Spinning

by: Sierra Roberts

SpinOff Fall 2017 – 40th Anniversary Issue

Friday, September 1st, 2017 Posted in General News, Magazine, Spinning | No Comments »

SpinOff Magazine 40th Anniversary!

Happy 40th, and congratulations to the wonderful spinners and artists who makes this terrific magazine happen!

This very special issue of SpinOff magazine celebrates 40 years of learning and sharing about the wonderful craft of spinning yarn. In it, you’ll find pages of tips, tricks, and know-hows carefully collected from the last 145 issues, a feature on visible mending (with your own handspun!), two projects to inspire, and much more.

Lamplight shawl

Spin Off Fall 2017

This Lamplight shawl was spun from a blend of Merino and Merino/silk top. The designer, Sara Lamb discusses how she divided these braids by color to achieve the lovely gradient you see above. Learn how to make that, or the smaller Cowgirl Cowlette for a piece that doesn’t require quite so much yardage.

The latest crafty trend we’re all hearing so much about, visible mending, has got me ready to finally take out my sewing pile. It takes a lot to get me mending, but I love the creative things people are doing with this art! This article discusses everything from different stitching techniques to spinning your own threads. Give new life to well loved items with this frugal and beautiful process. I’m particularly fond of the Sashiko method shown below:

This issue doesn’t just stay close to home, though. Learn about what’s happening to the Kyrgyz cashmere industry, then travel to Portugal to see how one woman is documenting and preserving the history of Portuguese craftspeople. Alice Bernardo is the researcher behind www.saberfazer.org, which is a website of many things – one of which being a lovely photo gallery of folks practicing traditional craftmaking.

Drawing silk from cocoons.

Blended gradient handspun.

There really is a little bit of everything is this issue – not only is there a piece on blending dyed fiber to create a color wheel inspired gradient, but I was also intrigued to read about Benjamin Krudwig’s experiments with making a newsprint inspired tweed yarn for weaving.

Newsprint tweed.

With so much history and knowledge packed into one magazine, it’s the perfect way to celebrate 40 whole years of sharing the spinning love. Here’s to the next 40 years of SpinOff!

Related items of interest:

Spinning Magazines

by: Sierra Roberts

New PLY Issue! Summer 2017

Friday, June 23rd, 2017 Posted in General News, Magazine, Spinning | No Comments »

PLY: bobbin-led

Newly arrived here at the shop is the much awaited [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] . This issue is near and dear to me, because it’s all about bobbin-led wheels. This kind of wheel can also be known as a single-drive or Irish tension wheel, and it’s exactly what I have at home!

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

While the Louet on the cover of this issue looks like it’s been around the block a few times, their model hasn’t changed much over the years. Simple and easy to use, the Louet S-10 CONCEPT ST Treadle, Classic Spinning Wheel, Irish Tension (also available as a double treadle) is an excellent example of a bobbin-led wheel. I use mine at home for all sorts of different kinds of yarns. In fact, this issue features a few very interesting pieces about the versatility (and perceived lack thereof) of bobbin-led spinning wheels.

Louet S-10 CONCEPT ST Treadle, Classic Spinning Wheel, Irish Tension

Louet S-10 CONCEPT DT Treadle, Classic Spinning Wheel, Irish Tension

A few samples of different fibers spun on a single drive spinning wheel.

Something a lot of spinners out there might not know is that it’s actually possible to turn your double drive or Scotch tension wheel into a bobbin-led wheel. In an article by Beth Smith (author of The Spinner's Book of Fleece: A Breed-by-Breed Guide to Choosing and Spinning the Perfect Fiber for Every Purpose), she describes the three main drive systems and how you can make a few minor, easy tweaks to your wheel to change that system. Lots of wheels are able to convert, but not all of them, so it’s good to get a grasp on what the differences are between the three systems in order to use your equipment to the fullest.

