Hand Spinning News April 2012

Fluffy giveaway

An interview and prize from Marianne who youmay well know as picperfic.

Read more

blogpick: Purple Peacock Scarf

This woven Scarf is beautifulenough in its own right andSpinstar's comparison ofknitting and weaving is a goodread too.

Read more

Hand Spinning NewsOut like a lamb

The email version of this newsletter may look much better online: hand-spinning-news.com

If March goes out like a lamb, April has come in with a few in the shape ofsome spring lambs and kids.

As is now traditional for the April issue, the blogpicks have a spring lambtheme. As it's still a bit chilly, there's a scarf theme to the free patterns and asit just happens there's an art yarn theme to the gallery.

So on with this month's round-up of spinning-related press, products, projectsand prizes.

Top Stories

Contents

News and articles from around the webThe Cyclo-carder, Sheep stamps from Royal Mail, Pompom flock goes on display, Would you wear a woolwedding dress? Himalayan goat numbers boosted, 'Over the fold' for skinny yarn, Yarn lover's desktopFrom the blogosphereBaby angora goat, Lambing time at Clumber Park, Lambing at Patchwork Farm, Willington Weaver's tip ofthe month, Combing cashmere, Home grown cashmere shawl, Improvised spindle, Purple peacock scarf,Mama and mini me shawlsGalleryShowing off some of the month's best images.Featured fibre artist and fluffy giveawayAn interview with an independent dyer and an offer.The Hand Spinning News spring competitionFree patternsA selection of free patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.EventsSome 2012 dates for your diary!Courses and tuitionWhere to go for a day, weekend or a week to learn or improve your skills

Shop How to About Blog

News and articles from around the web

Cyclo-carder

Thank you to Julia for sending me this lovely story. She wonders what the Ludditeswould make of this.

Pictured is Katharine Jolda, inventor of the cyclo-carder. It's a regular drum carder,powered by bicycle.

She also has an odometer fitted so that she can measure her 'miles per garment'!

Besides the exercise for the legs, I like the idea that while you turn the carder with your feet, your handsare free to feed in the fibre.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/27/DD9H1MEC91.DTL

British sheep stamps from Royal Mail

This news has been doing the rounds, but in case you haven't seen them yet, youcan buy this set of first class stamps from Royal Mail featuring British sheep breeds.Featured are Welsh Mountain Badger Face, Dalesbred, Jacob, Suffolk, Soay andLeicester Longwool.

http://shop.royalmail.com/post+go-pictorials/british-farm-animals-1-sheep-post+go-stamps-set/invt/sku00000160/

Pompom flock on display

These little sheep are part of the 4,500-strong flock which has just gone on displayat Penrith.

Contributions of pompom sheep made from real wool were invited and theorganisers were overhelmed by the response.

The Flock art project aims to promote Cumbrian sheep farming and is now on show at the RhegedCentre in Penrith

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-17664896

Would you wear a wool wedding dress?

Wool wouldn't immediately come to mind for a Spring bridal gown but there doesseem to be a move back to wool in textiles generally.

Bride Chic from onewed.com takes a look at some designs that range from beautifulthrough to interesting. The fabrics are breathable and it is difficult to guess that theyare or contain wool.

http://www.onewed.com/blog/show/bridal-trend-alert-wool-wedding-dresses

Himalayan goat numbers boosted by science

This kid is a pashmina goat, said to produce the finest cashmere, but their numbersare low.

Noori here is the first clone of this breed. This is controversial technology, thereason for the attempted cloning is that the local industry depends on these goatsbut their numbers have been dwindling. They live at very high altitudes which makesthem even harder to find. It is hoped that these clones can be bred at lower altitudes.

http://io9.com/5894691/the-best-cashmere-comes-from-adorable-clones-of-himalayan-goats

'Over the fold' for skinny yarn

There are some great tutorials on the Schacht website with lots of good advice andeven accompanying videos. This one is no exception.

I've used the 'over the fold' technique for shorter fibres or roving which wouldn'tcooperate any other way but here Stephanie Flynn-Sokolov suggests the techniqueas suitable for long or short draw and one of the easiest ways to spin fine yarn.

http://www.schachtspindle.com/yearning-to/2011/issue_18.php

Concern over lamb loss

This is a lovely photo in the Stornoway Gazette but a sad story. Levels of stillbirth onLewis and Harris is high this year.

