What is it about Spinning Fibers?

Spinning fibers is an art form.  YES, ART!  It is an amazing thing to see in a moments time a fiber that starts out as delicate as a dandelion, become something that protects us from the elements, gets tossed around in a washer/dryer and can be worn under the harshest of circumstances time and time again.  It is an art form that needs to be respected, preserved and upheld, so I vow to do my part in ensuring that happens.  I wanted to see what others had to say about spinning fibers and it all just makes me love it even more.  Take read and enjoy!

The Joy of Handspinning states:
Handspinning is the art of twisting fiber into a continuous thread by hand or by using a spinning wheel. The thread can be spun thick or thin, plyed or unplyed, and can later be dyed or left natural. Handspun yarn can be used for knitting, and weaving projects. You can also use unspun fiber for knitting, weaving and felting. 


Wikipedia displays and writes:

An Nepali charka in action

A Tibetan woman spinning wool in Pokhara/Nepal

Hand-spinning is still an important skill in many traditional societies. Hobby or small scale artisan spinners spin their own yarn to control specific yarn qualities and produce yarn that is not widely available commercially. Sometimes these yarns are made available to non-spinners online and in local yarn stores. Handspinners also may spin for self-sufficiency, a sense of accomplishment, or a sense of connection to history and the land. In addition, they may take up spinning for its meditative qualities.^[11]
Within the recent past, many new spinners have joined into this ancient process, innovating the craft and creating new techniques. From using new dyeing methods before spinning, to mixing in novelty elements (Christmas Garland, eccentric beads, money, etc.) that would not normally be found in traditional yarns, to creating and employing new techniques like coiling, this craft is constantly evolving and shifting.
To make various yarns, besides adding novelty elements, spinners can vary all the same things as in a machined yarn, i.e., the fiber, the preparation, the color, the spinning technique, the direction of the twist, etc. A common misconception is yarn spun from rolags may not be as strong, but the strength of a yarn is actually based on the length of hair fiber and the degree of twist. When working with shorter hairs, such as llama or angora rabbit, the spinner may choose to integrate longer fibers, such as mohair, to prevent yarn breakage. Yarns made of shorter fibers are also given more twist than yarns of longer fibers, and are generally spun with the short draw technique.
The fiber can be dyed at any time, but is often dyed before carding or after the yarn has been spun.
Wool may be spun before or after washing, although excessive amounts of lanolin may make spinning difficult, especially when using a drop-spindle. Careless washing may cause felting. When done prior to spinning, this often leads to unusable wool fiber. In washing wool the key thing to avoid is too much agitation and fast temperature changes from hot to cold. Generally, washing is done lock by lock in warm water with dish-soap.


I can't quite explain why I enjoy this so much, but the more I do it the more it seems to become part of what allows me to be me.  Do you have any favorite quotes or statements on spinning fibers?  Post a comment!

Basic Sock Knitwear Pattern - Afraid?

For the longest time, I was AFRAID of knitting socks...they were the bain of my existence!  I tried it as a very novice knitter (I'm probably Intermediate now) and attempted to use the Magic Loop method.  As I mentioned in my 'My Story' post, that was 2 years ago, I only got about a half inch of the cuff done, and have never picked them up again!  Besides all that, I commonly say that I am 'allergic' to thin yarn and skinny needles...the bigger the needles the chunkier the yarn THE BETTER!  But, I have been thinking about it lately and finally decided to take the plunge.  Though most socks are knit with size 3 needle or below, I found a Basic Socks knitwear pattern that called for size 7 and worsted weight yarn...worked for me!  So I consulted with my friend at The Tail Spinner yarn shop in Richlands, NC and she helped me pick out a good yarn to use.  I followed the pattern, which was not exactly designed for a beginner, but in conjunction used the below you tube videos by Verypink Knits (who does a fabulous job by the way) to help me along the way.  They are still in progress, but I am happy to report that I did complete one sock (with a few errors..uh, I mean complimentary design elements :-), and the second sock is almost complete, just have to finish shaping the toe.  I'll post an update with pics to show off my very first pair of hand knit socks!

Learn to Knit Socks part 1: Getting Started
Learn to Knit Socks part 2: Heel Flap
Learn to Knit Socks part 3 - Turning the Heel
Learn to Knit Socks part 4 - Gusset
Learn to Knit Socks part 5 - Toe Shaping
Learn to Knit Socks part 6 - Kitchener

Wools to Dye For!

If you are a Spinner and have never dyed any fiber, believe me when I say YOU ARE MISSIN’ OUT! In this post I’m going to show you just how easy this process is…and how safe it can be too!
I recently purchased some fleece from one of the yarn shops here in town, called ‘Yarnhouse’. This fleece was actually a special 2 for 1 deal where all the proceeds went to benefit Ovarian Cancer Research! So I purchased 3 different types as you can see below: Tunis Mule, Cheviot, Scotch Mule (4 ounce bags).