The Spinner's Book of Fleece: A Breed-by-Breed Guide to Choosing and Spinning the Perfect Fiber for Every Purpose

For more details on the wheels we carry, and a guide to comparing features, check out Amos’ post on How To Choose A Spinning Wheel!

Pavonine Shawl, by Liz Honig.

The biggest thing I took away from this issue of PLY was an overall encouragement to bend the rules. That is likely my own bias showing, but even Liz Honig, creator of the beautiful Pavonine Shawl shown above describes herself as a “by-the-seat-of-my-pants” spinner. This is the approach I tend to take, and it feels wonderful to read about other accomplished spinners taking a more organic, relaxed approach to the craft. In her introduction to the piece, Honig describes her experience trying a bobbin-led wheel for the first time and how it compares to how other wheels feel.

Another cool segment in this issue was about identifying those mystery wools spinners always find in their stashes. I myself have been sorting through a very dirty bag of wool that looks a lot like the stuff shown above – it came to me in an unmarked garbage bag, and I couldn’t begin to tell you what it is. With a few photos for examples, and characteristics to look for which will help you narrow it down, this article contains a lot of useful information.

Speaking of information, there is also a feature in this issue about the Aurora Colony Handspinners Guild in Aurora, Oregon. This guild strives to share the craft and history of spinning with the community around them. With classes and events happening year-round, one highlight is the Aurora Colony Handspinning Guild’s Antique Spinning Wheel Showcase. Here, you can catch of a glimpse of antique wheels from all over the world – in a curated historic setting, outfits and all. By the way… If you’re part of a Guild, be it spinning, weaving, knitting, or a little of everything, check out the Halcyon Yarn Guild Rewards Program, and earn money for your guild when you shop with us!

I always look forward to the next issue of PLY, and this season’s does not disappoint. With history, anecdotes, techniques and tips on just about every page, this magazine always makes me want to go home and spin. If you’re a handspinner looking for a bit of encouragement and lots of useful information, I recommend picking up a copy today!

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

New Spin-Off – Summer 2017 issue

Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 Posted in Magazine, Spinning | No Comments »

Another season, another new Spin-Off magazine!

The Spin Off Summer 2017 issue is here, and I had such a good time flipping through it I thought I should give all you lovely readers a peek at what’s inside.

Spin Off Summer 2017

Technical how-to’s, interesting fiber facts, and talk of spinning competitions are just a few of the topics covered in this issue, beginning with a very interesting article about ANIROONZ Farm in Colorado; this ranch is home to sheep whose fleece is specifically produced for handspinners. In this article, shepherd Nancy Irlbeck discusses her intimate relationship with her sheep, from spending time with them to taking care of them.

Sorting fleece on a skirting table at ANIROONZ Farm.

Ever wonder why you’ll often see sheep wearing coats? You’re not alone. This issue features a short piece explaining the handful of reasons why you’d want to dress your sheep. Here’s one fun fact: As the sheep and their wool grow throughout the year, you have to up their coat sizes accordingly. Makes sense, but I’ve never thought about that before!

Dressed to impress.

Columbia sheep

Also included in this issue is a piece about Columbia sheep. These are some of the largest sheep out there, and the breed is part of one of the oldest sheep-breed development projects in the US. This all American breed produces a versatile fleece, some attributes of which are detailed in this article. For example, check out the beautiful stitch definition demonstrated in the laceweight and chunky weight Columbia yarns shown below:

Columbia wool, laceweight and chunky weight.

And of course we can’t overlook the Double-Cable socks pattern – with notes on fiber prep, spinning and a pattern, you’ve got everything you need to know to make these cute, comfy socks:

Lastly, this issue includes an interesting article about crowd-funding (such as Kickstarter). After reading some intel from a few business owners who have made crowd-funding work for them, you might be tempted to consider starting that fiber-related business you’ve been dreaming about for so long. This article happens to feature Romney Ridge farm’s owner, the lovely Kelly Corbett. This is very cool, because Romney Ridge farm actually started quite close by to us here in Bath, Maine and we know from experience what a hard working and wonderful fiber artist Kelly is! We carry Romney Ridge Farm Note Cards featuring some of her flock of sheep, and a bunch of her needle felting kits, like these adorable creatures: Puffin Needle Felting Kit- Romney Ridge, Fox Single Creature Needle Felting Kit - Romney Ridge, Sheep Needle Felting Kit- Romney Ridge. To see all the kits we carry from Romney Ridge, click here.

