General News

by: Kate Comaskey

Auditorium Backpack in Botanica

Saturday, August 12th, 2017 Posted in Current Issue, General News, Knitting, New arrivals at Halcyon Yarn | No Comments »

Auditorium Backpack

Let’s skip the part where I talk about how it’s already August and focus on how CUTE our new knitted backpack is! Auditorium - Knitted Backpack Pattern Free this week! (Download), designed by Sierra Roberts, is the sturdy knitted satchel you never knew you needed.

Auditorium - Knitted Backpack Pattern Free this week! (Download)

This perfect little drawstring bag is a cute and practical back-to-school tote for a little one. The Auditorium is also a perfect casual bag for you too! It’s a great size for a book, tablet, knitting project – you name it! If you’re into trying a little colorwork, the Auditorium is a perfect blank canvas for a cute motif, like the elephants or mushrooms featured in the new book AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary - 200 Modern Motifs.

AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary - 200 Modern Motifs

The pattern provides adaptable strap lengths. Plus, check out the product technique videos for crocheting a chain, and making the drawstring on the pattern page here: Auditorium Knitted Backpack

Knit up in our Maine-made 100% wool Halcyon Signature Botanica Yarn. The yarn is on sale and the pattern is free this week, so head for the Auditorium now!

Botanica Yarn

Great suggestions for Botanica – on sale this week only!

Shop back-to-school projects here!

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

New pattern! Electric Avenue shawlette

Saturday, August 12th, 2017 Posted in Current Issue, Dye, General News, Knitting, New arrivals at Halcyon Yarn | No Comments »

Electric Avenue Shawlette

There’s nothing like a quick and easy project, and that’s exactly what I had in mind when I made the Electric Avenue Shawlette. This uses just one skein of Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Silk Noil Yarn and two mini cones of Block Island Blend Yarn. Wider stripes of the neutral color serve to highlight the fun pop of the hand-dyed stripes, making them look almost like neon lights along a busy city street. Another perk? Since this shawl is worked from the top down, you can make it as large or small as you choose.

Electric Avenue Shawlette

Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Silk Noil Yarn

Block Island Blend Yarn

Electric Avenue Shawlette - Pattern Download

This probably won’t come as a surprise, but this project was inspired by the beautiful shawl on the cover of pompom Quarterly Spring 2017. That piece was knit all in white, with just the bottom edge done in a bright variegated yarn for a subtle peek of color. Just lovely!

pompom Quarterly Spring 2017

Using Block Island Blend Yarn makes this a very comfortable warm weather accessory. It’s cool to the touch, kind of slinky, very drapey, and the subtle texture of that yarn creates a nice rustic fabric. That said, you could also choose one skein of a solid color of Gemstone Raw Silk (Silk Noil) Yarn to go with your favorite Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Silk Noil Yarn colorway for an equally cool, comfortable shawl. So many choices!

Block Island Blend Yarn

Gemstone Raw Silk (Silk Noil) Yarn

Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Silk Noil Yarn

For this project, I used a 40″ size 5 circular needle. The circular needle is just to accommodate the large amount of stitches you’ll have by the end; this piece is worked flat. Simple yarn over increases create the open spine, and the entire piece is worked in garter stitch. A shawl this easy begs to be knit in every color – so grab a skein of the limited edition Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Silk Noil Yarn, or any of your favorite variegated yarns and see where it takes you!

Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Silk Noil Yarn

Love these bright hand-dyed hues? Check them all out, and see behind the scenes here! Making the Hand-Dyed Yarn Line

Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Mohair Yarn

Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Victorian 2-Ply Yarn

Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Organic Cotton Yarn

Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Silk Noil Yarn

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

Go back to school in style…

Tuesday, August 1st, 2017 Posted in General News | No Comments »

Back to School!

Gimme Shelter Hooded Scarf with Pockets.

Although it feels like it just started, summer vacation is already drawing to an end. For students in grades K-12 (and beyond), this is a bittersweet time of year. Bitter because, well, who doesn’t want an endless vacation? But that bitterness, for me, was always tempered by the exciting prospect of new school supplies and clothing. This excitement has never left me, and to this day I look forward to updating my wardrobe each fall. So whether you’re headed to the dorms or packing your little one onto the school bus, listed below are some projects and books that will help send you and your kids back to school in style.