Now I have dyed fibers before, but had never washed or carded it…first time for everything, right?! So I consulted my dear friend Linda who works at the yarn shop closest to my house, ‘The Yarn Shop by Rainy Day Creations’. So now I am going to walk you through the steps I took.

First I chose to use the Tunis which as a beautiful texture and a gorgeous crimp in it.

Using my kitchen sink, I began to run the hot water. It must be hot, as in at least 120 degrees, so to dissolve the lanolin (natural oils commonly found in sheep’s wool). In the water, drop a few drops of Dawn or Palmolive dish washing liquid in the water to help cut the lanolin….NOT TOO MUCH because you don’t want the fibers to be soapy. Next, I put the fibers in a mesh bag and submerged them in the hot water after the water has been turned off. You will be tempted, but AVOID agitating, poking or prodding it too much or the wool will felt. Let it sit for at least 1 hour before removing and repeating once more. Once that is done, you are ready to dye it.

Dyeing fiber can be done a number of different ways, in the microwave, on the stove, or in a crock-pot. I prefer using my crock-pot which is reserved only for dyeing. There are many different types of dyes out there also, so please make sure you follow the instructions carefully when executing. I wanted to try something I had read about but hadn’t tried yet, which was dyeing fibers with KOOL-AID! I filled my removable pot from the crock pot and filled it with water as much as could fit without overflowing when the fiber was added. I poured in 4 packets of Kool-Aid, 3 Kiwi-Watermelon packs and 1 pack of Cherry (I was going for more pink color, but I think the Cherry messed me up :-) I stirred the water to get the Kool-Aid to dissolve and then added about 2 ounces of fiber from the mesh bag. (I could dye up to about 4 ounces comfortably in my 4 quart crock pot, but since I was experimenting, only used 2 ounces.)

Then I turned the crock-pot up as high as it could go and let it ‘cook’. I checked it after about an hour to see if all the dye had taken into the wool. You can see to the left and below I used a white measuring cup to see how much dye was still in the water.

Once the water was pretty clear, I turned off the crock-pot and let it cool. Next, I took the removable pot and went to the sink to pour out the excess water. And I was left with some beautiful bright red wool! The final step is to put the dyed fibers in separate mesh bag and let them dry. Since I have a garage, I put it in there since it stays pretty warm in there due to the hot weather we’ve been having. You can let it dry anywhere but in the sun, because you don’t want to burn it.


That’s it…you’re done! Now you try, and tell me about how it goes!

My Story

In December of 2009, my creative life was forever changed. Working for a Fashion Retailer since 2002, I found myself working in the Information Technology department beginning in 2006. Remaining in the IT department, but moving to a different team, we decided to have a Christmas lunch and exchange gifts. The four of us rode together to my favorite Italian restaurant in town. We sat, talked, laughed and ate. Then, we exchanged gifts. I don’t remember the other gifts I received that day, but the gift I received from Pat, this long-time knitter, left me breathless. I opened the simply wrapped package, and gently unfolded the tissue paper in which it was wrapped, and to my pleasant surprise, there lay a decadent, luxurious, black knitted scarf….and it was made of CASHMERE! I was taken aback. I had no idea that something so precious could be made by human hands. I was astonished, amazed…speechless! I thanked her and thanked her and thanked her some more.

(The gift that started it all!)

I went home that evening, and carefully placed it around my jacket in the coat closet. Everyday single day I wore that scarf (after all it was black and went with everything!) Every time I looked at it, I was impressed all over again. Then one day, I had it around my neck and remember stroking and enjoying it’s rich supple texture and thought to myself, I could do this too!

So I asked Pat, the older lady who had knit this for me, if she could teach me how to knit. She was elated! She told me to get some worsted weight yarn and some size 8 straight, bamboo needles and we coordinated a lunch time to begin our first lesson. She taught me how to create a Slip Knot (that was a funny sight), to Cast On, and to create Knit stitches all in the first lesson. Boy did I fumble. I felt like I had two left or two right hands! Nothing felt right. But as I began to continue to just knit row after row after row, things became a little more familiar. Each evening after work, I couldn’t wait to get home and pick up those needles. Night after night, row after knitted row, things were getting better and better. My next lunch-time lesson was on how to Purl. There I went again…fumbling with what felt like fat fingers and uncoordinated hands. As long as Pat was there, I could at least get through the rows, however when I got home trying to continue where we left off, I was only able to create a jumbled mess! So I asked her one day what I was doing wrong, and I learned the one key that makes purling possible, she said “The working yarn has to be brought to the front of your work, every time you create a purl stitch. EUREKA! That did it, I was off and rolling again! After those two lessons, I seemed to never be able to coordinate time with Pat again. That didn’t stop me though, because I had access to the next best thing…YOU TUBE! From there, I began to find simple patterns that allowed me to practice toward a finished piece of work. I connected with my local yarn shop and even signed up for and took a Sock Knitting class! How did that go??? A new knitter attempting to knit socks using the Magic Loop method??? Let’s just say I got about a half an inch of the top ribbing done, and haven’t been back to it since! To all the sock knitters, I have much respect for you!

