The essay on spindles in history has been updated, if you’re interested. The cross stitch is halfway done. According to the new cross stitching app I’m using on my Android tablet, the completed project has 67,980 stitches. Mind-blowing. Something else that’s mind-blowing: the fact that most humans have fingers that Read more…
A “wristaff” is a great way to hold your fiber while you’re spindle spinning. I know I wrote up a tutorial years ago, but I’ve lost it, so here it is as best I remember it. I’m glad I still have the photos. I went to the craft store and Read more…
I made my first instructional video: how to spin in the way I’ve been doing it since I hurt my thumb. I call it “medium draw”, as I know several spinners who use this technique but it doesn’t seem to have a name.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about art and how it differs from and overlaps with craft. Most of what I do is craft. It can be artistic — designing a weaving pattern, or choosing how to handle colors in a yarn I’m spinning — but I don’t think of Read more…
I haven’t spun since February, thanks to a bad case of tendonitis in my right thumb. So I’m giving it a break. Instead I’ve been working on other things, mainly a huge cross-stitch project. It’s The Pointed Fifth from Long Dog Samplers. Here’s what it should look like finished: There’s Read more…
The Cotton Club Museum invited the Gainesville Handweavers Guild back for this year’s Florida Emancipation Day (May 20th) celebration. It was held on May 18th this year, because that was the closest Saturday. Originally I thought I’d be giving a short lecture, like I did last year. That one was Read more…
Just a quick post to say how much I love the way this scarf looks. If I can find a slightly thicker yarn dyed this way, I’d be delighted to make myself a sweater. Yarn is Baah La Jolla in “Smoke and Diamonds.” Pattern is Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s One Row Handspun Read more…
I have a really good example of how a yarn can make or break a knitting pattern. Both these pieces of knitting were made with the same yarn — Lorna’s Laces Multi in the “Reno” colorway — and using a size 6 needle. Both patterns are based on garter stitch. Read more…
I am, if I may brag a little, a pretty good knitter and spinner. I wanted to show off two things I made recently. First, a sweater for my mom. The pattern is the Perseids Cardigan by Heidi Kirrmaier. I used a thinner yarn than the pattern called for, so Read more…
I had Bobbin Boy, maker and fixer of wheel parts, make a distaff; three more bobbins; and a second peg to hold the flywheel in place. He did an excellent job, although saying the name “Bobbin Boy” makes me giggle. I stained them myself. Thanks to Adam at my local Read more…