Ripening and colour
Newsletter from handspinner.co.uk for August 2010
Fields being harvested and berries ripen - signs that the summer is soon to be turning into Autumn. If you find those thoughts slightly sad, look around and be inspired by the changing colours. The patchwork of fields has turned from predominantly green through yellow to brown. The vivid green of the trees and hedges are now accented with the red and purple of berries and hips ahead of their leaves turning into a mosaic of red, copper, orange, yellow and brown.
The big news this month is the launch of YarnMaker, a UK print magazine dedicated to handspinning. More details below along with a brief review of the first issue.
In other news we focus on holidays with an article about holiday knitting and some research about taking your knitting needles or drop spindle on a plane.
Now, with Friday the 13th out of the way (I'm not superstitious but I'm not taking any chances), let get on with the usual roundup of news, events, inspiration and some silliness...
Contents
- Events
Fibre Flurry - News from around the web
YarnMaker magazine, Fair Isle Knitting, Express yourself, Bamboo: An Eco-Friendly Fabric? - From the blogosphere
Holiday knitting and spinning, A rug on her loom, low-twist singles - News and articles from handspinner.co.uk
- New products
Zwartbles fleece - Dear Auntie Shiela
A spinster is anxious about a date.
Events
Fibre Flurry
30 October 2010, Kings Norton, Birmingham
Learn, Shop, Knit, Spin! The best of independent designers, teachers, retailers, and distributors all in one place. You can see and buy products, learn new skills or improve existing ones, and meet new suppliers.
Kings Norton, Birmingham. Close to public transport and plenty of parking nearby!
A collection of the best products to buy and workshops from some of the best tutors in the fibre industry. Workshops and over twenty fibre-related stalls with goodies from independent dyers and spinners across the country. There are also workshops for children so you can browse the stalls at leisure while they're kept entertained.
News from around the web
First edition of Yarnmaker magazine
The first issue of a UK printed magazine for hand spinners is now out. You can now subscribe via the magazine's site and she will post the magazine to readers in most parts of the world.
At first glance, the amount and quality of content is striking. There are more articles than you'd expect, and a good range of topics too. Spindle and wheel making, why spindle, projects, a guide to creative art yarns, growing and using indigo, it goes on and on. Plus listings of resources and events and a competition.
It's a flying start, and if Dorothy can keep up the momentum, then it'll be something to really look forward to every other month.
Dorothy Lumb is the editor and publisher. You may know her from Dot's Fibre to Fabric.
Read more at yarnmaker.co.uk and subscribe
Fair Isle Knitting
Moira Hickey marches across sodden fields on Fair Isle to look at the importance of spinning, knitting and dyeing to the islanders at a time when knitting is about to be dropped from the curriculum. Besides meeting the sheep and discussing the traditional techniques, she asks about the viability of a 'fair trade' product handmade from fleece to jumper, and whether the crafts should be kept alive as a tradition on the island or be developed to encourage tourism.
Broadcast on Thursday 5th August 2010 and available on the iPlayer
Express yourself
At Cafepress you can find gifts for yourself or others featuring custom designs.
Fancy a tee-shirt, tote bag or mug that tells the world 'I'd rather be spinning', 'Eat. Sleep. Spin', 'What's on your wheel?'
See spinning designs at Cafepress
Bamboo: An Eco-Friendly Fabric?
Bamboo is an interesting fibre to spin and makes a wonderful? fabric. However, you may have heard conflicting comments about its green credentials.
Thanks to Alison Daykin for forwarding this exploration:
http://www.think2100.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90:is-bamboo-fabric-eco-friendly-&catid=35:green
Wool combing
Unlike carding, hand combing separates your longer fibres from the short ones and really makes them parallel, preparing your fibre for a strong, compact worsted yarn.
I like this video, straight to the point and really demonstrates the technique well.
Motorised skeiner
Using the motor, switch and foot pedal from an old 'craptastic' sewing machine, lovemyryley now has an automatic skeiner!
Thank you to Peter Smith of spinnotts for highlighting this video.
Making a call on the hoof
I can't really see the link between sheep and telephones, (maybe the switch to optical fibre for communications...) so they strike me as a little bit surreal. But these captivating sheep are beautifully-made.
They're made from old telephones and cords, and so maybe they highlight the green aspect of real wool. Make up your own mind.
Thank you to Joanna Kenny for this one.
From the blogosphere
Holiday knitting and spinning
In this blog post, Kathleen Cubley talks about taking some knitting on the road. She describes an adrenaline rush when getting out her needles after a short break, and found that something repetetive and uncomplicated worked best for knitting while travelling.
Are you addicted to knitting or spinning? did you miss it if you went on holiday without it? Did you take your wheel, spindle or needles away with you? Let me know.
If you spun or knitted in public, I'd love to see them in the Knitting and Spinnig in Public group on Flickr. (Feel free to send them to me if you're not already using Flickr)
Blogpick: A rug on her loom
I'm impressed with the scale and practicality of this project. Needing a carpet for the upstairs hall, Yarnspider thought "Why buy new carpet when we could have something more personal and cosy instead?"
