As spinners our goal is to be able to control the spin so we get the type of yarn we want every time, which starts with how we are drafting the fiber. Jeannine Bakriges shows us seven methods of drafting; how many of them do you use?
After months or researching how to raise alpacas, it is getting close for us to add a few to our homestead. Here is a breakdown on how much it cost.
When you hold a floof of fiber in your hands you can get a little overwhelmed with all the possibilities. There are so many different spinning and plying techniques to try and there's only so much time in the day. That's why I decided to share my 3 favorite go-to techniques for those days when
By Amelia © February 25, 2011 Wow! Madrona Fiber Arts Festival was a hoot! But more on that at the end... Last summer, I was contacted by a tapestry weaver about spinning some "3 ply yarn" for her. In fact, the yarn she wanted mimiced in handspun was Paternayan's, which has 3 strands or fingering-weight 2-ply loosely twisted together. And, her plan was to separate them to color-blend (tapestry weaving is so cool!) There was to be 10 pounds of fiber to be spun, from local sheep, locally dyed and milled at Taylored Fibers. 10 pounds. That didn't quite hit home until I (a) injured my foot in July, leaving me only e-spinning as a wheel choice and (b) got a temp job 4 days a week in September, which is still steaming along with a somewhat indefinite future. Now, this 10 pounds isn't like the normal production run you might do for a sweater: not all the same color, to be spun up and bobbin-swapped as needed to make the singles come out consistently. Not at all. This is 8 ounces of each color -- and we decided to do them 4 ounces at a time, so she would have each color as quickly as possible, with the second half coming later. So, I have to spin 4 ounces, ply it, repeat until done. How can it hope to remain consistent? Here are my tips: 1. Keep your sample card handy. Mine has actual Paternayan's (the source yarn to base everything on!) wound around it to see the twist angle in the ply, split into its singles and wound around it to see the diameter of the single, and fluffed out to see the fiber in the single. Every time I start a new color, and at random points as I spin that color, I compare back to that source yarn. At least once per ounce during the singles, and at the start of plying to make sure I have my rhythm right. 2. Focus. I don't drift off into conversations -- this fiber doesn't come with me to spin-ins, though the plying might, it's not as hard to get right. All spun at home. I've lost the thread of Stargate Atlantis entirely since I am paying more attention to the yarn than to the plot. 3. Use the same speed and tension each time. On my e-spinner, I set the dial the same; on my treadle wheel, I use the same ratio. And, I always back the brake band's tension off to soft-as-will-draw-on as I start each bobbin, since as the bobbin fills, the brake tension gets tightened bit-by-bit. Forget that, and the fiber yanks onto the flyer faster than I can say "boo!" 4. Use the same spinning style each time. If you start out spinning worsted, spin it all worsted. If you start out spinning with double-drafting, spin it all that way. Whichever method you pick, stick with it. This yarn, I spin with double-drafting. It's production spinning, and that's my fastest way to get the yardage on the wheel. For plying, I have been using The Gentle Art of Plying as my plying method, but recently re-learned Alden Amos' plying method (see my youTube video embedded here; it is described in his Big Book of Handspinning). Amos' plying method is continuous, always moving toward the wheel, which was gentler on my e-spinner and let it spin for longer before heating up the motor. I could do the whole 4-plus ounces in one sitting. It takes me about an hour to ply 4 ounces (400 yards) at 1200 rpm, close to top speed, on my e-spinner. [ For the techs out there .. that works out to 5 twists per inch. About right, for the ply twist for this yarn. ] 5. Measure and adjust. Not only do I work to stay on-task during the four ounces, but once it's done, I skein it up with a yardage meter (since I'm paid by the yard, it does double-duty). That tells me if I stayed in the target range. I should get about 100 yards an ounce. If it's too short, then it was too thick or too dense (spinning style - worsted is denser than woolen, or too much twist compacting it). If it's too long, then it was too thin or too airy (not enough twist will pouf out more in the plying). I make a note of the ones noticeably outside the target (over 10% off), and let the weaver know if a color might be a little thinner or thicker than the others, so she can compensate in the weaving. More than anything