It's fun to put colours together but have you tried simple black / grey / white, or how about a pure undyed white project like cestlivymakes Ptarmigan. Rachel and Alice of Cable and Blake have commissioned a luxury woven fabric using undyed Herdwick. If you're sticking to a single colour, Jillian discusses blending with black and white for the monochrome effect.
It's not surprising that many 'reviews of 2021' posts appeared after the first edition of January's issue which now goes out quite early in the month. These posts can be a delight to read, so there are some in this month's issue.
If you're curious about making socks then there are quite a few items for you this month. Lattes and Llamas have written a guide to sock anatomy. There are two stories about making a harder-wearing yarn for mittens, which obviously also apply to spinning for socks. For more seasoned sock knitters, Ailbiona McLochlainn has published a pattern with integrated heel - it looks and fits like a flap-and-gusset but is worked mostly in the round.
Read on for this month's round-up of news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers.
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Cover photo: Woman carding wool, Burt Johnson / Alamy.
The story of the woollen flower bouquets has been everywhere, not so much this story about an artwork in the athlete's village.
Hengyuanxiang Group is responsible for the artwork, as well as the bouquets.
www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202201/24/WS61ede8b1a310cdd39bc82b0d.html
Bohus Stickning was a knitwear brand active between 1939-1969.
Debby Greenlaw delves into the history of the company and the distinctive style. She made this hat, inspired by what she's learned.
This is an excellent idea for using bits and pieces of yarn.
patchworkfibers hit on the idea of plying all those leftover yarns together, two or three yarns at a time, for six or nine ply yarn, suitable for use as a heavy rug weft.
This post contains some images of the process, along with a picture of the rug in progress on the loom.
Madder is one of the oldest known natural dyes. It can produce a range of colours on the orange side of red.
Riihivilla lives in a climate which may be too cold to grow the plant, but perhaps thanks to a hot summer, she's had some blooms and seeds.
riihivilla.blogspot.com/2022/01/krapin-siemenia-madder-seeds.html
If you're curious about sock knitting then this is a very good introduction.
This article specifically discusses the flap-and-gusset heel, but as you'll see elsewhere in this issue, there are other, sometimes novel, approaches to shaping the heel.
As a bonus, Megan-Anne and Jac have also written about choosing the right needles.
lattesandllamas.com/2022/01/18/2022-geek-a-long-sock-anatomy
It's true that we spend time thinking about how to make yarn resilient enough to make durable socks, but other garments can wear out too.
Rebecca Roy's fingerless mitts get a lot of wear, so she thought carefully before choosing the breed and deciding how to spin the yarn for this pair.
plymagazine.com/2022/01/spinning-for-a-durable-pair-of-mitts
Also on the subject of mitten durability, antigona_sanchez has held a strand of silk / mohair yarn with her handspun BFL for extra warmth and durability.
This is an eye catching headline if ever there was one. We think of Herdwick as a coarse wool suitable for carpets.
Rachel and Alice of Cable and Blake were horrified at the amount of wasted wool and so commissioned Carole Bowman to make a luxury cloth for interior design using Herdwick wool combined with sari silk and a commercial yarn.
Cath Snape presents the story.
spinoffmagazine.com/producing-a-luxury-cloth-from-herdwick-sheep
Suzy Brown has shared this video in which she discusses spinning for embroidery. It's fascinating and she has some tips for spinning a consistent fine yarn.
With thanks to Fiber Sprite Pamela for the link.
It made me laugh to read that sheep are the "toddlers of the livestock world", they cannot defend themselves against even small predators and are hell-bent on getting lost and injured.
Barbara Rimkunas looks at life for the early American settlers. (The Exeter in the title is Exeter, New Hampshire, USA.) Until much later, wool was imported from Britain, probably woven in homes and fulled in fulling mills.
eu.seacoastonline.com...historically-speaking-look-exeters-wool-industries...
Stephenie Gaustad makes the bold claim that a spindle can be faster and more efficient than a wheel. I'd add that there's a certain pleasure and maybe more control to be had when using the simple tool.
She gives some advice and tips.
Laverne says that her handspun yarn is holding up well with this backstrap 3-color reversible Andean Pebble Weave.
Badgerface is one of the patterns that Icelandic sheep can be.
This is a beautiful photo and copiacove has added some background about Icelandic sheep.
Monochrome means a single colour. You can change the colour a great deal by adding white or black.