It looks beautiful so far and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished item.
blogpick - low-twist home-dyed singles
I enjoyed seeing this fibre's journey from dye-pot to lace knitting. Singles are sometime dismissed because of strength and the posisbility of biasing but neither of these things need be a problem if you set the twist properly and choose the right project.
Lace knitting with the low twist singles.
News and articles from handspinner.co.uk
Single-skein projects
I had a converstaion with my Mum about how she's loving blending colours with her carder, and now has lots of single skeins (she posts occasionally on the Stitchin Bints) but doesn't have many knitting or crochet patterns for single skeins.
"What we need is a book of small projects" I said.
Around the same time, I spotted this article:
http://www.crochetme.com/blogs/crochet_me/archive/2010/02/25/quick-one-skein-projects-for-handspun-yarn.aspxThe trouble is, I'm not keen on any of the items featured there, and so set about making my own list. All can be made with 150 yards or less:
Headbands and hats
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=86&d_id=10&lang=us
(82 yards)
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/star-crossed-slouchy-beret
(150 - 200 yards)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/34439491/Just-Like-Daddy-Poor-Boy-Cap
(150 - 200 yards)
Mitts
http://www.canadianliving.com/crafts/knitting/cosy_knitted_handwrist_warmers.php
(100 yards)
One for loom knitters. There are instructions on how to determine peg count for any size.
(150 yards or more depending on how long you make the arm / wrist section)
http://snapperknits.blogspot.com/2008/10/cafe-au-lait.html
toys and decorations
http://petitepurls.com/Winter09/winter2009_plamb.html
(77 yards)
http://www.xtreme-knitting.com/photos-dinosaurs.htm
(92 yards)
(this is included because it's one of the first things I knitted)
http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/free_knitting_patterns/2008/05/teenie-tinies.html
http://susanbanderson.blogspot.com/2007/04/page-18-elefante.html
(100 - 200 yards)
http://www.gosyo.co.jp/img/acrobat/23ss/44.pdf
Pattern is Japanese but fully charted using standard crochet symbols
(40 - 42 yards)
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/celestine/celestine.html
(150 - 288 yards)
Shrugs and other small garments
http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer03/PATTtwins.html
(Anna 123 yards, Rachel 88 - 176 yards)
http://www.yarnmarket.com/yarn/Artyarns_Free-His_or_Her_Silk_Necktie_Free-1789.html
(150 - 163 yards)
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTperdita.html
(27 - 54 yards)
http://castadrift.blogspot.com/2006/01/finally-i-can-put-my-feet-up.html
(109 - 200 yards)
http://www.knitscene.com/2007/web_projects.asp
(150 yards)
Utilities
http://www.gosyo.co.jp/img/acrobat/amicomo5/16.pdf
Pattern is Japanese but fully charted using standard crochet symbols.
(89 - 148 yards)
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/Chronicle/excerpt/0811852555-e1.html
(30 - 60 yards)
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/coffee-cozy-the-pattern
(25 - 50 yards)
http://eskimimiknits.com/2010/05/tiny-fo-from-fluff-to-bag/
http://ninaclock.com/flourish-bookmark
(45 yards)
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/adorable-apple-cozy
(25 - 30 yards)
http://www.gosyo.co.jp/img/acrobat/kyudo/526/coaster.pdf
Pattern is Japanese, but fully charted using standard crochet symbols.
(42 - 43 yards)
Knitting on a plane
It's holiday time, but can you knit on the plane...?
The answer seems to be yes or no, depending on your airport. I've done some research for you:
I recently read this tip in Lion Brand's newsletter:
When traveling by airplane, I carry a printed copy of the rules that say that you're allowed to carry knitting needles in my carry-on. I have used it to get my knitting on board many an airplane! You can get this information from www.tsa.gov.
- Cynthia G.
That tip is American, but there is much debate about this subject wherever you are in the world including here in the UK, see these debates on Folksy and UK Yahoo answers:
http://forums.folksy.com/forums/6/topics/17001
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070702114341AA7aJlU
CAA provides a 'what can I carry' list - as usual it refers to knives, scissors and other sharp items, but not specifically knitting needles:
http://www.stanstedairport.com/assets/Internet/Heathrow/Heathrow%20downloads/Static%20files/DangerousGoodsOffice.pdf
The answer seems to depends on the airport.
Stanstead / Heathrow / Glasgow / Edinborough / Aberdeed / Southampton (BAA airports) - YES! I had to search for it, but there is an FAQ on this page which tells you unambiguously that "Knitting needles are allowed":
http://www.stanstedairport.com/portal/controller/dispatcher.jsp?CiID=21aeb8874d9b7210VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&ChID=750bb8874d9b7210VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&Ct=B2C_CT_GENERAL&CtID=448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____&ChPath=Home^Stansted^General^Airport+information^Stansted+security^Security+FAQs#7
Luton doesn't specifically mention them on its site, but they seem to be a little more strict than others (besides the usual "Pointed or bladed articles" they ban scissors from hand luggage with blades more than 3" rather than the more usual 6") so I guess not.
