This month the pin loom is in the spotlight. John Mullarkey shows how he uses handspun on his pin loom, The beautiful Phoenix Rising shawl is made using hexagon and teardrop pin looms and Christina Garton has an introduction to those shapes and other resources.
The Tour de Fleece is all about challenging yourself and so this month we have lots of posts about people's personal challenges and finish line photos.
A number of Tour de Fleece spinners have been spinning while travelling and there are articles from Josefin Waltin and Spin Off magazine that contain lots of tips for taking your crafting along with you.
Read on for more news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers. This is the full round-up for August 2023.
Cover photo: White cotton ginning by Udomsak_Pix via Shutterstock.
The Campaign for Wool reports that a party of 20 Australian wool growers visited the UK to see British wool being taken from fleece to woven fabric. They made mill visits from Yorkshire to the Isle of Harris and Lewis, to Savile Row and retailers Selfridges, Harrods and Marks & Spencer.
www.campaignforwool.org/australian-woolgrowers-visit-uk-textile-manufactures
congratultations to Tracy for winning a prize for this project at Badsey Flower Show.
Thanks to FibreHut for so many great photos from this event. Spinners and weavers were demonstrating and many skeins of yarn and some fabulous finished projects were on show for judging. This page is well worth a browse.
www.fibrehut.co.uk/blogs/fibrehut-blog/fibrehut-spinners-at-the-badsey-flower-show
Sue's goals included spinning down her fibre stash, restocking yarn stash and spinning in public on her Louet Victoria.
My main link is to her 'finish post' post but in this earlier post here are pictures of her public spinning. She says that she became used to having her picture taken!
travelfibreandthread.blogspot.com/2023/07/past-finishing-post-week-three-tour-de.html
This is nessa_city_knits' "Tour de fleece 2023 bounty " on the drying rack.
It includes a sweater-spin and more.
I love the moody colours of this 'Haunted' fibre from hipstrings. feedthecrows spun this as part of her Tour de Fleece challenge. She made a three ply using this together with threewatersfarm targhee.
Here's something I wouldn't have thought possible. As part of her Tour de Fleece, Nessa has tried carding old singles yarn back to spinnable fibre.
"I saw someone card up yarn ends and was curious how easy or difficult this task might be", she says.
She doesn't give details on how she did it but it has clearly worked very well. By coincidence, there's a tutorial later in this issue on this very topic.
A beautiful shot.
ahiddenpurl was travelling in Italy for the entire tour, so she spun exclusively on this tiny Turkish.
For her challenge day, Jill spun eyelash yarn.
Her blog post contains many tips borne out of her experience with this very unruly fibre.
This is 4oz / 100g of silk which has made around 840 yards. I'm looking forward to seeing it used in a project.
For challenge day, and thanks to a camping trip, kit.dewitt chose to try spinning with a dealgan for the first time.
This is a remarkable finish-line picture.
As far as I understand it, Rona finished her Tour de Fleece early and couldn't wait to start using the yarn so she knitted the jumper that she's wearing in impressive time.
"what a month of of July spinning!" says Jill, who enjoys spinning art yarn.
This blog post is packed with pictures and videos of Jill's spinning and a little weaving.
centeringwithfiber.blogspot.com/2023/08/second-part-of-my-spining-for-tour-de.html
Josefin will also be traveling this Summer and will be packing craft projects.
She has written about such considerations as luggage space, which crafts you can do where and how much to take.
On the same subject, Spin Off magazine has a few tips.
spinoffmagazine.com/portable-spinning-wheels-4-tips-for-traveling-with-your-wheel
Leigh has learned a useful skill through a homesteading program that she subscribes to.
She found that making cordage from vine stems was much like twisting a fringe.
Boro and sashiko are traditional mending techniques that have become popular through the visible mending movement and environmental responsibility.
If you're not familiar with these techniques already, Leigh gives us an introduction
leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.com/2023/01/japanese-mending.html
Devin has written about three favourite spindles for spinning cotton, from different parts of the world.
