This month there are lots of ideas for Christmas gifts in the gallery and pattern suggestions, and a bonanza of finished handspun jumpers and cardigans.
This is a very tactile issue. Two bloggers have written separately about the feel of the fibre in your hands while carding, and another comments that when you make clothes from scratch, the fibre passes through your hands many times.
In the stories this month, an antique wheel restoration and a visit to an Indian community prove that you don't need modern expensive tools to spin and weave.
I must add an apology and correction. In last month's HSN I incorrectly said that Felicia Lo of SweetGeorgia Yarns is in the USA, but she's actually from British Columbia in Canada. I've corrected the issue that you'll find online but I can't change the version that may be in your inbox. Many thanks to 'proud Canadian' S for letting me know.
Read on for this month's round-up of news, views and reviews for spinners, knitters, crocheters, dyers and weavers.
This free issue for November 2021 is brought to you in association with Audible. I'm a member and enjoy listening while I spin and knit. Download a free audiobook with your 30-day free trial.
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Photo right: Memory in the Hands, Josefin Waltin . Cover photo: from Royal Mail Industrial Revolution stamp set.
The village of Stanhill, Accrington, Lancashire recently celebrated the 300th anniversary of the birth of James Hargreaves, who invented the Spinning Jenny.
A sign has been erected at the entrance to the village to mark the date. Royal Mail has also issued stamps to commemorate the Industrial Revolution, including one featuring the Spinning Jenny.
www.inyourarea.co.uk...stamp-recognise-stanhill-village-home-of-the-spinning-jenny
Alternative Flooring ran a competition during this year's Capmaign for Wool Wool Month with Glasgow School of Art.
The topic was 'Tartan With a Twist' and the brief was to rehink traditional tartan.
The winner was student Sophie Anne Campbell. Her submission was a "bold, beautiful and Quirky design made in British Wool".
www.campaignforwool.org/alternative-flooring-tartan-with-a-twist-design-competition
Josefin was asked by a student why she carded by hand rather than using a drum carder.
Her answer was "the memory in the hands" and in this post she expands on that. It's worth a read and will make you want to get out the hand carders and some wool.
Broiderie Stitch has written a detailed blog post about her award-winning shawl.
The yarn is hand spun from wool, silk, and bamboo, somewhere between laceweight and a light fingering.
She knitted the undyed yarn, and then dipped the finished shawl in 'brilliant' yellow before carefully applying red. It's very effective and I recommend seeing more pictures of the finished shawl as well as the steps along the way.
www.broideriestitch.com/blogs/news/autumn-glory-maple-leaf-shawl
In this blog entry, Janelle tries a "rainbow dye pot". The first skeins that came out were "pleasingly variegated" and later when the colours had mixed, the results were more solid.
This is Josefin's tenth breed study and at the top of this post she provides links to the previous breeds.
These primitive breeds have undercoat and outercoat which gives many options for preparation and spinning and Josefin has a list of various plans for the fleeces she owns from different individuals.
Ahead of Cop26, Pam Austin praised British wool and compared the importance it once held in our economy with the sad state of affairs today.
www.spinningschool.org/2021/10/cop26-time-to-shake-up-the-woolsack/#comment-4803
At first glance this does not look like a photo-heavy blog post, but use the left and right arrows at each side of the banner photo at the top to see lots of photos that will make you nostalgic for in-person fibre events.
www.moderndailyknitting.com/2021/10/21/postcards-from-rhinebeck-2021/
This short video shows Christine cleaning and oiling an antique wheel. Spoiler: she did get it to draw, the secret was oil. This later video shows the wheel in action.
Thank you to atomicfiberco for the suggestion.
The colours from natural dyes are surprisingly bright on this silk.
Devin Helmen talks about dyeing and spinning silk hankies.
spinoffmagazine.com/shining-colors-natural-dyes-on-silk-hankies-and-caps
Esther's article relates to all types of carders and blending boards. They all use carding cloth, a toothed material, to open and blend fibers. Tpi measures how densely the teeth are packed together.
Spin Together took place between October 2 and 9. it's a team yardage competition with prizes in other categories.
