If you like colour but are not a fan of those those pesky floats, Ginevra Martin gives us an introduction to double knitting, which is an alternative to stranded colourwork. Ruth has three more ways to use colour without managing multiple balls while you knit. One of those is of course duplicate stitch and Crafty Yarnster shows what's possible with that technique in her finished space jumper.
Bringing to mind the nursery rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep, this month's project gallery starts with three handspun and handknit bags.
Three of our stories this time relate to stop-motion animation. The topic of visible mending crops up a couple of times too.
So without further ado, read on for more news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers. This is the free round-up for May 2025.
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Cover photo by Tangerineduel, Wikimedia Commons.
Toyota's 'Woven City' has been in the news for a while. It's an experimental city that uses modern technologies and ideas. I was unaware that the name comes from Toyota's past as an automatic and manual loom maker.
To recognise this, they've installed a replica loom.
These fragments of woven fabric, known as the Oakbank Textile are nearly 2,500 years old. They are to go on display at the Scottish Crannog Centre in Perthshire. The fine 2/1 twill is said to be unusual for its time and area and gives an insight into the technologies of the time.
They were thought too delicate but after some stabilisation treatment, they'll be displayed in a climate-controlled cabinet.
This has been all over the news in the last month, so I'm sure you'll be aware of it unless you've been living off-grid.
Would you allow researchers to fire lasers directly into your eye? How about if it allowed you to see a vivid colour that doesn't exist in the real world? The new colour is called olo. More technical details are here.
Despite the researchers being keen to point out that it's impossible to convey the colour in print or on a screen, in a move that smacks of bandwagon-jumping, Stuart Semple has mixed up a paint that he claims replicates the colour.
Jamieson & Smith have teamed up with Heriot-Watt University's School of Textiles and challenged students to come up with designs for interior and fashion products using Scottish wool.
This page has pictures of overall winner Megan Beattie, knit category winner Adele Gillespie and all six winners.
Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers are to be patrons for Shetland Wool Week 2025. The official hat pattern is Aal Ower Toorie by Guild member Rachel Hunter.
The Shetland Times has the full lowdown.
Hazel Tindall has made this very pretty one in colours to match an existing jumper.
Debbie goes into the exact definitions of these words and related preparations such as batts, punis, rolags. She considers whether these distinctions matter.
Yarndale is known for its large-scale yarn installations.
The 'Creative Challenge' for 2025 has been announced. If you'd like to take part, you can make a mandala attached to a wooden hoop, any colour or size. There are many patterns online.
If you'd like to take part, they need to be with the organisers by 1 September.
Josefin is feeling both terrified and excited at the same time because her book Listen to the Wool - a Why-to Guide for Joyful Spinning will be published later in the year.
In this blog post she writes about a solo writing retreat she has taken and the daily routine she adopted to get the book ready,
Pamela's first attempt at growing flax didn't turn out to be the easy journey that she'd hoped. She's persevering and is trying to discover what she did wrong.
This is the fascinating story of how Virginia Woods Bellamy (1890-1976) developed 'number knitting', a method of design which uses triangles and squares as basic uints rather than traditional measurements.
This is the story of Denise Lambert's efforts to revive the ancient craft of growing and dyeing with the isatis tinctoria plant, also known as woad.
With thanks to Pamela for the link.
Vicuña produce superfine fibre which is so precious because they live wild.
The Schneider Group have collected their first bale of vicuna after taking over management of a large area of Argentina. By preventing poaching they have brought the animals back to healthy numbers. The fibre is dehaired locally and exported to their mill in Italy.
In an earlier 'painless plying' article, we did see the Tickled Pink gradient fibre by Ingelnook Fibers and lots of options for spinning / plying a gradient yarn.
In this article, Spanish Peahen gives us a detailed look at how she finally organised this fibre for spindle spinning.
A Moebius strip is a twisted loop with the strange property of having a single side. I haven't knitted a Moebius cowl and so I was interested to read this blog post by Kath in which she makes the distinction between a garment that's knitted as a rectangle and grafted with a twist, and a 'true Moebius' which has a special cast on to create a piece with a single edge. Mind-boggling indeed!
Kath teaches a workshop, but with her patterns she links to this video, Cat Bordhi's Intro to Moebius Knitting, which I found fascinating.
A spindle that's less well-known today than the more familiar top- and botton-whorl types is the whorl-less Scottish dealgan.
Its sleek design is said to make it more portable and it can also double as a nostepinne.
Durham Weaver attended a workshop run by Land of Roots, which happened to take place within walking distance of her home.
By the end of the day she'd made a heddle and shuttle and warp, and was weaving. She has many pictures of the day, which she speaks very highly of and which included other workshops involving bowl carving and pole lathe turning.
Josefin has been dealing with migraines. One thing she can do when an episode happens is to spin. The making soothes her.
She has written an essay which you can read, or listen to her read it while watching her card and spin.
Jillian has noticed a trend for reclaiming yarn from unfinished projects, older finished projects or charity shop finds.
She feels that it's important to reset the kinks - but what happens if you don't? She tries it to find out.
Here is her blog post on the subject.