Note the link to an older but very interesting article about spinning yarn whilst walking.
spinoffmagazine.com/devin-s-top-3-spindles-for-spinning-cotton
Alyssa Fowers has used the Ravelry API to draw on more than a million projects to discover when we start projects and when (and whether) we finish.
It's an interesting read, although most of the results aren't particularly surprising. As you'd expect, most projects are started in January and bigger projects are most likely to fall by the wayside.
The most delightful aspect of this report is that the graphs and charts are crocheted! Well done to everyone involved in this.
Abaca is a hemp-like fibre that is strong and rigid. The fibres are very long. It's suitable for cordage but can be woven into canvas.
This page has details about how the plants are harvested and the fibre extracted.
www.visiontimes.com/2023/07/22/processing-abaca-natural-fibers.html
Before the first world war, if you bought music, it would have been iin the form of sheet music for you to sing and play at home. So when the war started the songs naturally related to the war effort. They were often morale-boosting and many related to the fact that women would knit for the soldiers.
By the time of the second world war, radios were common and people listened to music rather than playing and singing but sheet music was still selling. A new crop of songs emerged, again including songs about knitting for the soldiers (with added double-entendre).
This article gives some of the lyrics to these songs and also includes a video of Melanie Gall performing I Wonder Who's Knitting for Me?
This walking wheel or great wheel dates from 1866 and has a known history. It passed through several hands and travelled many miles.
It has now found a home in the Fort Ostell Museum.
www.ponokanews.com/community/157-year-old-walking-spinning-wheel-returns-to-ponoka
Spin Off has this article about garneting - the process of turning yarn back into spinnable fibre.
Jaya Srikrishnan tries turning some leftover handspun yarn back into fibre and blending it with some natural fleece to make a tweedy yarn.
spinoffmagazine.com/garneted-tweeds-reusing-thrums-for-eco-friendly-palettes
Sarah has been weaving these four-letter words for some time, often from spun coffee-filters and they are captivating.
In this blog post she gives a complete tutorial and tips with pictures video and cartoons.
Ice dyeing uses ice, dye powder and the sun to dye fabric or yarn in an unpredictable and unique way. Colours will blend, dye colours will split and the dye will uptake unpredictably.
www.interweave.com/article/knitting/how-to-ice-dye-yarn-wool-cotton-more
Carrie Miller has written seven tips for and intermediate to advanced weaver wishing to weave with linen on a floor loom.
Do you look at those bumps and wonder how to identify the stitches for counting rows and columns?
Sandi Rosner makes it clear with some diagrams, and has some other tips for knitting reverse stockinette.
www.interweave.com...how-to-measure-gauge-reverse-stockinette-stitch
Crochet thread may be described as size 3 - 20 or possibly Craft Yarn Council weight 0 - 7.
What do these mean and how to you know whether the yarn you spin matches the size specified in a pattern?
Sara Dudek explains how to measure WPI in case you're not familiar with that and gives comparison charts for these crochet thread systems.
www.interweave.com/article/crochet/wpi-guide-yarn-substitution
With handspun yarn, stripes and rich colours aren't something that just happen, they're things that you plan and control, says Heavenly.
Here are her top tips for spinning from the fold, a technique that helps you to keep colours clear.
spinoffmagazine.com/more-color-control-try-spinning-from-the-fold
Does the yarn on your spindle look messy or lead to tangles?
Deborah Held describes the temporary cop method and gives other tips for building a better cop.
This is an interesting article containing some very useful advice about managing selvedges on a rigid-heddle loom.
You can buy t-shirt yarn but making your own is easy, says Sandi Rosner
www.interweave.com/article/knitting/how-to-make-t-shirt-yarn
Peggy recently had reason to revisit this post from a couple of years ago.
It's a very useful tip that allows you to cut a sample from your warp, and then continue weaving without losing your perfect tension and without wasting too much of your warp.
