You may be asking yourself where the first quarter of 2024 has gone. Wheel and loom maker Louët may be asking itself the same question about the last 50 years, while Victoria Handweaver's and Spinner's Guild is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
Sheep breeds under the spotlight this month include Targhee and Haunui. If your preference is for plant fibres, then Sarah demonstrates breaking 'winter-retted' milkweed and Anne Merrow explains how to make fibre from nettles.
Read on for more news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers. This is the free edition for April 2024.
Find out how to receive the full version of Hand Spinning News in your inbox, earlier than the free edition appears online.
Cover photo: Closeup detail of crochet work with handspun by MaCross-Photography.
Marjane Satrapi has designed this triptich of tapestries for the 2024 olympic games.
The work is 9m long and uses 60kg of wool.
www.kidsnews.com.au/arts/olympicinspired-tapestry-art-unveiled...
This jumper and pair of woollen stockings are part of a stash of mail which was seized more than 200 years ago and archived.
The clothing was among letters and parcels which were on board a ship travelling from the Faroe Islands to Denmark in 1807. The Royal Navy seized the ship as a war was about to start.
The parcels were opened by experts and academics. It's hoped that they will be displayed in the Faroe Islands in the future.
Maggie Casey made this vest some years ago. It has become a favourite yet hasn't pilled, it has kept its shape and the steeks have held.
She wasn't aware at the time that she had chosen the perfect wool for the job, Targhee. It is a soft, lofty fibre with elasticity that holds its shape and wears well.
This Spin Off article has more information about the breed along with a few other examples of finished projects.
Sarah has written many times about gathering and preparing milkweed fibre.
This post contains some mesmerising footage showing her breaking some "winter-retted" stems and extracting the fibre.
mixing natural-colour cottons can be more interesting than using a solid colour. Cindy Conner has made a colour gamp to show how the different colours interact. All of her cotton is home grown and spun.
Hannele Köngäs uses high-twist singles for weaving light and drapey fabric. After washing, "waves and bubbles develop" depending on whether only Z-twist is used, or a combination of Z- and S-twist.
spinoffmagazine.com/hannele-kongas-explores-high-twist-yarns
If you've been spinning for a while, I don't think the idea of processing and spinning these plants will 'nettle' you. It's a bast fibre from the same family as flax and hemp.
Anne Merrow gives an overview of how the plants are processed for spinning.
With high standards for the wool that they sent for processing into yarn, alpaca farmers Charlene and Anna were left with a lot of sub-standard wool. After trying dryer balls, felting kits etc, they still needed a way to use a lot of waste.
Wool pellets for improving soil seemed like a good answer. They helped an engineering company to develop a machine to produce the pellets and now the machinery is part of their farms and businesses.
fibershed.org/2024/03/13/waste-not-wool-pellets-make-great-soil-and-business
Katherine Mead says that journaling, digital or paper, can help your spinning through planning, tracking, and reflecting.
Here's how she uses her journal.
sandandskycreations has written about her first experience with the haunui breed which she found "an absolute delight".
sandandskycreations.com/2024/03/17/haunui-and-spinning-for-a-traveller-2
craftmehappy's second instalment of "Questionable Blends" uses Over the Rainbow from World of Wool.
If you're reading about this project for the first time, questionable doesn't mean that the colourways are dubious; just that they contain a colour mix that will make a spinner ask herself how best to spin it.
She drafted and spun from the tips as a control and then tried four other drafting methods; dizzing off a blending board, spinning from the fold, splitting vertically and then making pencil roving from 2 lengths of the blending board.
She knitted mitre squares from each for a thorough analysis.
www.craftmehappy.com...questionable-blend-number-2-over-rainbow.html
The Victoria Handweaver's and Spinner's Guild is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
Jean has documented the events with many pictures. First a lecture with guest speaker Diana Sanderson. She presented a collection of textiles in her care.
Second is a show of work, historical and current, in a small seaside gallery. Jean's pictures are well worth a perusal.
onesmallstitch.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/celebrating-part-two
This 'idea gallery' contains three ideas which involve sewing leftover handwoven fabric. Each idea has tips and links to resources.
handwovenmagazine.com/idea-gallery-a-trio-of-scrappy-projects
Sue has asked this question and I hope that she gets more responses because I'm very interested in finding out whether my own behaviour, which verges on hoarding, is typical or not.
it's hard to believe that someone buys what they need for a project and doesn't keep what's left (I'm not clear about whether this includes tools and equipment).
