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Hand Spinning News Autumn colour The email version of this newsletter may look much better online: hand-spinning-news.com I'm sure I'm not the only one who's noticed the evenings drawing in and colours changing to gold, red and brown. It may be taking us by surprise a little because of some recent deceptive overdue Summer weather. But hopefully here you'll find some inspiration and ideas for those autumn and winter projects. I'm very happy to have spoken this month with a dyer whose work I've been spinning recently. Also in this months crop of spinning news we find bloggers growing and using dye plants, some lovely finished projects, spinning and weaving tips and inspiration and free patterns with an emphasis on crochet. The cover photo at the top is 'Storm Beach' spun by karmicdelight, which I love and was my summer 'keep in my bag' knitting. The picture right is the Henslowe shawl knit by Sam using handspun. More details of that below in this month's blog picks. So on with this month's feast of high-fibre, low-calorie twisty treats.
Top Stories handspun prairie rose lace shawl
Fibre offer
rjrahardjo took around a year to spin and knit this beautiful shawl.
Featured fibre dyer this month is Patricia of Yummy Yarns UK. Interview and offer.
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Contents News and articles from around the web Farewell Ceefax, Wool Week 2012, Looking for Prince Charming, The Empress and the teacup From the blogosphere Summer and Winter napkins, Woad is me, Tips And tricks - fibre prep, Dye plants in pots, Dyeing cakes, Handspun Henslowe, Felt bags, A Tale of two gamps Gallery Showing off some of the best images I've found this month Featured fibre artist and fluffy offer An interview with an independent dyer and an offer Free patterns A selection of free patterns which will work well with handspun yarn Events Some dates for your diary Courses and tuition Where to go for a day, weekend or a week to learn or improve your skills
News and articles from around the web Farewell Ceefax Not handspun as far as I'm aware, but we do look at more tapestry weaving later on and this story takes me back to the days when Ceefax was the latest information-atyour-fingertips technology to impress your friends with. Tapestry is the perfect medium for a tribute to Teletext's colourful and geometric style and Aaron Merrigan has made a lovely piece to say farewell to the service which closed recently. Thanks to makezine.com for sharing. http://www.dandad.org/talent/portfolios/337/aaron-merrigan/17439/bbc-ceefax
Wool Week 2012 The Campaign for Wool is working hard to promote wool and reverse the trend of farmers receiving less for their fleeces than it cost to shear them. Wool Week 2012 will begin in the United Kingdom on October 15th with events around the country. In previous years we have seen a flock of sheep on a turfed Saville Row as well as a brightly-coloured dyed flock exploring the city. There will be a main exhibition and launch as well as local events. There's lots of information, fun and games on their own website http://www.campaignforwool.org/ (uk version - click the appropriate flags for other countries) If you use Facebook, their page is well worth 'liking' for the news, patterns and fun that they post there. http://www.facebook.com/thecampaignforwool
Looking for Prince Charming Pam Austins is looking for a Prince (oy, join the queue Pam). Actually, she's putting together a display based on Sleeping Beauty to support Heigham Ferrers church and to promote The Spinning School. Scroll down her page for the original question - Pam's updated the page with some ideas she's received but I assume she's still open to suggestions. Type your ideas in the comments section of her page or if you're nearby do visit the church in November. http://www.spinningschool.blogspot.co.uk/p/sleeping-beauty-any-ideas.html
The Empress and the teacup or How silk came to be My suggestion is to go outside and sit beneath a tree with a cup of tea because it seems that's where the best inspiration is to be found. In the current Twist Collective, Daryl Brower tells the Newton-like story of Si Lingchi, the Lady of the Silkworm, along with some lovely illustrations. http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/35-features/1238-the-empress-andthe-teacup-or-how-silk-came-to-be discuss any of this
From the blogosphere Summer and Winter napkins Last month I featured some beautiful napkins woven by David of Southern Cross Fibre from cotton he'd spun himself using a charkha. No apologies for picking another post. This one also made me say 'wow' out loud. He says "I've spent a heap of time lately knee-deep in books" and this is his first project he's designed and woven using Summer and Winter weaves. A gorgeous set; each colour has a slightly different pattern. All woven from the same threading, some dyed by David. Do view the picture full-size. http://southerncrossfibre.com/wp/?p=72
