Banner image

Hand Spinning News

"let's not forget what hands spinning really is!" said a social media friend this month. I for one will be glad when the latest craze is over and the #spinnersofinstagram feed is full of our kind of spinning once more rather than spinning toys.

A new world record has been set by this year's International Back to Back winners, Tour de Fleece is just behind us, there are loads of tips from basic to advanced, a review of In the Footsteps of Sheep by Debbie Zawinski and the usual collection of inspirational photos and patterns.

Fair warning: there is nudity in this month's issue, but in the name of art.

Read on for all of the spinning stories scintillation and silliness.

This is the free, edited issue for July 2017. Scroll to the bottom to find out how to receive a longer version of HSN a couple of weeks earlier.

Photo right: 2017 International back-to-back winners, Groenewoud.

Contents

News

Spinzilla 2017

Spinzilla 2017

Dates have been announced for Spinzilla 2017. Team registration opens 1 August, spinner registration 1 September and the competition itself is October 2-8.

It's a monster of a spinning competition. Spinners spin as much as they can in a week, in teams of 25 or individually ('rogue'). There are prizes for total yardage as well as other things such as a photo competitions. Teams may offer their own prizes.

It's run by the TNNA and registration fees go to a spinning-related good cause. The Spinzilla website (now apparently within the TNNA website) is at the link below, but most of the co-ordination happens on the Ravelry website. As teams get registered, the chatter will happen here.

www.tnna.org/page/Spinzilla

Results from 2017 International Back to Back Wool Challenge

Results from 2017 International Back to Back Wool Challenge

We touched on the International Back to Back in last month's issue and saw some pictures from Team Shabby Sheep's attempt. the results have now been announced for this year's event.

The winners were Dutch team Groenewoud who completed an adult-size jumper in 4 hours 45 minutes 53 seconds. Not only is that an amazing time and almost two hours ahead of second-placed team Spinning Knitwits of Australia but it's also a new world record.

For more details, follow the link below.

tarndie.com/events/international-back-to-back-wool-challenge

Looking back : Bryce spinning wheel

Looking back : Bryce spinning wheel

The little wheel seen here is a Bryce spinning wheel, made 1873 - 1900. It's closer to a tabletop charkha than a spinning wheel. It has a cast iron drive wheel with a handle attached. This turns a quill-type spindle.

This one has been donated to the Orchard Lake museum, Michigan, and restored. This is an unusually informative newspaper article.

www.candgnews.com/news/looking-back-bryce-spinning-wheel...


comment on any of this

 

Tour de Fleece 2017

Spin a rainbow

Spin a rainbow

The Tour de Fleece is a spinning event that runs in parallel with the Tour de France. Spinners set personal challenges, spin each day that the cyclists are riding, rest when they do and set special challenges on the challenge days.

As I write this, the Tour de Fleece is still happening, there will be more representation in the next issue, but here are some posts from the earlier stages.

Goldilox chose to spin a rainbow for her first week.

goldyspinner.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/tour-de-fleece-2017.html

First day of plying!

First day of plying!

On day 10 AnaMarie began plying this opposing-ply sock yarn. One of the three plies is spun Z while the other two are S, so that when plying (Z) the Z ply will gain more twist and strengthen the yarn.

She had a little trouble at first getting set up and getting a rhythm going; here are the details.

unfrogged.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/tour-de-fleece-day-10.html

Jenkins kuchulu

Jenkins kuchulu

The Jenkins Kuchuli is a tiny spindle, but spinneanne has spun more than half of a Three Waters Farm braid. She's been spinning outdoors in some beautiful locations.

www.instagram.com/p/BWPF3lpgKmZ


comment on any of this

 

From the Blogosphere

These have not been lazy days

Solar dyeing

This is the very pleasing result of Kim's experiment with osage orange sawdust.

She mordanted the fibre and then dyed five batches using solar dyeing, and achieved a range of colours from "bright to buttery yellow".

She also tried madder root. All dyeing is solar dyeing. She found left the fibre easier to spin that when she's used a crock-pot to heat the dye. All details are in the article.

imgonnatellmom.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/solar-dyeing.html

Getting the point across

Getting the point across

Franklin Habit is a very witty writer. In this column he talks about the 'fan language' of past times, and proposes an equivalent using needles and hooks (I'm sure this could be expanded to include drop spindles).

www.lionbrand.com/blog/getting-point-across

Blossom and Yarn 2017

Blossom and Yarn 2017

Blossom and Yarn is a celebration held at half a dozen churches in West Norfolk.

This year the theme was The Creation and the churches presented the story from darkness and light through to the Garden of Eden.

Sadly the show was up for only a few days, but Josiekitten has once more captured the amazing event in pictures and I heartily recommend taking the time to browse through them.