A number of possible reasons have been suggested including poor quality or oldsilage, geese and the weather.

http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/local-headlines/concern-over-lamb-loss-1-2216734

Yarn lover's desktop for April 2012

It's the time of the year for cute lambing pictures. There are some listed below and ifyou can't get enough then Ouida has made this desktop for your computer,completely free and with a built-in calendar too.

http://knit2.wordpress.com/desktops/

From the blogosphere

Blogpick: Baby angora goat

This little fella is a kid Angora goat (which give fibre that we know as mohair). Clickthrough to Devon Fine Fibres for larger photos of baby and mum.

http://devonfinefibres.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/angora-goat-baby/#

Blogpick: Lambing time at Clumber Park

Nottingham spinners from Spinnotts and Woolly Outlaws spent the bank holidayweekend at Clumber Park's Spring Lambing event doing sterling workdemonstrating the craft and also taking some cute photos for our admiration.

Click through to the following day's blog post for one more baby.

http://travelfibreandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/cute-photo-time.html

Blogpick: Lambing at Patchwork Farm

This cheeky girl is called Amelia.

Patchwork Farm have posted pictures of four new lambs produced by their ewesHillside Holly and Quinn: http://patchworkfibers.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/holy-moley-batman/ and in the post below there are more lambs and she describes howshe uses a baby alarm to monitor the ewes which is effective but has itsdrawbacks...

http://patchworkfibers.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/the-new-additions/

Blogpick: Willington Weaver's tip of the month

Do you find that your threading hook damages your warp as it runs along the plywhen you pull it through the heddle?

Willington Weaver has noticed that new weavers often have this problem and ifyou've noticed the same thing, she details here the best way to hold the warp asyou hook it to avoid this problem.

http://willingtonweaver.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/tip-of-month-april.html

Blogpick: Combing cashmere

Angora goats give us cashmere fibre, it loosens naturally and can be combed out.

Although the goats enjoy losing the coat as it gets itchy at this stage, Lesley ofDevon Fine Fibres says that it's a "real hands-on job". I think she's written about theprocess in previous years, but here she has a new blog post with a photo showingwhat a handful the goats are.

http://devonfinefibres.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/combing-cashmere-024ed/

Blogpick: Old Forge Blanket #2

A couple of months ago I mentioned Monika's large round Old Forge blanket. Shewas pleased but wanted to try it in different colours. These colours certainly lookbright and warm.

This post not only features pictures of the fibre and spun yarn, but the finished and'in progress' knitted blanket.

http://yarnloopie.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/handspun-friday-handspun-yarn-for-old.html

Blogpick: Home grown cashmere shawl

Also this month Lesley from Devon Fine Fibres has finished knitting this shawl fromher own cashmere, which was commercially spun as 4-ply.

She seems happy with the result and says that she now has the bug for laceknitting.

http://devonfinefibres.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/home-grown-cashmere-shawl/#

Blogpick: Improvised spindle

WoolWench Handspun Yarn posted this photo of her improvised spindle.

It's made from a bobbin, a chopstick and a flyer hook! The result is a spindle bigenough to ply this beaded yarn.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=354089511295779&set=a.265096616861736.65931.260533737318024&type=1&theater

Blogpick: Purple peacock scarf

This woven Scarf is beautiful enough in its own right and Spinstar's comparison ofknitting and weaving is a good read too.

The choice of whether to knit or weave can make a huge difference to the look ofthe finished fabric.

Spinstar spun this 'peacock' variegated yarn some time ago, and started to knit with it but didn't feel thatit was working. But weaving the yarn and using a darker purple as the warp has given the yarn acompletely different look that she really likes.

She gives us back-to-back photos so that we can compare the same yarn knitted and woven andalthough she hasn't been so interested in weaving, she says that she's now seeing all sorts ofpossibilities.

Read more...

Blogpick: Obsessed briefly

In another blog post which takes us from fibre to woven scarf, yarnharlot was alsounsure about knitting this gorgeous handspun yarn but loves the woven result.

Despite being an incredibly fast knitter, she's obviously most surprised here abouthow much quicker it is to weave.

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2012/03/26/obsessed_briefly.html

Blockpick: Weaving a hedgerow

Andrew Herridge is an artist who is currently working on a piece of woven artwork tocelebrate the British hedgerow and encourage its conservation.

He has noticed that the hedgerow has horizontal layers and vertical elements, justlike woven fabric. He has warped with a variety of yarns including nettle and jute,and hopes to work in other natural materials such as hemp and twigs.