else, that sample card and staying on-task keep the yarn within bounds. The medium wool that I'm spinning -- some Border Leicester, some Jacob, some Romney -- all feels about the same, and all will spin into a slightly finer yarn than my target if my goal were fine spinning. Now, if all your fiber is the same color, you can spin a whole bunch of bobbins-full of singles, and then randomly pick from the singles to ply. That way, you can ply early singles by later singles or totally randomize, so your yarn diameter varies either as little as possible, or as randomly as possible. But I didn't have that option in this spinning journey. If you want to hear about spinning for a sweater's worth of fiber, Amy King has a great article on Knitty, Spin me a sweater! I just sent off the most recent 2 pounds to the tapestry weaver, shown here, bringing the total to 6 pounds, and got 2 more pounds to spin. All in all, it will be about a full year's journey to complete the 10 pounds. I have all sorts of luscious fibers lined up to treat myself with when my hands want a break from the medium wool. Pygora, Alpaca, Silk, and my own precious Llama -- all for laceweight. I'm thinking, though, I might want to dive into the stash for some wool/silk blend to spin into a thick single and tame with rough finishing, for a total change of pace. Or not -- 4-ply sock yarns are also on my spinning want-to's. ~~~~ So, how fun was Madrona? Wow. Franklin Habit's class on photography was eye-opening. I had a terrific time teaching a dozen or so folks the basics of spindling in the rotunda, did some stash enhancement to my silk weaving yarn at the Habu Textiles booth, picked up some lovely pencil roving from Crown Mountain Farms for learn to spin kits, and got to catch up with a variety of friends from hither and yon, including meeting several face to face for the first time. Syne, Sarah, Tasha, Anne-Marie, and many others -- however fleeting our hello's may have been, I always treasure meeting friends. And new friends, too -- Taryn, John, Selah, Judith W - how cool to meet you! If you didn't get to take one of my classes, there are e-books for all three of them on my website; Spinning Self-Striping Socks and the Mitts of Experience has always been fun to teach (see the review by kayak on ravelry for some hints why), and I'm pleased to announce two brand-new e-books for the other two classes, Power Spinning and the All That Yarn Scarf, and Silk on Spindles and the Lacey Vertical Rib Scarf. I hope you enjoy them! If you'd like to be on an email list for email announcements of upcoming workshops, let me know -- there are some fun ones coming up in March with Sheep & Socks as the theme. ~~~~ I ran across a great quote on You, Simplified worth repeating: Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, and add what is uniquely your own ~Bruce Lee. How cool is that. Exactly. I hope you, dear reader, use my blog exactly that way: learn the useful, forget the useless, and add your own ideas into the mix. ~~~~ © February 25, 2011 by Ask The Bellwether, posted at http://askthebellwether.com/blog
In these blog posts, we will be discussing how to make a spinning wheel for yarn. Spinning wheels are one of the essential tools for,,,
Are looking to get into spinning yarn? Well, let me be the first to welcome you to the Darkside. When you're trying something new it…
This is a digital product/digital file download. No you will not receive an envelope or a box for this is a digital download. THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS ONCE IT IS DOWNLOADED. All watermarks will be removed when you download the digital clipart. Downloads are available once your payment is completed and confirmed. Your download will be available through your Esty receipt. The digital file will be sent through your Esty account within minutes or completion of your purchase. You will receive jpeg / eps / svg / png Files Download your files - go to "YOUR ACCOUNT">"PURCHASES" / scroll down to image purchased and download from the blue button "files ready to download" Download all files or just the file type you're needing. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THE CIRCUT OR SILHOUETTE PROGRAM / SOFTWARE WORKS - If you are new to circut or silhouette please learn the system before you purchase this art work. Programs each file works with: -1 SVG File - vinyl decals. Cricut Explore, Silhouette Designer, Abode Suite, Inkspace, Corel Draw, Wood signs, Scrapbooking -1 EPS File - Adobe Illustrator, Inkspace, CorelDraw, and more -1 Jpeg - Non transparent background for Photoshop, Illustrator, Inkspace, CorelDraw, and more PLEASE if you have any questions please ask I am here to help you. I want to Personal THANK YOU for the time you spent in my shop.
