Technical Fiber Walkthrus and Discussions
This post is part of a spin-along through 51 Yarns by Jacey Boggs Faulkner, in the Wool n’ Spinning community. For other posts in this series, check here. The next chapter in 51 Yarns is called “Into and Out of the Box.” So we are abruptly transitioning from in-depth studies of different fibers in their … More 41 of 51 Yarns: New Natural Yarn
This post is part of a spin-along through 51 Yarns by Jacey Boggs Faulkner, in the Wool n’ Spinning community. For other posts in this series, check here. This is the last yarn in the chapter that led us to explore non-wool fibers. I’ve spent a long time and a lot of yardage in this … More 39 of 51 Yarns: Ramie, a Bast Fiber
This is a basic tutorial on how to incorporate one of our gradient yarn sets into a pattern. The basic idea is to have a brief overlap section between skeins so as to create the illusion of one slowly changing color. (Credit for this technique goes to The Unique Sheep.) Scroll down to see a … More How to Use a Gradient
My life is divided into 2 seasons, and if I’m going to be optimistic about it, I would title them: Happy Fall/Winter and Joyous-Busy Spring/Summer. But in reality, September through February is fun. The new school year starts and I can realistically look forward to some interesting homeschool reading with my little daughter (now … More The Wonder of Apples
After the disappointments recounted yesterday, I want to end the review of our little spin weekend on a high note. Yarn with beads in it is mega cool stuff, almost universally expensive, and gorgeous nigh unto irrisistability. Tilli Thomas and Art Yarns are among the most mainstream producers of such goodies, and they are on … More Spin Retreat ’12: Bead Away
Even though I’m taking forever to wash the silver fleece, both Mom and I opted for the speedy route when it came to washing our Cormo cross. And during our spinning retreat, Mom showed me up close and personal how she uses her new combs to process this fine, short-stapled fiber into perfectly spinnable top. … More Spin Retreat ’12: Cormolicious Combing
So on Thursday, I wrote a bit about core spinning. An even more basic way to core spin is to just hold some fiber perpendicular to your core, and as it spins, it will grab ahold of it and create a wonderful light fuzzy something of a yarn. You can also do this with locks. … More Spin Retreat ’12: Locked on Target
So while we’re on the subject of ridiculous yarns, let’s get even weirder. I received these bags of hand-dyed locks as a destash gift from the incomparably lovely B.W., and every now and then I would run into them and wonder what to do with them. One could always just card and spin them up … More Spin Retreat ’12: Locks in a Tailspin
From the sublime to the ridiculous, my silk hankie thread was next followed by my first-ever intentional novelty yarn. Core spun yarn, that is; specifically core spun singles. The singles in question were 1.6 oz. of “fine wool,” a takeaway from 2011’s spin in. And, I thought, very nearly Kirby colored. I wish to picture … More Spin Retreat ’12: Softcore – or soft, with a core.
Mummy, Bethany, Kirby and I had a fabulous weekend. We tried new spinning techniques, we experimented, we used up a bunch of fiber that was just taking up space, and turned some real gems into truly special stuff. Despite a dog-related scare that sent us to the vet briefly, it was one of many little … More Spin Retreat ’12: On Silk Hankies