To date I have knitted a number of scarfs, fingerless gloves, cowls, baby items and other small things that when given as gifts, return to me the feeling I had when I was given my first hand-knitted gift. It is truly priceless.
That experience has since blossomed into additional facets of this creative world. I had stopped by my local yarn shop (LYS) earlier this spring (2011), as I commonly do on Saturday. As I was walking up, I saw 2 women sitting and spinning outside in the shade of the beautiful day. I stopped in front of them, and was mesmerized! I had never witnessed the moment in a fiber’s life when it was no longer a loose fiber that could just blow away in the wind, but was instantaneously turned into twisted goodness in preparation for the creation of something great! Talk about Passion meeting Purpose. I couldn’t get enough. I asked more questions and touched all the fibers and spun yarn that my senses could hold. There was birthed my desire to take my fiber fetish to a whole new level. Imagine all the thoughts running through my creative mind…I can not only knit the scarf (or whatever), but I can spin the yarn used to create it! I took a class at my LYS ‘The Yarn Shop at Rainy Day Creations’ in Pineville, NC where I was able to try about 4 or 5 different wheels. I knew at first spin which wheel was right for me…the Ashford Traveller. I have since bought that spinning wheel from a lady at ‘The Tail Spinner’ in Jacksonville, NC.  I had the privilege of being able to take it to the Fiber Festival in Asheville, NC!

I took some spinning classes and a Dye class (here we go again…not only can spin the yarn I use to knit the scarf (or whatever), but I can dye the fiber whatever color(s) I want before I spin it!) Just in case you were wondering, YES, I left with some dyes of my own and a crock pot dedicated to dyeing that I have since used to make some unbelievable creations. This addiction I tell you continues to grow and grow and grow! That Fiber Festival was AMAZING! I was told by many that I have got to attend SAFF Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival. So I’m looking forward to possibly attending that on October 21st thru October 23rd of 2011.

Stay tuned…this journey has only just begun…

6 Key Terms I've Learned from Knitting Blogs

I remember when I first started knitting (about two years ago), I remember how the basic terms were foreign to me.  So for those novice knitters, I wanted to give some basic terms that I learned and grew familiar with from reading knitting blogs just like this one!  Okay Fashion Knitters, the next time you are on your favorite knitting blog, looking at a snazzy knitwear pattern, or reading a fashion knit magazine, you will be a little be more in the know on the basics!

Cast on: This is the technical term for how you begin a knitting project. Casting on refers to getting the first row of stitches onto the needle. In a pattern, cast on will be marked as "CO."


Knit: When you are reading a pattern, knit refers to a type of stitch. This is also called the knit stitch and is marked in patterns as "k." The knit stitch is probably the first stitch you learned, but in case you forgot, or are new to the craft of knitting, here is a brief refresher. You make a knit stitch when you insert the right hand needle through the top stitch on the left hand needle, wrap the yarn around the right hand needle with the left in front, and push the right hand needle through the opening in the old stitch to create a new stitch.


Purl: Like knit, purl refers to a certain type of stitch. A purl is made when you insert the right hand needle into the first stitch on the left hand needle, but bring the right around to the front. With the yarn in front (instead of behind the needles), wrap the yarn around the right hand needle and push it through the opening in the stitch to create a new loop on the right hand needle. Purling feels just like knitting, but backwards. On a pattern, purl will be marked as "P."


Bind off: This is how you end a knitting project. If you think of knitting as making row after row of slip knots, binding off is how you tie the knots to keep your project from unraveling. Binding off is denoted as "BO" in a pattern.


Garter stitch: This is the knitting term for the pattern that a group of knit stitches makes. If you knit all knit stitches, you'll get horizontally ribbed rows called a garter stitch.


Stockinette stitch: This is a knitting term for the pattern created when you alternate knit stitch rows with purl stitch rows. The pattern looks like rows of "V's."
For more knitting definitions visit Life 123.

14 Fashion Knits that even the Beginning Knitter can Knit!

Knitting is so therapeutic for me, and I'm sure it is for many of you as well.  Even if I am not knitting, I love looking for the next knitwear patterns I'd like to get on the needles!  In the list provided below you are sure to find things that you have done plenty of before, or something that peaks your interest and would like to try.  Thought you might also like a few links to some of the patterns I've knitted before!

1.  Scarf
2.  Cowl
3.  Fingerless Mitts
4.  Baby Hat
5.  Baby Booties
6.  Jewelry
7.  Blankets
8.  Bath Cloths
9.  Dish Cloths/Towels
10. Slippers
11. Cup Cozies
12. Flowers
13. Cuffs/Wristers
14. Dog Sweater

What favorite item would you add to this list?