Learn how to make you own crochet wind spinner with one of these beginner friendly crochet patterns! Videos included for some designs. #windspinner #crochet #freepattern
You will receive this beautiful hand-dyed silk lap in the color 'iris patch'. This fiber is excellent to incorporate into nuno felted, and wet felted projects. It can also be incorporated into handspun yarn for an additional texture. Please note that this is a hand-dyed item and color variations will occur from piece to piece. Orders will be cut from the piece of silk pictured, so the smaller the quantity you purchase, the fewer mottled colors you will receive. Keep this in mind when placing your order! **Please note: All computer monitors display color differently. I have tried to get as close as possible to the true color of the fiber. To see all of our roving, click here. To see all of our felting supplies, click here. - Frequently Asked Questions -Do you offer plastic free shipping? Yes! We ship with plastic free and/or 100% recycled packaging whenever possible. Please contact us if you would like to specifically request plastic packaging.Do you cut yardage into pieces? No. We do NOT cut it into pieces unless you specifically request it. This means if you order more than one yard, you will receive one, long, continuous piece.What shipping carrier do you use? We ship via the USPS. We are always happy to combine shipping when possible, and will refund shipping overages.Have a different question? Please send us a convo, we're here to help! --------------- To See What's Happening in Our Studio Visit our Website Connect With Us on Social Media! We have a passion for hand crafts. Since 2007, our family owned and operated independent craft store, The Tin Thimble, has specialized in new and vintage sewing supplies including fabric, buttons, patterns, trim and more. We are also proud carry a large selection of high quality nuno felting supplies, wet felting supplies, and needle felting supplies, including wool roving, specialty fibers, silk scarves and fabrics for felting. Thank you for shopping with us!
This is a digital product/digital file download. No you will not receive an envelope or a box for this is a digital download. THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS ONCE IT IS DOWNLOADED. All watermarks will be removed when you download the digital clipart. Downloads are available once your payment is completed and confirmed. Your download will be available through your Esty receipt. The digital file will be sent through your Esty account within minutes or completion of your purchase. You will receive jpeg / dxf / eps / svg / png Files Download your files - go to "YOUR ACCOUNT">"PURCHASES" / scroll down to image purchased and download from the blue button "files ready to download" Download all files or just the file type you're needing. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THE CIRCUT OR SILHOUETTE PROGRAM / SOFTWARE WORKS - If you are new to circut or silhouette please learn the system before you purchase this art work. Programs each file works with: -1 SVG File - vinyl decals. Cricut Explore, Silhouette Designer, Abode Suite, Inkspace, Corel Draw, Wood signs, Scrapbooking -1 EPS File - Adobe Illustrator, Inkspace, CorelDraw, and more -1 Jpeg - Non transparent background for Photoshop, Illustrator, Inkspace, CorelDraw, and more PLEASE if you have any questions please ask I am here to help you. I want to Personal THANK YOU for the time you spent in my shop.
Using paper to create your own weaving material is a great way to be creative and sustainable. Follow this fun paper yarn tutorial!
Do you find yourself with a lot of wool but you don't know how to use it? We provide you with plenty of alternative uses for wool around the homestead.