Oh Woad Is Me! 'Natural dyeing' can bring to mind dull colours, but this post will help to explode that misconception. This is part of goldilox's harvest of home-grown woad and in this series of pictures she shows a most successful dyeing session. Click through to see the surprising and beautiful result. http://goldyspinner.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/oh-woad-is-me.html
Tips and tricks - fibre prep Over the last couple of months I've bookmarked a number of Sand And Sky Creations posts for inclusion here. She often gives useful tips and suggestions and this is no exception. For my last couple of projects involving prepared fibre I've both split and pre-drafted and it really does make spinning so much smoother. SandAndSky links to a video demonstrating the techniques. http://sandandskycreations.com/blog/2012/08/30/tips-and-tricks-thursday-fiber-prep/
Dye plants in pots Here, Helen answers the frequently-asked question about whether you can grow your own dye-plants in pots / tubs. I have dyed using chamomile flowers, which Helen mentions, and the idea really appeals. Being a terrible gardner, I have my concerns but I know that my own teacher Alison would heartily approve! http://growingcolour.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/dye-plants-in-pots.html
Dyeing cakes Rebecca at ChemKnits has tried dyeing a cake of yarn and found that it gives a different effect to dyeing a skein. "The result was a beautiful asymmetric skein of variegated yarn" she says. "There is a high amount of variegation along the skein, but with gradual shifts of colour". She's made her own video containing tips for getting the most out of this technique. http://www.chemknits.com/2012/08/dyeing-cakes.html
Handspun Henslowe Beautiful pictures and a beautiful finished project. Sam of Sitcks, Strings and Crafty Things says that the pattern is an interesting knit, with three distinct stages, and that she loves the slight changes of shade in the "light as a feather" yarn. The pattern's not free, but do click through and look at the equally beautiful pictures included on the pattern page. I'm sure, like me, you'll be tempted to try it yourself. http://sticks-strings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/handspun-henslowe.html
Spinning and knitting this shawl in ten days Time for me to sneak in one of my own now. This is me putting my money where my mouth is, as I suggested the Oaklet Shawl a month or two ago as a free pattern which is simple to knit, ideal for handspun and a good first lace project. The fibre is from picperfic, slipped into my shopping bag at Fibre East. It has denim colours which graduate from dark blue to almost white. I added some pure white to really highlight those blues. At Marianne's suggestion I knitted singles after fulling them. More details about the fibre and spinning are here: http://stitchywitches.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/how-to-spin-braid-in-single-sitting.html It was spun and knitted for the Ravelympics, all completed in about ten days. http://stitchywitches.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/how-to-spin-and-knit-this-shawl-in-ten.html
Felt bags With thanks to ConnieLene for sharing this amazing collection of felt bags. They're from different makers, I gather, but it's difficult to glean very much more about them. I've tried an English translation of the page, but there's not very much text. http://nedesembegenirsin.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/canta-canta-olal-boyle-sus-gormedi.html
A tale of two gamps When I read Susan Horton blog post on Weaving Today I had to look up the term 'gamp'. It's a piece of fabric which combines a number of different threadings with weaving patterns or different colours in the warp and weft, thereby giving you a sampler which contains all of the possible combinations and allowing you to see which blocks work and which don't. Susan's examples (one pictured) allow you to see hundreds of different combinations in one piece of weaving, and she says that she didn't get bored weaving them because every two to four inches something new was happening. The link below will take you to an article on WeaveZine which discusses gamps with regard to different colours, http://weavezine.com/content/color-gamps and the link below will take you to Susan's post about weaving patterns http://nls.interweave.com/track?t=v&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWlkPTgyNzAmb... discuss any of this
Gallery Sometimes 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 or if you'd like to tell me more, please let me know and I'll pass on the extra information in the next HSN)
Freeform crochet hat A crochet art-yarn hat with added 'green man' look, that just makes you wish you had the nerve to wear it in public. No? Just me then. The yarn has dyed locks spun into it, something we've seen recently in Pluckyfluff's latest book. Whether I'd dare wear it or not, it's always fascinating to see how such yarn looks made into a finished item. http://www.etsy.com/listing/103474074/puddles-freeform-crochet-hat-ooak
Handspun bolero A very pretty bolero, made from 3 ply, worsted weight merino / cashmere, which must be very snuggly. I love the clasp too. http://www.flickr.com/photos/67205052@N00/3426527079/