Romney Ridge Farm Note Cards

Puffin Needle Felting Kit- Romney Ridge

Fox Single Creature Needle Felting Kit - Romney Ridge

Sheep Needle Felting Kit- Romney Ridge

Greeting from a Romney Ridge sheep!

These are just a few of the cool things you can find in the Spin Off Summer 2017 issue. To read it in full, make sure to get a copy before they’re gone!

Spin Off Summer 2017

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

Spinning with Black Diamond Fiber, A.K.A. Bamboo Carbon Fiber (on sale for a limited time)

Tuesday, April 25th, 2017 Posted in General News, On Sale, Spinning | No Comments »

The mysterious Black Diamond…

Guess what I recently learned? [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] doesn’t actually come from diamonds. It’s still pretty special though! This almost magical fiber is in fact derived from bamboo; another name for it is Bamboo Carbon Fiber, and it has a lot of the same wonderful characteristics as bamboo. Black diamond fiber absorbs moisture (like sweat) and is antimicrobial so it helps eliminate odor, making it great for socks, active wear, and anything that you’d like to wear close to your skin. This materials is even used in fancy cosmetics and beauty treatments because it has so many unique properties! Like silk, this fiber will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, and it’s also incredibly soft. The fiber resists pilling, is very durable, and it resists static electricity. Due to having the properties of far-infrared rays (which are used in quite a few different therapeutic treatments), black diamond fiber is also known to promote blood circulation, among other cool things.

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

I’ve spent enough time ogling this fiber here at the store, so I decided to finally just grab some and get to spinning. The first thing about the black diamond fiber that pulls you in is the steely, almost gunmetal gray color. Then you touch it, and the dry softness of it is fascinating. Almost squeaky when you rub it between your fingers, someone here quite accurately compared it to corn starch. It’s pin straight, very uniform, and is super easy to spin, too. I typically spin my singles at about a fingering weight, but this fiber lends itself really well to lace and thread weight yarns too. I was able to spin a relatively even, very skinny singles with no effort – even on an unfamiliar wheel! Kromski - Symphony Spinning Wheel Walnut

Look at that skinny singles!

Here it is, chain-plied.

Kromski - Symphony Spinning Wheel Walnut

But why stop at just one type of fiber? Typically, when spinning with something unique like this I like to blend it with something a little more familiar. Since the black diamond fiber is washable, I decided to see what would happen if I mixed this dark beauty with some pure white Superwash Merino Wool Top Fiber. Turns out, good things! First, I sat down with the Ashford Joy 2 Spinning Wheel, Double-Treadle to spin a matching singles with the merino.

Superwash Merino Wool Top Fiber

Ashford Joy 2 Spinning Wheel, Double-Treadle

Next I plied the two together, making a game attempt at keeping the yarn balanced. It isn’t easy, even though lots of spinners make it look so. But the subtle thick and thin parts of each ply creates an almost funhouse effect when you see them spiraling together, and I love it.

After that, I took out the Ashford Blending Board and made myself a nice fat black and white rolag. I decided to make this yarn intentionally thick and thin, and to keep it as a single ply to really show off how the fibers blended together. (You can see the resulting lovely swirled grey yarn in the first photo above.) I chose to spin this on a Louet High-Whorl Drop Spindle for variety’s sake; when you spend an entire day spinning it’s nice to be able to change it up!