Jillian explains.
spinoffmagazine.com/color-blending-on-the-drumcarder-mixing-monochrome
Katknit passes on an interesting story about the expression "sending someone the mitten" along with a historical cute tiny mitten.
danceswithwool.wordpress.com/2022/02/04/textile-tales-send-someone-the-mitten
When little needs saying except 'beautiful colour'
There's a full range of colours here, but all quite muted shades. Brought to life with a little of something lustrous or sparkly.
I've listed this under 'Colour inspiration', even though we could discuss whether black, white and grey are technically colours.
Either way, this is a beautiful picture, and I love to see thick-and-thin used in projects. This could possibly be the same yarn.
It'll be interesting to see how these contrasting colours play out in a 3-ply fractal yarn.
This result of twistedurban's late-night drum carder session looks tasty. The silk makes me taste sugar icing.
This is Zoe's second start at a knitalong, I'm not sure what went wrong the first time, but I gather that she wasn't happy with the colours. These ones look amazing, and match the plant just behind the bobbin.
craftmehappy has made this ombre or gradient with help from a graph to make sure that the gradient is perfectly linear. She calls this linear blending.
With the help of the graph, she was able to blend each nest with the right proportions of each colour. All details are within this blog post.
www.craftmehappy.com/2022/01/linear-blending-wool-gradient.html
In this case, a paper towel is a towel made of paper.
Tom Knisely was intrigued by shifu, cloth made from paper. Surprisingly. it's durable and stands up to washing.
He also writes about an antique futon cover that he's seen, and a more modern paper dress that he owns.
handwovenmagazine.com/notes-from-the-fell-redefining-the-paper-towel
Kate Larson, editor of Spin Off magazine, demonstrates, through the medium of video, how to make cables without using a cable needle.
After seeing this, you may prefer to stick with your cable needle, but it may be worth learning this technique for the times when you don't have that little needle handy.
Kate is working on the Towline hat, she also talks about the yarn that she spun for her hat.
spinoffmagazine.com/cabling-without-a-cable-needle-the-towline-hat
And you thought the coloured markings on sheep were to help the farmer identify them. Oh no, they've all just been doing a bit of decorating.
If you like Yvonne, click the image to find her page, you can use next and previous to explore more cartoons.
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Quite a Yarn has reviewed this set of three books which feature Norwegian folk-art-inspired patterns.
quiteayarnblog.com/2022/01/30/knitters-bookshelf-knits-mitts-and-socks-from-around-norway
If you like the look of ganseys but want to make something other than a fisherman's sweater, then quiteayarnblog says that this new book is for you.
quiteayarnblog.com/2022/01/18/knitters-bookshelf-the-gansey-knitting-sourcebook
Sometimes just a picture is enough
Just missing January's issue, Devin wrote about their achievements over the past year, including this very handsome vest with handspun, handwoven fabric.
Devin writes about accountability and listing your goals. It seems like a great way to motivate yourself.
This is also a review of 2021 projects. TT820 decided to knit 21 hats in 2021 and almost made it. She is strongly influenced by Woolly Wormhead as you can see.
Her first hat of 2022 is the beret from Woolly's Get Garter collection.
The fronts of knitty_doodlebug's cushions are woven from hand-blended singles
The first three pictures on this page show the home-dyed BFL/nylon mix, the yarn that Joanne spun and the finished socks.
There's no pattern, they're "regular toe-up, two-at-a-time, 64 stitches, on a 2.5mm needle socks"
joanne-threadhead.blogspot.com/2022/02/socks-and-spinning.html
Fadedfrost has finished this Glenallen shawl, made using fibre from Fellview Fibres. The fibre could be one of Carol's seven-shade gradients.
The British Craft House posted a prompt each day in January, as part of the British Craft House Instagram Challenge.
This is Heather's response to day 20's prompt, 'personal touch'.
This is nice use of duplicate stitch to create these mushroom motifs.
Michelle has made this test knit in handspun, hand-dyed yarn. She found the New Zealand summer too hot for modelling it.
This is another impressive early project, Debbi's first handspun project, a woven shawl.
Melanie's sweater is a version of Fantastitch by Stephen West. She says "Good fo the cool days of February."
This collection of pictures shows the skwins that went into it.
This colourful crocheted sheep uses a loop stitch and handspun yarn for its fleece.
Hendrike split the Dutch Wool Diva braid in half lengthwise and spun it as a gradient. She chain plied it which keeps the colours together and strong. She couldn't wait to get knitting.
arabrabaniger is proud of this handspun yarn. "It shows all the practice and experience of the hours spent at the spinning wheel so far."
This is a restoration story. If you look at the before and after photos, it's hard to believe that it's the same wheel. I particularly like the paint job.
It's an Andreson wheel, c. 1892 - 1913.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
These socks use an aran-weight sock yarn, so I imagine will be quick to knit.