Handspun shawl A beautiful mix of colours - there's blue and gold if you look closely, along with red and violet. Cotswold locks spun into singles. I like the very open stitches showing off that handspun texture. Follow the link for a nice photo montage showing stages from batt to finished. http://www.flickr.com/photos/velvetmadrid/5604455271/in/photostream/
Handspun Prairie Rose lace shawl rjrahardjo took ten months to spin this fibre long draw using a spanish peacock russian spindle. The result is a beautiful shawl, there are many more pictures of this shawl and others in her photostream which are well worth clicking through. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rahardjo-knits/6663565703/in/photostream/
Handspun bobbin lace I do enjoy seeing handspun being used in other crafts besides knitting, crochet and weaving. A month or two ago I featured some cross-stitch made using handspun thread, but I think this is the first time I've found bobbin lace projects using handspun. There are more projects in FibreFantaisie's photo stream. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mchg/3295060126/in/set-72157612303649953/ discuss any of this
Fibre artist and offer I've recently bought and used some fibre from Yummy Yarns UK. It was a merino / nylon mix, unusual but ideal for socks and I loved the natural but still exciting colours. So this month I'm happy to have spoken to Patricia who dyed the fibre. Briefly describe yourself and what you do I'm passionate about colour & texture, particularly British wool. I'm lucky to have discovered something fulfilling, that makes me happy and I find myself spinning or dyeing most days. I used to play the piano to relax, now it's spinning and dyeing! I spin much more than I knit and I'm looking forward to moving to Spain next year. How long have you been spinning / dyeing? Probably more than 6 years, not sure. I was tempted to buy a wheel when I saw spinning on Ravelry. I joined Ravelry when it first started and you needed an invite to join. Very soon I knew I wanted to spin, from there it felt like a natural progression and I jumped in and dyed both yarns and fibre. I started spinning with a Kromski Sonata and now have a Majacraft Suzi Pro and a Rose. The Suzi is my favourite. What got you started? I was dyeing yarn with onion skins when I was about 6, mum helped me and then I wanted try beetroot and she wasn't so keen! Then later went to Loughborough College of Art and Design to do a Textile & Fashion Trades degree, oddly I chose weaving not spinning. What inspires you? I love the way colour makes people feel. Walking in the countryside especially, travelling generally I find I come home full of ideas. I love how moss stitch can change the way a yarn looks or how the lustre of a Long wool takes dye, again back to texture & colour. Where / how do you sell your work? I have an Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/YummyYarnsUK which keeps me busy and I occasionally sell at quality craft events What aspect of your work do you enjoy most? I really enjoy the dyeing process, it's calming and relaxing, mostly! But when the yarn or fibre are dry and ready to photograph and I can see the finished product it's very satisfying. What makes your work or your service special? Attention to detail. My yarns and fibres reflect my personality I hope. I believe in fast shipping, good communication and high quality items.I appreciate people have chosen Yummy Yarns UK when the choice is huge, I aim to make them pleased they did. Is there anything else you'd like to tell folk? There's a Yummy Yarns UK group on Ravelry, do come and join us.There are competitions and regular group offers and lots of friendly chat and support. I love spontaneous dyeing but am happy to custom dye for you too. I'm offering a discount of 10% for HSN readers valid for 4 weeks.
You can use the following Discount code at Yummy Yarns UK, valid one month for one transaction per person. Code: YUMMYHSN discuss any of this
What's new? Yarnmaker magazine issue 11 Yarnmaker magazine is a UK magazine for hand spinners. The current issue (number 11) includes: Derbyshire Gritstone: The Dale O'Goyt Sheep, Twist - The Heart of Spinning, Broomstick Crochet - How to Do it and What to Use it For, Georgian Great Wheel Revival, History of Estonian Handspinning Tradition, Woolsack Project Success and much more. http://handspinner.co.uk/yarnmaker_magazine.html
HSN needs support Are you a pattern designer, blogger, supplier, dyer? Would you like to be associated with HSN and at the same time reach the readership of 1,000 (and growing) hand spinners? I believe I've come up with a sponsorship system which will be fun, fair and accessible to all. Read more about supporting HSN discuss any of this
Free patterns A selection of free patterns which will work well with handspun yarn. I'm trying to put an emphasis on free crochet patterns this month following a message on the subject in Dear Auntie Shiela's inbox. So thank Keith if, like him, you prefer crocheting your handspun rather than knitting.