If you think that making yarn with one ply spun in the opposite direction is an affront to all that is holy, Heavenly Bresser has some reasons why you should give it a try.
In this blog post, Ella Gordon takes a look at a very special hap, or lace shawl. It was used when her Dad was christened and she also has the photographs from that day.
Last year's worldwide winners, the San Diego County Spinners, made their 2025 attempt on 26 April. They have claimed a new US record time of 7 hours 12 minutes and 5 seconds.
The challenge involves a team of eight people (including the shearer) shearing a sheep, spinning the wool and knitting a jumper in the shortest time possible.
There are many pictures and video of the team's efforts on their Facebook page.
Tarndwarncoort Homestead held an open day on 29 March, when three teams from Victoria made their challenge attempts, the Koorooman Sapphire Ewes, Sisters in Stitches and Yarn It All.
Many other teams worldwide will be taking part and I expect the results to be posted later in the year on the Tarndie website (currently well out of date). Pictures and video from the Tarndie day are on the IBBWC Facebook page.
On 3 May Willamette Heritage Center hosted their 40th annual Sheep to Shawl. I'm linking to their Instagram which has pictures and video from the day.
The 19th Wonderwool Wales has been declared one of the best ever with a larger-than-usual Sunday attendance.
It featured a special installation to mark the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day, organised by the same team responsible for The Longest Yarn installation for D-Day. Like The Longest Yarn, 'Britain at War' will be touring for the next 19 months.
The new touring exhibition is being billed "The Longest Yarn 2 - Britain at War" and opened at Wells Cathedral on 8 May. Entry is included in a cathedral ticket.
As part of its City of Culture year and coinciding with British Wool's 75th anniversary, an exhibition has opened in Bradford's Industrial Museum called Woven Through Time: Bradford's Textile Industry - Past and Present.
It will highlight the role wool has played in Bradford's history.
The people of Bradford will be contributing to a 'legacy piece', a tapestry made 'by the people for the people', also part of the City of Culture year.
Anyone "regardless of skill or experience" can use a loom situated in the cathedral.
More intricate parts of the tapestry will be made by more experienced weavers.
The project is being run in partnership with Haworth Scouring and the Bradford Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, who between them supplied and spun the wool that will be used.
Maryland is one of the largest sheep and wool festivals. it took place earlier this month.
Araignee has been going for at least 30 years and comments in the first part of her review that although traditionally it's cold when this event happens, she's finding the heat a problem these days.
In the second part she gives us a good look around the show, at the yarn and fibre for sale, the fleeces, other fibre crafts and the food.
Some maintenance tasks should be year-round activities but Spring is good time to think about a thorough cleaning and oiling.
Andrea is keen to point out that there are no rules or laws for winding your cop correctly, her five tips are just suggestions.
In response to a reader question, Jacey talks about joining in new fibre as you spin.
You may tend to spin one type of yarn or have one join that works for all types of yarn but woollen and worsted yarn may benefit from different methods of joining new fibre.
lovestoswatch takes a look at what puts the zoom into Zoom Loom and how you can apply the technique to any pin loom.
She has a list of resources which include how to make your own pin loom.
Can you carry a weft yarn along the selvedge? Madelyn says yes and has some tips.
With an open weave such as lace, you won't want to beat but place the weft thread. Madelyn demonstrates in this three-minute video.
Bead Leno uses beads between your heddles and reed to make a lacey fabric.
This article is a brief introduction with a few tips and examples. There's a full article for subscribers to Handwoven.
Double knitting is a technique for using two colours at once without floats. It makes a thick, reversible fabric.
Ginevra Martin, who designed the glasses case, introduces double knitting, teaches the cast-on and how to read charts.
Easter seems well behind us now, but I must share this egg-cellent post from Kate, which makes me want to try her techniques for naturally-dyeing eggs.
As well as a full tutorial for her transfer-dying technique, she has unearthed some details of historical spring celebrations and posts some photos of her eggs alongside the plants that she used.
Ruth has three ways to add colour to your knitting without carrying multiple colours.
Here are some things that Wendy wishes that she'd known when she first started dyeing. She says that the most important thing is to "just try something".
This free e-book contains articles from Rita Buchanan, Carol Huebscher Rhoades, Maggie Casey, Judith MacKenzie, Rudy Amann and Dodie Rush. It contains instructions for chain plying, plying on a spindle, Andean plying as well as many general tips.
You'll need a free account with the Spin-Off website. The page I'm linking to has an introduction and a link at the bottom.
If you've owned a pair of headphones for a long time, you'll be familiar with this problem. Mila has a novel 'visible mending' solution.
Below this post is a close-up of the stitch she used, although she doesn't know what it's called. She feels that you could simply "go round and round in a spiral".
Peggy Osterkamp has made her video Warping the Loom Back to Front available for free via Youtube.
Meagan Condon is reading this very large book, which was first published in 1983 and reissued in 2007, apparently without any updates.
While searching for whether it's possible to buy the book today, I found another review which will certainly be valuable if you're interested in the book.
It is possible to buy the book online now if money is no object, but Meagan was able to obtain a copy from her local library.
