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Hand Spinning News

The end of the year is a time for looking forward as well as looking back over the past twelve months.

This issue contains Advent and Christmas projects, retrospectives and reflection of 2019's spinning and a sneaky peek at some things we can look forward to in 2020.

As a special Christmas bonus, the 2020 show dates (announced so far) are here. They start in January with Waltham Abbey Wool Show on 19 January. I'll add further dates as I have them.

Read on for this month's feast of festive fibrey fun for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers. This is the full issue for December 2019.

Photo right: Goldilox' Nature's Walk blanket. The cover photo is Highland Heffalump's Smitten garland

Contents

 

In the media

Twool: Garden twine from wool

Twool: Garden twine from wool

Kim Stead had a simple idea which has resulted in her using around seven tonnes per year of the British wool clip and also producing an everyday product using a renewable, durable and natural material.

As her product has gained a foothold, she has been able to move from a premium product produced in small batches to a larger-scale operation and is developing a wider range of products.

This article on RBST's website tells Kim's story.

www.rbst.org.uk/twool-garden-twine-from-wool1

Longest Thread Competition Winner

Longest thread competition winner

The winner of the 2019 longest thread competition was Julitha Barber of Australia.

Julitha spun and plied an amazing 986m from just 10gms of Merino.

This was back in March. The reason that I'm mentioning it now is that the story appears in the latest copy of The Wheel magazine which landed on my mat today. It contains a very good article with more photographs and a useful list of tips from Julitha herself.

I'm linking to the story on Ashford's website. The full article as it appears in the magazine doesn't seem to exist online anywhere, but I do recommend this new issue of The Wheel. It has a new look, is bigger and contains so many enticing projects and articles. I have to say that I'm really impressed. You can subscribe for a glossy heavyweight copy, or you can ask for a free copy on lower-quality paper from your Ashford dealer when you place an order.

https://www.ashford.co.nz/news/512-longest-thread-competition-winner


comment on any of this

 

Handspun stories

Finished Bianka

Finished Bianka

This is Josefin's 'Bianka' jumper, named after the sheep who donated the fleece.

The fleece came in shades of grey, Josefin sorted this and spun five skeins in a range of shades. There are lots of details and photos in this blog post.

The jumper is "an everyday sweater that lets the colour gradient be the star".

waltin.se/josefinwaltinspinner/finished

spinning my way through 2019

Spinning my way through 2019

Knottygnome makes two interesting points in this post. She is pleased with the amount she spun in 2019 and this was achieved with 15 minutes a day. Little and often really works.

She also points out that the original fibre for this second skein of yarn was "eye-searingly bright" and yet the finished yarn is pretty and more muted.

blog.knottygnome.com/2019/11/spinning-my-way-through-2019.html

A multicolored library of the world's ochre pigments

A multicolored library of the world's ochre pigments

Artist and researcher Heidi Gustafson forages, processes, and catalogues ochre samples.

Ochre is a naturally-occuring mixture of iron oxide, clay and sand. It has probably been used since pre-history for art, body decoration and medicine.

Her archive has over 550 samples and the variety of colour is surprising.

www.thisiscolossal.com/2019/11/heidi-gustafson-ochre-pigment-archive

Wool Exploration 2020

Wool Exploration 2020

The KnitBritish Wool Exploration will continue in 2020 with slightly fewer breeds. There isn't a schedule yet but some details are revealed in this podcast and the shownotes.

It also contains a chat with Esther Rutter of the new book This Golden Fleece: A Journey Through Britain's Knitted History

www.knitbritish.net/ep121

At the sheep show: Rhinebeck roundup

Rhinebeck is one of the major shows 'across the pond' and Anne Merrow of Spin-Off magazine writes about the trends she noticed as well as her experience buying a fleece and handing it to a processor.

spinoffmagazine.com/at-the-sheep-show-rhinebeck-roundup

Smitten (a Holiday Garland)

Smitten (a Holiday Garland)

I look forward to seeing Smitten garlands each year, it's a great idea for a home-made Advent calendar. But this one is more than that, each little mitten and the iCord string is made from handspun yarn. Some is art yarn, some is home-dyed, some is blended.

"It has a history of my early spinning, plying, blending and dyeing experience", says Highland Heffalump.

highlandheffalump.com/2019/12/02/smitten-a-holiday-garland

Nature's Walk Blanket Crochet-a-Long

Nature's Walk blanket crochet-a-long

Goldilox hadn't tried a crochet-a-long before but thought it would be a good way to use up oddments of handspun yarn. It started in September and she received patterns for six different squares and then patterns for joining and the border.