Please give your thoughts in the comments to this post.
travelfibreandthread.blogspot.com...monogamous-crafting-is-it-even-thing.html
Is it worth keeping your own sheep for yarn? Chris Allen writes about her experiences and answers that question.
This is another story of a small flock raised for wool.
Trevor and Yasmin lost almost everything they owned in a fire and have had to rebuild. It's a sobering and inspirational story.
www.moderndailyknitting.com/community/knitting-at-island-on-the-edge
Louët are celebrating their 50th anniversary. They have published this timeline listing notable products and events between 1974 and today.
Kath Andrews exhibited at the recent East Anglia Yarn Festival near Norwich. She found the show itself and the organisation fabulous.
She found time to go shopping and has some links for some of the other vendors' websites.
Interweave have embroidery all stitched up this month.
Brenda Anderson has a clever technique for adding western-style embroidery to your knitting.
This follow-up article has four stitches that you can use with this technique.
Brenda Anderson has tips for using the same technique on crochet.
Along with some of the other articles from Interweave, this article can be accessed for free but requires you to be logged in. This is simply a free login, you don't need to pay to become a member.
Continuing Interweave's series on embellishing knitting and crochet, Toni Rexroat has some tips for adding cross-stitch to Tunisian crochet. The example is this bag with fox faces.
www.interweave.com/article/crochet/cross-stitch-tunisian-crochet
Interweave claim that chain stitch embroidery on crochet is "quite an easy technique" but looks impressive.
www.interweave.com/article/crochet/add-some-flair-to-your-crochet-with-chain-stitch-embroidery
Cross-lacing is for you if you need more control over your flyer's take-up. Emonieiesha Hopkins explains.
spinoffmagazine.com/cross-lacing-learn-to-control-your-wheels-uptake
When using multiple skeins of hand-dyed or handspun yarn, it's advisable to alternate skeins to avoid a line.
Patty says that alternating three skeins might seem intimidating but it has huge advantages.
Sydney Blodgett has a little information about fibre from angora goats which makes what we know as mohair yarn. She has suggestions for things to make and a few tips for using it.
www.darngoodyarn.com...everything-you-need-to-know-about-mohair-yarn
In this short video, craftmehappy demonstrates how she adds thin layers of fibre to her blending board.
Lemonwood's mini minder looks amazing and they have a patent pending for their design. It carries a small ball but they also offer a 'not-so-mini' minder for larger balls.
It carries your yarn for knitting or crocheting on the go but Chanel discovered that it was beneficial even when knitting at home, so this gets her emphatic recommendation.
cbfiberworks.com/yarn-tool-review-mini-minders-from-lemonwood
We did have a review of Woolly's new book last month. It's probably no accident that this month it's at the top of quite a long list of book reviews from Jillian Moreno in the current Knitty.
See also Hunter Hammersen's review
Ashford's e-spinner 3 is the smallest and lightest version of their electric spinner to date.
Jess of Wool in my Coffee has bought one and found that it got her out of a spinning funk. She 'loves it to pieces'.
The UN urges all countries to produce as much food as possible from their own resources. However, in Norway, less than half of grazing resources are currently used and more than one farm a day is going out of business.
This video from The Guardian tells the story of Rakel who had the chance to follow in her father's footsteps and continue a small farm.
Walmart will be stocking garments made using Vega™ 3D weaving technology.
I've found it very hard to find details of how this works but it seems that the yarn is woven directly into the shaped pieces for the garment, rather than pieces being cut from flat yardage and sewn.
This means less production waste and also less waste at the retail end because the process allows for small order sizes.
So far, efforts to include electronics in garments involve batteries or hard circuit boards.
These textiles woven from hi-tec fibres harvest energy from the body and can act as sensors or transmitters.
Sometimes just a picture is enough
Kate Kilmurray uses weaving as a form of meditation. She uses indigo-dyed loops to help keep waste textiles out of the waste cycle. She finds that indigo sparks creativity and sparks memories.
HighlandHeffalump has used undyed North Ronaldsay yarn for this gansey-inspired blanket.
Spinning Shepherd shows off these three woven bands in their Sheep to Sweater Sunday.
Knit/Wit has finished this Hitchhiker. She says that this is "the perfect pattern for handspun because you can work at any gauge and knit basically until you run out of yarn". She'll be starting another almost immediately.
johannarichard has finished this small cardigan featuring Scottish seabirds. The yarn is plant-dyed handspun.
ntan_creations used three braids of grey corriedale dyed by Into The Whirled in the colorways Quoth the Raven, Unobtanium, and Mount Crumpit.
The pattern is The Traveler Shawl by Andrea Mowry
She got carried away when knitting it and I'm not surprised, it's beautiful.