One of my favorite books of kid’s patterns is Sweet Pickles - 27 Adorable Knits for Babies and Toddlers by Anna Enge & Heidi Grønvold. This book is full of adorable, colorful knits for little boys and girls. These patterns are mostly sized for babies and toddlers, with some projects suitable for older kids, too.

Sweet Pickles - 27 Adorable Knits for Babies and Toddlers

If you like timeless classics, we have a handful of tried and true sweater patterns for kids. The Child's Sheep and Reindeer Sweaters - Yankee Knitter - Pattern download is a downloadable pattern that can be knit up in any of your favorite worsted weight yarns. I personally would recommend Cascade 220 Superwash Wool Yarn, as it’s the right gauge and easy to wash.

Child's Sheep and Reindeer Sweaters - Yankee Knitter - Pattern download

Cascade 220 Superwash Wool Yarn

The English Rib Pullover for children and adults - Yankee Knitter - Pattern download is another pattern download that has been around for a long time. Knit this out of Harrisville Highland Yarn - Washed Skeins for a classic Maine sweater.

English Rib Pullover for children and adults - Yankee Knitter - Pattern download

Harrisville Highland Yarn - Washed Skeins

I can’t forget the Easy Bulky Sweater - Yankee Knitter. Knit this out of Lopi Alafoss Icelandic Wool Yarn for a sturdy, warm piece that can stand up to some serious outdoor activities. This pattern uses bulky weight yarn, so you’ve got a lot of choices!

Easy Bulky Sweater - Yankee Knitter

Easy Bulky Sweater - Yankee Knitter - Pattern download

Lopi Alafoss Icelandic Wool Yarn

Lamb's Pride Bulky Yarn

For effortlessly colorful fun, you can make the Children's V-Neck Down Pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple out of Malabrigo Rios Superwash Wool Yarn. This yarn creates a machine washable, beautifully variegated, and amazingly soft sweater.

Children's V-Neck Down Pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple

Malabrigo Rios Superwash Wool Yarn

For all you Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn fans out there (myself included), there is the versatile Child's Pullover. Choose your favorite color from the many available, and you’re ready to rock!

Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn

Child's Pullover

Another favorite book of mine is Animal Hats - frog hats, elephant hats, cat hats, and more by Vanessa Mooncie. With patterns for grown-ups and kids alike, everyone will get a kick out of these clever designs. Mostly knit out of bulky yarns, Lamb's Pride Bulky Yarn would be a perfect choice for most of the pieces in this book. With such a broad range of colors available, you could take your pick of animals; knit a chicken, penguin, pig, fox, mouse, dog, koala… the list goes on. Alternately, you could opt for Jo Sharp Silkroad Ultra Yarn for a much softer hat, or use Superwash 128 by Cascade Yarn for a machine washable version.

Animal Hats - frog hats, elephant hats, cat hats, and more

Lamb's Pride Bulky Yarn

Jo Sharp Silkroad Ultra Yarn

Superwash 128 by Cascade Yarn

Just for fun, I’d also like to mention the book 50 Yards of Fun - Knitting Toys from Scrap Yarn, by Rebecca Danger. I’m always looking for ways to use up my yarn scraps; these fun little toys are a wonderful option for using up every last yard.

Headed for dorm living?

50 Yards of Fun - Knitting Toys from Scrap Yarn

Why not knit yourself (or your favorite college bound kid) something pretty and cozy? Or plan for a project to take with you to relax on a study break! You can never have too many blankets, and the Jo Sharp Warmth Blanket Pattern is a great way to use simple knit and purl stitches to create a piece that looks fancy enough to impress your friends. Originally knit out of the delightfully soft and squishy Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed Yarn, you can also make this out of Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn.

Jo Sharp Warmth Blanket Pattern

Jo Sharp Warmth Blanket Pattern - Pattern Download

Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed Yarn

Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn

I couldn’t imagine a better gift for someone of high school age or older than Stitch 'n Bitch. I was 17 when this book came out, and it changed my entire outlook on knitting. I think I’ve made every project in here, and I very nearly have the entire book memorized. This wonderful resource includes loads of information for beginning knitters, with projects to take you every step of the way.

