One way to gain colour inspiration is to generate a palette from a photograph. Leigh shows us how she has been turning winter photographs into colour palettes for weaving and has thoughts and observations about the process. Along similar lines, Winter Inspirations is a new set of limited-edition colourways on Corriedale fibre inspired by winter photographs.
The emotional support chicken continues to be a phenomenon. As Highland Heffalump finishes her third, she warns that it turns into an addiction.
You could also get hooked on rag rugs. There are two kinds, proddy and hooked. Jeni has written about the techniques and about Winifred Nicholson's Cumbrian Rag Rugs which are currently being exhibited in Middlesborough. Emily O'Leary creates amazingly realistic hand-hooked rugs that resemble sleeping dogs.
Tools such as laser cutters and 3D printers are now affordable for the hobbyist and if you don't have the money or space, makerspaces make them available. I've been featuring open-source hardware projects such as looms and spinning machines and this month is no exception. Engineering Knits has 3d printed a ball winder and if woodwork is your thing then instructions are available to make your own cigar-box charkha,
So without further ado, read on for more news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers. This is the edited free round-up for February 2025.
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Cover photo courtesy Kristin Nicholas, Winter Lambing.
The Longest Yarn has been on display at St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen but may have moved on before you read this.
It was reported that the work would be displayed in the Norwich Forum during February, but the venue are saying that the visit has been cancelled.
From 4 - 31 March The Longest Yarn will be on display in Peterborough Cathedral with timed tickets available now.
When the Longest Yarn tour reaches Devon, life-size crochet models from the war are to be shown alongside the exhibition. These include a depiction of land girl Daphne Hedges who moved to Devon to catch rats between 1944 and 1946. The call has gone out for knitted black, grey, white or brown rats.
South Africa may not be the first country to come to mind when you think of fine merino wool but a recent event highlighted the sustainability and traceability of South Africa's wool.
South Africa has around 8,000 commercial wool farmers, and just over 45,000 individual communal farmers.
Archaeologists have found several 1,500-year-old loom weights at a site in Denmark.
A drawing on the page shows a reconstruction of the workshop complete with loom which in turn is complete with the weights.
It would be a terrible idea for any of us to try spinning asbestos but Christina tells us that it can be spun and woven, and indeed has been historically. She has stories of magic tricks being performed using textiles made of the stuff, and has two medieval-inspired table runner pattern suggestions.
Does the colour green make you feel content? It may do even if you're one of those, like Beryl, who are unable to perceive it.
Sarah muses on working with green yarn, or rather her dog does.
Amanda has been able to buy a very wide (63") countermarch loom, which is wider than she is tall!
She has shared her thoughts and lessons learned.
This article shows how a photograph translates into a colour palette for fibre. There are five examples from Sweetgeorgia's spinning instructor team which together form their 'Winter Inspirations' limited-edition colourways.
Leigh has also been turning winter photographs into colour palettes to help her to choose colour combinations from her stash.
She has made three posts, each containing some examples. My main link goes to the first part, the second has more pictures and in the third she gives some thoughts and observations about the process.
leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.com...natures-color-palettes-idea.html
The 2025 stitch book challenge began on January 17. It runs for 100 days, during which you work for 15 minutes per day.
It would be easy to set your own 100-day challenge with any project and get into the routine.
Jean comments that "you would be surprised at how much you learn about how you work and what is possible in 15 minute periods".
In this post, Jean shows some of the stitch books that she's made in previous years and the scraps that she'll use for this year's.
Durham Weaver has tried to make two small heddles from cardboard, one being just 2.5cm x 2.5cm. She doesn't explain how she achieved the very impressive task of cutting the holes and slots. One is a reproduction of a Roman rigid heddle made from bone.
She used both to make some cord with four ends and five ends. She found this 'relatively easy' although she has to conclude that cardboard isn't the best material for these tools.
See the Products section for a link to the tiny heddle necklace that she models in this post.
Suri alpaca yarn can have a similar halo to mohair when brushed, but is softer and silkier. Jillian has made swatches in these similar yarns in order to compare and contrast them.
www.moderndailyknitting.com...mohair-vs-alpaca-battle-of-the-fuzz
Jean has spun this hemp beautifully and then dyed it with pomegranate rind. She's not happy and may overdye it but as browns go, it looks fine.
Tracy found this vintage Palestinian cross-stitch in a shop but knew no more about it at the time.
This is the story of her research, working it into a garment and giving it to a Palestinian musician.
Winter lambing has its benefits and challenges. In this post, Kristin describes the experience of managing a flock that produces around 40 lambs. It has its problems but also its joys.
Thank you to Kristin for this month's cover photo. Read the story at her Substack (main link) also see www.kristinnicholas.com to find out more about her farm and her products.