She also used some additional patterns, including a dragonfly design which is very clever.

goldyspinner.blogspot.com/2019/12/natures-walk-blanket-crochet-long.html

My epic cloth project

My epic cloth project

Flora and Fiber was inspired by Felicia Lo's Epic Cloth Challenge. One preps and/or dyes the fibre, spins the yarn, knits or weaves the fabric. Felicia suggested ideas and milestones.

She spun 1,945 yards of yarn in five colours of alpaca fibre. This is the finished wrap. There are many more details in this blog post, along with a link to part 1 in which she talks more about the project.

https://florafiber.live/blog/my-epic-cloth-project-part-2

Spinning for Lace: A Test

Spinning for lace: a test

There are opinions about whether 2-ply is better for lace, whether combing or carding is better and whether you should use fine or coarse, short staple or long.

Heather Fulford puts these things to the test.

plymagazine.com/2019/12/spinning-for-lace-a-test

Breed stufy: Värmland

Breed stufy: Värmland

Värmland is another traditional Swedish breed. I'm not sure how likely we are to come across such fleece in the UK but this is an interesting read. A fleece with outer and under coat presents so many possibilities for spinning and Josefin's yarn looks beautiful.

waltin.se/josefinwaltinspinner/varmland-wool

Blending Tool Roundup: Shopping Guide

Blending tool roundup: shopping guide

This article covers blending boards and drum carders. If you're now asking yourself "which one do I need" then this is aimed at you. Deb Gerish outlines the uses of each and some important aspects of each.

If you're interested in comparing your buying options, there's a link to a downloadable pdf which is a list of prices and specifications for the major brands. It originally appeared in Spin Off magazine.

spinoffmagazine.com/blending-tool-roundup-shopping-guide

Chasing cloth

Chasing cloth

"If you are ever in a creative rut, try something new", advises Melanie Duarte.

This article documents her first skeins of cotton. She tried spinning various types of cotton on various tools, and made small samples using a pin-loom. The simple samples have shown her how gauge and sett can change fabric.

plymagazine.com/2019/12/chasing-cloth


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Colour inspiration

When little needs saying except 'beautiful colour'

The curse lives

The curse lives

KnitWit says that the colours in this yarn don't look quite as Christmassy in real life, but I do like the Christmassy look.

She spun fine and was hoping for more yardage than the fibre yielded.

paknitwit.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-curse-lives.html

Spinning Glacier Sunrise

Spinning Glacier Sunrise

This is the fibre and resulting yarn that Fiber Sprite calls Glacier Sunrise.

The colours were based on a photograph that she took. She formulated dyes to match the colours. The original photograph and more pictures of the yarn and fibre are at the other end of this link.

www.fibersprite.com/blog/spinning-glacier-sunrise

A New Start

A New Start

At first glance this bobbin of singles looks very sombre. "moody and subtle" says Knit/Wit. But look more closely and you'll see an intense blue and an olive green.

A picture of the original fibre is at the link below. You'll see some rich purples and browns in there too.

The colour way is called Two Roads Diverged on Bond wool from Southern Cross Fibre.

paknitwit.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-new-start.html

Feeling icy blues

Feeling icy blues

aliceinfiberland is feeling the icy blues as the Midwest heads into winter.

This fibre was pulled through a diz from her blending board

www.instagram.com/p/B5YMfhPpxoK


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Video

Short stop-motion animation with wool |

Short stop-motion animation with wool | "Revolution"

This is a clever and cute stop-motion video on the subject of yarn and also made from yarn.

Thanks to at least two Ravelry groups that have shared it.

youtu.be/MsY2VvChm4Y


Tips and tutorials

Idea Gallery: Weave a Memory

Idea Gallery: Weave a Memory

I've seen sliced photographs incorporated in woven pieces before but now I've learned from this article that the technique of holding down the slices (or any material as a weft) with warp threads is known as the Theo Moorman inlay technique.

Rather than slice a paper print, Daryl Lancaster suggests printing onto special cloth designed to take printer ink. Details are in the article.

handwovenmagazine.com/idea-gallery-weave-a-memory

How I make my felted lampshades

How I make my felted lampshades

I've enjoyed seeing these felted lampshades online, I think they're a clever idea and an attractive product.

So it's good to see that Highland Heffalump has detailed her entire process.

This tutorial is in three parts. I'm linking to part 3, which has links to the other two parts at the top.

Explore her Instagram feed to see some Christmas baubles in a similar style.

highlandheffalump.com/2019/12/06/how-i-make-my-felted-lampshades-part-3-construction

Corinne's Christmas Wreaths

Corinne's Christmas Wreaths

This is one of Corinne's Christmas Wreaths.

It involves some home dyeing and some tailspinning so it may be an opportunity to learn some new skills.