Rustic Ribbed Hat and Scarf The beautiful weather we've been having makes it easy to forget that Autumn has just arrived. Sometimes a good free basic hat and scarf pattern can be hard to find but I've bookmarked this one. Lion Brand suggest using their own yarn (surprise) but it would look great in a naturally-coloured handspun with slight colour variations, I'm sure. http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L0611.html
Free Crochet Pattern: V-Stitch Cocoon Shrug It's the perfect time of the year for shrugs, they're quick to knit and use smaller amounts of yarn. As this pattern is designed for Lion Brand 'Homespun', a commercial yarn made from acrylic and polyester, I can only assume that it'll look even better in actual homespun yarn. (pattern requires a free account at Lion Brand, which is useful because they have a large database of free patterns) http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/50931AD.html?utm_source=20120907_Sept07
Free tapestry weaving e-book Tapestry weaving is fun and inexpensive to do but that shouldn't take anything away from it. It's been called 'painting with yarn' and there are some beautiful and amazing examples. Follow the links in Anita's article for Weaving Today's free e-book containing patterns, ideas and techniques. (Requires registration with Weaving Today or Spinning Daily but their regular emails are worth receiving) http://www.weavingtoday.com/blogs/weaving-today/archive/2012/08/22/freetapestry-weaving-projectsfrom-weaving-today.aspx
Crochet Box of Chocolates Great for using small quantities and those natural browns, creams and white with some dyed pink and red. I did make some of these calorie-free chocs back in February. I didn't make the heart-shaped box, but even in a decorative cardboard box they made a great table centrepiece and talking point! http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-box-chocolates
Crocheted loafer slippers For him - and because I don't want to be sexist here - these men's loafers look comfy and warm. http://jennetters.livejournal.com/1031208.html
English driving cap I say, old boy! I love this unisex design from Knitty (click through and see the pink one sported by the female model). In knitted hat designs this one is a new one on me. There are not many patterns I can imagine queueing for both myself and my Dad, but with this one I have done! http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall08/PATTmorgan.html discuss any of this
Events 2012 BOB, the Underground Craft Festival 22 & 23 September 2012, Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell, Derbyshire BOB, the Underground Craft Festival aims to celebrate the best of the small, independent craftspeople from the UK. This year BOB's feature craft will be knitting. Tickets: £6/£5 (advance and group bookings available) on sale now. http://undergroundcraft.wordpress.com/about/
Masham Sheep Fair Masham, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, 29 and 30 September A fabulous fair with plenty of sheepy things, lots of fleeces and fibres for sale and a spinning competition to enter. An action packed programme on both Saturday and Sunday, with a Sheep Show, Sheep Racing, Craft Market, Bishop Blaize Procession, Fleece Stalls, Wool Competition, Sheepdog Demonstrations, Hand Bell Ringers, Morris Dancers, Art Exhibition and Tours of Theakstons & BlackSheep Breweries, as well as the Old Time Children's Fair. http://www.mashamsheepfair.com
Highland Wool and Textile Fair Bishop's Palace, Eden Court Complex, Inverness, 6 October 2012, 10am - 4pm An inaugural event at the Eden Court in Inverness on all things woolly, along with some other natural fibres such as angora, alpaca, silk etc. There will be 35 stall holders, ranging from handspinners and dyers, to tweed producers and makers of finished products, from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Admission £2, under 16's free.
Wool Week 15 - 21 October 2012, multiple activities throughout Britain Run by the Campaign for Wool with patron HRH The Prince of Wales. Wool Week 2012 will begin in the United Kingdom on October 15th, with lots of events around the UK. www.campaignforwool.org
Strathearn Wool Week 2012 15th to 21st October A series of woolly events: workshops and knitting evenings culminating in the Strathearn Wool Tryst, a fabulous fibrey day with a fleece exhibition, marketplace, mini-workshops, meet-the-sheep, knitting and spinning corner, displays, sheepdogs, music from a reknowned local piper and the Inverclyde Waulking Singers, and of course refreshments. All this is happening at Culdees, Muthill, Perthshire PH5 2BA. Booking is now open for the workshops - places are strictly limited - e-mail deborah.gray7@btinternet.com Tickets for the Strathearn Wool Tryst can be purchased on the day or booked in advance using the same address. The programme, is available (and updated) here: http://perfectweatherforspinningandknitting.blogspot.co.uk/p/strathearn-wool-week.html
Box Moor Trust Wood, Wool and Food Festival Blackbirds Moor on Heath Lane near St Johns Church, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Saturday October 20th 2012 11am - 3pm "A celebration of all things locally produced with demonstrations of local crafts and chances to buy local craft and food. Two big-top tents and all facilities on site. "We will be launching our balls of knitting wool, from our very own Norfolk Horn sheep, and we hope to have the actual producers of the wool there. In addition, among other things, we want to highlight the role animals play in our economy and hope to have some horses used in forestry."
