on-a-boyaca-sheeps-back/39432
Who knows what else she's hiding in there?
If you like Yvonne, click the image to find her page, you can use next and previous to explore more cartoons, and join the mailing list for a regular digest email.
Thank you very much if you've had a go at any of these on your computer or tablet.
I've set them up with 35 - 50 pieces- just the right number for a coffee-break challenge and you gradually reveal the cartoon.
But if you fancy more of a challenge (or less) you can customise the number of pieces before you start.
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Here is the Electric Eel Nano. Find out more about the original Electric Eeel and the Electric Eel Mini here.
Earlier in its development, this model was referred to as the 'Electric Eel Mini 2' but is now the Nano.
This is a very objective review from Jillian Moreno.
Sometimes just a picture is enough
A reminder that the official pattern for Shetland Wool Week is the Roadside Beanie. raerichar's is ready, she used naturally-dyed handspun yarn, made from a texel fleece.
Thread Head Joanne has finished this 'granny stripe' blanket from leftover handspun. She used a free pattern from Attic 24
"It is 26"x55", the perfect size for laying on my legs or putting around my shoulders", she says.
This month's sexy spindle shot is from slothycreations who was uncertain about how to proceed with this Tour de Fleece spin.
Those beautiful fluffy pastel clouds are Rambouillet fibre that she dyed herself. "It has such a springy cushion feel that literally does feel just like clouds", she says.
Vashti Braha made this book as a gift for a home-schooler.
Each page is crocheted from yarn made from a different plant fibre.
There are many pictures in this Flickr album which show how the book was made.
The Tour de Fleece isn't only about quantity. The challenges can come in all shapes and sizes.
bonsai_woman made this art yarn as part of a zero waste challenge with mill ends which are an incredibly soft blend of merino and alpaca plied this yarn with leftover madder root dyed warp yarn from a previous project.
kniterotica likes to put the tour in Tour de Fleece and find unusual places to spin. This is a wonderful photo.
knittintin's socks are beautifully-made from a traditional 3-ply yarn.
Cochineal is responsible for this variety of colours. Three were dyed with 2% indigo first, and iron added to obtain purple.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
This slouchy hat pattern uses jogless moss stitch to avoid a visible seam. Instructions are in the pattern.
This pattern is the free pattern of the month from Woolly Wormhead's Woolly Hat Society. It's free now if you simply sign up for the Woolly Hat Society mailing list or become a Patreon supporter. It'll be free for all after September.
Jillian Moreno has made this lavender sachet using two zoom loom squares and three handspun yarns.
The full instructions are here on the Schacht Spindle Blog.
Harriet Middleton began raising money for the Shetland MRI Scanner Appeal by knitting items to sell at local craft stalls. She started to receive donations of wool and then she started a knit and natter group.
She has designed a Fair Isle hat using colours in the appeal's logo. The pattern includes detailed instructions along with a list of materials and colours needed to reproduce your own Harriet's Hat, with all proceeds going toward the MRI Scanner Appeal. There is now also a matching Harriet's Headband. More information about all of that is here.
Thanks to Ella Gordon for writing about it.
This is a lined bag with an adjustable strap.
Use a robust yarn, and to best show the stitch pattern, something smooth and solid or semi-solid in colour. The pattern suggests 250 yards of sport weight (12 wpi).
www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/540315819/crochet-pattern-lace-panel-crossbody-bag
This is ansichtsache's Mrs Watson. It's one of four examples to be found on Ravelry using handspun yarn.
The pattern uses garter stitch and short rows to create the feather pattern.
With thanks to April for sharing her finished Mrs Watson.
A knitted twist on the quilted vest. It has I-cord edges, toggle closures, deep pockets and waist shaping.
The pattern uses a bulky yarn (7 wpi)
www.interweave.com/store/knitting/knitting-patterns/estes-vest
These three-dimensional sculptures are made of metal but you could almost believe that they're woven from soft yarn.
Saturday 31 August and 1 September 2019, Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
7 & 8 September 2019, 10am to 4pm St John's Hall, Penzance
7 and 8 September 2019. Dewars Centre, Glover St, Perth
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 70 vendors, keynote event, social events and classes run over the weekend.
28 and 29 September 2019, Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire
Stunning exhibitions, skill demonstrations and a full programme of textile workshops create a visual feast and make Yarndale a real must-visit for yarn lovers.
28 September - 6 October 2019
A busy week dedicated to celebrating Shetland wool and textile heritage.
Includes classes, talks, drop-ins, art. See website for the full events listing.
Saturday October 5 2019, 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 and 6 Oct, 2019, 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.
The 7th Wool Market will be held from 12 - 5pm on Saturday 5 October 2019
Bakewell Agricultural Centre Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October 2019
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.
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October 2019, Kendal Leisure Centre
Kendal Wool Gathering mixes demonstrations, fun activities and displays, all connected to the cloth on which the town's wealth was built.
A large number of exhibitors will be bringing a huge variety of goods including yarns, dyes, crafts, art, accessories, tools, felting, crochet, patterns, carpets, looms, spinning wheels and more. Outside there will be livestock, where you can meet a variety of sheep and Llamas, whilst learning about the important Lake District sheep farming industry.
Nottingham Conference Centre Goldsmith Street Entrance, Nottingham. NG1 4BU
Sunday 17 November.
Scotland is more usually associated with tartan and tweed, but linen and flax are an important part of its history
This touring exhibition aims to combine stories from the past with new works from contemporary designers.
The towns in Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands that the tour visits have their own stories and this gives the opportunity to include local designers and stories.
I'm Shiela Dixon, I've beeing doing this for around ten years in order to promote and encourage the craft of spinning.
You can help to support this work with a regular contribution (pay what you like, no matter how small) and in return receive HSN earlier and receive a longer ad-free* version (approx half the number of stories again).
A final word of thanks to everyone who blogs, writes articles or posts pictures on the subject of spinning, knitting, crochet or weaving. This newsletter wouldn't exist without people writing interesting and useful things.
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Happy spinning!
Shiela Dixon - Editor / curator
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