In this video he explains his concept and shows the early stages of the work.

http://wannadoart.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/ashford-loom-weaving-a-hedgerow-part-2/

Blogpick: Mama and mini me shawls

This is a lovely idea, matching shawls, a main and a mini.

hatdiva says that she found it "different" spinning and knitting with just white yarnand that this pattern really shows off the yarn well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hatdiva/7014662991/in/photostream/

Blogpick: Woven curtain project update

I hope I'm allowed to pick one of my own blog posts.

The two beautiful spindles in this issue's banner picture are samples from the makerwho currently supplies me with the beautiful polished rosewood and ebony needlesand hooks that you can see at p2tog:http://p2tog.com/polished-rosewood-ebony-needles-hooks.html .

I'm currently waiting for a big parcel parcel full of those spindles and they'll be available athandspinner.co.uk as soon as they arrive. In the mean time, I've been 'testing' the spindles, using themboth to spin the merino / silk mix to weave the curtains which will finish off my current bathroomredecoration.

The loom is now warped and I've put a round-up of photographs here:

http://stitchywitches.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/loom-warped.html

GallerySometimes I find pictures of lovely handspun or finished handspun projects with little or no additional information(with apologies to the owners of these pictures if you have blogged about them elsewhere, please let me knowand I'll pass on the extra information in the next HSN)

BFL Handspun

I gather from the tags that this may be or contain Blueface Leicester but that is all Iknow.

I love the way that the look and feel of the original locks is maintained in the finishedyarn.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31628665@N06/6325815013/in/pool-948535@N22/

Bling

It's fascinating to see a series of images from fibre to finished.

VickeVira has given us a little information about this beautiful handspun, the battwas from WoolWench and was made from six different fibres carded together.

She has plied the single with a thin sparkly thread and is obviously pleased with theresult.

http://minspiration.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/bling.html?showComment=1333352779871

Top down handspun sweater

If you're thinking I'm only featuring this jumper because I'd love to be wearing itmyself then you're right.

All we know about woollyalbatross' sweater is that it's knit top-down from her ownpattern and made in 2 ply merino handspun. I love the dark red colour with hints ofblue/purple.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65549236@N05/6859195572/in/photostream/

Needle-felted cat

I originally bookmarked the handspun mitts (adjacent in spinalatte's photostream)and nearly missed this playful needle-felted puss.

Made using Shetland and alpaca by her daughter.


Wool handspun pot

I like to see yarn made into objects using techniques other than knitting andweaving.

This coil pot is made from yarn hand spun and felted.


Doll dreadlocks

Another less common use for handspun art yarn is dreadlocks, here as part of a dollor 'Peoplette' called Annie.

This is the first Pumpkinhaus Peoplette and if you follow the photographs you'll alsosee her knitted and felted boots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmntddoll/5553942018/in/set-72157625986426263/

Fibre giveawayA new feature in which an independent dyer offers a gift or a discount.

Last month we met Kerry of Dye Spin Knit UK, who offered a braid of her dyed fibre. Kerry has made the drawusing a random number generator and is packing the prize off to Katrina. Thank you to Kerry, to Katrina and forthe many other entries.

This month I have the pleasure of speaking to Marianne, who many of you willknow as Picperfic through her blog, fibre club or her Etsy Shop, Fluff & Stuff.

Briefly describe yourself and what you do

I am a knitting, spinning, sewing, crafting, photographer and I'm marriedto Barry, another photographer. I have four gorgeous children and bythe end of the year there will be 6 delicious grandchildren. My knittingneedles, sewing machine and camera are kept VERY busy in mybeautiful craft room that Barry recently created for me.

How long have you been spinning / dyeing?

I started spinning at the end of 2008 and know that I still have plenty to learn. Fine spinning is slowlybecoming more natural now, but I still manage to make mostly aran weight once I ply it haha. I can'tremember how long I've been dyeing, but I wrote a tutorial for Spiral Dyeing in 2009http://picperfic.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/spiral-dyeing-fibre/ so I guess it wasn't too long after Istarted spinning

What got you started?

I kept seeing wonderfully coloured handspun yarn on Ravelry. I clicked on links which took me intothe world of spinning and slowly slowly the need to learn to spin took me over.

What inspires you?

I find inspiration wherever I look, I just love colour. I find my mood can change to one of delight whenI dye up my luxury fibre blends or sew up a new design. I get lost in it all...

Where / how do you sell your work?

I sell my work on Etsy http://picperfic.etsy.com/and I blog about it here http://picperfic.wordpress.com/I also have a group on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/groups/picperfics-fluff-n-stuffand a Facebook Page here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Picperfics-Fluff-n-Stuff/254782261773You can also find me on Twitter as picperfic

What aspect of your work do you enjoy most?