Stitch 'n Bitch

Our Carpet Clutch - Halcyon Classic Rug Wool is a fun way to play with pops of color – the smaller size uses just two skeins each of two different colors of Halcyon Yarn Rug Wool.

Carpet Clutch - Halcyon Classic Rug Wool

Carpet Clutch - Pattern download

Halcyon Yarn Rug Wool

For chilly nights spent studying, adult feet of all sizes can get cozy with this Jo Sharp Indulgence Mohair Sock Pattern. This project uses Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair Yarn for soft, fuzzy warmth.

Jo Sharp Indulgence Mohair Sock Pattern

Jo Sharp Indulgence Mohair Sock - Pattern Download

Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair Yarn

Speaking of soft fuzzy warmth, our Gimme Shelter - Hooded Scarf with Pockets is a super easy project that can be knit out of pretty much any bulky weight yarn. The version shown was knit out of Victorian Boucle Yarn, but I’ve also seen this made out of Malabrigo Mecha Yarn, which was very cool. This piece is easy to make, and we even made a video to show you how to put it together!

Gimme Shelter - Hooded Scarf with Pockets

Gimme Shelter - Hooded Scarf with Pockets Download

Victorian Boucle Yarn

Malabrigo Mecha Yarn

While we’re on the subject of gift-giving, you have to check out these notion bags that can easily double as pencil cases (below). These bags are lined, with a full length zipper at the top to keep things where they’re supposed to be.

Birch Felt Bag - Teal

Birch Felt Bag - Black

Birch Felt Bag - Grey

In other crafts, we have some projects that would be great for decorating a dorm room. Our Triple Play woven wall hanging kit (below) comes in three colors, with detailed instructions on how to make it.

Triple Play Wall Hanging Kit - Teal

Triple Play Wall Hanging Kit - Rust

Triple Play Wall Hanging Kit - Green

Our Felted Ball Mobile kits (below) are another fun way to do up a room. These kits include detailed instructions and everything you need to make your own colorful mobile!

Felted Ball Mobile Kit - Pastel

Felted Ball Mobile Kit - Bold

The Sugar Skull Needle Felting Kit is another fun, colorful, and quick to make wall hanging. This needle felting kit includes everything you need, even the needles, and will look great when Día de Muertos arrives in a few months!

Sugar Skull Needle Felting Kit

Whether you’re treating yourself or making something for someone you love, we hope these back-to-school friendly ideas add a little sweetness to the end of your summer vacation!

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

Knits for men

Tuesday, August 1st, 2017 Posted in General News | No Comments »

For the guys!

Portuguese Fisherman’s Sweater

Throughout history, the art of knitting has been practiced across all genders and ages. So why is it so hard to find patterns for men? Here’s a list of knitting patterns featuring just that:

First, I just have to mention that we are super excited to be carrying Rib Magazine No. 2 - Navigate. This is a beautiful publication geared towards men who knit and those who knit for them. Learn more about this cool magazine in my recent blog post here.

Rib Magazine No. 2 - Navigate

The Portuguese Fisherman Pullover is a favorite year after year. This stand-by pullover features sizes for the whole family and it looks great in almost any worsted weight wool. Easy enough for a beginner, but with a patterned yoke that makes it interesting for all. Try it in Bartlettyarns Maine Wool - Sport Yarn or Peace Fleece Yarn for a classic New England look, or Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed Yarn for something extra soft and refined in amazing tweed colors.

Portuguese Fisherman Pullover

Portuguese Fisherman Pullover - Pattern download

Bartlettyarns Maine Wool - Sport Yarn

Peace Fleece Yarn

Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed Yarn

If you’re looking for smaller projects, the Men's Heavy Weight Boot Sock by Knitting Pure and Simple is an easy choice. These can be rugged and warm knit up in Tuffy Canadian Sock Yarn or Botanica Yarn, or make a pair of soft house socks out of Malabrigo Merino Worsted Wool Yarn.

Men's Heavy Weight Boot Sock by Knitting Pure and Simple

Tuffy Canadian Sock Yarn

Botanica Yarn

Malabrigo Merino Worsted Wool Yarn

There’s also the Candide Ragg Socks and Cap Number 38 pattern, which is a real classic. These would be lovely knit up in Peace Fleece Yarn.