Last month I featured Woolly's (then) latest pattern, Revambias.
sheepassisted has been making one "as a palate cleanser" using two colours of her handspun yarn.
marissa_ceramics has been using knitted fabric in her ceramic work. See this absorbing timelapse video on her Instagram.
The Emotional Support Chicken is popping up everywhere. This one is "mostly handspun (some Shetland, Ryeland, some corespun samples and a wee bit of advent fluff for the bill)" by Narapoia, spotted in a Ravelry discussion. If you're interested in making one, you may like to read the comments here about sewing up.
www.ravelry.com/discuss/uk-spinners/177789/35301-35325#35305
This is Lisa's own pattern, it uses a skein of handspun, 105 grams, 265 meters of 70/30 BFL/silk, with a little blue for striping.
www.ravelry.com/projects/LisaKnitterWeaver/pretty-in-pink-cowl
RedAndFiery loves colourwork with her handspun. In this case natural Charollais with a dyed skein.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
Frühlingsblümchen features bobble-like crochet flowers, not stitched on, but made during the row.
Besides the flower, this pattern uses several interesting techniques including Emily Ocker's cast-on and Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.
You can use "any laceweight that takes a block well".
This is from the current Knitty.
These placemats are woven from scrap fabric cut into strips. Thin cotton is used to warp a rigid heddle loom at 5 ends per inch (you can use a 10 dent reed).
This is very simple if you're happy with cable stitches (in this case 2x2 to the left, and 2x2 to the right).
It needs 100 - 110 yards of aran-weight yarn. The pattern says 'one size' but I feel that it can be adjusted very easily with fewer or more pattern repeats.
The pattern only describes how to join the end in words, not pictures. I would like to make one but can't visualise this step. If anyone knows where there's a demonstration of this in pictures or video, please let me know.
This is a simple and effective project. They can be reusable decorations for the table, parcels or a tree. Susan also suggests that you could turn a bunch of them into a wreath.
They are made from plain-woven squares from a pin loom such as a Zoom Loom.
Max has made this Melmerby Cowl using his own black and grey handspun yarn.
He says, "This slip stitch motif works really well with handspun yarn. It gives a rustic and vintage look".
It uses 615 - 700 yards of DK-weight yarn.
This cowl and/or mitts pattern features pleats, mock tab closures and 'plaid' textured patterning.
Twisted is a moebius brioche cowl.
The pattern has two size options and two yarn options (DK or aran) and requires 133 - 383 yards
TanjasZwerge has finished these mitts using undyed handspun yarn from her small flock of Ouessant sheep. The bright colour is duplicate stitch and it's perfect.
The pattern uses 180 yards of fingering/sock weight yarn for the main colour and 100 yards for contrast colour, plus a small amount for the accent colour.
This requires a few rainbow colours as well as a dark and light. If the vibe appeals to you then the pattern bundle contains a hat, cowl and scarf.
With thanks to the Crafty Yarnster, whose picture I'm using for my thumbnail. Her notes are here.
Kevin Vallentin resolved to draw a sheep each day. Sometimes they're plain ol' sheep, sometimes they're turned into other things such as dinosaurs, game characters or (right) 'Pegasheep'.
With thanks to Krista Ann / Interweave for the tip.
Chiharu Shiota's site-specific installations "redefine the concept of memory and consciousness" by engulfing everyday objects with thread.
Michele Beevors knits life-size animal skeletons.
Her exhibition, Good Bones, is on display at The Dowse Art Museum, New Zealand until the end of April.
We have seen this work before when Peggy was preparing it for its trip to China.
She's thrilled to see it on display in the museum.
peggyosterkamp.com/2024/03/my-ring-of-silks-as-seen-in-china
Tanya Bentham is a spinner, dyer and weaver but her work centres around embroidery. She has long been attracted to the techniques and designs of medieval embroidery and now adds her own twist.
www.textileartist.org/tanya-bentham-a-modern-twist-on-medieval-embroidery
The exhibition features over 100 works by over 50 artists. Collectively they "examine how textiles have been employed to explore themes spanning power, oppression, gender and belonging".
This page has an introductory video and pictures of some of the works.
www.dezeen.com/2024/04/05/barbican-unravel-exhibition-textile
Elisabeth uses many different materials and techniques to create birds-eye view landscapes.
Helena Hafemann uses hundreds of threads to turn fragments of porcelain into art.
Sunday, 31 March 2019 10:00-16:00, Buckfastleigh Town Hall and Institute TQ11 0DD
A gathering of spinners, weavers, dyers, felters, knitters, breeders, wool enthusiasts and so much more.