2025 is marching on but it's not too late to think about trying something new. Here's a list of ten suggestions.
In the past I've featured open-source projects for looms and spinning machines. Building this kind of project yourself is now possible but it isn't always plain-sailing, particularly if you have to design components yourself.
This is an enjoyable and satisfying video with ups and downs. Engineering Knits first prints and uses a manual yarn winder with reasonable success and then tries to motorise it before deciding to motorise her existing Knitpicks yarn winder instead.
Donna Kay is a handspinner who advocates supporting small flocks. She answers some concerns such as a single fleece being too much to process and has some tips for finding and buying a fleece from an interesting breed.
plymagazine.com/2025/01/farm-to-wheel-supporting-local-shepherds
The San Juan Ranch tapestries tell the story of Nevada County, and were formally designated as a Nevada County Historical Resource. The twelve hand-stitched tapestries are currently housed in the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center at 17894 Tyler Foote Road in Nevada City
Therese Lewandowski has written about collecting and spinning the Cashmere fibre from her goats. She calls it a creative love affair.
spinoffmagazine.com/raising-cashmere-goats-in-southcentral-alaska
MIMA in Middlesbrough is currently hosting the exhibition Winifred Nicholson: Cumbrian Rag Rugs until 23 Mar 2025 when it moves on to Tullie, Carlisle. It features 40 artworks from the 1920s to 1970s.
Jeni has written about the exhibition and the artist, and describes the two types of rug, proddy and hooked. You can also access the curator's audio tour and exhibition notes.
www.moderndailyknitting.com/community/the-inspiration-in-a-humble-rag-rug
Kai Solon asked 57 spinners what they thought the most useful thing for a spinner to keep around and the most popular answers were unsurprisingly oil and a drive band. This post has some other ideas and tips.
Pamela says that your most valuable spinning tools are your hands. She has tips for keeping them in condition which include scrubbing and moisturising, exercising and resting.
I'm not sure where things stand with regard (or disregard) to copyright but the uploader has left the copyright notice intact at the very start of the video and named the production company in the description, so I guess they've given permission or they don't mind.
It's also available from a limited number of places on DVD, which I assume is better quality than the VHS capture here.
This is nevertheless a delightful video. I would say that despite the title it's a 'back to basics' if you're an intermediate or advanced spinner and will be very useful if you're a beginner.
With thanks to the1764shepherdess for sharing the Youtube find.
Debbie makes some interesting points about why handspun yarn is well-suited to the rigid heddle loom and has some tips for busting your handspun stash.
Using a minimal number of tools and materials, you can build your own functional charkha.
If you're very handy, there's probably enough information on this web page for you to build one of these portable spinning devices.
If you need a bit more, then schematics, materials lists, and instructions are available in the Spin-Off library with a free account.
Jillian Moreno has written an 'Ask Jillian' column for Ply magazine. This time she answers a reader's question about motivating yourself to try new styles of spinning.
Irridescence is an illusion created when certain colours in the warp and weft cross, making the colour appear to change with the different angles and folds of the fabric.
There are some tips here from Bobbie Irwin for achieving the effect in thicker yarns on a rigid heddle loom.
Previously, turtle looms had this article which refers to an earlier book by Bobbie, and demonstrates the effect even more clearly with pin-woven squares.
Amanda says that paper quills are awesome as an alternative to a bobbin for winding thread.
She shows how it's done.
Rolags are ideal for creating light and warm woollen yarn. If you're starting with combed top or roving then you can still form that into rolags using hand cards or a blending board.
sweetgeorgiayarns.com...rolags-on-blending-boards-hand-cards
Meagan Condon finds some similarities between the crafts of paper making and yarn spinning and turning washi paper into thread or yarn is where these crafts overlap.
The Electric Eel Wheels are already well-established as affordable, portable electric spinners.
Maurice is Kickstarting his latest model, the EEW fold. The kickstarter will have finished by the time you read this but it's already funded 18 times over. Maurice uses Kickstarter as a means to take pre-orders which funds a large initial batch, thus keeping the price down.
This is an interview with Maurice about his career so far and the new design. There's a link near the bottom to the Kickstarter page where there's a video about the new model.
This tiny heddle is fully functional and even has a tiny shuttle, but is small enough to wear as a necklace.
This was shared by Durham Weaver who bought one and has used it to make some cord.
The subtitle of this book is "Better a Sweater from a Dog You Know and Love Than from a Sheep You'll Never Meet".
Some spinners find the idea unsavoury, including Pamela who shared the link to this review. Despite not being a dog-lover, I have enjoyed spinning dog hair, particular Samoyed, which was soft and alpaca-like.
This book was first published in 1994 but as Kendall writes in this article, the practice goes back into history, either beloved pets or dogs kept for the purpose. The book is now reprinted.
quiteayarnblog was given and has been making some Laura Nelkin knitted jewellery kits. She loves them so much that she's having to ration herself.