Are you looking for a fabric that is versatile, long-lasting, and can withstand the elements? It can be easily cleaned, used both indoors and outdoors, and is inexpensive. Spun polyester may be exactly what you're
Weaving these towels with Cotton Essentials Super DK is so much fun! Textured yarns add interest to the simplest design and cotton towels are the best against our skin. We've combined our favorite Aurora Earth cotton with the abundantly textured Cotton Essentials for a set of towels that will be gentle on our hands and face. There are three different kits to choose from: two full size towels, four fingertip towels, or four face cloths. Save $10 when ordering these as a set! You can weave these on a rigid heddle or 4-shaft loom. Both patterns are available and will be emailed with kit purchase. Use the drop-down menus to choose the style and color for your towels. Great for holiday, birthday, housewarming gifts or a real treat for yourself. Kit Options: Two Full Size Towels Four Fingertip Towels Four Face Cloths Complete Set - Save $10! There are 12 color options to choose from! Use the drop-down menu to choose your favorite color. Shown in Terracotta. Weave Structure: texture weave Yarns: Aurora Earth 8/2 cotton and Cotton Essentials Super DK . Equipment needed: Rigid heddle or 4-shaft loom; 23” weaving width for full size towels, 15" weaving width for fingertip towels, 10" weaving width for face cloths; 10 dent reed; 2 shuttles; 1 pick-up stick. Finished Dimensions: Two generously sized towels 18 ½” x 26 ½" Four fingertip towels 11 ½” x 17" Four Face Cloths 8" x 10" Instructions: printed instructions are included plus you will be emailed a PDF pattern download. Both rigid heddle and 4-shaft patterns are available. Read more about these towels in our August Yarn Exploration Blog Post: Cotton Essentials Towels. Designed by Jodi Ybarra
2022 Collaboration Collection: Kelbourne Woolens x Manos del Uruguay Our friends at Fairmount Fibers / Manos del Uruguay introduced a new bulky-weight wool, Cardo, at the same time as we did Germantown Bulky, and, conveniently, both can be knit at the same gauge. We joined forces and designed 6 garments, and knit each in both yarns. The result is a wardrobe of sweaters and a renewed commitment to the principle of collaboration. Lamarr proves that a quick-knitting gauge doesn’t have to mean a heavy garment. Germantown Bulky and Cardo stay drapey and soft in this cuff-to-cuff dolman pullover.Available as a PDF download. Images: Linette Kielinski / Team Kielinski Hair/Makeup: Kat Lashley Sterrett Models: Jennifer Meyers & Dayanna Nutter Shaw
Probably I'm not the only one who has few projects sitting in the back of my closet I'm not going to finish. There are many reasons why some projects were abandoned. Perhaps you've lost interest in or your taste in color has changed. Maybe you have old knit/crochet sweaters or shawls you don't wear anymore. As a designer,
Welcome to the exciting world of mixed media! Here are 20 adorable and satisfying paper crochet projects for you to try at home!
Seacell is lyocell fiber is made from seaweed and eucalyptus fibers. It is a non-allergenic and very soft fiber that can be spun alone or blended with other plant or animal fiber. Seaell is produced by smartfiber AG. The seaweed for Seacell is harvested from the fjords of Iceland. It has a similar feel and properties to bamboo. It adds superior lustre to your yarns. This fiber has an average staple length of 3"
Weave with fabric to add something extra to your weaving. Try these different ways to incorporate a new material into your next project.
Bette Hochbergs series of manuals are completely timeless, and should be a part of every beginner through accomplished spinner's library. Leave these little books out and their beautifully illustrated covers and simple, but in-depth information will turn your guests into fiber enthusiasts! This collection of reprints of her textile articles covers topics such as Spinning With a Bead Whorl Spindle, Spinning Fine Yarn, Does It Pay to Spin Your Own Yarn, and more! Published in 1982 Paperback booklet Used, in Very Good Condition
This article is all about natural dyeing techniques. Let's dye some yarn together! When it comes to natural dyeing, choosing a specific dye
Spinning wheels have been used to spin yarn and create textiles for centuries. However, with industrialization, using a spinning wheel has become a hobby rather…
If you’ve been a fan of ours on Facebook, Pinterest, or Tumblr, you may have noticed the beautiful photos of Artyarns yarn colors juxtaposed against photos of nature or art that contain similar color themes. These have been very popular and are quite fun to put together! Our next contest centers on beautiful photos of Artyarns. […]