Ashford Blending Board

Louet High-Whorl Drop Spindle

As you can see, there’s no limit to what you can do with the black diamond (or bamboo carbon) fiber. It seems mighty strong, so I think it’d make wonderful socks. When I was chain-plying the first single, I couldn’t help but imagine it becoming a slinky summer top. Those are just a few ideas, though. When you spin your own yarn, you can create absolutely anything you want.

At long last, the Black Diamond mystery has been solved. But I’m no less intrigued; the possibilities with this versatile fiber are endless.

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] is on sale now until May 1st!

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

Remember – all our loose fibers are sold by the ounce or the pound, so you can try just a little, or save when you buy a lot!

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

Spinning Bamboo Fiber & Top (on sale for a limited time)

Monday, April 24th, 2017 Posted in General News, Spinning | No Comments »

…Psst! Did you know that we carry two different types of un-dyed bamboo fiber?

(plus they’re on sale for the rest of April!)

I recently set out to learn the difference between Bamboo Fiber and Bamboo Top Fiber, because it’s hard to tell just by looking at their photos! When you see them in person, it’s clear that Bamboo Top Fiber is the more processed of the two; its shine and silky smoothness are quite the contrast to the more matte, slubby Bamboo Fiber. What does that mean for blending and spinning these two? I did some experimenting with an Ashford Blending Board and my Shotzee Medium Weight Cherry Wood Drop Spindle to find out!

Bamboo Fiber

Bamboo Top Fiber

Ashford Blending Board

Shotzee Medium Weight Cherry Wood Drop Spindle

Above, from left to right: Merino Top Wool Fiber, Bamboo Fiber, Merino Top Wool Fiber, Bamboo Top Fiber.

Merino Top Wool Fiber

Bamboo Fiber

Merino Top Wool Fiber

Bamboo Top Fiber

After choosing two colors of Merino Top Wool Fiber, I grabbed a handful of each of the bamboos. I opted to use the slubby Bamboo Fiber with the martini olive colored Merino, and the Bamboo Top with the cinnamon colored Merino. I didn’t want the bright white color to dilute the lovely green, so I added it sparingly to the blending board. I did go a little heavier with the Bamboo Top in the other blend, though, because it blends much more easily than its more rustic counterpart.

Merino Top Wool Fiber

I love the part where you get to roll the fiber off the blending board- it’s so satisfying!

Fiber on a stick, anyone? Ok, so when all was said and done I ended up with two giant rolags:

Already, you can see the difference in how these fibers blended. The rolag on the left (with Merino Top Wool Fiber and Bamboo Fiber) is much less integrated, with tufts and clumps of bamboo popping up here and there. Of course, some of that has to do with my blending process, more carding ahead of time, or more extensive blending, perhaps on a drum carder, would have teased apart the clumps more thoroughly. Look at the rolag on the right – the Bamboo Top Fiber mixed in so smoothly with the Merino. It just depends what effect you prefer!

After spinning these rolags into singles, here’s what I ended up with:

I must admit, I’m not a fan of the green singles prior to plying. I like how the bamboo fiber kind of winds around the surface of the Merino, and sits in little slubs randomly throughout the yarn. However, the effect might be more graceful if the colors of the two fibers weren’t so starkly contrasted. Not a problem if you’re a dyer! That same stark contrast worked beautifully for the cinnamon blend, though. It reminds me the tiniest bit of Juniper Moon Farm Moonshine Yarn.

Juniper Moon Farm Moonshine Yarn

Of course, both yarns are super soft, and even the less refined Bamboo Top is wonderfully touchable. My verdict? If you’re looking for a thick and thin, slubby, tweedy texture, you should definitely go with the Bamboo Fiber. For a soft, smooth blend that could almost be mistaken for silk, the Bamboo Top Fiber is the fiber for you. These fibers will also behave very similarly to Tencel Fiber, and are more slippery and strong than their close cousin White Soysilk® Fiber. I suggest doing your own experiments too, as the yarns above are only a small example of what can be done with these fascinating fibers!

