Welcome...
I'm Shiela Dixon, peahen on Ravelry, I blog at Stitchin' Bints and Shiela Dixon on Facebook. Here you will find information, news and supplies for the hand spinner.
News
Send spinning-related events, news and siliness to news@handspinner.co.uk.
Handspinner newsletter for January 2012
The usual monthly digest of spinning-related news, views and amusement.
Spinning cotton, free eBook
Have you spun cotton? Did you know that it grows in natural colours as well as white?
Gisela Evitt says that with practice you will find spinning cotton "relaxing and intoxicating"
This free eBook from SpinningDaily gives us some history, some tips for spinning the very short fibre with some patterns.
In sheep's clothing
Thank you to everyone who wrote back to me during the advent, and who wrote lovely things with their prize draw entry. Without a doubt, the advent calendar email which provoked the most feedback / biggest response was the old film about spinning on Sheltland, which shows the fascinating Rooing process.
It's often said that sheep don't moult and need shearing. But on my walks I've seen sheep with fleece dropping off of its own accord, and here is the explanation. Shetland sheep (and I guess some others?) naturally lose their wool (by forming a break in the fibre). Pulling off and collecting this wool is called rooing.
Thank you very much to the KnittyBlog for highlighting this amazing film from the Shetland Islands in 1932 which shows not only the rooing process, but some spinning and knitting as well.
Watch the video at http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=1129
Yarnmaker, issue 8 (November / December 2011)
Yarnmaker magazine is a UK-based magazine for spinners. Each issue is packed with articles on all aspects of spinning such as wheels, spindles and other equipment, art yarn, dyeing, sheep breeding, patterns, as well as letters, directories of guilds and businesses, news and events.
I stock Yarnmaker for the cover price of £4.90 with free postage.
Selvedge magazine, November / December 2011 issue (number 43)
Selvedge magazine is a special and collectable magazine, covering interior design and contemorary textile art.
The November/December 2011 issue (number 43) is now available and is an 'Peace' issue - with a theme of linen and lace, and as usual, Packed with information, stories, events and wardrobe inspiration.
Read more about Selvedge magazine and preview this issue.
I also have Selvedge backnumbers 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 in stock
How-to: felted piggy-ears
Go on, admit it, you're as curious about knitting for felting as I am but share my apprehension about trying it...
Blogpick - why ply?
There are several reasons for plying, but knitting with singles is arguably still very effective.
In this interesting guest blog post on Knitting Daily, Toni explores the topic further.
Blogpick - MOTs for rams
After reading this one, I filed it under 'too much information' and wasn't sure about whether to share it. But it is a fascinating read in a 'through-the-fingers' kind of way.
Shearer's Girl is passionate about her vocation and it is interesting to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes as our raw material is reared.
Blogpick - Handspun Friday - Lithos
I look forward to Monika of Smokin' Hot Needles' Handspun Fridays. She posts pictures of the dyed fibre together with pictures of the finished yarn and I'm still fascinated with how the colours play out.
21st century protection for wool
It's great news that the new wealthy of China are taking an interest in British wool and an even more amazing story that to provide the necessary guarantees, an American company has set up a lab in Huddersfield to provide genetic fingerprinting services for cloth!
Thanks to Devon Fine Fibres for the story
Blogpick: Double marl
Knitty have given us articles about marling before, but in this post Jillian tries using strong and contrasting colours marled together for her singles, and then plies two of those singles for really mixed-up colours.
Tutorial: Core spinning
Jillian at Knitty has been writing a series of blog posts about core spinning. In this entry she's spinning some colourful BFL around some commercial yarn as a core.
She includes tips and a number of useful pictures showing how she holds her hands
Explore the blog for more posts in this series.
How-to: felted piggy-ears
Go on, admit it, you're as curious about knitting for felting as I am but share my apprehension about trying it...
This tutorial will reassure you and take you through the quite simple steps with no special equipment. A fun project!
Free Table Runner Patterns from Weaving Today
Table runners are popular projects among weavers; rectanglular and not necessarily needing complicated finishing. They also afford the opportunity to try new techniques and yarns
This free eBook gives you 4 patterns which look great and include techniques such as log cabin and Waffle weave on a rigid-heddle loom.
You just need to give your email address if you haven't already signed up with Weaving Today.
Blogpick - Bunnysilk Cashmerino
Soft, warm and well-wearing, this yarn made by knottygnome mixes tussah silk, english angora and superwash merino/cashmere/nylon.
Instead of blending the fibres, she has tightly plied three different singles, and then dyed the result herself.
For lots more detail, Read more at http://knottygnome.blogspot.com/2011/10/bunnysilk-cashmerino.html
How To Build an Inkle Loom
An inkle loom is a small, narrow loom for weaving trim, bands and straps.