13 - 21 April 2024, The Forum, Norwich.
A wide variety of crafts including knittings, spinning, weaving, crochet. A strong presence from local guilds.
Demonstrations, have-a-go tables, workshops and exhibitions.
27 - 28 April 2024, 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.
7 - 9 June 2024 Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ
A weekend festival celebrating textiles through a series of talks, workshops, a wide range of stalls and more.
www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/event/apply-now-for-threads-festival-textile-market-2024
18 - 19 May 2024, 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.
Friday 31 May - Saturday 1 June, Galashiels, TD1 3JX and TD1 1SP
The two-day festival isn't just a yarn festival, it's a celebration of independent textile artists, crafters, dyers and spinners, as well as its local community.
Textile exhibitions, interactive activities, workshops, a brand new Fleece Market and over 30 craft stalls
Saturday 1 June 2024 Leeds Industrial Museum
This popular event includes a packed out craft market, expert demonstrations, talks, performances, tea rooms, a gin palace pop-up and loads more
museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-industrial-museum/whats-on-at-leeds-industrial-museum
1-2 June 2024 Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, Devon
A yarn and fibre show with a twist - it's aimed to educate and connect people with the origin of their yarns, wool fibre and more...you'll find flax, leather, nettle, wood, ceramic and more at the show!
Brought to you by the organisers of Stitch Fest South West.
1 - 2 June 2024, Dilham, Norfolk, NR28 9PT
Hosted by the historic Worstead Guild.
7 - 9 June 2024, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ
Celebrating textiles through 40+ textile stalls, an extensive programme of workshops and talks.
www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/arts/gallery/threads-textile-festival-2024
8 - 9 June 2024 Magna, Magna Way, Sheffield S60 1FD
Accessible, inclusive, welcoming.
8 - 9 June, 2024, The Assembly Rooms, South Molton Town Hall with tour of JAT Mill
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.
22 - 23 June 2024, J36 Rural Auction Centre, Cumbria
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.
29 - 30 June 2024 The Heritage, Bishton (opp Bishton Hall), Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire
A celebration of all things woolly, just 25 mins from J13 of the M6.
Wed 10 - Thu 11 July Knight's Hill Hotel and Spa, King's Lynn
Two days of uninterrupted hand spinning bliss. Immerse yourself in this therapeutic, mindful craft and enjoy total relaxation with full use of the leisure suite to complement your wellness. You will leave feeling serenely recharged.
www.thespinningbarn.co.uk/event-info/hand-spinning-wellness-retreat
13 and 14 July 2022, Uffculme Centre, Birmingham B13 8QY
A fibre festival produced by Stitches and Hos. "Lots of exciting things planned".
27 - 28 July 2024 Redborne School, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2NU
For all lovers of woolly crafts - spinning, knitting, weaving, crochet, feltmaking and dyeing.
Picks up where Fibre East left off.
10 - 11 August 2024, Newcastle Racecourse
90 amazing stalls plus a great range of workshops. Cafe, demonstrations.
17August 2024, 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.
7 and 8 September 2024, Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
7 - 8 September 2024, 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
13 and 14 September 2024, Farnham Maltings
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.
14 - 15 September 2024
A weekend celebration of rural crafts, food, entertainment and of course, sheep farming.
Sunday 15 September 2024, The Pavilion Centre, Royal Cornwall Showground
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.
28 - 29 September 2024, Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire
Over 180 makers, craft workers, retailers, and artisans in the picturesque market town of Skipton, North Yorkshire.
29 September - 5 October 2024
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.
10 - 13 October 2024, Alexandra Palace, London
Saturday 12 October 2024, 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 October 2024, Liskeard Public Hall.
19 - 20 October 2024 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.
18 - 20 October 2024, 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.
26-27 October 2024 Leicester Racecourse, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4AL
30+ trade stalls, 30+ courses, food and free parking.
8 - 9 November 2024, Sandburn Hall, York YO60 7RB
More details to follow
21 - 24 November 2024, Harrogate Convention Centre
Meet up with like-minded crafters, discuss ideas, learn new skills and shop for your annual craft supplies, including wool, beads and beyond from household name brands and special suppliers alike including Fabric Godmother, Toft and more.
I'm Shiela Dixon, I've been doing this for almost fifteen years in order to promote and encourage spinning and related crafts.
It's made possible by a number of readers who contribute financially. You can join them with a regular contribution (pay what you like, no matter how small) and in return receive a longer version of HSN delivered to your email inbox earlier in the month than the free edition appears.
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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