This tutorial appears on Fibreygoodness' blog, a link to a tailspinning video is included.

www.fiberygoodness.com/2019/12/corinnes-christmas-wreaths


Technology


Yvonne

Conscience

I can't in good conscience go to school, I have to go to the climate protest. Well while we're in such a conscientious mood, maybe you're ready to tell me now who broke that glass ornament?

If you like Yvonne, click the image to find her page, you can use next and previous to explore more cartoons.

Patreon icon  Become even more involved. Become a patron.

Jigsaw - online

Jigsaw - online

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.

www.jigsawplanet.com/shieladixon/Yvonne

Keeping this wheel spinning

Your news here

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Read more

Reviews

Adding the Ashford E-Spinner 3 to my life

Adding the Ashford E-Spinner 3 to my life

This episode of Sweetgeorgia's Vlog is effectively an unboxing and review of the Ashford e-spinner.

Felicia met Ashford's Kate Sherratt at a show and saw that the latest version of the spinner seemed a little quieter, smoother, better than previous versions.

In this very insightful video we see how she feels after a month of using it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbbBW5UDBMc


comment on any of this

 

Gallery

Sometimes just a picture is enough

Back to Nature

Back to Nature

This shawl was made some time ago. It looks familiar, I may have featured it before, but the picture is used this month as the lead image in a magazine article.

The attractive shawl looks perfect against the fence which is slowly being reclaimed by nature.

The pattern is Nature's Lace by Susan Ashcroft was made from mini-skeins, each of which was spun using a different tool.

www.instagram.com/p/B5cKJjfp79L

365 challenge

365 challenge

Liz Green has been doing a 365 challenge, spinning from birthday to birthday. As 2020 will be a leap year, I suspect that may make it a 366 challenge, which is even better (to the tune of one).

This rather splendid spindle shot shows day 194.

www.instagram.com/p/B54nQO9por3

It's raining men

It's raining men

This embroidery is called "It's raining men". The clouds were once a disappointing experiment in vegan wool, but brought out to make these colourful clouds.

www.instagram.com/p/B5V9CDWAtDJ


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Free patterns

A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.

Headband with a twist by Mirella Moments

Headband with a twist by Mirella Moments

A headband will keep your ears warm without flattening your hair as much as a hat.

This is not so much a pattern as a tutorial, in pictures and text as well as a video.

The headband is in English rib with a twist which hides the seam.

mirellamoments.com/headband-in-english-rib-with-a-twist

Crochet water bottle carrier by Wool and Chocolate

Crochet water bottle carrier by Wool and Chocolate

It has a strap so that the bottle can be easily carried and doesn't get lost. The carriers can be colour-coded so that everyone knows whose bottle is whose.

This blog post doesn't really contain a pattern but it does contain enough information for you to be able to make one if you know some basic crochet.

woolandchocolate.com/2019/11/20/water-bottle-sacks

Striped Hooded Scarf by Deborah Carpenter Bagley

Striped Hooded Scarf by Deborah Carpenter Bagley

This is Benjamin from Schacht giving us a cheeky peek from inside his hooded scarf.

What's not obvious at first glance is that the scarf is made from pin-loom squares.

He has used worstead weight commercial yarn for his but it would be a perfect project for handspun yarn of a similar weight. Pin looms such as the Zoom Loom are fun and addictive to use, so you'll soon have these squares made up.

schachtspindle.com/striped-hooded-scarf

Little Window Mitts by Valérie Miller

Little Window Mitts by Valérie Miller

Not only are these mitts very warm because they have two layers, the lining is colourful and the outer shell has holes which act like little window-frames for a stained glass effect.

This is a new pattern, not yet tech-edited but it's free right now and Val asks for a charitable donation if you like it.

incorrigiblecraftster.blogspot.com/2019/12/little-window-mitts.html

Breckle by Shilo Weir

Breckle by Shilo Weir

The spinning content in Knitty magazine has been reducing and in the current issue appears to be limited to just Jillian Moreno's column. None of the patterns this time are marked as 'designed for handspun'.

I hope it bounces back a bit. But I do like this pattern and I can see it made from chunky handspun yarn (or strands held together to make up the thickness.) The yarn suggested by the pattern is 7 wpi

The name, incidentally, was suggested by a neural network. We've had a link here before to at least one of Janelle Shane's crazy AI adventures.

knitty.com/ISSUEw19/PATTbreckle/PATTbreckle.php

Jul by Anniken Allis

Jul by Anniken Allis

Depending on when you read this issue, you may still have time to make these additions to your tree decorations.

I'm linking to her blog post in which she gives not only a link to the free pattern but also a number of video tutorials.

annisknittingblog.blogspot.com


comment on any of this

 

But is it art...?