I had to laugh out loud when I saw this picture because I recognise it and I'm sure you to too if you knit. In fact I have a finished project that still has a marker stitched into it.
If your marker is a special one that you don't want to destroy, this article has two methods for removing it. One is the more obvious "drop a stitch down to the marker and then use a crochet hook to work the column back up" method. The other will help you if you've bound off and it's too late to use the first method.
www.interweave.com/article/knitting/ask-the-expert-knit-stitch-marker-into-project
These are very good tips, particularly if you're new to a craft.
The first - beware of buying tools that you don't need - is particularly appropriate. I say this as someone who has recently dipped a toe into a new craft and has bought two items that I won't use.
twincitiesgeek.com/2023/07/tips-for-knitting-or-crocheting-on-a-budget/
"Baking is like weaving", says Christina Garton. "Simply by combining the same ingredients in different ways you can create wonderful things".
If you've not considered using a pin loom with your handspun yarn, then this is a good introduction to some of the possibilities.
She gives a mention to resources such as Pin Loom Weaving in New Dimensions, an introduction to pin loom weaving in the form of a video download, Zoo Crew, an eBook by Deborah Bagley and the current issue of Easy Weaving with Little Looms.
If you've never dyed yarn then a dyeing kit could be a good starter.
Krista Ann has a couple of suggestions and I particularly like the look of the "Natural Dyes for Plant-Based Fibers" kit.
Quiteayarn has reviewed this book which contains patterns that are are inspired by older garments, but not direct copies. This follows a look at the life of a Norwegian fisherman.
I may buy a copy to go with my copy of More Traditional Ganseys by Stella Ruhe, out of which I've made two jumpers so far.
quiteayarnblog.com/2023/07/26/knitters-bookshelf-fishermens-knits-from-the-coast-of-norway
Krista Ann takes a look at the three kinds of swift - horizontal, vertical and umbrella - and considers the pros and cons of each.
Mary of Hugs for your Head takes a look at five books that she keeps close to hand.
They include The Knitter's Book of Wool by Clara Parkes and The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, by Carol Ekarius and Deborah Robson which will be particularly interesting to hand spinners.
Susan picked up this Knitpro product at a show and has found that it cures a problem she had that she calls 'the twisties'.
She reviews them here. She's very pleased and has bought more sizes, although the commenters are divided, so maybe it depends on your knitting style. Your mileage may vary!
craftmehappy has been testing a new yarn guide cover that Maurice has designed for the Electric Eel Wheel 6. The original wire guides could be an issue with heavily-textured yarn.
Bonus post: The Evolution of the Electric Eel Wheel is a fascinating look at how far the EEW's design has come.
www.craftmehappy.com/2023/08/testing-new-yarn-guide-covers-for.html
In this video, John Mullarkey shows how he uses handspun on his pin loom.
littlelooms.com/video-designing-pin-loom-projects-for-handspun
Short fibres such as brown cotton are harder to spin but not impossible.
Ewespecial makes the case for spinning short fibres and presents a video by Elaine Larcade Bourque which I found very interesting.
John Arbon Textiles have hosted an in-person and also a virtual Mill Open Weekend this year.
The most popular session from the virtual MOW was on the subject of colour management and presented by Becks of Tiny Fibre Studio.
The session is now available for free on the John Arbon Textiles Youtube channel.
Sometimes just a picture is enough
hannyhandcrafted's Mustee is a test knit but it's a pattern to watch out for. She has made it using handspun yarn and says that it's "cute, beginner friendly, fast to knit, a stash buster, AND customisable! What more could you ask for?! "
oliviazm has finished knitting this bag using her handspun yarn and plans to add a lining.
seaflowerspins has dubbed this shawl 'Forever Shawl' because says that's how long it took. It began life as a knit project with a stitch to give it a woven look. It transformed into an actual weaving project.
Explore her other pictures for more details.
This jacket is zippered and lined but it didn't start that way. Lisa Pohl Davis spent the time spinning and knitting a pullover which turned out to be too big.
