This blog is dedicated to my Aunt Yvonne.
My favourite crafting is my knitting and here I share my ideas, projects, pitfalls and successes.
Vancouver, Canada
The Last Live Stream of the Year! I hope you are able to join us as we wrap up some finished objects (two sweaters), I share a tutorial with you on the Tubular Bind off & we chat handspinning (duh!).
Live: Tueseday, December 17 @ 10am Pacific / 12noon Central / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK
Be sure to check out my Year End Relfections here – I chat about what we’ve done this year, as well as my own projects, and where we are headed in the New Year!
Watch for a BONUS vlog this month, Longwools Revolution, to help you spin longwools with a little bit more confidence – here
Stay tuned for Breed Blend & Colour Studies on January 1, 2025.
***
In the show today …
Knitting
Knitty Article on Kitchener Stitch (Grafting) here
FINISHED OBJECTS!
Wood Anemone Tee by Sari Nordlund – MellyKnits CVM/Cotton/Silk 3-ply handspun; 3.5mm / US4 {Ravelry Project Page here & handspun page here}
Tahka Cardigan by Sari Nordlund – Disdero Ranch Roram Bulky; 6.5mm / US 10 {Ravelry Project Page here}
Community Participation
As always, thank you to those who share in the community, uploading photos and thoughts about what you are working on! I appreciate it – it’s my pleasure to be able to share!
Be sure to check out my Year End Relfections here – I chat about what we’ve done this year, as well as my own projects, and where we are headed in the New Year!
Watch for a BONUS vlog this month, Longwools Revolution, to help you spin longwools with a little bit more confidence – coming soon!
Stay tuned for Breed Blend & Colour Studies on January 1, 2025.
Bramble Ridge Hand Dyed Yarn Haunui ‘Fun House’ & ‘Mushroom Hunt’ – Majacraft Suzie, 28:1, dizzing off hand cards to open up the preparation; possibly a hawser yarn (?) {Ravelry Project Page here}
Knitting
Wood Anemone Tee by Sari Nordlund – MellyKnits CVM/Cotton/Silk 3-ply handspun; 3.5mm / US4 {Ravelry Project Page here & handspun page here}
Tahka Cardigan by Sari Nordlund – Disdero Ranch Roram Bulky; 6.5mm / US 10 {Ravelry Project Page here}
Community Participation
As always, thank you to those who share in the community, uploading photos and thoughts about what you are working on! I appreciate it – it’s my pleasure to be able to share!
It is a special episode today with Rebecca taking over the podcast for Rachel while she’s on a little Sabbatical for the month of November! Come see what Rebecca is working on:
Live Stream: Tuesday, November 19 @ 10am Pacific / 12noon Central / 1pm Eastern / 6pm GMT
Exciting news was released last month about our next Breed Blends & Colour Study! Meaghan of Bramble Ridge Hand Dyed Yarn has teamed up with Wool n’ Spinning to produce a Wool n’ Spinning specificblend for us to spin, applying all our learning from this fall’s Yarn Structure explorations (see below). To contribute photos for Meaghan’s inspiration (theme: DEEP FALL), please post them here (Ravelry).
Information for ordering, Meaghan’s story and more will be released January 1st – STAY TUNED!
***
Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs Book Study 2024/2025: YARN STRUCTURE
Starting our Part III study this month, we will be exploring all things Yarn Structure. There will be a focus on socks & sock yarn spinning, along with other uses for these amazing structures – this is a great place to JOIN NOW if you’ve been watching from the sidelines. Syllabus: Part III (Yarn Structure) here.
Queries & Explorations is a chance to come together to discuss projects, ideas & trouble-shooting in our making. For more information, check out the Queries tier on Patreon here.
Weekender / Metamorphic Mashup, patterns by Andrea Mowry, using Wool/Qiviut blend spun during TdF 2023 {Ravelry Project Page here}
Hand Spinning
Alpaca/Merino/Clun Forest/Romney blend for Jethro MC {Ravelry Project Page here}
SKEINED!
Three skeins of sock yarn:
SweetGeorgia Yarns Panda ‘Spring Garden’ {Ravelry Project Page here}
SweetGeorgia Yarns Panda ‘Graffiti’ {Ravelry Project Page here}
SweetGeorgia Yarns Panda ‘Tapestry’ {Ravelry Project Page here}
Community Participation
As always, thank you to those who share in the community, uploading photos and thoughts about what you are working on! I appreciate it – it’s my pleasure to be able to share!