They mix garter and stockinette stitch. 7 sizes are included.
The Weekender Beret is one of three previously-premium patterns that Woolly has decided to make available for free.
At present you'll get the patterns as part of the welcome message when you sign up for her woolly Hat society which is a free email subscription with other benefits.
This isn't so much a free pattern as instructions for making dryer balls.
You can use any left-over feltable fibre or yarn.
With a few drops of essential oil, these make your dryer more efficient and save on dryer sheets.
This one is for heel-nerds, Ailbíona has designed a heel similar to flap and gusset, that is worked in the round, eliminating the back-and-forth with the flap.
The pattern also includes a toe-up version in case that's your preference.
With thanks to MDK for the suggestion.
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-sock-with-integrated-heel
And by coincidence, Knit/Wit has just published a sock pattern with a novel heel.
This heel has triangular gussets and short-row heel but is written so that you can knit toe-up or cuff-down.
You will need a favourite method of working short rows because the pattern doesn't specify.
Note that there's a discount running until February 13.
paknitwit.blogspot.com/2022/02/pattern-release-sohcahtoa.html
sock_walker calls her new Ochre "gorgeous, soft, comfortable, perfectly fitting".
The main colour is commercial yarn and the contrast is leftover singles plied into a big skein.
The pattern is Ochre Moss, which is again from Drea Renee. (Andrea isn't sponsoring me, these are just the beautiful projects that spinners have finished this month).
This is cestlivymakes' Ptarmigan neck-warmer. She has been loving its elegant drape and classic coziness. Her handspun yarn is 80% merino.
The pattern is Ptarmigan by Jared Flood
If you haven't seen the Tentacula hat, you need to look closely at the stitches. Designer Jenny Noto says that the pattern has a "fun and unique stitch technique." It's aimed at intermediate level, and it includes a bonus super-bulky version.
this example I'm linking to is by vorstadt_uschi. It is made in handspun yarn.
This pattern is designed to use ten mini-skeins.
Carlie combined two colourways from Three Waters Farm
The pattern is Juniper crocheted cowl by Toni Lipsey
This is a new pattern but is already very popular. A number of spinners are using handspun yarn. You could use commercial yarn for the main part and your handspun for the contrast colour, or handspun for both.
Laura has used Finnish wool
The pattern is here. Ituses 1135 - 2170 yards of worsted weight yarn (9wpi) on 3.25-3.75 needles. There are 13 size options.
Ruth's work is extraordinarily realistic yet uses bright and unexpected colours. Her own website gives an unusual amount of detail about her materials and process. She uses 100% wool tapestry yarns and begins with pencil drawings.
Ruth's page about how she develops her ideas is a very interesting read.
www.thisiscolossal.com/2022/01/ruth-miller-embroidered-portraits
Joshua Adokuru also makes portraits but his are more abstract and use a string-art technique.
www.thisiscolossal.com/2022/01/joshua-adokuru-string-portraits
Farfield Mill, Garsdale Road, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5LW
Two exhibitions are currently running at Farfield Mill that will inspire those interested in various textile techniques.
"Wild" runs until the end of February, "Threads in Sheds" until the end of March.
New work from around the world, with "wild" as the theme The European Patchwork Meeting tries to inspire a trend towards freedom, opening new and enriching perspectives, an approach off the beaten track which
will inspire you.
The British Tapestry Group National Members touring exhibition "Threads in Sheds" aims to preserve the heritage of tapestry weaving and to celebrate contemporary creativity.
Members from across the organisation who are at various stages of their weaving career have created new works which use a significant element of silk.
9 - 20 March 2022, The Forum, Norwich.
A wide variety of crafts including knittings, spinning, weaving, crochet.
Demonstrations, have-a-go tables, workshops and exhibitions.
23-24 April 2022, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells
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.
Friday 10 - Sunday 12 June, 2022, John Arbon Textiles, Hacche Lane Business Park, South Molton
This legendary event returns as an in-person event in 2022. Includes mill tour and "all sorts of additional bits and bobs". More details to be announced.
18 - 19 June 2022 FlyDSA Arena, Broughton Lane, Sheffield S9 2DF
Accessible, inclusive, welcoming.
3 and 4 September 2022, Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
17 - 18 September 2022,
To highlight and raise awareness of all the wonderful things that our British wool can be used for.
24 and 25 September 2022, 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.
6 - 9 October 2022, Alexandra Palace, London
I'm Shiela Dixon, I've been doing this for around ten years in order to promote and encourage the craft of spinning.
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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.
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Happy spinning!
Shiela Dixon - Editor / curator
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