The Spanish Peahen has posted this short video showing the Daedalus Whirligig, a powered skeiner with counter.
The theme of visible mending is used here in a literal as well as metaphorical sense. It has a Creature Comforts vibe but uses knitted characters relating to the interviewees.
The quality of the stop-motion is outstanding.
DotPebbles has also been doing some incredible stop-motion animation. Aside from the amazing animation, her Eyore is charming!
When asked how she brings her creatures to life, she said "when you knit it, wish hard". If you dig through her comments you can find the software that she uses to help her. I believe that she is doing the stop-motion the traditional way and using tools to smooth it out.
HelioSkin is a solar material that is able to track the sun like a sunflower. It's shown in mock-ups stretched over tent-poles over parks and stadia.
Sometimes just a picture is enough
This is Karen's first project with her handspun yarn. It's also the first iteration of her own lined bag pattern. This uses 141 yards (I like the to-the-yard accuracy). The yarn is made from multiple fibres blended on a blending board.
This is a later version of Karen's own lined bag pattern, possibly the third. It features a flower on a flap as a kind of fastener. The yarn is a mix of corriedale and merino which she found too scratchy to wear next to the skin.
The third handspun bag is by Simone, this time it's a drawstring bag made from scraps, possibly samples for a bigger spin.
The pattern is by Anabelle Chan a published one this time and it is free.
The delightful owl is from the Puffy Owl Potholder pattern by by Lisa Hannan Fox.
melaniemom has used her own handspun and knitted the motif into a small pillow, stuffed with scraps. She notes that the dark yarn was her first try with supported long draw.
This very different-looking owl is also made in two colours of handspun.
The pattern is Varia Mitts by Erica Heusser, adapted to have a flap so that zyzzyva2 can wear full mittens but then pop her fingers out to operate her bike lock.
The blue-green is spindle-spun Icelandic wool.
This project uses many different handspun yarns but they work together beautifully.
Vivian made her own blocking board. Every time she finished a hexagon, she would "pop it on the board and give it a steam".
The pattern is by Ysolda Teague. Vivian gives it a medium difficulty because of the lace knitting and assembly.
These cabled socks are made from cabled yarn. Stefanie says that it's an excellent construction for sock yarn and that it also makes cables stand out.
The fibre was hand-dyed with marigold before spinning. This page has pictures of the skein of yarn and finished socks.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
This gansey-inspired hat was suggested by Guzzisue who made hers partly to practice cables. Hers is pictured being knitted by the Gansey Girl at Bridlington.
Gathered has this pattern for reusable make-up pads. The suggested yarn is cotton in a DK weight.
the1764shepherdess has suggested this pattern because it's "a simple, unisex pattern for gift giving" and because it uses a minimal amount of yarn at just 75 yards.
She asks whether anyone has made a pair in handspun yarn.
A quick search of Ravelry shows that a lot of spinners have.
JoAnna Moskal recommends this sock pattern and dyed the yarn for these socks (shown in my thumbnail).
The pattern appears in 52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II and is also available as a single pattern.
This is a nice pattern to show off small amounts of handspun yarn. The suggestion comes from Highland Heffalump who is making one using yarn spun from advent calendar fibre.
It requires 700 - 990 yards of fingering-weight (14 wpi) yarn.
You can choose a dark border colour for a stained glass look, or green as Highland Heffalump has done to suggest a flower bed.
Sweetgeorgia have recommended this pattern as one that will "highlight those special skeins". They have hand-dyed yarn in mind and I would suggest that the simple ribs will also show off your beautiful handspun yarn too.
It requires 250 - 375 yards of DK-weight yarn.
This cheerful scarf has a seasonal name at least. It's a 'stash friendly' pattern, designed for using up small amounts of fingering-weight yarn.
The suggestion is from Peony. Note that abbreviations are US.
My thumbnail shows misscornelia's Ginkgo, which she made using two handspun yarns, a natural brown and a yellow / purple.
The Golden Thread is back for a second year in Manhattan, featuring more than 100 works by 60 artists.
Threads of Change is the current exhibition at The Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA). The page I'm linking to has links to the key works.
Christi Johnson's hand-stitched work makes connections between the past and the future. Mindfulness and sustainability are important to her.
It's a shame that there are no close-up shots of the work here, which consists of metal threads embroidered into wood.
Modified sewing machines stitched the metal into the wood veneer.
Do Ho Suh's works relate to houses and homes, often his own. They use soft materials like paper and fabric.
Tate Modern have removed some internal walls in order to accommodate his 1:1 scale works.
Sarah Zapata's works are also architectural, although not on such a large scale. Some involve handwoven cloth.
Aberarth had a long history of ship building in the early 1800's, and this exhibition of woven sails by Vicky Ellis memorialises ships sunk along the Ceredigion coast in the 1800s.
https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk...honour-historic-shipwrecks...
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.
26 - 27 July 2025 Whithorn Roundhouse, Dumfries & Galloway
A new event to promote and showcase wool and wool-related crafts.
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.
27 - 28 September 2025, 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.
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.
Saturday 4 October 2025, 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.
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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Shiela Dixon - Editor / curator
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