After felting it, it was a perfect fit but for a tight neck. She decided to steek it, add a zip, add a lining and a collar.
Mandy has spun a sunflower. The yellow and deep purple are contrasting colours as well as contrasting values but they blend together very well in this fractal-spun yarn.
Tsutsu Bear is a popular pattern that's cute and quick to make. There are several handspun projects.
hato.yarn has made this short-sleeved top for hers because of the warm weather.
This is a human-sized garment for the warmer weather. The hashtags tell us that this is plant-dyed baby alpaca.
One of the yarns that threadbender has recently finished is this tweedy-looking yarn that she made from her own batts, carded from merino/silk with some nepps of carmine sari silk.
The little pops of colour "delight her no end".
Victoria has been needle felting for seven years and makes small but realistic models of people's pets.
theedwardianwriter finished this shawl a year ago but didn't document it at the time.
It's made from English Texel wool, the pattern is Lunna Voe by Ysolda Teague which combines traditional Shetland lace patterns with garter stitch.
mermericrochet's handspun crochet dice bag is in the shape of a potion bottle.
batt_sheep_crazy_art is very happy with these slippers, "they turned out fantastic!! The finished slippers are so squishy and fit great!"
She used yarn spun during Tour de Fleece, from three different fleeces. Fleece to finished slippers took less than a week, although she does say that they're not quite finished, they'll have a sole and felt instep.
This is whipspeed's first band tablet-woven from her handspun yarn.
This is a beautiful shot of spire.crafts' finished project.
The pattern is Primrose Slipover by Along avec Anna . It's very plain and the perfect canvas for some interesting handspun, as demonstrated here.
jimjamsblue' Triple Triangle Sheltie is an older project but Anne Hanson's Sheltie Triangle is still a popular pattern and this is a wonderful handspun example.
She used fleece from three different alpacas and blended silk with one of them. She's tripled the triangular pattern and used the fibonacci sequence for the stripes.
This is a good demonstration of how different the finished yarn can look from the original dyed braid.
Strong blue, purple, yellow and teal have blended into a lovely pale green.
This is woolandfabric's first chain plied self striping sock yarn. It's spun by spindle using 'ply on the fly'.
This is a smashing idea that may serve for Valentine's or Christmas or perhaps any time.
Here are two samples that arratextiles made during a residency.
They're inspired by Iceland and use icelandic fleece, drum carded, spun and naturally-dyed.
Earlier in this issue we had a tutorial for t-shirt yarn. This is duvet cover yarn.
brooklyncrafter has added twist.
This beautiful waistcoat was made for a specific person and incorporates their logo - take a look at the feathers on the pockets and flying bird on the back.
rosieapples took the source photo for this as the sun was beginning to rise over the Clyde. She has used almost exclusively handspun yarn "with the odd commercial yarn added in to help with colour gradients".
loumaskatron's jumper is blocking with the help of two pool cues. The "inky black" wool is hand dyed.
The pattern is Jemima's Jumper by Donna Smith. It's based on an item in the Shetland Museum textiles collection and involves steeks for the sleeve holes, which Lou says that she loves.
Rather topically, Teaandayarn called her yarn Barbie Spin, it's made from some different pink fibres, 300 grams altogether which made 595 meters of fingering - DK weight.
The pattern is Ranunculus by Midori Hirose
yarncrave has finished her second Tunisian crochet project and says that Tunisian crochet is "definitely worth learning".
The yarn was spun by her friend. I think the pattern is this one.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
Spin-Off has this Summer-holiday project for small hands.
Children can make a woven bag or purse from handspun or other yarn using just a piece of card.
This is a simple yet effective top. It's billed as a suitable project for your first top but will also serve as TV or travel knitting as it has simple stitch patterns and no shaping.
This delightful bag is sure to raise a smile and attract comments.
The crochet pattern is available on Instructables. It also includes a little leaf made of embroidered felt for the zip pull.
I guess that with a colour change it could be any other citrus fruit.