Manchester is a NO! - they're specifically banned from hand luggage. In fact they're so worried about our needles that they regard it as an offence to carry them on board:
http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/Departing
For other airports - check your airport's website.
Good advice is to put them in your check-in baggage if in doubt, or to have an SAE with you so that you can thread your work onto scrap yarn and post your needles back to yourself if it comes to that.
Spinning might be a good alternative. The worst story that I've heard of is dropping the spindle and having to rescue it from under a seat several rows forward!
Damselfly Traditional Spinning Wheel
Last month I gave a sneaky peek at some sketches for and Ashford Traditional with blue / green damselflies flitting around the wheel I was delighted with the result and the attention and comments that it received.
See the finished wheel in pictures and video.
Selvedge Magazine
Selvedge magazine is a special and collectable magazine, covering interior design and contemorary textile art.
The new 'American Dreams' issue features history, techniques and inspiration on an imaginary journey across America. I also have copies in stock of the Spring/Summer issue (nuber 34)
Read more about the current issue.
This month's offer
Bearing in mind that the starting point for the monthly giveaway was the advent calendar (a series of special offers) this month I've decided to blow the budget on an offer which all subscribers can share. For the next month, spindlers will be able to buy a copy of the excellent book Respect the Spindle at the very special loss-leader price of £9.50 (RRP 16.99). Postage will be at the usual reasonable rates, or free if you make your order up to £35 or over.
The subscriber offer is here: http://handspinner.co.uk/spinning-book-respect-spindle-offer.html
For a fantastic gift for a friend or for yourself, I'll shortly be bundling this book with a lacquered top-whorl spindles and some fibre to form a 'gift starter kit'.
July's prize draw
Thank you so much to everyone who has entered the June draw for a £20 voucher by commenting on the blog.
Obviously this draw is over now, but please keep reading and comment if you feel moved to do so.
The random number generator picked Julia - allabitrandom on blogger, Folksy and Ravelry. Her blog is http://allabitrandom.blogspot.com where I hope we'll all soon see what she bought with the money.
New products
If your wheel (or indeed any other piece of furniture) has sustained an injury, you might like to try Scratch Cover from Tableau. It quickly covers chips, scratches and other cosmetic defects in wooden surfaces. It comes in three shades (try the lightest first).
More wood / furniture restoration products will appear soon in the spinning wheel maintenance page
Natural washed fleece ready to card or spin from the locks.
It seems that plenty of you enjoy working from the raw fleece but hate that scouring and drying malarkey. I've sold the Shetland that I had, but there may be more.
I now have two zwartbles fleeces - a rare dutch breed, known for its rich black fleece which is great for spinning and superb for felting. I was lucky enough to meet the sheep themselves and have spun some samples. They were unbelieveably affectionate. The two fleeces made quite different yarns.
http://handspinner.co.uk/catalogue_scoured_washed_fleece_wool.html
Dear Auntie Shiela
Here I do my best to help slightly fictional spinners / knitters in distress.
In the postbag this month is a letter from a spinster who is anxious about a date.
Dear Auntie Shiela
I have a date next week. It's been a while. And so my home and lifestyle have become 'comfortable'.
Should I try to clear up the wheels, loom, bags of fibre and half-finished projects and try to make my life look a bit more conventional?
And what should I wear?
A: There are no two ways about it, he's going to have to accept the lifestyle and crafts that you love. In the unlikely event that he won't, then is there any point trying to hide it initially? Tidy up a few projects so that he can find somewhere to sit, but don't try and be someone you're not.
Wear something handmade, be yourself, but perhaps don't go for the colourful ear-flap hat with pom-poms (no matter how cold it is outside)
If you're going to be outdoors and need a hat - try the Lucky 7 hat, quick to knit and looks great. And it might bring you luck ;-)
http://knittywhipped.blogspot.com/2008/01/free-patterns-one-and-all.html
Kind regards, Shiela
Coming soon...
I promised more photos, blog posts and a video about the Katie loom. Things have been incredibly hectic, so those are still to follow.
I also have some alpaca fleeces in various colours, and will be trying those out before adding them to the shop (watch the Bints' blog for some lovely photos).
As usual, if you know anything spinning-related, please let me know.
Happy spinning!
Shiela
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Fibre
Addictive substances: wool, silk, cashmere and angora ready to spin. Also colour bundles and original mixes
Spinning wheels
A range of Ashford Spinning Wheels, either delivered quickly to your door, or assembled and waxed for free. I usually have some second hand spinning wheels too.
Getting started
Hand / drop spindles, Starter kits, How to... articles and videos, books, starter fibre bundle
Magazines and cards
Why not add one or two to your order? These designs, hand made by Jules of 'Always with a Heart' feature a textured sheep. Perfect for your friends or for the spinner / knitter in your life. Read more. I now stock Selvedge magazine