Candide Ragg Socks and Cap Number 38

Candide Ragg Socks and Cap Number 38 - Pattern download

Peace Fleece Yarn

For a warm, sturdy hat I always recommend Double Knit Hats. Use Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool Yarn for lots of color options!

Double Knit Hats

Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool Yarn

Men's Vest is a super simple vest that can be knit out of Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn for an easy to wash wardrobe staple.

Men's Vest

Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn

I really like the Basic Cardigan Vest for Men by Knitting Pure and Simple, especially made out of Lamb's Pride Worsted Yarn – the subtle sheen and fuzz of this yarn makes it one of my favorites to work with.

Basic Cardigan Vest for Men by Knitting Pure and Simple

Lamb's Pride Worsted Yarn

The Men's Vest by Knitting Pure and Simple is another great classic. Make it out of Cascade 220 Superwash Wool Yarn for an easy to wash piece, or use Harrisville Highland Yarn - Washed Skeins for a wooly, rugged Maine garment.

Men's Vest by Knitting Pure and Simple

Cascade 220 Superwash Wool Yarn

Harrisville Highland Yarn - Washed Skeins

Sweaters, though! The Men's Neck Down Henley Knitting Pure and Simple is a wonderfully wearable piece. Use your favorite worsted weight yarn for a versatile sweater that suits any style.

Men's Neck Down Henley Knitting Pure and Simple

Another basic wardrobe staple is the Neck Down Pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple. This can be made out of one of the classic New England woolies (like Peace Fleece Yarn or Bartlettyarns Maine Wool Yarn), or use the softer Malabrigo Merino Worsted Wool Yarn for a more colorful finish.

Neck Down Pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple

Peace Fleece Yarn

Bartlettyarns Maine Wool Yarn

Malabrigo Merino Worsted Wool Yarn

For a fancier piece, consider the Jo Sharp Men's Alpaca Sweater - Pattern. This is a luxurious piece when knit out of Jo Sharp Alpaca Kid Lustre Yarn, or choose your favorite DK weight yarn instead.

Jo Sharp Men's Alpaca Sweater - Pattern

Jo Sharp Men's Alpaca Pattern Download

Jo Sharp Alpaca Kid Lustre Yarn

Looking for a basic V-neck? Check out the Neck Down V Neck Pullover for Men by Knitting Pure and Simple, which uses light worsted or DK weight yarn.

Neck Down V Neck Pullover for Men by Knitting Pure and Simple

The Neckdown Cardigan for Men by Knitting Pure and Simple is another fun option if you’re tired of pullovers.

Neckdown Cardigan for Men by Knitting Pure and Simple

Another alternative to your basic pullover is the Neck Down Men's Hooded (Hoodie) Pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple. Knit this cozy sweater out of Cascade Eco and Cascade Eco Plus Wool Yarn for a rugged, heathered finish, or use Heirloom Romney yarn by Fancy Tiger Crafts for a warm, slightly fuzzy, surprisingly soft piece.

Neck Down Men's Hooded (Hoodie) Pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple

Cascade Eco and Cascade Eco Plus Wool Yarn

Heirloom Romney yarn by Fancy Tiger Crafts

Lastly, you can always go traditional with the Fisherlad Guernsey - Yankee Knitter, a tried and true favorite. This deceptively easy to make sweater is great made from your favorite light worsted weight yarn.

Fisherlad Guernsey - Yankee Knitter

Whether you’re knitting for yourself, or your favorite guy, these classic patterns will look great year after year!

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

New! Rib Magazine

Tuesday, August 1st, 2017 Posted in General News, Magazine | No Comments »

Rib Magazine

We may have missed the first issue, but we won’t let another one slip by! Rib Magazine No. 2 - Navigate is here in all its polished, masculine glory. This issue features patterns inspired by exploring new techniques, from textural contrasts to less common construction methods. These projects are entirely approachable and offer a fresh look at knitwear designs that are meant to be cherished for years to come. This issue also features an essay on knitting from the male perspective, a visible mending tutorial, and a very useful in-depth review of the Lykke interchangeable needle set.