Try the loose bamboo fiber in your felting projects as well. It won’t felt to itself the way wool does, but as a small accent it can be worked into wool to provide a contrasting texture and extra shine in needle felt, wet felt or nuno felted pieces.

If you do happen to be a dyer, keep in mind that bamboo is a cellulose based fiber so if you are dyeing it on it’s own, or with another cellulose plant fiber, like cotton, you’ll want to use Procion Fiber Reactive Dyes. These are lower temperature dyes that also work well on silk, but are not intended for protein based (animal) fibers like wool or alpaca. (For protein fibers we recommend the Country Classic, or Wash Fast Acid Dyes.)

Almost any dye will still effect the other fiber in the blend, but not uniformly or with the same degree of saturation. So if you’re dyeing a protein/cellulose fiber blend like the ones shown here you can use the differences in dye take-up to your advantage and create amazing color and tonal differences between the blended fibers. It’s always a bit of an experiment – but well worth it as you see one-of-a-kind colorways emerge!

Try Bamboo Fiber and Bamboo Top Fiber as well as the unusual [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] , which we wrote more about here. They’re on sale until May 1st – save now!

Bamboo Fiber

Bamboo Top Fiber

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

Remember – all our loose fibers are sold by the ounce or the pound, so you can try just a little, or save when you buy a lot!

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

Getting started with a drop spindle

Tuesday, April 18th, 2017 Posted in Fiber Arts Education, General News, Spinning | No Comments »

Looking to learn how to use a drop spindle? Like driving a stick shift, it’s all about practicing until you get a feel for the rhythm. But how does one get started? We’ve set up a short photo tutorial to show you just that. From one beginner to another: don’t let it intimidate you!

To start, you’ll want to cut a 20″ or so length of already spun yarn- the woolier the better. One end of this will be tied onto the shaft of your spindle…

…like so. Just a double knot or any secure knot of your choosing will work.

Now the lead yarn is attached.

Bring this yarn up and around the hook, making sure to have it resting in the little groove on the side of the whorl (the disc part of your spindle) as shown.

Here’s another photo of that. It doesn’t matter which direction you wrap the yarn around the hook in, as long as it’s securely hooked. Otherwise, your yarn will slip out as the spindle is spinning, causing the spindle to fall to the floor. The spindle is bound to hit the floor unexpectedly at some point, and don’t be discouraged if it happens a lot at first!

You can spin from the full thickness of roving, but it’s easier to split it up into thinner strips as shown. This makes drafting a little quicker and less labor intensive.

To start spinning your roving, pull it out a little (this is called drafting) and overlap it with the lead yarn, as shown above and below.

Holding your fiber and lead yarn together with one hand, give your spindle a firm twist with your other hand. As it’s spinning, gently loosen your hold on the fiber and lead yarn. You should feel them start to grab and twist around each other. It’s important at the very start to choose a direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise) to twist your spindle in. You’ll have to stick with this direction for the rest of your project, otherwise you’ll end up un-spinning your yarn!

Slowly allow the weight of the spindle to drop, while keeping just enough grip with the fingers holding the two fibers together to keep everything from falling to the floor. That will allow the yarn to slide through your fingers as it’s spinning; you can see what comes out below them- it’s becoming yarn!

You can see the roving beginning to spin by itself above where my lower hand is. I’m using the hand above to draft, while my lower hand keeps a grip on the spinning yarn.

Once your spindle has reached the floor, you’ll have a nice long length of yarn. This needs to be wound onto the shaft of your spindle before you can continue. The lead yarn you tied on at the beginning will likely want to spin around the shaft when you go to do this, so it helps to hold it in place with your thumb for the first few twists around.

Here’s what it looks like once you’ve wrapped that section. Be sure to leave enough already spun yarn to bring back up and around the hook.

Now that the yarn you just spun is wound up, you’re ready to repeat the dropping and spinning process.

