Fibre offer

Featured fibre dyer this monthis Patricia of Yummy Yarns UK.Interview and offer.

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handspun prairie rose lace shawl

rjrahardjo took around a year tospin and knit this beautifulshawl.

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Hand Spinning NewsAutumn 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 andwinter projects.

I'm very happy to have spoken this month with a dyer whose work I've beenspinning recently. Also in this months crop of spinning news we find bloggersgrowing and using dye plants, some lovely finished projects, spinning andweaving tips and inspiration and free patterns with an emphasis on crochet.

The cover photo at the top is 'Storm Beach' spun by karmicdelight, which Ilove and was my summer 'keep in my bag' knitting. The picture right is theHenslowe shawl knit by Sam using handspun. More details of that below inthis month's blog picks.

So on with this month's feast of high-fibre, low-calorie twisty treats.

Top Stories

Contents

News and articles from around the webFarewell Ceefax, Wool Week 2012, Looking for Prince Charming, The Empress and the teacupFrom the blogosphereSummer 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 gampsGalleryShowing off some of the best images I've found this monthFeatured fibre artist and fluffy offerAn interview with an independent dyer and an offerFree patternsA selection of free patterns which will work well with handspun yarnEventsSome dates for your diaryCourses and tuitionWhere to go for a day, weekend or a week to learn or improve your skills

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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 onand this story takes me back to the days when Ceefax was the latest information-at-your-fingertips technology to impress your friends with.

Tapestry is the perfect medium for a tribute to Teletext's colourful and geometricstyle and Aaron Merrigan has made a lovely piece to say farewell to the servicewhich 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 offarmers receiving less for their fleeces than it cost to shear them.

Wool Week 2012 will begin in the United Kingdom on October 15th with eventsaround the country. In previous years we have seen a flock of sheep on a turfedSaville Row as well as a brightly-coloured dyed flock exploring the city. There will bea 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/ (ukversion - 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 puttingtogether a display based on Sleeping Beauty to support Heigham Ferrers churchand to promote The Spinning School.

Scroll down her page for the original question - Pam's updated the page with someideas 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 inNovember.

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 itseems that's where the best inspiration is to be found.

In the current Twist Collective, Daryl Brower tells the Newton-like story of Si Ling-chi, the Lady of the Silkworm, along with some lovely illustrations.

http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/35-features/1238-the-empress-and-the-teacup-or-how-silk-came-to-be

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From the blogosphere

Summer and Winter napkins

Last month I featured some beautiful napkins woven by David of Southern CrossFibre 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 firstproject 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, somedyed 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 thatmisconception.

This is part of goldilox's harvest of home-grown woad and in this series of picturesshe 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 SkyCreations posts for inclusion here. She often gives useful tips and suggestions andthis is no exception.

For my last couple of projects involving prepared fibre I've both split and pre-draftedand it really does make spinning so much smoother. SandAndSky links to a videodemonstrating 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 growyour own dye-plants in pots / tubs.

I have dyed using chamomile flowers, which Helen mentions, and the idea reallyappeals. Being a terrible gardner, I have my concerns but I know that my ownteacher 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 adifferent effect to dyeing a skein. "The result was a beautiful asymmetric skein ofvariegated 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 "lightas a feather" yarn.

The pattern's not free, but do click through and look at the equally beautiful pictures included on thepattern 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 amonth or two ago as a free pattern which is simple to knit, ideal for handspun and agood first lace project.

The fibre is from picperfic, slipped into my shopping bag at Fibre East. It has denim colours whichgraduate 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 spinningare 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 moreabout 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 withweaving patterns or different colours in the warp and weft, thereby giving you asampler which contains all of the possible combinations and allowing you to seewhich blocks work and which don't.

Susan's examples (one pictured) allow you to see hundreds of different combinations in one piece ofweaving, and she says that she didn't get bored weaving them because every two to four inchessomething new was happening.

The link below will take you to an article on WeaveZine which discusses gamps with regard to differentcolours,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...

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GallerySometimes 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 tellme 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 youhad 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'slatest book. Whether I'd dare wear it or not, it's always fascinating to see how suchyarn 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, whichmust 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 redand violet.

Cotswold locks spun into singles. I like the very open stitches showing off thathandspun 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 peacockrussian spindle.

The result is a beautiful shawl, there are many more pictures of this shawl andothers 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 andweaving. A month or two ago I featured some cross-stitch made using handspunthread, but I think this is the first time I've found bobbin lace projects usinghandspun.

There are more projects in FibreFantaisie's photo stream.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mchg/3295060126/in/set-72157612303649953/

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Fibre artist and offerI'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 excitingcolours. 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 tohave discovered something fulfilling, that makes me happy and I find myselfspinning or dyeing most days. I used to play the piano to relax, now it'sspinning and dyeing! I spin much more than I knit and I'm looking forward tomoving 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 tospin, from there it felt like a natural progression and I jumped in and dyed both yarns and fibre. Istarted spinning with a Kromski Sonata and now have a Majacraft Suzi Pro and a Rose. The Suzi ismy favourite.

What got you started?