There is a large number of pictures here, but JK says that it was difficult to choose from her 200+ pictures. I found it difficult to pick one for the thumbnail here, I have so many favourites. Do look out for the peacocks (white and regular blue/green) and the squid taking a drink from the font.

theknittingexploitsofjosiekitten.blogspot.co.uk...blossom-and-yarn-2017.html

Blidö weekend

Blidö weekend

The photography on Kate Davies' blog is always breathtaking. Here she shares some pictures from a visit to Swedish island Blidö where she hiked, met sheep and pigs, discovered local crafts and local history.

She provides some useful links at the end of the post, including a website listing Sweden's rare native breeds.

katedaviesdesigns.com/2017/07/07/blido-weekend

Bast fibres & Socks

Bast fibres & Socks

I'm pretty poor at listeninbg / watching podcasts / video blogs but this one did leap out at me this month as being particularly interesting.

Rachel has taken a three-day intensive workshop on ancient fibres, which focused on the bast fibres, and bought bast fibres rather than wool at the festival.

There's loads of information in here about spinning hemp, flax etc and its uses.

welfordpurls.com/2017/07/05/episode-75-bast-fibres-socks


comment on any of this

 

Tips and tutorials

Blocking my knitting!

Blocking my knitting!

It's good to return to the basic techniques now and again. People are discovering our craft all the time. Plus there's always something new to learn if you are experienced,.

Corrie is a believer in blocking. For knitted or crocheted lace, it opens out the lace pattern and even with plain knitting it improves the look of the stitches.

In this video, she thoroughly covers the process.

I'm linking to Corrie's blog post about finishing her shawl, the link to the video is within.

www.plutoniummuffins.com/fuss-free-festival-shawl-by-louise-tilbrook

11 ways to use even the smallest scraps of yarn

11 ways to use even the smallest scraps of yarn

Clickbait headlines like this rarely live up to their promise, but I was pleasantly surprised by this list.

Some are obvious, some not so much. As spinners, I guess we are even more reluctant to throw away those short scraps.

www.craftsy.com/blog/2017/06/use-up-yarn

Eight rules about color palettes that everyone should know

Eight rules about color palettes that everyone should know

Choosing a colour scheme is one of the first things we do in new projects.

Despite the title, these are more like tips than rules, but there is some very useful information here. After the eight points, there are some suggestions for useful tools to help with picking a colour palette.

medium.springboard.com...selecting-colors-for-your-product...

Dyeing Wool and Silk with Dyer's Chamomile Flowers

Dyeing wool and silk with dyer's chamomile flowers

Fran is hoping for some sunshine to help with this solar dyeing.

Chamomile flowers can be collected here in Britain, but I'm not sure whether Dyer's Chamomile (Cota tinctoria) is the same variety that grows wild.

Fran has grown it and takes us through the process of dyeing silk and wool.

wooltribulations.blogspot.co.uk...dyeing-wool-and-silk-with-dyers.html


Reviews

In the Footsteps of Sheep by Debbie Zawinski

In the Footsteps of Sheep by Debbie Zawinski

You may have heard of this book; Debbie Zawinski made a journey on foot, foraging for wool, spinning it with a stick as she walkedand knitting socks.

Pictured here with the book is Fran's stick and some found wool. Reading the book made her realise that she'd been drawn into shopping for processed, luxury fibres and had lost touch with the reason that she started to spin in the first place.

Besides inspiration, Fran found that she loved Debbie's style, and found herself reading the book aloud at a Spinning camp. Fran's review is as delightful as the book sounds.

wooltribulations.blogspot.co.uk...in-footsteps-of-sheep-by-debbie.html


comment on any of this

 

Yvonne

Yvonne is posing nude. Wow, you're really getting expressive. This is reminiscent of the early Czech cubists. Unconstrained by viewpoint or perspective. Sally (surprised expression) : I didn't do this, I've just been away getting a cuppa. We zoon in on Spider: What's a cubist? Just trying to catch my dinner!

But is it art? I think that Stoned Spider could become a regular character.

If you like Yvonne, click the image to find her page, you can use next and previous to explore more cartoons, and join the mailing list for a regular digest email.

Keeping this wheel spinning

Your news here

Your news here

Are you a teacher, pattern designer, dyer, equipment manufacturer or supplier?

Would you like to reach the growing readership of thousands of hand spinners and at the same time help to support Hand Spinning News ?

Read more

Gallery

Sometimes just a picture is enough

Pauanesia Scarves 2017

Pauanesia Scarves 2017

Dianne was commissioned to weave a series of scarves based on New Zealand native birds.

She's done an amazing job of transposing the birds' colours to the warp and weft.

There are four examples in this post, plus three others in a previous post on the same blog.

loomtalk.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/pauanesia-scarves-2017-part-2.html

Memories wheel

Memories wheel

I watch Olympic Spinning Wheels' blog with interest. Sometimes the wheels are a little OTT but Gary is nonetheless a very talented man.

In this case he's painted a couple of beautiful scenes onto this wheel, and I do believe that rather than working from photographs as you'd expect, he has worked from verbal descriptions.