This 'how-to' from Craftzine explains to the handier among us (or those with handy people nearby) can make one of these looms for a claimed 30 dollars (about 20 pounds)
Read more at http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/09/how_to_build_an_inkle_loom.html
Masham Sheep Fair - 24 & 25 September 2011
If you're within reach, the popular Masham Sheep Fair commemorates the historic Masham sheep market and at the same time raises a lot of money for charity and fills the town with sheepy fun and entertainment.
The long programme of events is on the website and includes spinning & weaving competition and demonstrations, sheep racing, sheepdog demonstrations and if all of that makes you thirsty, Trips around Theakston's & Black Sheep Breweries.
With thanks to dizzysue for letting me know about it.
Blockpick: Recreation of historic challenge
In 1811, the time of the Luddites, mill owner John Coxeter boasted about his new machinery and was challenged to make a wool coat from fleece between sunrise and sunset for a wager of 1000 guineas. He won the bet and the event provided entertainment for 5,000 people in Newbury, ending in a meal of roast lamb.
More recently, the Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers recreated the event for charity, completing their replica coat in 15 hours 44 minutes, a couple of hours longer than the original challenge, and not quite beating their previous record-breaking attempt at this challenge in 1991.
Blogpick: Worm alert
This beautiful creature is a silk moth, one of a number that we have known since they were eggs thanks to goldilox of Dyeing to Spin, who's not afraid to get her hands dirty with natural dye or in this case breeding her own silk.
Fascinating fact: silkworms have become dependent on us - if put on a mulberry tree they wouldn't survive because they don't have the ability to find the next leaf. They need to be cultivated in boxes and fed fresh leaves.
We've been able to follow the moths' progress, almost day by day since they hatched. Here is just one of the posts; use the links in her sidebar to read through the full story.
Moths
Fleece directory
I have decided to stop buying and supplying raw fleece myself, instead I'll provide a directory to put sheep and alpaca owners in touch with spinners which will be free for listing and browsing.
The directory is now live at http://handspinner.co.uk/fleece-for-spinning.html and has contact details for a sheep owner with 25 Whitefaced Woodland fleeces going in return for postage plus a donation to his chosen charity.
If you have alpaca or sheep fleece and would like an entry in the directory, please contact me
I do still have plenty of zwartbles fleece which I'm selling washed or unwashed.
Yarnmaker, issue 6 (July / August 2011)
Yarnmaker magazine is a UK-based magazine for spinners. Each issue is packed with articles on all aspects of spinning such as wheels, spindles and other equipment, art yarn, dyeing, sheep breeding, patterns, as well as letters, directories of guilds and businesses, news and events.
The current issue (number 6) includes: 200th Anniversary celebration - the Newbury Coat, Boreray; A Spinner's View, Gandhi - Spinning's Greatest Spokesman, The Magic of Cochineal and much more.
I stock Yarnmaker for the cover price of £4.90 with free postage.
Washed fleece
I have some lovely fleeces which I'm washing and selling by the 200g.
Shetland is very fine and crimpy. I have some fleeces in various shades from these girls. Light, dark, and one a beautiful mixture.
Zwartbles is as black as can be, a good crimp along its length and good staple length. The fleeces I have are mostly first-year, plus I have another from the same young ram as last year - now two years old.
Fibre East going 'Great Guns'
The first Fibre East, to be held on 23 & 24 July 2011 at Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, looks like being a success, with over 50 exhibitors booked in. Attractions include a stuffing station for 2012 Olympics cushions, a 'back to back' challenge, a sheep shearing show, exhibitors covering fleece to fabric; buying a fleece and having it processsed, weaving and dyeing, handspun and hand dyed yarns. A spinning wheel surgery, displays by guilds and unusual looms and fibre-craft equipment.
Fibre-East has its own Ravelry group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/fibre-east-2011 and Twitter stream: http://twitter.com/FibreEast
5 fashion-forward fibres
Did you know that stinging nettle fibre is stronger than cotton and finer than linen fibre? Or that pineapple fibre is lightweight and soft, ivory coloured and naturally glossy?
This fascinating article lists several eco-friendly fibres recently used by fashion brands.
Blogpick: Calais shawl made from spindle spun singles
Sue of Knit Nottingham has made this beautiful shawl from spindle-spun and dyed-in-the-cop singles.
The fibre was oddments reclaimed from demos and lessons over the last few months.
This post shows the dyeing process step-by-step.
Sue says, "I love the way the colours and the fibres change from white Merino round the neck area through to Falkland and finally Shetland for the bind off."
New extra wide drum carder
It gives me pleasure to bring you news of a new 30cm / 12 ins wide drum carder. It has the same 72dpi carding cloth and two speeds as the standard drum carder, but the wider drum makes for faster production; making a massive 100g (3.5 oz) batt. It comes with packer brush and cleaning brush included.
Now in stock.
Yarnmaker, issue 5 (May 2011)
Issue five (May 2011) of Yarnmaker is now out and in stock here after an unexpected delay, and once again it's as packed as ever with articles, reviews, history, contacts and events.