I was dyeing yarn with onion skins when I was about 6, mum helped me and then I wanted trybeetroot and she wasn't so keen! Then later went to Loughborough College of Art and Design to do aTextile & 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 Ifind I come home full of ideas. I love how moss stitch can change the way a yarn looks or how thelustre 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 Ioccasionally 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 dryand 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, goodcommunication and high quality items.I appreciate people have chosen Yummy Yarns UK when thechoice 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 andregular group offers and lots of friendly chat and support. I love spontaneous dyeing but am happy tocustom 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 perperson.

Code: YUMMYHSN

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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 itFor, Georgian Great Wheel Revival, History of Estonian Handspinning Tradition, Woolsack ProjectSuccess 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 thereadership of 1,000 (and growing) hand spinners?

I believe I've come up with a sponsorship system which will be fun, fair andaccessible to all.

Read more about supporting HSN

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Free patternsA 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 DearAuntie 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 hasjust arrived. Sometimes a good free basic hat and scarf pattern can be hard to findbut I've bookmarked this one.

Lion Brand suggest using their own yarn (surprise) but it would look great in anaturally-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 smalleramounts of yarn.

As this pattern is designed for Lion Brand 'Homespun', a commercial yarn madefrom acrylic and polyester, I can only assume that it'll look even better in actualhomespun yarn.

(pattern requires a free account at Lion Brand, which is useful because they have a large database offree 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 awayfrom it. It's been called 'painting with yarn' and there are some beautiful andamazing examples.

Follow the links in Anita's article for Weaving Today's free e-book containingpatterns, ideas and techniques. (Requires registration with Weaving Today orSpinning Daily but their regular emails are worth receiving)

http://www.weavingtoday.com/blogs/weaving-today/archive/2012/08/22/freetapestry-weaving-projects-from-weaving-today.aspx

Crochet Box of Chocolates

Great for using small quantities and those natural browns, creams and white withsome dyed pink and red.

I did make some of these calorie-free chocs back in February. I didn't make theheart-shaped box, but even in a decorative cardboard box they made a great tablecentrepiece 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 lookcomfy 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 bythe female model).

In knitted hat designs this one is a new one on me. There are not many patterns Ican imagine queueing for both myself and my Dad, but with this one I have done!

http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall08/PATTmorgan.html

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Events 2012BOB, 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 theUK. 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 TimeChildren'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 suchas angora, alpaca, silk etc. There will be 35 stall holders, ranging from handspinners and dyers, to tweedproducers and makers of finished products, from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Admission £2, under16'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 fabulousfibrey 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 courserefreshments. 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.comTickets for the Strathearn Wool Tryst can be purchased on the day or booked in advance using the sameaddress.

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 20th2012 11am - 3pm

"A celebration of all things locally produced with demonstrations of local crafts and chances to buy local craft andfood. 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 theactual producers of the wool there. In addition, among other things, we want to highlight the role animals play inour 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 orsee http://www.boxmoortrust.org.uk/

Courses and tuitionPlease 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 BreedSurvival Trust. She teaches spinning, basic weaving, is a hand dyer and gives talks and demonstrations.Find out more at www.hawthornfibres.co.ukDerbyshire: See listing above of spinning, dyeing and weaving holidays with Alison Daykin (external link toSkylark Holidays' programme and prices). Five-day or weekend breaks. Alison also has a less formal'Monday night group': spinningandweaving.weebly.comDumfries and Galloway: Sue Macniven offers Residential Courses or one to one workshops in Twynholmor at your own venue http://www.handspun-exotics.co.uk/workavail.htmlHampshire: 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 towww.urbancottage.co.uk/courses or call Nichola 07905167922Hampshire: Spinning workshops at fibre craft studio Beaker Button, the Fairground Craft and Designcentre, Weyhill. free spinning taster sessions through November For more details contact 07738 534164 orhttp://www.beakerbutton.co.ukLancashire: Spinning workshops at Knit-Wise. All materials included for £40, contact Cathy (lazykate) on01695 580590 www.knit-wise.co.uk for dates.Manchester:Spinning courses with Dee Sayce. also sewing, felt making, weaving, dyeing, batik and silkpainting (external link to beetlefelt) http://www.beetlefelt.co.uk/workshop_spinning.htmlNorthamptonshire: Long Draw Spinning Tuition with Pam Austins, Spinning School. Pam is on a mission toteach 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 toJuliet Hill Handspinning)Norfolk: Single-day spinning courseswww.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 preparationand blending, felting, dyeing and knitting. See the Workshops tab onhttp://www.perfectweatherforspinningandknitting.blogspot.com/ for updated details of forthcomingworkshops by Deborah Gray e-mail deborah.gray7@btinternet.comSheffield: Tuition and Demonstrations by Diane Fisher, the Murmuring Wheelhttp://www.murmuringwheel.co.uk/events.html (external link to Diane Fisher's calendar)Sussex: Weald and Downland Museum in Singleton sometimes has courses on spinninghttp://www.wealddown.co.uk/Traditional-Rural-Trades-and-Crafts/Textiles/ (external link to Weald andDownland Museum's calendar)Yorkshire: Spinning courses with Ruth Gough, various workshops for individuals or groups, at Wentworthor 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 holidaysIf 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.

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Happy spinning and don't be a stranger!

Shiela, Editor / Curator

shiela@hand-spinning-news.com

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