Here are some helpful tips while you’re getting started:

• You don’t have to draft while spinning! Lots of drop spindle users will tuck the spindle between their knees or under their arm so they can draft comfortably without being rushed. Give it a twist and allow that length to spin; once it’s spun you can “park and draft” again!

• Once you understand the process, I encourage you to play with different hand positions and grips until you find a comfortable combination. I often change up my hand positions, and some work better for different fiber types.

• Don’t feel bad if you end up with thick and thin yarn. Textured, slubby yarns are awesome!

• Try to keep the yarn you’re spinning from becoming too thin. This will cause it to break, and your spindle will hit the floor with a crash. It’s inevitable at first, so don’t worry when it happens. Your spindle will be OK even if your pride is slightly damaged.

• Most importantly: There is no such thing as “wrong” yarn; I encourage you to get a feel for the motion, and don’t worry about creating a perfectly balanced, even yarn at first. Just have fun with it!

by: Emily Werner

Handspinning for yarn lovers

Friday, April 14th, 2017 Posted in General News, Spinning | No Comments »

Can’t find the yarn you’re looking for? Make it yourself!

How many times have you gone into a yarn shop knowing the exact yarn you want, only to find that it doesn’t exist? Maybe the color is wrong, or the weight, or even the fiber. Have you ever considered that you can spin the exact yarn you want?

I always knew I would one day learn to spin, it was just a matter of when I would be able to get my hands on a spinning wheel. Finally, the stars aligned and I was able to take Linda Clutterbuck’s Begin to Spin class right here at Halcyon! In the weeks leading up to the class I read all about different types of wheels we have in the classroom and tried to figure out which one was best for me. I’ve got to admit, it was pretty overwhelming. Irish tension? Scotch tension? Double drive? Wheel ratios? Did I want a beautiful traditional wheel so I could imagine I was spinning in a fairy tale or a modern wheel geared towards function and portability? Most importantly, what kind of yarn did I want to spin?

(If you want some help learning the terms and comparing features, check out our spinning wheel guide post here.)

With all these new terms spinning around in my head, I selected the Louet S-10 CONCEPT DT Treadle, Classic Spinning Wheel, Irish Tension for my class. Apart from wanting to learn the basics, I knew I wanted to experiment with art yarns. From my research, I knew I would need a wheel with both an orifice and bobbins large enough to accommodate chunkier yarns. The S-10 was also easily portable between home and class. I let the other terminology go for the time being, deciding it would all make more sense once I actually started spinning.

Louet S-10 CONCEPT DT Treadle, Classic Spinning Wheel, Irish Tension

After a brief introduction to spinning, Linda let us loose, only gently correcting our posture or tweaking something on the wheel. There weren’t too many things to adjust on the wheel, so my main focus could be on what my hands and feet were doing. Spinning really is a whole body experience. It’s kind of like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time. But once you get the rhythm down, spinning can be incredibly relaxing and meditative.

I’ve enjoyed spinning just for the sake of spinning. I have no purpose in mind other than to see what kind of yarn I can create. So far, my favorite creations have been a lock-spun and a coil-spun yarn. I’m not sure if these yarns are technically well spun, but I was too impatient to try out the technique that I couldn’t wait to do proper research. Don’t think, just spin!

Hand dyed lock-spun yarn

For the lock-spun yarn I used dyed curly locks from a local farm! I just opened the individual locks and spun the ends together, not worrying about it looking perfect or smooth, I was looking for lots of texture. I love the way the two colors subtly blend together and how the yarn looks very raw and woolly. Like it was just shorn off a bright orange sheep! You could also try this technique with our Kid Mohair Locks and Loose Fiber for a super soft version of this yarn.

Coil-spun yarn

Kid Mohair Locks and Loose Fiber

The coil-spun yarn was a two step process. First I spun a thick and thin singles yarn from a hand painted merino braid (similar to Nube by Malabrigo Fiber) that I got a few years ago at a fiber fair (I told you I’ve wanted to spin for a while!). Thick and thin yarn is great for beginners as the inconsistent size is now a design element! I then plied the painted merino with store bought thin wool yarn, holding the two singles at a right angle to each other, letting the merino wrap around the wool yarn. I love the fluff and softness of the finished product. I just want to put it on a shelf and stare at it all day.

