In the media
Machine speeds up production for Shetlanders, UK's biggest bobble hat, solo women's eight-hour shearing record, getting rid of 'red tape'
Handspun stories
Knitting lopi yarn, weaving and sewing a laundry bag, creating a batt, local weaving rooms, scouring agents, poppana, the varafeldur, beloved stash, a Shetland fleece, meet the Corriedale, introduction to kick spindles
Tips and tutorials
How to use viva magenta in colorwork, sit up and get a grip, using colours sparingly but effectively, spinning vertical colour, Ashford spinning wheel maintenance, Single-handed colourwork, crochet provisional cast-on for knitting, Crochet sweater construction types, warp-faced cloth, ways to make a rolag on hand carders, paper yarns, architecture of a draft, use yarn to count rows, two-colour bind-off, needle felt a steek
Products and reviews
Spanish Peacock Ninja, Unraveling by Peggy Orenstein, the Cricket Quartet
Video and audio
Cochineal dye, restored antique spinning wheels, Sheep to Shawl, PA Farm Show
Technology
wool is (still) the best material for outdoor gear, high-tech yarn can generate electricity
Gallery
Some of the best spinning images I've seen this month
But is is art...?
Crocheted toasts, ramen and turkey dinners by Maria Skog, Embroidered snacks and mass-produced food by Alicja Kozlowska, Danielle Clough reimagines sportswear and gear in vibrant embroideries, Julia Shore's mossy embroideries, Knitting clock makes you a scarf for next year
UK Events
We now have a very healthy list of 2023 woolly events
In the media
Knitters create UK's biggest bobble hat using 2 million yards of yarn
I'm getting 'tent' rather than 'hat' but this record breaker was constructed at Nottingham's Albert Hall.
Scrappy spins can give little anomolies. In this case a dark red line appeared on one row, which really stood out. (see a previous picture in january_one's photos).
She's pleased that she grasped the nettle and ripped back. I'm looking forward to seeing this finished item and it'll be all the better for that little bit of extra work.
In the text of this post she gives a tip for ripping back colourwork.
The Spanish Peahen has instigated a "Spintentional Spinalong". The idea is that you plan a project; choose fibre and a pattern, make the yarn and then make the project.
This blog post contains some thoughts on being a 'process spinner' rather than a 'project spinner'.
Thanks to Fiber Sprite for this brilliant blog post in which she comprehensively documents this project. There's even a video showing the warp being cut off the loom.
The frame is a bought laundry basket with the original grey fabric bag removed.
She discusses the deisgn process, choosing the warp colours and weft yarn and sewing the bag.
Whispering Pines will be appearing (or did appear, if you're reading the free edition) at this small yarn festival in Henrietta, NY on 19 February '23.
She has posted a video shot at last year's event, which may whet your appetite for the upcoming 2023 yarn shows.
Fiberygoodness shares this tutorial from Debora Galaz in which she takes us through her process of choosing colours and making an art batt using a drum carder.
Thanks to Elly for letting me know about this wonderful video in which Margaret visits Les Cercles des Fermière which is an organisation that manages a room full of looms that members can use and pay by the inch for the warp.
Ellena asks, "Why doesn't every area have one of these co-ops?"
I'm linking to the video with a timecode to take you to the start of the tour, but feel free to skip back to the start and watch Margaret's introduction.
By one of those strange coincidences, Josefin has also written this month about her Vävstuga or local weaving room.
She tends to use her own rigid heddle loom because she weaves with her own handspun yarn, but the membership allows use of the looms and materials there.
If you want to take a deep dive into how scouring works and the best formulations (don't literally take a deep dive into the stuff) then Fossil Fibers has the topic covered in this series of posts.
If you're reluctant to start a bigger project because of the quantity that you have to spin, and then the large amount of knitting, then Johanna Carter advises you to mix up your spinning and knitting. It's "a wonderful way for a spinner to avoid being overwhelmed".
She has some tips for keeping things consistent which will be useful if you try this.
If like me you've been inspired by the Pantone colour of the year for 2023, then you may be interested in these palette suggestions which all include Oxblood, SweetGeorgia's yarn colour which is closest to the Pantone choice.
These tips from Jillian Moreno are presented by Kate on the Ashford blog.
When a mill makes a blend, different colours and maybe different fibres will run vertically or in parallel. There are a number of ways of dealing with this type of fibre which will give different results.
Jillian discusses these, with examples. The differences are more subtle than I would expect.
Wheel maintenance is a 'staple' of early Spring blog topics. Richard Ashford himself has written this list of checkpoints for old and new Ashford wheels. You may think that your wheel is running well but the difference that a little maintenance makes can be surprising.