Spin yarn as text

Spin yarn as text

These are contrasting yarns. Not only in their colours, but in the feelings that they evoke (or maybe even provoke).

One may fill you with feelings of disgust, the other with calm and delight. Maybe their meanings will be different for you and that's OK.

Rebecca says that all yarn tells a story. But usually not as intentionally as this art yarn.

needleandspindle.com/?p=5117


comment on any of this

 

2020 events

Waltham Abbey Wool Show

Waltham Abbey Wool Show

Sunday 19 January 2020 10am-4pm, Marriott Hotel, Old Shire Lane, Waltham Abbey

Chosen charity since 2017 is Knit for Peace. Workshops range from beginner to intermediate.

50 exhibitors, a selection of crochet, knitting, spinning and other craft workshops at a variety of levels.

www.walthamabbeywoolshow.co.uk

Norfolk Makers Festival

Norfolk Makers Festival

Sat 8 To Sun 23 Feb 2020, The Forum, Norwich.

A wide variety of crafts including knittings, spinning, weaving, crochet.

Demonstrations, have-a-go tables, workshops and exhibitions include Norwich Castle tapestry, RBST, Nudiknits, Saori Shed, Drop Spindle for Beginners with Jenn Monahan and much more.

norfolkmakersfestival.co.uk

Unravel

Unravel

Friday 21 - Sunday 23 February 2020, Farnham Maltings, Hampshire

A curated marketplace of over 70 quality exhibitors, well established practitioners alongside first time yarn show exhibitors selling yarn & fibre accessories. A programme of bookable workshops, talks & demonstrations led by UK & International experts.

craft.farnhammaltings.com/portfolio/unravel-festival-knitting

Cornwoolly

Cornwoolly

Heartlands, 15 March 2020

New larger venue, Cornwall College, Pool, TR15 3RD

Over 40 exhibitors, Cornwoolly brings together suppliers of virtually everything you need for your project, including a vast array of wool in all its states, and showcasing some of the best textile artists working in the South West today.

www.cornwoolly.co.uk

Buxton Wool Gathering

Buxton Wool Gathering

9 and 10 May 2019, Grand Octagon room, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton

The organisers of Bakewell Wool Gathering are pleased to announce the second year for Buxton Wool Gathering in May this year.

buxtonwool.co.uk

The Wool Monty

The Wool Monty

Saturday 13 June and Sunday 14 June 2020 FlyDSA Arena, Broughton Lane, Sheffield S9 2DF

Accessible, inclusive, welcoming.

thewoolmonty.co.uk

Woolfest

Woolfest

26 and 27 June 2020, Mitchell's Lakeland Livestock Centre, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 0QQ

Woolfest was founded to provide a celebration of natural fibres and a showcase for the best of wool and wool crafts. It is all about creativity and design with beautiful quality, amazing colours, skilled craftsmanship and a huge enthusiasm for all things wool related.

www.woolfest.co.uk

Yarningham

Yarningham

11 and 12 July 2020, Uffculme Centre, Birmingham B13 8QY

A fibre festival produced by Stitches and Hos. It comprises of a marketplace, programme of workshops, demonstrations and of course cake!

www.stitchesandhos.co.uk/yarningham/4591459403

Fibre East

Fibre East

25 - 26 July 2020, Redbourne Community College, Flitwick Road, Ampthill, Bedford MK45 2NU

An annual event created to celebrate all things natural fibre and handmade, with a focus on the Best of British: supporting the finest quality British wool, made from the fleeces of British sheep, reared by British farmers.

www.fibre-east.co.uk

WoolNEss

WoolNEss

1 - 2 August 2020, Location and further details tbc

Wool and Wellbeing festival for the North East.

www.woolness.co.uk

Southern Wool Show

Southern Wool Show

5 and 6 September 2020, Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire

The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!

www.southernwoolshow.co.uk

Yarndale

Yarndale

26 and 27 September 2020, 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.

yarndale.co.uk

Shetland Wool Week

Shetland Wool Week

26 September - 4 October 2020

A busy week dedicated to celebrating Shetland wool and textile heritage.

Includes classes, talks, drop-ins, art. See website for the full events listing.

shetlandwoolweek.com

West Wales Wool Show

West Wales Wool Show

Saturday 3 October 2020, 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

Masham Sheep Fair

The Wool Event, Masham Sheep Fair

26 and 27 September 2020, 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.

www.mashamsheepfair.com


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.

If you enjoy Hand Spinning News, please don't keep it to yourself. Obviously the link to the full version is a benefit for paying subscribers, but 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 and see you in 2020!

- Editor / curator

shiela@hand-spinning-news.com

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