Nube by Malabrigo Fiber

You may think I’d get tired of yarn, working in a yarn store, or that I have access to almost every kind of yarn. And I do see (and buy…) wonderful yarns throughout the shop on a daily basis! But there are so many fun yarns you can make by hand that large scale production just can’t match. Handspun yarns just have that extra special look and feel to them. So follow my lead, don’t think, just spin!

Related items of interest:

by: Sierra Roberts

Handspun Recycled Sari Silk Inspiration

Friday, April 14th, 2017 Posted in General News, Spinning | No Comments »

From messy to magical, spinning with Sari Silk… on sale for a limited time!

Inspiration struck! A while back, we wrote a post about our Pulled Sari Silk Fiber, 1/4 lb bag. The samples in the photographs spent a few days floating around here, and I couldn’t take my eyes off them. I was very excited to snag my own bag to play with at home.

Pulled Sari Silk Fiber, 1/4 lb bag

What I find the most fascinating about working with this silk is the total transformation that occurs once you start to pull it apart and start working with it. I won’t lie – it kind of looks like a pile of mud in the bag. As soon as you start blending or even just pulling it apart by hand, though, it comes to life. The fiber is just a hodgepodge of recycled bits of silk in all colors, including little clumps of brightly colored bits that hide amongst each other. When you start working with it, though…

Allow me to illustrate: The very day I came home with my little bag of sari silk in tow, I got out my drum carder and went to work. I had been hoarding a braid of Maine grown alpaca, so I decided to make my own silk/alpaca blend. Fancy! I put a layer of alpaca down, and then pulled out some silk to add.

In the interest of experimentation, I tried a few different ways of adding the silk to the alpaca. First, I did it the way you usually would use a drum carder – I laid out the proper amount and fed it in. The silk wanted to stay on the licker-in, though, so I gave that method up pretty quickly. Instead I ended up using the drum as a kind of spinning blending board, taking a small amount of silk and holding it lightly against the surface. I used my other hand to spin the crank, and as the drum spun I allowed the teeth to pull the silk out of my hand, while holding on to it just tightly enough to keep the teeth from taking the entire clump. The result was nothing short of fireworks, I tell you.

So excited about what I was seeing, I hollered for my husband to come see the small miracle happening in front of me. He was equally impressed, or at the very least he did a good job pretending. As the clumps of silk were pulled apart and spread out among the other fibers, new colors were peeking out. Almost as if someone had taken a bunch of little paintbrushes, each with a different neon color, and flicked them. Suddenly a tiny patch of turquoise, pink, orange, yellow and green would appear on the surface of my batt. I couldn’t wait to spin the stuff.

Here’s that handspun blend, incorporated as wide stripes in a shawl I’m still working on.

I got so much enjoyment out of just preparing this silk to work with; any way you’d choose to use it would surely be as rewarding. I ended up spinning it into a 2-ply sport weight yarn, which I’m using as contrast with another color for a shawl. The natural alpaca softens the colors and the highlights from the silk really pop with the brighter accent yarns.

I encourage you to try your own experiments with this amazing, magical recycled sari silk and see where it takes you. Scoop up a bag or two this week and try it out – Sari Silk is on sale until next Sunday, April 23rd!

Related items of interest:

Our fibers

Spinning

SpinOff Magazine 40th Anniversary!

PLY: bobbin-led

Another season, another new Spin-Off magazine!

The mysterious Black Diamond…

…Psst! Did you know that we carry two different types of un-dyed bamboo fiber?

(plus they’re on sale for the rest of April!)

Can’t find the yarn you’re looking for? Make it yourself!

From messy to magical, spinning with Sari Silk… on sale for a limited time!

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