Rib Magazine No. 2 - Navigate

Lykke Interchangeable Deluxe Circular Knitting Needle Set - Grey Faux Denim Case

Lykke Interchangeable Deluxe Knitting Needle Set Black Faux Leather Case

For those of you who haven’t yet heard about Rib Magazine, it is a Toronto based publication geared towards men who knit and those who knit for them. Actually, it’s laid out kind of similarly to Pom Pom Magazine. You’re pulled in by the crisp, modern layout and then taken away by the patterns. Even the advertisements in these magazines are pretty to look at!

This Survey pullover (shown above) is an interesting play on color and texture. This was knit from a woolen-spun worsted weight yarn – there are a lot of those here at the shop that I can picture making this sweater with. Watershed Yarn by Harrisville Designs would be perfect in all its muted tones, or you could use Harrisville Highland Yarn - Washed Skeins for some brighter colors (I love all the colors this yarn comes in). Choose two slightly different shades, or go for a bold contrast- either way, it’ll be a comfortable, stylish sweater.

Watershed Yarn by Harrisville Designs

Harrisville Highland Yarn - Washed Skeins

As much as I liked that first sweater, I think I might actually have to make this Rigging pullover. I will have to draw straws to see who gets it (me, my dad or my husband), but I’m already dreaming of my favorite colors of Harrisville Highland Yarn - Washed Skeins. The sweater shown above was actually knit out of Watershed Yarn by Harrisville Designs. I love the zig zag details at the cuffs, and I’m always a sucker for a traditionally worn shawl collar.

Harrisville Highland Yarn - Washed Skeins

Watershed Yarn by Harrisville Designs

The River Rocks scarf shown above is a fun way to hone your two color brioche skills. Brioche is cozy and warm, and this would be a welcome addition to anyone’s winter accessory bin (especially here in Maine!). Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool Yarn would be perfect for this project, with a wide variety of colors to choose from and a sturdy ply that is sure to show off those hard-won brioche stitches.

Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool Yarn

The above projects are three of my personal favorites from this issue’s collection. In addition to these projects, this issue features a beautifully written essay by Matthew Rippeyoung; Rippeyoung himself is an avid knitter, and he discusses his close relationship with this craft and its presence in his life – from emotional to metaphorical. With history so full of men who knit, it’s really nice to see that gender bias slowly diminishing. Rippeyoung’s essay proved to me that men get just as much from this craft as anyone, in just as profound and meaningful ways.

Maybe it’s just where I work, but I’ve noticed a huge interest in visible mending lately – turns out men are into it, too! Rib Magazine No. 2 - Navigate features a substantial piece about this trending craft, which involves carefully darning, stitching, and knitting beloved items of clothing back together in purposefully visible, obvious ways. This adds quirky, lived in and loved characteristics to your old clothing; it also encourages looking at the tedium of mending as an opportunity to get creative. This is a very informative tutorial that will talk you through the process and make you excited to fix up those old sweaters in the back of your closet.

Rib Magazine No. 2 - Navigate

This small magazine feels more like a book with its modern layout, lovely photography, and introductions to each project that take you right to the source of inspiration. Rib was a joy to read through, and it is truly one of those magazines that’s worth collecting.

Related items of interest:

by: Gretchen

Fiber Arts News – Winter is coming…

Friday, July 28th, 2017 Posted in General News | No Comments »

Northern Ireland’s Game of Thrones Tapestry

For those who have once again gladly surrendered Sunday evenings to watching Game of Thrones… Wait until you see what Northern Ireland has created in honor of the show’s production there! Even if you never turn on your TV, this incredible textile is worth checking out…

The Northern Ireland Game of Thrones® Tapestry is a 77 metre handwoven tapestry that illustrates the epic sagas that have unfolded over the past seven seasons. Woven on a Jacquard loom and hand-embroidered in the tradition of ancient narrative tapestries, the characters, gods, weddings, deaths, battles, and locations of this mythical tale are commemorated in exacting detail. The entire piece is made from Irish Linen, produced in the last surviving linen mill.

Besides being wildly addictive with it’s weekly dose of intrigue, power-struggle, magic, and heartbreak, the show has also been celebrated for the incredible production value it offers. No detail is too small, (nor budget too big!), so each location and costume conveys a rich world into which the viewer escapes. Although much of the show is CGI enhanced (dragons!) there is an incredible level of hand-craftsmanship as well. As a lifelong seamstress, I can’t take my eyes off the wonderfully tailored costumes. The designers put so much care into the custom fabrics and thoughtful details, which add immense dimension to each character and reflect their status, personality, work, climate, and origin.