For more information, or to book a stall (bookings close 30 Sept) contact joannashelton@boxmoortrust.org.uk or see http://www.boxmoortrust.org.uk/
Courses and tuition Please 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 Breed Survival Trust. She teaches spinning, basic weaving, is a hand dyer and gives talks and demonstrations. Find out more at www.hawthornfibres.co.uk Derbyshire: See listing above of spinning, dyeing and weaving holidays with Alison Daykin (external link to Skylark Holidays' programme and prices). Five-day or weekend breaks. Alison also has a less formal 'Monday night group': spinningandweaving.weebly.com Dumfries and Galloway: Sue Macniven offers Residential Courses or one to one workshops in Twynholm or at your own venue http://www.handspun-exotics.co.uk/workavail.html Hampshire: Spinning and wool workshops at The Old Dairy, Westover Farm, Nr Andover. Wool - qualities, uses and preparation 14 October. Hand spinning for beginners 21 October. For more details go to www.urbancottage.co.uk/courses or call Nichola 07905167922 Hampshire: Spinning workshops at fibre craft studio Beaker Button, the Fairground Craft and Design centre, Weyhill. free spinning taster sessions through November For more details contact 07738 534164 or http://www.beakerbutton.co.uk Lancashire: Spinning workshops at Knit-Wise. All materials included for £40, contact Cathy (lazykate) on 01695 580590 www.knit-wise.co.uk for dates. Manchester:Spinning courses with Dee Sayce. also sewing, felt making, weaving, dyeing, batik and silk painting (external link to beetlefelt) http://www.beetlefelt.co.uk/workshop_spinning.html Northamptonshire: Long Draw Spinning Tuition with Pam Austins, Spinning School. Pam is on a mission to teach longdraw. Most classes are held in Stoke Albany. http://www.spinningschool.blogspot.co.uk/p/calendar.html (external link to Spinning School's calendar) Nottinghamshire: Spinning courses with Juliet Hill www.handspinning.org.uk/index.html (external link to Juliet Hill Handspinning) Norfolk: Single-day spinning courses www.norfolkyarn.co.uk/Homepage/News/tabid/77/Default.aspx(external link to Norfolk Yarn website) Scotland - Perthshire (and Italy): workshops on spinning (beginners or more advanced), fibre preparation and blending, felting, dyeing and knitting. See the Workshops tab on http://www.perfectweatherforspinningandknitting.blogspot.com/ for updated details of forthcoming workshops by Deborah Gray e-mail deborah.gray7@btinternet.com Sheffield: Tuition and Demonstrations by Diane Fisher, the Murmuring Wheel http://www.murmuringwheel.co.uk/events.html (external link to Diane Fisher's calendar) Sussex: Weald and Downland Museum in Singleton sometimes has courses on spinning http://www.wealddown.co.uk/Traditional-Rural-Trades-and-Crafts/Textiles/ (external link to Weald and Downland Museum's calendar) Yorkshire: Spinning courses with Ruth Gough, various workshops for individuals or groups, at Wentworth or your venue www.winghamwoolwork.co.uk/courses_spin.php (external link to Wingham Wool Work) 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 holidays If 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. Make the Most of Rigid Heddle Derbyshire Weaving – making the most of your loom
Start Weaving Derbyshire Peak District Learn to Weave
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discuss any of this Happy spinning and don't be a stranger! Shiela, Editor / Curator shiela@hand-spinning-news.com If you're reading this newsletter on the web and would like it delivered to your email inbox every month, just fill in your email address in the box somewhere up there on the right. If you've reading this in your inbox and would prefer not to receive any more, just use the Mailchimp 'unsubscribe' link at the foot of the email.