Amanda says that for those of us without perfect eyesight, a pick glass can help determine a fabric's thread count or structure, or inspect your own weaving's threads for spacing and tension.
This is a magical new product from Suzy of Tiny Studio.
It's an Andean plying tool in the shape of a dragon. Suzy handpaints them. You can buy a plain bamboo dragon or buy a mystery box containing a handpainted dragon, instructions and other goodies such as a collectible character card for your dragon and stickers.
This is a review of the Kumikreator bead and braider. craftmehappy uses it to make beautiful orifice hook cords and says that the process is is "one of the most mindful and relaxing of hobbies".
Rebecca had heard of this tool but didn't know that it could be used for mending socks. She had a lot of sock darning to do, and has been putting her handspun socks back into circulation.
Most batteries need to be kept dry but researchers have developed batteries that work when immersed in seawater.
They've knotted the special yarn into a fishing-net-like device and a woven fabric that can both power small devices. This technology may be useful for marine applications such as life jackets and other fishing equipment.
https://www.msn.com....knittable-yarn-battery-uses-seawater...
Sometimes just a picture is enough
quiteayarnblog presents this finished project. It's not made from handspun, in fact the yarn is hardly spun at all, it's unspun plotulopi, which quiteayarnblog calls "interesting to knit with". It requires care but the resulting knitted fabric is strong and warm.
A kit is available and includes Léttlopi yarn, handyed with Icelandic plants and Plötulopi yarn. The pattern is available separately.
We've seen some of Peggy's paper weaving already but she has been busy and has woven around 25 pieces since Thanksgiving. This is a close-up of a twill, with four threads for the weft. The blog post has many more pictures, some paper, some silk.
Highland Heffalump's Emotional Support Chicken is made from "Various bits of handspun yarn".
"it's a bit of a hodgepodge of yarns and feel, but all from my stash. I just had to order some eyes." More details of the materials used are in her blog post.
She says in a separate post that she can see why people get addicted to making them and since I first added this story, she has finished a third.
This month's flock of finished handspun emotional support chickens also include this one called Chiquitita, made by SeaFlowerSpins. She has two packets of pearl barley sewn into her belly for "a satisfying weight" (chiquitita, not SeaFlowerSpins).
This woven backgammon board is shown in "Five Questions with Weave Together Instructor Angela K. Schneider" on Handwoven, but I've been unable to find out very much more about it.
I guess Angela made the board, which is modified 3-end block weave with shaft-switching. Potter Rose Conway made the counters, which are inspired by nautilus shells.
It's very satisfying to see fleece turned into yarn and then into finished projects. In this case the yarn was also dyed in the fleece a beautiful peacock colour by Babylonglegs.
Sue has now turned the yarn into three headbands.
The pattern is The Urchin by Ysolda Teague. It's knit sideways in garter stitch.
lovinglygrown says that hers took less than 100 yards of her handspun yarn on chunky needles.
Knit/Wit says that she "could not be more delighted" with this jumper.
The pattern is Polwarth by Ysolda Teague and the yarn is also Polwarth. Hand spun from Southern Cross Fibre, colorway Plot Twist.
In her blog post she writes about the way that she spun the colours fairly randomly and about how they've played out.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
Bronson Lace uses weft floats to create textured patterning. A gamp is a sampler, divided into areas that mix threading and weft options.
This article contains detailed instructions for weaving this sampler on your 4-shaft loom.
JoAnna was skeptical that the unusual contstruction wouldn't affect how this sock fits the foot, but is now a convert and recommends this free pattern to anyone who wants to try something slightly atypical. A link to the Ravelry pattern page is in this post.
This pattern is designed to help if you're struggling in any way. If you're feeling overwhelmed, it may help to have a manageable project.
It's designed for one or two or more colours of handspun yarn. The page I'm linking to has spinning notes and a link to the pattern, which is free with a free account at Spin-Off.
This pattern is also suggested by JoAnna who is surprised that after 6 years there are only 7 projects on Ravelry.
She says that a bit of lace has a big impact on your stripes. it's only on the leg, the foot is plain stockinette for speed. The pattern's written toe-up but she made them cuff-down because that's what she prefers.
This is a beautiful pattern that would look great in a colour-changing handspun yarn against a solid background.
It requires a little over 100 yards in two yarns of similar weights.
Thie new pattern has been popular with handspinners.
My thumbnail shows knit.purl.bake's. She commented that she "can't stop knitting this gorgeous new cowl".
She has used handspun for main and contrast colours but some knitters have used handspun for the contrast only, and some for the main yarn only.
Amy finds inspiration in the way that fungus breaks down and recycles dead wood. She uses needle-felted wool to make art based on their fascinating shapes.