DESIGNER'S NOTES"A timeless, super classic knit tee with a slightly oversized, boxy fit makes The Classic Tee a staple in any wardrobe."INCLUDEDItem is a digital knitting pattern file containing written instructions, video tutorials, a stitch glossary, and more.LANGUAGEEnglish. This knitting pattern is written in standard American terms.SIZE & FIT Fit: This tee is designed as a relaxed-fitting, slightly oversized, boxy tee with approx. 5”-6.5” (4.572- 5.9436 cm) of positive ease.Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL. Detailed sizing guide provided within the pattern. SKILL LEVELIntermediate. View Skill Classifications.REQUIRED MATERIALSPattern includes linked shopping list.Yarn: Light-Weight/DK (Category 3)Needles: U.S. Size 6 (4.0 mm)Yarn Yardage Required (approximates per size) 750 yards (685.8 meters); 755 yards (690.372 meters); 760 yards (694.944 meters); 770 yards (704.088 meters); 775-780 yards (708.66-713.232 meters); 790 yards (722.376 meters); 800-810 yards (731.52-740.664 meters); 830 yards (758.952 meters); 845 yards (772.668 meters).CONSTRUCTIONThe Classic Tee is seamlessly knitted in the round top-down (i.e., raglan) on circular knitting needles, eliminating the need for any seaming of the finished piece. DISCLAIMER All knitting patterns and crochet patterns are instant-download digital files. No patterns are shipped.COPYRIGHT STATEMENTAll Darling Jadore knitting patterns and crochet patterns and photographs on this website and on all our other platforms are the property of Darling Jadore and are thereby purchased under the agreement that they may not be distributed, copied, re-written, or re-sold. Darling Jadore is a registered business through the Secretary of State, and all Darling Jadore digital knitting pattern and crochet pattern digital files are protected by U.S. Copyright and are property of Darling Jadore. It is illegal to redistribute, sell, or share the pattern in part or in whole, electronically or physically. All finished items made from Darling Jadore knit and crochet digital patterns may be sold, so long as clear credit has been given to Darling Jadore on the buyer's website and on the buyer's social media account, if shown there. We do not sell or offer licensing rights to any of our photographs nor permit use of our photographs for any reason.©DarlingJadore; All rights reserved.View Skill Classifications.Resell finished product with pattern credit.©DarlingJadore; All rights reserved.
The bowls in the back contain a variety of substances which can be used to dye wool yarn. All of the skeins of yarn in the foreground were dyed using these natural substances. Pretty amazing. Seen at the home and workshop of Sr. Bulmaro Perez who lives in Teotitlan del Valle Oaxaca Mexico.
Using paper to create your own weaving material is a great way to be creative and sustainable. Follow this fun paper yarn tutorial!
I don't quite remember when I first became aware of avocado dye. I think when I was searching for food colouring dyeing I accidentally came across it. In any case, dusty rose/salmon is one of my favourite colours, I like making do, and I like experimenting so I had to give it a go. I tried avocado dyeing before with a lukewarm result. I used 100g 100% pure lambswool yarn, mordanted it with about a teaspoon of alum overnight, and dyed for 2 days. I think I used pits and skins from about 7 avocados. It turned out to be murky light peach colour, which I still liked but wasn't too impressed. The yarn also felted a little and got scratchy. But it was okay because I got the yarn for free and it was my first try. Fast forward a year, I got bitten by a dyeing bug again. Particularly I wanted to make another version of Kasha, in a colour that flattered me better. So I decided it was time to try avocado dyeing again. This time I decided to be more thorough because I was going to dye a large quantity of yarn so the stakes were high. I looked at some bare yarns from Knitpicks and Craftsy, and noticed that Craftsy were doing 50% off sale on their Superwash Merino Superwash Sock Twist yarns, which was actually cheaper than their bare yarn bundle. I ordered 4 skeins (400g total) of colour Ecru. I went all the way and even bought some PH strips. Mordanting This time I put a bit more effort in mordanting the yarn. Previously I only used alum, but this time I used alum and cream of tartar. I used 1 tbsp alum and 1 tsp cream of tartar per skein. I brought the temperature to about 85 degree centigrade (185 fahrenheit) and kept the temperature overnight by swaddling the pot (see below). Dyebath The main difference I made this time was the amount of pits I used. Thankfully the kitchens at my workplace process humongous amount of avocados each day for guacamole and other avocado goodies for the cafes, and I asked nicely if I could get my hands on some of them. I asked for 40 pits - 10 pits per 100g skein for the first bath. In total I used 80 pits, because I had to dye the yarns twice to