Working through a copious amount of sampling, although not necessarily at my wheel, but instead in my dye pots and on knitting needles! Lots to share with everyone today as we all recover from the Time Changes around the world!
Exciting news was released last month about our next Breed Blends & Colour Study! Meaghan of Bramble Ridge Hand Dyed Yarn has teamed up with Wool n’ Spinning to produce a Wool n’ Spinning specificblend for us to spin, applying all our learning from this fall’s Yarn Structure explorations (see below). To contribute photos for Meaghan’s inspiration (theme: DEEP FALL), please post them here (Ravelry).
Information for ordering, Meaghan’s story and more will be released January 1st – STAY TUNED!
***
Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs Book Study 2024/2025: YARN STRUCTURE
Starting our Part III study this month, we will be exploring all things Yarn Structure. There will be a focus on socks & sock yarn spinning, along with other uses for these amazing structures – this is a great place to JOIN NOW if you’ve been watching from the sidelines. Syllabus: Part III (Yarn Structure) here.
Queries & Explorations is a chance to come together to discuss projects, ideas & trouble-shooting in our making. For more information, check out the Queries tier on Patreon here.
Rideau Arcott/Charollais Fleece (2019) – Downy but also fine crimp; tippy – removing with nails, then carding, 3-4 passes on carder so lock popped easily to remove second cuts; Large batts off new carder – broke down into smaller nests for spinning {Ravelry Project Page here}
Shetland Fleece (2019) – hand picked open & carded; added 20% Egyptian Pima Cotton {Ravelry Project Page here}
Bramble Ridge Hand Dyed Yarn Haunui ‘Fun House’ & ‘Mushroom Hunt’ – Majacraft Suzie, 28:1, dizzing off hand cards to open up the preparation; possibly a hawser yarn (?) {Ravelry Project Page here}
Knitting
Moon Set Tee by Hailey Smedley (Ozetta) – MellyKnits CVM/Cotton/Silk 3-ply handspun; 3.5mm / US4 {Ravelry Project Page here & handspun page here}
Community Participation
As always, thank you to those who share in the community, uploading photos and thoughts about what you are working on! I appreciate it – it’s my pleasure to be able to share!
Embarking into deep fleece explorations – questioning why some fleeces will combine well with cotton, while others resist has been top of mind. If you have any thoughts, please leave them below! Also, our Ask Anything today is a question that has come up several times recently – I hope you enjoy the episode!
Live Stream: Tuesday, October 15 @ 10am Pacific / 12noon Central / 1pm Eastern / 6pm BST
Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs Book Study 2024/2025: YARN STRUCTURE
Starting our Part III study this month, we will be exploring all things Yarn Structure. There will be a focus on socks & sock yarn spinning, along with other uses for these amazing structures – this is a great place to JOIN NOW if you’ve been watching from the sidelines. Syllabus: Part III (Yarn Structure) here.
Queries & Explorations is a chance to come together to discuss projects, ideas & trouble-shooting in our making. For more information, check out the Queries tier on Patreon here.
Rideau Arcott/Charollais Fleece (2019) – Downy but also fine crimp; tippy – removing with nails, then carding, 3-4 passes on carder so lock popped easily to remove second cuts; Large batts off new carder – broke down into smaller nests for spinning {Ravelry Project Page here}
Corriedale (2024) from All Wound Up, Castor, AB – lock popped several-hundred grams over the weekend to begin processing this fleece (goal: 3- or 4-ply sweater yarn) {Ravelry Project Page here}
Shetland Fleece (2019) – hand picked open & carded; added 20% Egyptian Pima Cotton {Ravelry Project Page here}
Knitting
Rosemary Cardigan by Amy Christoffers – Disdero Ranch Roram Bulky in Ash; 5.5mm & 6.00mm // US 9 & 10 {Ravelry Project Page here}
Magnus Cardigan by Meghan Ballmer – Crux Fibres Canadian Unspun & Kid Mohair Silk in Mystery Bruise & Woodsprire; 5.5 & 6mm hooks (I & J) {Ravelry Project Page here}
Moon Set Tee by Hailey Smedley (Ozetta) – ripped Oolong Tee by Aimee Sher – MellyKnits CVM/Cotton/Silk 3-ply handspun; 3.5mm / US4 {Ravelry Project Page here & handspun page here}
I am reeling from the idea that we have been here for more than 300 episodes! Thank you from the bottom of my toes for being here, being present, supporting the work that Rebecca and I do, and continually showing up.