Nicole McLaughlin's ceramic and wool sculptures "summon striking connections between materials, heritage, and personal experiences".
Darren Ball embellishes vintage fabrics with free embroidery
Lithuanian artist Severija Incirauskaite-Kriauneviciene uses corroded metal as a canvas for brightly-coloured butterflies and flowers.
https://www.thisiscolossal.com...severija-incirauskaite-kriauneviciene...
There are many works here in different media, mostly textile, which are based on fragments of blue and white porcelain.
Michelle Robinson uses bright colours and bold shapes. She has also recently been learning to spin.
These dresses are stiffened with fibreglass for an unsettling and uncanny effect.
Emily O'Leary creates amazingly realistic hand-hooked rugs that resemble sleeping dogs.
Carla uses photographs of marine life, sometimes microscopic, to reproduce in fabric and stitch.
Long, sweeping lines and tiny, tufted French knots contrast with one another and create tension. Kristine likes to "surrender to the moment and embrace the unknown".
Sat 15 - Sun 16 February 2025, The Burgess Hall, St Ives, PE27 6WU
Aims to provide a dynamic, active platform for textile artists to exhibit and retailers to showcase their beautiful products for purchase.
Fri 14 - Sun 16 Feb 2025, 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.
farnhammaltings.com/artists-and-makers/craft/festivals/unravel
15 - 16 Feb 2025, Imperial Hotel Blackpool
A gathering dedicated to the rich traditions of knitting, crocheting, weaving, and spinning. Created by an indie yarn dyer in response to the increasing call for more fibre arts events in the North West, this festival offers a warm, welcoming space for creativity and community.
Sunday 9th March 2025 The Pavilion Centre, Royal Cornwall Showground PL27 7JE
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.
15 - 16 Mar 2025, Norfolk Showground Arena
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.
26 - 27 April 2025, 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.
Fri 4 - Sat 5 April 2025
Since 2019 Edinburgh been missing an important festival: a yarn festival!
A new event to celebrate knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners and fibre lovers with a festival of crafts, workshops, talks, food, music and good company.
12 - 13 April 2025 - The Grammar School, Leeds
90 stalls, food, free parking, workshops, demos.
The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
12 - 13 April 2025, venue tbc
Yarns, fibres, weaving, crochet, knitting, spinning, accessories and workshops and more.
17 - 18 May 2025, 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.
17-18 May 2025 Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ
Celebrating textiles through a series of talks, workshops and a market featuring 50+ textile stalls each day
Fri 30 May - Sat 31 May 2025, Galashiels, TD1 3JX and tba
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
7-8 June 2025 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.
7 - 8 June 2025 Magna, Magna Way, Sheffield S60 1FD
Accessible, inclusive, welcoming.
7 - 8 June, 2025, 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.
14 -15 June 2025, Dilham, Norfolk, NR28 9PT
Hosted by the historic Worstead Guild.
21 - 22 June 2025, 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.
5 - 6 July 2025, Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare
A new Summer yarn show by the sea!
Expect a fantastic selection of premium exhibitors, hands-on workshops, and exciting demos all wrapped up in a wonderful seaside atmosphere.
26 - 27 July 2025 Redborne School, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2NU
100 of the very best stalls from all over the country, a great range of workshops, a street food area, lots of room to sit and chat, free demonstrations and advice from several local guilds.
Picks up where Fibre East left off.
9 - 10 August 2025, Newcastle Racecourse
90 amazing stalls plus a great range of workshops. cafe, demonstrations.
16 August 2025, 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.
30 - 31 August 2025, Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
A festival of woolly goodies. The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
30 - 31 August 2025 at Perth Concert Hall
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
12 - 13 September 2025, 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.
20 - 21 September 2025, the centre of Llandovery
A weekend celebration of rural crafts, food, entertainment and of course, sheep farming.
27 - 28 September 2025, Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire
Over 180 makers, craft workers, retailers, and artisans in the picturesque market town of Skipton, North Yorkshire.
28 September - 4 October 2025
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.
Sat 4 - Sun 5 October 2025 The Corn Hall, Cirencester
A two-day celebration of all things wool and yarn, including stalls, talks, demonstrations and workshops
Tickets available online now.
9 - 12 October 2025, Alexandra Palace, London
17 - 19 October 2025, 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.
18 - 19 October 2025 Staffordshire County Showground
Bakewell Wool Gathering has moved to Stafford. More details tbc
1 - 2 November 2025, Newton Abbot Racecourse.
Since 2016, Stitch Fest has moved to bigger venues and is now held under one roof at Newton Abbot Racecourse, showcasing some of the best independent makers, dyers, spinners and designers and a fabulous workshop and demonstration timetable.
8 - 9 November 2025, Sandburn Hall, York YO60 7RB
More details to follow
20 - 23 November 2025, 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.
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