get the colour above. The wonderful staff at work cafes was very indulging to put up with my weird requests. I chopped them up and added about 6 avocado worth of skins and brought them to simmer (about 85 centigrade) at which point the dye bath looked murky brown. I added about 2 teaspoon of washing soda and simmered some more which turned the dyebath dark pink. The PH strip read 11. I extracted the dye over 2 days (2 simmers per evening). In order to save energy, I turned off the gas after it reached the temperature and swaddled the pot. It's a trick I saw in 'Wartime Farm' which I watched only about 8 times now. The folks used to bring a stew to boil, and then put the pot in a haybox to continue cooking to save fuel during the WW2. How clever is that! I put a merino wool jumper that I only wear in the house, 2 bath towels, and put a t-shirt over it to hold them. I swaddled the pot, and went to bed. The pot was still warm the next morning. Meanwhile I kept the yarn submerged after rinsing the mordant because I wanted to achieve as even dye as possible. Once I deemed the dye bath ready (it looked as dark as it was going to get but I think I could have extracted more dye), I ladled the dye stuff out and put the yarn in. Once again I brought it to simmer (85 centigrade), swaddle, let it cool down, and repeated it about 4 times over 2 days. At that point the dye bath became paler (picture below), so I took the yarn out. I loved the colour of the yarn when I first took it out, but I underestimated how much lighter it was going to get once it dried. The above was the result of the first dye, once it'd fully dried. The colour was beautiful salmon, but not quite as dark as I had hoped for the particular purpose. I also saw minor irregularities in the dye, because there was some dye stuff left in the pot which darkened the parts of yarn that it adhered to. After much deliberation I decided to over-dye it with more avocado. 2nd dye I asked for another 40 avocado pits, and basically repeated the same process, except I simmered the dye bath about twice more which made the dye bath even darker. I didn't bother mordanting the yarn again. And this time I actually took the trouble to sieve the liquid to thoroughly remove the dye stuff. The dye bath looked almost black. I brought the yarn to simmer about three times and took it out as I didn't want to make the yarns too dark. And voila, I managed to get deep desaturated rose colour out of avocado. To be honest, I wish it had a bit more orange and brown in it, but I'm perfectly happy with it. There are many factors that might have contributed to the better result. 1) The yarn was merino, 2) it was superwash, 3) I added cream of tartar on top of alum for mordanting, but 4) perhaps most importantly I used tons more avocado pits for this batch. The dyebath still had a lot of dye left in it, so I ordered some more yarn to dye another batch. Tldr; here's the summary. Yarn: 4 x 100g skein Craftsy Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist Yarn. 80% Superwash merino wool, 20% poly. Mordant: 4 tbsp alum + 4 tsp cream of tartar Dye stuff: In the end I used in total about 80 avocado pits and 6 avocado skins Dye bath: Dyed twice. Brought to simmer to 85 degree centigrade, followed by swaddling and cooling until it reached desired strength - until the dye bath looked almost black. Reached PH level 11 by adding 2 tsp washing soda (per dye bath) after the first simmer. I made the washing soda by baking baking soda in the oven at 400 for an hour. There was a lot of dye left in the second bath. I might have achieved the same result by using about 60 pits and exhausting the dye. Learnings: Sieve out the dye stuff thoroughly before putting yarn in to prevent dark spots Use the swaddle method (?) to save energy Tie the skeins in 2 additional places to prevent tangles Since this turned out to be a success, I'm thinking to try my hands at other natural dyes. I like to reduce my carbon footprint whenever possible and living in California where we get about 2 weeks of rain per year if we're lucky, the amount of water needed to dye yarns always makes me feel a little guilty, but I do my best to reuse and save. I have my eyes on brown onion skin dye and I discovered some lichen growing in the back yard just this morning. Oh the possibilities! I should order more yarns.
There have been many anecdotal claims about knitting being good for your health. Not only are yarns Absolutely delightful, there are so many directions you can go with knitting! After you learn how to knit, you can : read some knitting blogs, compare different knitting patterns, Knit lace, Create a
Cotton fiber has been used for hundreds of years in clothing, linens and other textiles. It is soft, versatile, and the raw fibers can be spun into strong threads and yarns that can rival animal fibers in warmth and durability.