I stock Yarnmaker for the cover price of £4.90 with free postage.
Drop Spindle Spinning
If you're a knitter or just curious about spinning, then this free eBook is for you!
It contains excerpts from well-established books from Lee Raven, Maggie Casey, Amy Clarke Moore and others. You can learn how to make a spindle for yourself and spin & ply your first yarn!
The free download requires you to give your email address to SpinningDaily, but their regular emails are often interesting and worthwhile.
Glow in the dark spindle
It seems that you can improvise a spindle from almost anything, but this is genius. The glow-in-the-dark spindle was made by Guzzisue of Travel Fibre and Thread and Spinnotts
She says "silly people gave a glow stick to a spinner on saturday night".
What's the most creative improvised spindle you've seen?
Creating Colors: Project Spectrum 2011
Project Spectrum is an opportunity to celebrate or study a different colour or colour group every month. Focussing on 'back to basics', this year Lolly kicks off the project with the colour Red for the month of May and will follow with the 'additive' primaries, the basics of coloured light rather than pigment. Those being red, green, blue, then magenta, cyan and white/grey.
Check out the project's Flickr group for loads and loads of inspiration. You can post pictures of dyed fibre, yarn or finished projects.
There are also Facebook and Ravelry groups for chat and more information.
Project Spectrum Flickr photo pool
Project Spectrum Facebook group
Ravelry group
Hancarding and english longdraw with longdrawjames
Woollen yarn is soft, bouncy and airy, and is spun by spinning longdraw from a rolag.
The difference between worsted and woollen, and the relevant preparation / drafting techniques are something that can take time for new spinners to get to grips with. longdrawjames has made this absorbing video in which he explains and demonstrates carding, making a rolag and longdraw spinning.
Ray Cannon's Needle Felted Art
Ray Cannon has been needle felting for a year but quickly started to create very lifelike creatures.
This is one of the most detailed pieces of needle felting I've seen, and such a clever idea to include those disturbingly realistic eyes.
Ray recently displayed his work and demonstrated his skills at Cast Away yarn store.
Read more. (With thanks to Craftzine for sharing.)
I have recently added some clover needle felting punches and mats to my range of Needle felting tools, kits and books
Blogpick: Anne's Knitting Takes a Spin!
How would you describe the difference between knitting with handspun and commercial yarn?
In this fascinating blog post, Ann Budd takes a course and returns to spinning and feels like a fish returned to water and is now 'obsessed'. (These socks are hers, made from her own handspun.) See how she describes the difference between handspun and commercial yarn.
Blogpick: Spring Cleaning... Fleece!
it's shearing time - but is free an excellent price for a fleece? It may or may not be!
In this post, knitsnthings shares lots of pictures of fleece in various stages; raw (from very dirty to reasonably clean) washed, combed and spun.
New extra wide drum carder
It gives me pleasure to bring you news of a new 30cm / 12 ins wide drum carder. It has the same 72dpi carding cloth and two speeds as the standard drum carder, but the wider drum makes for faster production; making a massive 100g (3.5 oz) batt. It comes with packer brush and cleaning brush included.
It is expected in the country during August or September. My price will be £418 (RRP £460) If you would like to pre-order with a deposit, please contact me.
Blogpick:French General's Woad Workshop
This diary of a natural dyeing workshop from Jenny Ryan contains a lovely selection of photos of the plant, the pigment and the dyed fabric.
Forum to help shape new wool web directory
Join CCANWs Wool Forum on Wednesday 11 May to help shape a new initiative to connect SW wool producers with users.
The web-based Wool Directory will be a free database and resource which will connect SW wool producers with wool users - spinners, weavers, dyers, knitters etc. who will be advertised to one another as other users outside the region.
You will be able to share your views on what the website might contain whilst networking with others at CCANWs Twilight Forum: Wool Culture, held at its Project Space in Haldon Forest Park nr. Exeter on Wedesday 11 May 6-9pm with designer Claire Crompton and her 'Give Fleece a Chance' project.
Admission is only £5/£4 conc. and includes a buffet. Please book in advance by contacting 01392 832277 or info@ccanw.co.uk.
Show me more spinning news! >>
Fibre
A range of fibre from wool to exotic and luxury fibre for spinning, dyeing, felting: wool, silk, alpaca, cashmere, mohair, camel, yak and angora ready to spin. Also raw fleece
Spinning wheels
A range of Ashford Spinning Wheels delivered quickly to your door. I usually have some second hand spinning wheels listed.
Magazines and cards
Why not add one or two to your order? These cards, hand made by Jules of 'Always with a Heart' feature a textured sheep. Perfect for Christmas for your friends or for the spinner / knitter in your life. I now stock Selvedge magazine and Yarnmaker magazine.
LatestNews
Spinning cotton, free eBook
Have you spun cotton? Did you know that it grows in natural colours as well as white?
This free eBook from SpinningDaily gives us some history, some tips for spinning the very short fibre with some patterns.