It’s a treat to see this modern phenomena of a hit show merge with an ancient art form in a celebration of history and craftsmanship. The tapestry is still being added to as the current season unfolds, and it’s on display at the Ulster Museum in Belfast. If you can’t see it in person, the website showcases the incredible craftsmanship of the tapestry and shares how it was made. The site is highly interactive and as you scroll through the tapestry you’ll discover rich details about the history and locations where the show is filmed. Whether you’re a fan of the show or not, this weaving is an extraordinary work of art – not to be missed!

by: Sierra Roberts

Hand dyed roving – do it yourself!

Friday, July 28th, 2017 Posted in Dye, Fiber Arts Education, General News | No Comments »

Not just for yarn… Dyed Roving!

There’s something about a braid of hand dyed roving that never fails to excite me. It doesn’t usually matter what the colors themselves are – it’s more about how those perfect blotches of color can be so concentrated in one spot, fading and blending with other colors in another… It’s essentially a super thick hand-dyed yarn, so it showcases your hard work in a much more obvious way. But then you can transform that beautiful thing into something so different, you won’t even believe the yarn you just spun came from that original braid. Like the Nube by Malabrigo Yarn I spun a while back (dubbed Velocicrafter).

Nube by Malabrigo Yarn

As I learn about dyeing fiber, I’m gradually becoming more confident about the process. Confidence is definitely required when dyeing roving and other un-spun fibers, because they’re a little harder to work with than yarn. Most importantly, you have to be super careful about not letting the fiber mat or felt, so be patient with the process. This can be tricky for sure, considering how hot you have to get things to make the dye set. Here are a few points to always remember when you’re dyeing fiber (and yarn, for that matter):
• Once it’s time to heat things up, do it gradually. The fiber should be wet and in the pot before you turn that burner on.
• Manipulate the fiber as little as possible. Even when you’re squeezing out excess water after the pre-soak, be gentle – press, don’t wring or agitate. When everything is cooking in the dye bath, only move it around if you have to and even then, be as gentle as possible.
• Always allow the fiber to cool COMPLETELY before rinsing. If warm wool meets cool water, you’ve got a pretty good chance it won’t be so soft and easy to spin afterwards.

Ok, that’s enough lecture time. On to the experiment! I chose one ounce each of three different fibers to dye: Blue Face Leicester Wool Top Fiber, Coopworth Blend Wool Roving Fiber, and Finn Wool Fiber.

Top to bottom: Bluefaced Leicester, Coopworth Blend, and Finn roving.

Blue Face Leicester Wool Top Fiber

Coopworth Blend Wool Roving Fiber

Finn Wool Fiber

These soaked for a bit in water with a little sprinkle of Citric Acid Crystals, 8 oz.. Then I removed some of the water and started applying dye, using a kettle dyeing technique.

Citric Acid Crystals, 8 oz.

After applying the dye where I wanted it, I turned on the heat. Once it starts to steam and simmer, I keep a very close eye on things. You usually know it’s done when the water in the pot is clear. I use a plastic spoon handle to gently move some fiber away from the side of the pan to check. With turquoise, though, the water never seems to go clear (this time around, neither did the violet). But that’s ok – once it seemed like a very long time had gone by, I decided to turn the heat off and call it good. Here’s how they came out:

From left to right: Finn, Coopworth Blend, and Bluefaced Leicester.

I was worried about getting the Finn confused with the BFL, but as you can see the BFL is much fuzzier; I had no trouble telling the two apart. And look at how different the gray Coopworth blend ended up! Those same bright colors you see on the white fiber turn much more somber on the darker base.

There are a lot of different ways folks will spin their hand dyed roving. Planned color changes and different plying techniques can yield hundreds of different results. There was an awesome issue of PLY Magazine a few months back that had some really interesting articles about this subject, from which I learned a great deal. As much as I like to ignore such knowledge in pursuit of crafting adventures, I decided to give one technique a try.

