Tag Archives: spinning

And we have another hand spinner!


Aunt Geri’s first yarn arrived in the mail this week! It is b-e-a-u-tiful. She’s named it “Desert Rain”, which is a lovely name for the soft blue and pastels (as someone who thinks about yarn names quite a bit, I … Continue reading

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A few beginning knitting tips


I’ve talked before about the importance of crafting with friends, and I can’t say it enough: group knitting (or spinning) is the best way to get inspired to work on a project and have fun while you work. So when … Continue reading

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To the mill!


Dad and Mom toured one of our local fiber mills this week. We made a family pact that if our next shearing day rolled around and we still hadn’t finished with all the fleeces, we’d take them to the mill … Continue reading

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Crafting zone?


I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a space usable, probably because I’m hoping to have space of my very own soon and I want to include a crafting room. Right now, my craft “zone” is functional, but kind … Continue reading

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It’s getting all medieval up in here


Sometimes a yarn just doesn’t want to be spun. I have mentioned before that I’m less than inspired to spin lately. Well, when a friend came over to knit, it seemed like the perfect time to finish the suri alpaca … Continue reading

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Cabled yarn: complete!


My first cabled yarn is done! It did take a while, as I anticipated, but I like the finished product. You’ll remember from an earlier post that I had already spun a two-ply yarn that I intended to ply again … Continue reading

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Cabled yarn: phase one (also, a note on twist)


When we spin thread or yarn, we add twist to loose fiber to lock it together. This twist pulls the fibers closer, and the microscopic scales on the hairs rub against each other, catching and holding. To create beautiful yarn, you must … Continue reading

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Losing the twist


People are always surprised to hear that I like to do all the spinning on a project within one or two days. Making yarn doesn’t seem like it should be a time sensitive endeavor. Since I’ve been in a sorta … Continue reading

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The parts of a spinning wheel…


…have hilarious names. I couldn’t decide which was funniest, so I decided to share them all with you. Let’s start at the bottom and work our way up. The twist in yarn is originally generated by your foot pressing the treadle. My wheel only … Continue reading

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Sciatica, carpal tunnel, and crafters: a public service announcement


Most crafts (and jobs for that matter) involve some repetitive motion that can take a toll on your body over time. If you take nothing else away from this post, please remember this: if it hurts, stop doing it. Carpal … Continue reading

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