At first glance I thought this meant stitch marker, but no, this is a very simple and effective technique using a strand of yarn to mark rows and keep count.
As Spanish Peahen plans her upcoming spinalong, she takes stock of the spindles she'll use. Here's her personal collection of Spanish Peacock 'ninja' spindles - her 'Ninja Army'. She discusses their weights and woods.
Last month, Pamela did an unboxing and gave some initial thoughts on the Cricket Quartet - a castle that turns a Schacht Cricket rigid heddle loom into a four-shaft loom.
With a little bit of experience under her belt, she now gives a very comprehensive review. This is a long post with lots of text, and each point is accompanied by a short video illustration.
Tiny cactus bugs in red food dye are a $35 billion industry
You may be aware that natural cochineal dye comes from bugs. It's said to be part of the inspiration for the colour of the year. This fascinating video shows the production of cochineal in Mexico, both domestic and wild.
Why wool is (still) the best material for outdoor gear
The outdoor industry is constantly looking for innovation in materials. However, wool does hold its own in this world, even if it does sometimes have some hi-tec branding applied to it.
Hayley Helms gives a number of reasons why wool is still a great material for the job.
University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) researchers have engineered a new and improved type of high-tech yarn called "twistrons" which generates electricity when stretched or twisted.
The yarn appears to be made in the way that we would recognise - twisted singles plied in the opposite direction.
Each day, yarn is chosen from your palette according to the temperature outside, which creates a visual representation of the temperature over the year.
This crocheted granny square blanket won the grand prize. It's by Sara and I'm linking to the pictures at her Instagram account where you'll find more pictures and a picture of the yarn palette.
I love this image of handspun yarn with a sample of woven fabric. hikari.handmade has reworked a 'scrappy batt' into rolags for spinning, which you can see if you swipe through her images. It's a nice way to deal with a handcarded batt.
If you watched the PA Farm Show Sheep to Shawl video, you may have spotted the volcano-themed team. It seems that this Instagram picture to is the shawl that the team made.
I think the colourful warp was on the loom at the start of the allotted time, and the dark natural-coloured weft was shorn, carded and spun on the day.
These beautiful bags are made using an Amanda Rataj design, which has been published in a Scandinavian weaving magazine and apparently not published anywhere else yet.
whatvivdoes says that "with one warp, I could use up precious leftover handspun sock yarn, to make pouches to hold precious essential little things".
There are a few more pictures to swipe through and you can see how some different handspun yarns have made a variety of fabrics.
This classic bobble hat pattern is provided for free. As part of the Hats for the Homeless campaign, you are invited to cast on a hat such as this one for a good cause.
Another Viva Magenta pattern, this one isn't as big a commitment as it may look. It's made in smaller triangles. In a solid colour to let the cosy cables speak.
This is a modern take on a traditional design, combining traditional and original.
I recommend that you click the link in this blog post for Marius sweater for the history of the Marius sweater, the bestselling and most hand-knitted pattern in Norway.
Embroidered snacks and mass-produced food by Alicja Kozlowska
Alicja Kozlowska's work begins with a felted base that she covers with embroidered stitches. The work reproduces packaged food and drink to "reflect on consumerism and the lasting impacts of over-consumption".
24 - 26 February 2023, Farnham Maltings, Hampshire
At the core of unravel's three day in-person festival 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.
11 and 12 March 2023, Grand Octagon room, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton
50 exhibitors will be displaying the best of yarn, knitting, and crochet in the gateway to the Peak District. The website contains an exhibitor list and ticket information.
The event's home page contains some charity patterns raising money for Macmillan.
East Anglia's premier fibre festival, bringing amazing exhibitors to Norwich for the second year. Classes, crochet and knit-a-long, The Big Stitch Night, podcaster meet-up.
22-23 April 2023, 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.
13 - 14 May 2023 Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire
A celebration of all things woolly, just 25 mins from J13 of the M6, in the beautiful landscaped gardens of Staffordshire's grade II listed Georgian mansion, Bishton Hall.
Friday 16 - Sunday 18 June, 2023, John Arbon Textiles, Hacche Lane Business Park, South Molton
This legendary event returns. Includes mill tour and workshops, talks and even a few other vendors at the beautiful 18th century function rooms in South Molton Town Hall
Tickets for tours, talks and workshops are now available for booking.
A gathering of people with a love for wool and yarn, and the associated crafts. The first Cumbrian Wool Gathering is organised by the same team responsible for Bakewell Wool Gathering and Buxton Wool Gathering.
9 & 10 September 2023. Dewars Centre, Glover St, Perth PH2 0TH
Scotland's contemporary yarn and fibre festival. 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 80 vendors, keynote event, social events and classes run over the weekend.
Cornwall's Yarn and Fibre Festival - 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.
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.
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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