Ply - The Magazine for Handspinners - Plying - Winter - Issue 15

First, I took the BFL and split in half, lengthwise. I set one half aside, and split the other one in half again. I set one half of this to another side, and continued until I had a series of thick to thin lengths of roving. My plan: to spin the first half I set aside as one ply, then spinning the rest in order of thickest to thinnest for the second ply. Technically, that should mean the first ply will have longer color changes, with the color changes happening faster as the roving gets thinner. The result was much more pastel than I’d expected…

Blue Face Leicester Wool Top Fiber is so fluffy and soft! But what about that Coopworth Blend Wool Roving Fiber? For this one, I didn’t divide the length of roving at all. Spun with the longest possible color changes, I then chain-plied this to create more of a gradual, almost gradient yarn.

Blue Face Leicester Wool Top Fiber

Coopworth Blend Wool Roving Fiber

The result was a sturdy, wooly yarn with a decent amount of drape and softness. Not bad for an experiment!

If you’re interested in giving this a try yourself, you can click here to browse our fiber selection. You can also click here to see what we’ve got for dyes. If you love the stuff but can’t be bothered, check out these great fibers that have already been dyed for you:

Nube by Malabrigo Fiber is 100% Merino, kettle dyed in various colorways. I’ve spun two of these braids already myself, and they will not be the last.

Nube by Malabrigo Fiber

Hand-Dyed Blue Face Leicester Wool Fiber is always eye catching, and it’s very easy to spin. I can’t tell you how many people have asked if we have this as already spun yarn! (We don’t, I’m sorry to say – but I did try to approximate one of the colorways for our recent Hand-Dyed collection, which you can check out by clicking here)

Hand-Dyed Blue Face Leicester Wool Fiber

Maine Coast Hand-Dyed Romney Wool Fiber Blend comes in slightly deeper tones, and Romney is always a joy to spin. I have a skein of single ply fingering weight spun from this at home, which I think I might someday incorporate into a warm shawl.

Maine Coast Hand-Dyed Romney Wool Fiber Blend

Whether you dyed them yourself or not, these variegated wool rovings can be used so many different ways it’s sometimes overwhelming. I guess that just means we need to spend more time playing with them!

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

New! Obladi Oblada woven cowl pattern and kits

Friday, July 28th, 2017 Posted in General News, Weaving | No Comments »

Obladi Oblada Cowl

To celebrate the release of our exclusive Signature Hand Dyed collection, the talented Emily Werner has given us the Obladi Oblada Woven Fringed Cowl Pattern! This clever little cowl can be woven on a rigid heddle, 2-shaft or 4-shaft loom, and it’s so quick and easy you’ll want to make one in every color! One skein of Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Mohair Yarn and a mini cone of JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk 2/18 Yarn are all you need to create this fun, unique accessory.

Obladi Oblada Woven Fringed Cowl Pattern

Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Mohair Yarn

JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk 2/18 Yarn

Obladi Oblada Woven Fringed Cowl Pattern Download

The cowl in the photo above was woven in Zephyr color 0790 (Mushroom) and our Hand Dyed Mohair color 0001 (Berry). Zephyr is used for the warp, and then alternated with the variegated mohair in the weft to create a beautifully lightweight, lofty fabric with just the right amount of fuzziness. Sew this fabric together in two strategic spots, and the long fringe creates a real statement. Optional buttons can be sewn on afterward for added detail.

JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk 2/18 Yarn

Halcyon Signature Hand-Dyed Mohair Yarn

With so many colors of Zephyr to choose from, it could take a while to narrow down your favorite combination. Fortunately, we’ve done some of that work for you! The Obladi Oblada Woven Fringed Cowl Kit - Berry includes the colors shown above, or you might like the combination of Squid Ink & Vanilla in the Obladi Oblada Woven Fringed Cowl Kit - Squid Ink. Each kit comes with instructions, enough yarn to make the cowl, and two buttons (click here to browse our button selection).

Obladi Oblada Woven Fringed Cowl Kit - Berry

Obladi Oblada Woven Fringed Cowl Kit - Squid Ink

This project is a great option for weavers of all levels, and it’s an easy introduction to working with mohair. Make one for yourself or get a head start on holiday presents!

Related items of interest:

General News

Auditorium Backpack

Electric Avenue Shawlette

Back to School!

Headed for dorm living?

For the guys!

Rib Magazine

Northern Ireland’s Game of Thrones Tapestry

Not just for yarn… Dyed Roving!

Obladi Oblada Cowl

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