I love all aspects but especially working and communicating with my customers. When I have createda finished article that they love as much as I do, be it a hand sewn item or some fibre for spinning, Iam filled with joy and pride, it feels good...

What makes your work or your service special?

The beauty of my work is that I get to work with designer fabrics and luxurious fibres. I am lucky to beable to choose when and what I want to do, unless I get inundated with orders, then it can get a bitmechanical. Choosing toning fabrics or colours for a sewing or dyeing session is such a treat! It isimportant to me that I finish all my work to a very high standard and try to think about how I would feelif I was to purchase and receive the item myself.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell folk?

I run a successful Luxury Fibre Club, the details can be found herehttps://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=372160489464253 You can add yourself to my waitinglist by clicking the link on my blog

Marianne has offered a £15 voucher which you can spend in her shop. She'll make the draw in time for the nextHSN in mid-May.

To enter the draw, 'Like' her Facebook page (if you haven't already) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Picperfics-Fluff-n-Stuff/254782261773 and leave a message to the effect that you've read this item in Hand Spinning Newsand would like to be in the draw.

Spring competition

A reminder that the Spring competition is running and involves making yarn inspiredby a Spring image. This year it's Spring Crocuses by Elenathewise. (Small versionshown right, click for large version.)

It usually has a small number of entries (all the more reason to get involved!) but it'salways so good to see such different ideas from other people on the same themeand I really do enjoy taking part myself (exempt from the prize of course).

It's a freestyle event - do whatever you like, use dyed fibre or dye it yourself, mixbought dyed or natural fibre, use animal, vegetable or synthetic, straight or funky, whatever you like.Have photos of your work ready by the end of April in time for the May Hand Spinning News.

Entries will be visible on Flickr and Hand Spinning News and I'll send the winner, as chosen by anindependent yarnmistress, a £40 gift voucher to spend on or put towards anything you like athandspinner.co.uk

To enter

Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/shieladixon/6829785550/in/pool-1891089@N20 to access a biggerversion of the photo. Post pictures of your yarn to the grouphttp://www.flickr.com/groups/1891089@N20/pool/with/6829785550/ Post as many photos as you like,but please only one type of yarn per spinner and please stick to pictures of your entry and the stages ofmaking.

If you're not at one with the ways of Flickr, please feel free to email photo(s) to me instead.

Free patternsA selection of free patterns which will work well with handspun yarn.

Free pattern: A smooshy cowl

This project from jordyn of the knitty professors uses yarn recycled from oldcashmere sweaters (follow the links for the method, you may be surprised).

But I'm including it here anyway because I'm thinking that if you enjoy making fatand funky art yarn, then this pattern would work really well with that.

'Pattern' is perhaps overstating it a little, it's a very straightforward knit, but then again if your yarn isspecial then the simplicity of the pattern will really show it off well.

http://knittyprofessors.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/this-used-to-be-cashmere-sweater-or-two.html?m=1

Handspun Gallery of Helix Scarves

Last year, Spin Off magazine invited readers to make Stephenie Gaustad's HelixScarf using their own handspun.

The marvelous variety of scarves were featured in the magazine but they've alsomade the gallery available as a pdf via spinningdaily.com. It contains 25 beautifulversions, with detailed notes about how each yarn was spun and patterns for someof the readers' own variations.

The original Helix Scarf pattern is given on page two.

For a crochet version scroll down to page 21.

You can download the gallery for free (you may have to register for free with spinningdaily.com if youhaven't done it before).

Download the gallery

Free pattern: Lilah Shawl

I have mentioned this pattern in passing before, when last Spring's Knittyspin cameout. But it's such a lovely pattern I'm going to add it here too.

The Lilah shawl was inspired by a fallen angel. The lace shawl is shown in threequite different colourways including a handspun version and the black and whiteversion shown here. I love the graduated effect as the white changes to black.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss11/KSPATTlilah.php

Free pattern: One row handspun scarf

Stephanie Pearl McPhee aka Yarn Harlot writes here about the way that she splitand spun this batt, before giving us a very simple but effective pattern.

It's one row, in fact, which means that it's easy to memorise if you need a 'nobrainer' to take on the bus, but may get a little tedious by the end, "Repeat the rowuntil you can stand it no longer, your scarf is long enough or you run out of yarn,whatever comes first." she says.

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2006/10/12/one_row_handspun_scarf.html

Events 2012Wonderwool Wales

28 & 29 April 2012, Royal Welsh Showground

A little bit later than last year. Promoting wool and natural fibre production and its use.