The results have now been announced and are available at the link below. I recommend a look through the pictures of the winners and runners up in the 'most beautiful' and 'wildest' categories. My thubnail shows yarn by Aleatha Isaacs of Team New Hue Spinners which won second place in 'wildest yarn'.
When little needs saying except 'beautiful colour'
The marling or barber-poling is strong in this yarn and that's not to everyone's taste. However, this is one of 6 skeins of handspun yarn (total 2,323 yards) that Knit/Wit is about to knit into a Shifty sweater. I can't wait to see the final effect.
paknitwit.blogspot.com/2021/08/is-this-little-skein-i-carried.html
This is one of a series of batts that fiberologydesigns has made, inspired by Disney villains. The green splashes are silk noil.
Who else can taste mint choc chip ice cream when you look at treasuregoddess' yarn?
She says that "making time to sit and spin a bit every other day really does pay off".
The various browns and greys in this yarn, with the silk highlights, come together to give a shiny metallic coppery look.
These colours remind me of clear skies and bare trees.
The fibre is merino/bamboo/nylon from Wildwool Farm, spinning by deharthouse.
These colours look intense and remind me of rust on clean Steel.
Dyed by desertpandafiberarts.
Melvenea Hodges says that carding cotton "can provide the perfect retreat from a bustling day".
It can take some practice, and finer hand cards than you may use for wool.
Here are her three tips for perfect punis.
spinoffmagazine.com/melvenea-makes-3-tips-for-handcarding-cotton
In something of a double-bill, Melvenea has also written this month about bowing cotton.
A home-made bow "fluffs cotton into a lofty cloud for spinning".
If you've never seen someone use a lucet, you'll enjoy this short video.
The simple fork-like tool produces a result similar to a 2-stitch i-cord, or a two-pin version of the 'French knitting' that we did as kids using a cotton reel.
Let the fibre do the work! There may be an idea here that you hadn't considered.
A timelapse video of a drum carder being cleaned using a hairbrush cleaning brush.
If you like Yvonne, click the image to find her page, you can use next and previous to explore more cartoons.
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Jillian Moreno reviews this bestseller for Ply magazine after first reading a print copy and then listening to the audiobook.
plymagazine.com/2021/10/book-review-pastoral-song-a-farmers-journey
Sometimes just a picture is enough
This coverlet is 54" wide and 82" long.
The weft is Karen Ruckle Gardner's own merino wool, 2-ply fingering yarn in natural dark grey over-dyed with blue.
Karen's story appeared in the Schacht newsletter with more pictures and the details you need to weave your own.
Also in 'large projects' news, Kelly has finished this knitted blanket which measures over 8 feet per side and was knit on size 5 needles and uses only yarn that she hand spun or dyed.
Highland Heffalump makes some beautiful needle felted items. This post contains some woodland gnomes and baubles as well as these Santa gnomes.
highlandheffalump.com/2021/10/17/yop11-week-16-52-gnome-is-where-the-heart-is
If you don't have a pom pom maker then two circles of card will do the trick.
Here are some more very pretty ornaments, this time made by weaving onto a ring.
brittafusselt says that "nobody is too old to wear rainbow jackets".
She spun 18 skeins from dyed roving, each approx 40g. Together almost 700g, 1880m.
The hood design needs more work, but she says that it's only for warming the back anyway!
Connie Lee Lynch has made a crocheted tapestry that has the look of a woven textile.
She used a range of batts and fibres for her tapestry, there are pictures here of the fibre and yarn, as well as Connie's thoughts.
This still doesn't have buttons but Kendra is wearing it as it is until she finds some.
The pattern is Reluctant Homeschooler by Caitlin Hunter
Longdrawjames has made this jumper from merino dyed by Spotted Ewe Fibers and natural grey merino. The yarn is handspun 3-ply. Knitting took him only two weeks!
ullasuldivers comments that when making clothes from scratch, the material passes through your hands many times.
This cardy is beautiful in a subtle way. kulacottontailfarm has made it from an alpaca she owns called Cal. She has cleaned, carded, spun and knit it herself.
pantoffelschnecke felt inspired by a shawl made by a member of her spinning group. She made this honeycomb shawl from handspun yarn in just five days.