Live Stream: Tuesday, October 1 @ 10am Pacific / 12noon Central / 1pm Eastern / 6pm BST
Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs Book Study 2024/2025: YARN STRUCTURE
Starting our Part III study this month, we will be exploring all things Yarn Structure. There will be a focus on socks & sock yarn spinning, along with other uses for these amazing structures – this is a great place to JOIN NOW if you’ve been watching from the sidelines. Syllabus: Part III (Yarn Structure) here.
Queries & Explorations is a chance to come together to discuss projects, ideas & trouble-shooting in our making. For more information, check out the Queries tier on Patreon here.
Rideau Arcott/Charollais Fleece (2019) – Downy but also fine crimp; tippy – removing with nails, then carding, 3-4 passes on carder so lock popped easily to remove second cuts; Large batts off new carder – broke down into smaller nests for spinning {Ravelry Project Page here}
Shetland Fleece (2019) – hand picked open & carded; added 20% Egyptian Pima Cotton {Ravelry Project Page here}
Cotswold Fleece (2019) – combined with 20% peduncle silk for sampling; hand picked open then lock popped & carded (15g sample); 2-ply {Ravelry Project Page here}
Knitting
Rosemary Cardigan by Amy Christoffers – Disdero Ranch Roram Bulky in Ash; 5.5mm & 6.00mm // US 9 & 10 {Ravelry Project Page here}
Oolong Tee by Aimee Sher – MellyKnits CVM/Cotton/Silk 3-ply handspun; 3.5mm / US4 {Ravelry Project Page here & handspun page here}
FINISHED OBJECTS
Ranunculus by Midori House – Westcoast Colour Falkland in ‘F***ing Pantone’, 2-ply (spun in March 2020), total yardage = 896 yards / 230 grams (grist = 1770YPP); gauge = 23 sts x 4 in on 4.00mm / US 6 {Ravelry Project Page here}
Community Participation
As always, thank you to those who share in the community, uploading photos and thoughts about what you are working on! I appreciate it – it’s my pleasure to be able to share!
***
Rachel’s 300th Show by Sam Elliott
Congratulations Rachel on your 300th Show,
It’s been fabulous to watch you grow and grow,
Each show you bring us lots to see,
To “ooos” and “ahhhs” and “let me see”.
Your inspiration appeals to one and all,
Your handknits and handspuns enthrall us all,
You’re our friend, our teacher and cheerleader too,
We are deep into September now & my kids are all settled back to school – this will be the first Live Stream since the end of May that they are at school while we are streaming!
Link to SPAKALs 2024 Information here – Sadly, our SPAKALs are coming to an imminent end! What a wonderful summer of making – thank you to all who participated!
Note that our Emotional Chicken SPAKAL is going on at the moment – please share your Chickens with us in the #general channel on Slack & the Ravelry thread here
***
Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs Book Study 2024/2025: YARN STRUCTURE
Starting our Part III study this month, we will be exploring all things Yarn Structure. There will be a focus on socks & sock yarn spinning, along with other uses for these amazing structures – this is a great place to JOIN NOW if you’ve been watching from the sidelines. Syllabus: Part III (Yarn Structure) here.
Queries & Explorations is a chance to come together to discuss projects, ideas & trouble-shooting in our making. For more information, check out the Queries tier on Patreon here.
Ranunculus by Midori House – Westcoast Colour Falkland in ‘F***ing Pantone’, 2-ply (spun in March 2020), total yardage = 896 yards / 230 grams (grist = 1770YPP); gauge = 23 sts x 4 in on 4.00mm / US 6 {Ravelry Project Page here}
Fibre Preparation, Sampling & Spinning
MellyKnits CVM – O. Cotton – Mulberry Silk blend (70/20/10); break down of batt – into strips, continuous backwards, no smoothing, round 3-ply after sampling (2 mini skeins) {Ravelry Project Page here} (pictured below)
Rideau Arcott/Charollais Fleece – Downy but also fine crimp; tippy – removing with nails, then carding, 3-4 passes on carder so lock popped easily to remove second cuts; Large batts off new carder – broke down into smaller nests for spinning {Ravelry Project Page here}
All Wound Up, Castor, AB – Corriedale & BFL/Corriedale cross fleeces – washed & sampling in progress {Ravelry Project Page here} (pictured below)
Shetland Fleece – 2019 – starting to prepare – plan to card with Peduncle silk (20%) – Picking open; carding 2-3 passes, then adding the silk {Ravelry Project Page here}
Cotswold Fleece – 2019 – so fast to lock pop & prep {Ravelry Project Page here}
Community Participation
As always, thank you to those who share in the community, uploading photos and thoughts about what you are working on! I appreciate it – it’s my pleasure to be able to share!