This pattern is available for free on the web page, or you can buy a downloadable ad-free pdf. It has a free tutorial.
This kind of project is best made with a non-stretch material such as cotton, linen or hemp.
sheepandstitch.com/pattern/market-bag-knitting-pattern-and-free-video-tutorial
This knitted pencil roll has a fabric lining and requires sewing.
www.inyourarea.co.uk...free-handy-knitted-pencil-case-from-hobbycraft-ideas-hub
This is an easy level pattern that's appropriate for beginners with a little experience.
The recommended yarn is a worsted-weight cotton yarn, approximately 1100 yards. The yarn you use should certainly have little or no elasticity.
As usual with MDC patterns, the pattern is available for free on the web page, or you can buy a printable ad-free pdf.
Woolly has released a new pattern which is the "perfect project for practising new skills".
You'll learn provisionally casting on, short rows and grafting. Links to tutorials for the necessary skills are included in the pattern.
It's a sideways knit with garter stitch so will be perfect for handspun and will show off a variegated yarn.
This stunning project requires two specific pin looms, a hexagon and teardrop of matching sizes as well as (if you need it) the magazine for the pattern.
If you are, like me, of a certain age and remember the text adventures of seventies computing, then this pattern may light-up some memories. Quite literally, as it uses glow-in-the-dark floss to reveal a hidden message.
Susan had four attempts at this hat because of sizing problems but she's happy with the final result. Her notes will be handy if you're thinking of making this hat. She provides links to the pattern on Ravelry and Rowan.
My thumbnail is from Thread Head Joanne, who made her Haiku from "handspun held with a strand of mohair/silk, it is soft and lightweight".
Hers is not the only handspun Haiku, it's been popular with handspinners, quite rightly I think. Again it's a good canvas to show off an interesting yarn.
It's seamless with a shawl-like construction. It uses aran/8wpi yarn on 5mm needles.
This is a cowl that sits over your shoulders like a shawl and won't come unwrapped.
It uses 250 - 375 yards of fingering-weight yarn. For a lace pattern it promises to be "surprisingly easy" and has a maximum star rating.
In her blog, Hunter has a tip for blocking a cowl of this shape.
Sara Luna uses cross-stitch and weaving, using handspun yarn throughout.
Victoria Rose Richards has finished this 18-inch aerial embroidery after 160 hours of stitching.
twitter.com/Aerial_stitches/status/1683860735405744131 @Aerial_stitches Follow
Alice Frost's machine embroidery and collage pictures are inspired by nature and incredibly lifelike.
www.textileartist.org/alice-frost-fabric-collage-the-natural-way
This exhibition features the work of Trevon Latin who uses a patchwork of fabric to make figures and reliefs.
Sam Owen Hull uses paint as well as embroidery in her bright colourful works.
www.textileartist.org/sam-owen-hull-abstract-union-of-paint-and-stitch
Earlier on we heard the terms boro and sashiko. Here's another Japanese term, mottainai, which means 'waste nothing'.
Lindzeanne uses the thread and fabric that she can easily obtain to make her circular forms which evoke cosmic or landscape designs.
www.thisiscolossal.com/2023/07/lindzeanne-celestial-embroideries
This collection of embroidered fungi, mushrooms and lichen are incredibly lifelike.
Rima Day embroiders red thread over garments, pictures and other objects to suggest blood vessels or other natural forms.
19 August 2023, 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.
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, 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
16 - 17 September 2023
A weekend celebration of rural crafts, food and entertainment
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.
Sat 23 and Sun 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.
Saturday 7 October 2023, 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.
14 - 15 October 2023 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.
5 - 8 October 2023, Alexandra Palace, London
Saturday 7 October 2023, Liskeard Public Hall.
14 - 15 October 2023, Kelly House, Lifton, Devon
Many exhibitors from around the South-West and further afield, producers of the finest woollen yarn to felt makers.
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
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.
An edited-down version of this particular issue will be available online to everyone else at hand-spinning-news.com later in the month. 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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