The wheel also has stones from one of the locations worked into the wheel.

olympicspinningwheels.wordpress.com/2017/06/19/memories-wheel

How much can your spindle hold?

How much can your spindle hold?

Instagram group IGSpinners shared this picture that they found online. Unfortunately we have no more information but my guess is that she's using magic to levitate the spindle.

www.instagram.com/p/BWSKFtPlXjS

Honey Mouse and Rannoch

Honey Mouse and Rannoch

I find Dj Stefek's (aka myeldamato) output truly inspiring.

This latest handspun shawl makes me feel as if I need a coffee with a shot of caramel. The main body and the edge are different fibres but they work together beautifully.

"The garter stitch body lets the flowing patterns of the hand dyed fibre flow in graceful sweeps". Click through for more information.

www.instagram.com/p/BWcCRJkj8Ar

Red corriedale

Red corriedale

This month's sexy spindle is nestling in a pretty bowl. Rina Rahardjo has been a real inspiration to me with her large spindle-spun projects. I'm looking forward to seeing what this red corriedale becomes.

"This is my type of fidget spinner", she says, and I think she speaks for all of us.

www.instagram.com/p/BWc1JqxHSvD

Wheel-backed chair

Wheel-backed chair

The back of this chair is made from a spinning wheel drive wheel. Spotted in an antique shop by keninmaine.

www.instagram.com/p/BWNL_hTB_v9


comment on any of this

 

Free patterns

A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.

Gorse Shawl by Rhiannon McCulloch

Gorse Shawl by Rhiannon McCulloch

This pattern starts with three stitches and grows into an interesting crescent-shape.

It has lots of texture in the lace and stitch patterns to show off a plain or semi-solid yarn of DK thickeness (though I don't suppose yarn weight or gauge is important here.)

Thanks to ewespecial for the suggestion.

www.woolfeast.com/blog/free-shawl-pattern-in-maniototo-luxury-lambswool


comment on any of this

 

Not-so-free patterns

Kori by Linda Marveng

Kori by Linda Marveng

This gorgeous jacket has intricate cables against a seed stitch background, i-cord bind-offs and

This is KristinaVet's Kori, which she made from yarn spun from her own alpacas. She says that the pattern is "a joy to knit, although time consuming with all the cables!"

Maybe one to have ready for when the cooler weather comes.

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kori-2

Assam by Tabetha Hedrick

Assam by Tabetha Hedrick

I do like a nice cardy. This is light enough for the time of year and will dress up or dress down.

The colour shown here is pretty, how about tea-dyed yarn to tie in with the theme of the design?

sweetgeorgiayarns.com/shop/assam

Switchgrass by Anne Hanson

Switchgrass by Anne Hanson

Another knit that looks quite smart. As the pattern says, "a garment for all-day fun or special evening events."

The pattern includes a very wide range of sizes. Suggested yarns include merino/mohair and a wool/alpaca/cellulose (bamboo/tencel etc) in a lace or fingering weight. So choose a mix for handle and drape.

knitspot.com/?p=24167


comment on any of this

 

2017 events

Masham Sheep Fair

The Wool Event, Masham Sheep Fair

Saturday 30 Sep and Sunday 1 Oct, 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.

http://www.mashamsheepfair.com

British Wool Show (formerly British Wool Weekend Show)

British Wool Show (formerly British Wool Weekend Show)

Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July, Thirsk Rural Business Centre, Blakey Lane, Thirsk

Supporting the Campaign for Wool.

Exciting treasures to discover; wool from fleece to finished items and other items you will need to spin, weave, knit, crochet, hand dye, cross stitch, embroider or make felt.

www.britishwool.net

Perth Festival Of Yarn

Perth Festival Of Yarn

Sunday 10 September 2017, 11am to 5pm. Dewars Centre, Glover St, Perth

Bringing together independent dyers, farmers, knitters, spinners, felters and weavers. A quarter of the 60 confirmed vendors will have materials, tools and equipment relating to spinning.

Classes will run over the weekend including two spinning classes led by Janet Renouf-Miller.

https://perthfestivalofyarn.uk

Yarndale

Yarndale

23 and 24 September 2017, Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire

For you if you love yarn and are passionate about all things woolly. It aims to celebrate the beauty and diversity of wool, cotton, linen and silk fibres in all their forms.

yarndale.co.uk



Happy spinning and don't be a stranger!

Shiela Dixon - Editor / curator

shiela@hand-spinning-news.com

If you're reading this newsletter on the web and would like it delivered to your email inbox for free every month, just fill in your email address in the box somewhere below. If you've reading this in your inbox and would prefer not to receive any more, just use the Mailchimp 'unsubscribe' link at the foot of the email.

A PeacockMedia publication


Don't miss out

Hand Spinning News as a free monthly email.


Twitter Button from twitbuttons.com

Be sociable

Please share HSN with your friends:

Find me (Shiela) on:

Archive

Previous issues are now archived here:

H S N archive

Brought to you in association with

p2tog.com
handspinner.co.uk for spinning information and supplies