Exhibitors and Trade Stands covering all aspects of felting, knitting, weaving, spinning, crochet and textile artwith raw materials, equipment, books and finished products for sale. Competitions and a range of workshops tba.

A list of accommodation And camping in the surrounding area is available on the Wonderwool website.

www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk

Woolfest

Friday 22 and Saturday 23 June, Cockermouth, Cumbria

A celebration of natural fibres, especially all aspects of wool, wool products and wool crafts.

From fleecy animals and rare breeds, through fleece, tops, craft equipment and materials, to finished clothing,accessories and unique hand-crafted woollen goods.

Also workshops and masterclasses.

www.woolfest.co.uk

Fibre East

14 & 15 July 2012, Thurleigh, Bedfordshire

It's great to see that the Fibre East festival will be held again in 2012 following the success ofthe first one last year. It gives those in the Eastern, Midlands and Southern Regions anopportunity to join in an event which aims to encourage and promote natural fibres.

Fibre-East has its own Ravelry group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/fibre-east-2011 andTwitter stream: http://twitter.com/FibreEast (tweets for the 2012 event yet to appear)

http://www.fibre-east.co.uk/ (New website under construction)

Wool Week

15 - 21 October 2012, multiple activities throughout Britain

Run by the campaign for wool with patron HRH The Prince of Wales.

Planning is under way for a highlight attraction which shows wool in the modern home - launching forUK Wool Week. It will show wool as a stylish, beautiful and performance fibre, and will inform visitorsof the benefits of using the product in interiors.

http://www.fibrefest.co.uk/

Courses and tuitionPlease let me know if you are or you know a tutor with a calendar of events.

Cornwall: Audrey Durrant is heavily involved with the Cornwall Guild and works with the Rare BreedSurvival Trust. She teaches spinning, basic weaving, is a hand dyer and gives talks and demonstrations.Find out more at www.hawthornfibres.co.ukCornwall: Cornish Crafty Girls, a mother and daughter team offering spinning workshops will be at thePrincess Pavilions in Falmouth, Cornwall on Saturday 14 April 2012 [email protected]: See listing above of spinning, dyeing and weaving holidays with Alison Daykin (external link toSkylark Holidays' programme and prices). Five-day or weekend breaks. Alison also has a less formal'Monday night group': spinningandweaving.weebly.comDumfries and Galloway: Sue Macniven offers Residential Courses or one to one workshops in Twynholmor at your own venue http://www.handspun-exotics.co.uk/workavail.htmlHampshire: Spinning workshops at fibre craft studio Beaker Button, the Fairground Craft and Designcentre, Weyhill. 31 March - Spinning with a wheel (£25 range of wheels available to use or bring your own);28 April Spinning with a spindle (£30 includes spindle and a bag of fleece). For more details contact 07738534164 or [email protected]: Spinning workshops at Knit-Wise. 2012 dates: March 17, April 14, May 12, June 16, July 14.All materials included for £40, contact Cathy (lazykate) on 01695 580590 www.knit-wise.co.ukManchester:Spinning courses with Dee Sayce. also sewing, felt making, weaving, dyeing, batik and silkpainting (external link to beetlefelt) http://www.beetlefelt.co.uk/workshop_spinning.htmlNottinghamshire: Spinning courses with Juliet Hill www.handspinning.org.uk/index.html (external link toJuliet Hill Handspinning)Norfolk: Single-day spinning courseswww.norfolkyarn.co.uk/Homepage/News/tabid/77/Default.aspx(external link to Norfolk Yarn website)Sheffield: Tuition and Demonstrations by Diane Fisher, the Murmuring Wheelhttp://www.murmuringwheel.co.uk/events.html (external link to Diane Fisher's calendar)South Lincs: Single-day one-to-one spinning courses with all equipment supplied.http://www.alpacathingz.co.uk/(external link to AlpacaThingz website)

Spinning and weaving holidaysIf the listing below does not display properly, please view it on the web at http://handspinner.co.uk/links.html

with Skylark holidays and Alison Daykin.

from £539Design For the Terrified Derbyshire

Learn how to design for textile crafts and textile art More information

from £119Introduction to Spinning Derbyshire

Learn to Spin, have a dabble at spinning More information

from £119Make the Most of Rigid Heddle Derbyshire

Weaving – making the most of your loom More information

from £119Start Weaving Derbyshire Peak District

Learn to Weave More information

As usual, if you know anything spinning-related, please let me know.

Happy spinning and don't be a stranger!

Shiela

http://handspinner.co.uk

[email protected]

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

Hand Spinning News April 2012

Documents

Transcript of Hand Spinning News April 2012