You may not spot it at first, but this scarf has been woven on the bias using a rectangular loom. Explore the pictures to see the loom, and the comments for more details of the techniques used.
skauogco has made this cardy using "Delicious lambswool from @garnudsalg together with hand-spun Falkland from @westcoastcolour".
The pattern is Reed by Anna Johanna. skauogco has "cut it up" to become a cardigan.
This is gizmofox's Ghost Horses sweater. The pattern is by by Caitlin Hunter and we have seen it in the handspun finished projects at least once before.
A selection of free seasonal patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.
This pattern will use up those "oddballs from your stash" and may make a great gift for a houseplant-lover
This page contains two free cabled hat patterns, the one pictured here is Kirstie McLeod's one-skein hat which takes 100g of aran-weight yarn, so it'll be quick to knit with handspun yarn.
www.gathered.how/knitting-and-crochet/knitting/free-cable-hat-knitting-pattern
Jacquline admits that she didn't quite manage to publish this in time for Halloween, but that doesn't matter, it's a great-looking design that you can wear all winter.
It uses around 250 yards of sport-weight yarn (12 wpi).
Instructions for a matching coffee cosy (functional gauge swatch) are included.
If you're reading this before 16 November, then the pattern is 20% off (no coupon needed).
Not chosen because of the name (although that did help). Gruggle is a cowl but almost a caplet. It features a motif to match her also-new Easwas hat.
It's made from 240 yards of DK yarn on 3.75mm needles (or to get gauge).
If you plan to make this pattern, note Kates post on disambiguation of the term 'twisted stitch'
If you're on Instagram you may have already seen pluckypigeonknits' Fancy Fencework sweater as it developed.
The pattern is now available and there are already some knitters making the sweater. If you'd like to join them then you'll need 1620 - 2785 yards of DK (11 wpi) yarn in three colours, natural shades suggested.
This cowl is designed with handspun yarn in mind, here is one that the designer made using her own yarn.
It uses 100-250 yards of DK-weight yarn.
I think I may have suggested a pattern from Confident Knitting before. It's an e-book costing £20.
This pattern uses modular knitting. This means working in small sections that are joined as you work. It allows for colour switching, and also means that you are only working manageable rows, in this case no more than 25 stitches at a time.
There are photo tutorials in the book, and a video here.
The picture I've used here is RedAndFiery's Argyle Wrist Warmers which she made using two different handspun yarns.
The pattern is one-size but I presume the size can be altered with different needle choice.
Artist Xomatok translates the vibrant, geometric motifs of handwoven Andean blankets, or llicllas, into large-scale works.
Artist Alyssa Ki uses naturally-dyed roving and multiple techniques to create these wall hangings.
Sunday 16 January 2022 10am-4pm, Marriott Hotel, Old Shire Lane, Waltham Abbey
Chosen charity since 2017 is Knit for Peace. Workshops range from beginner to intermediate.
50 exhibitors, a selection of crochet, knitting, spinning and other craft workshops at a variety of levels.
11 - 13 February 2022, 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
9 - 20 March 2022, The Forum, Norwich.
A wide variety of crafts including knittings, spinning, weaving, crochet.
Demonstrations, have-a-go tables, workshops and exhibitions.
23-24 April 2022, 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.
18 - 19 June 2022 FlyDSA Arena, Broughton Lane, Sheffield S9 2DF
Accessible, inclusive, welcoming.
3 and 4 September 2022, Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
The perfect event for all lovers of knitting, crochet, feltmaking, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and all things woolly!
17 - 18 September 2022,
To highlight and raise awareness of all the wonderful things that our British wool can be used for.
24 and 25 September 2022, Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire
Stunning exhibitions, skill demonstrations and a full programme of textile workshops create a visual feast and make Yarndale a real must-visit for yarn lovers.
6 - 9 October 2022, Alexandra Palace, London
I'm Shiela Dixon, I've beeing doing this for around ten years in order to promote and encourage the craft of spinning.
You can help to support this work with a regular contribution (pay what you like, no matter how small) and in return receive a longer ad-free* version (approx half the number of stories again) of HSN earlier in the month.
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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