Beth Smith's Blog, page 12

How Much Fiber

I have some ideas about how much fiber to buy to spin for different projects and really early this morning I wrote a little about it on Facebook in response to a comment on a post on Franklin Habit’s page. Then I went back to sleep for a little while. I had written in my comment that it was a blog post and when I woke up I decided today was as good a day as any.

So, here is my answer almost every time someone asks how much fiber they need for a project. Keep in mind that these are generalizations and your mileage may vary depending on if you spin a dense or light yarn. But it’s always nice to have a starting point. And these amounts are for knitting. Crochet might need a titch more and weaving is often a bit lighter than knitting.

4 ounces for socks, a hat, mittens

6-8 ounces for a scarf and sometimes a vest

12 – 16 ounces for a regular hip length stockinette sweater

24 ounces to 2 pounds for a cabled sweater

When in doubt, well even when not in doubt, always buy an extra couple of ounces for sampling. You want enough extra fiber to be able to spin some yarn to get the thickness right and then enough of that yarn to make a finished fabric swatch. Don’t be scared to make samples. And always keep notes with your samples so that you can recreate that yarn.

The above sweater is Tappan Zee by Amy King. The top lace part of the sweater was spun from Merino batts blended by Abby Franquemont and the bottom part and sleeves were spun from Corriedale top dyed by Amy King. The entire sweater weighs about 12 ounces.

This sweater is Hiro designed by Julia Farwell Clay. The sweater is spun from Columbia wool roving from Imperial Stock Ranch. I’m having a hard time finding someone who currently sells it. Anyway, the sweater weighs just under a pound.

I wrote a whole book about sampling. Did you know that? It’s called The Spinner’s Book of Fleece. You can get a signed copy from me or get one from your favorite book store. It’s useful even if you never ever want to spin from raw fleece in your whole life. It’s true.

 

 

More Consistent Yarn

One of my most popular classes is about Consistency. On my Class list it’s called Going Steady. Interweave has a video and they called it Getting Even. The video is basically my class so if you can’t make it to take a class from me, the video contains all of my fancy tricks although they aren’t really tricks. They are more all of the techniques I’ve found over the last many years as I chase the perfect handspun skein.

Anyway, today I have one tiny little hint for you that will make your skeins spun with a short forward draw immediately better.

Remember when you were first learning to spin and your teacher talked about staple length? Well, often and in my experience, they never clearly explained why we were supposed to care about the staple length (or maybe I was just so focused on keeping my hands and feet going that I wasn’t paying attention). Well, I’m going to tell you why it’s important for consistency.

You will get the most consistent yarns if your short forward draw draft is about one half the staple length. For example, Merino is generally about 3ish inches in staple length. Change your drafting length from 3 inches to 1-1.5 inches and your yarn will immediately become more consistent.

The samples shown were spun using a common Merino top. The top yarn was spun using a drafting length of about 1 inch. The bottom yarn was spun using a drafting length of about 3 inches.

Often spinners are drafting too long of a length. This results in thick and thin yarn because the length being drafted comes out to the full length of the majority of the fibers in that portion of the combed top. That is why a lot of spinners are more consistent when they spin a longer staple length wool such as Blue Faced Leicester or Romney. Try it and see. It works. I promise.

I’ll be giving lots of little tips like this when we begin our spin and weave along on January 1. Have you signed up for the newsletters yet?

Sunday Inspiration

I’ve probably listened to this 10 times in the last week so I thought I’d share it today.

Gifts for Your Favorite Weaver

I’m not kidding. Everything on this list is something I want. There are two that I already have but I want another. So, let me know what you think. or if there is something you are wishing for.

Ashford Warp Thread Weights. I used to use film canisters but, ya know, film is not easy to get anymore. Recently I’ve been wrapping thread around a bobbin. Sometimes it’s heavy enough…But these can vary in weight. They are easy to hang on a thread with a half hitch. I may be ordering these for myself!

Rosie’s Pick Glass. Know why I like this? Because you can use it to count the picks per inch in your woven fabric and you can also use it to get up close and personal with your fleeces. Count those crimps like a pro! Multi Use tool means it’s only half the price. Isn’t that how it works?

Shuttle Pin. These are adorable and cute for a collar or a weaving convention name tag.

Purl and Loop Tree with Ornaments. Now I know that if this is a Christmas gift it won’t be finished to display for Christmas but seriously this is cute enough to display all year round and also it gives the recipient plenty of time to work on these adorable ornaments a little at a time.

While we’re on the Purl and Loop website, can we talk about these Swatchmaker Looms? There are lots of others. I’m just linking to my favorite here. This loom will never take the place of a sample made on the loom you intend to use but it will give you a good idea if you are on the right track. Especially if you are spinning for weaving.

Hand Made Sewing Needle. I have several of these needles from Stephen Willette and I love how they feel in my hand. Again this is a multi use tool. Fix mistakes in your weaving, weave in your ends in knitting or use them for sewing pieces together.

Bluster Bay End Feed Shuttle. If I mention this same shuttle in two posts in one week, do you think it’s too much? Keep in mind I’ve only held it in my hand. I haven’t woven with one. But it’s so beautiful!

Ok. So that’s everything on my list! Well, not really. But that’s where I’m stopping.

Pick of the Week

Today I’m going back in time almost exactly 10 years ago. Has it been that long already? Crazy. I had been a shop owner for only one year and Jenny Bakriges was the first spinning teacher I hosted. Having her was a great introduction to hosting teachers.

At this point I was teaching a weekly beginning spinning class. Jenny was super encouraging to me. She gave me lots of tips and I gained a new Friend. I believe this was also the weekend that I met Kat for the first time too!

A few years after this Jenny Published her spinning/knitting/dying book with Schoolhouse Press.

You know, when you take on something like hiring a teacher it can be a little scary. There are daily rates and travel and lodging costs that must be paid no matter how many people decide to show up. I decided right at the beginning of hiring teachers that I wasn’t going to cancel them. I had two reasons for that. First was because the teacher had blocked out those dates on her/his calendar and possibly had turned other people down after we were booked and I didn’t want them to lose that income. Second was because I was hiring teachers I wanted to learn from and I figured at the very least I would be getting a private lesson. It worked out 99% of the time. And it was awesome.

I’m thinking about this right now because of the retreat I’m planning (see yesterday’s post) and all of the upfront, unrecoverable costs and the little nervous feeling I have. But I’m looking back at all the years of taking risks and things working out just fine. The people came, we had a great time together. I met some remarkable teachers and am proud to call many of them my friend now. I also met some remarkable students and many of them are also friends right now too.

So that quickening of my heartbeat is a combination of nerves and excitement – more excitement I think.

Just a little reminder that my first newsletters will be going out in less than two weeks. You won’t regret signing up to get them. There is a form right on this page for the general newsletter and a link in Wednesday’s post if you want to get the weaving newsletter and take part in the upcoming spin/weave along.

 

Dreaming…

One of the things I loved the most about owning The Spinning Loft all those years ago was bringing in teachers to the shop and holding mini retreats. I loved that students came from all over the country to take classes at my shop. I loved meeting the teachers and spending time with them.

I also held two retreats in Pennsylvania where I taught classes. I loved that too. It was fun to have a small group together and get to know each other. Classes where the students spend more time together than 3 or 6 hours are much more fun. There is more talking and more questions are asked and a ton of conversations happen.

Since the Spinning Loft made its way to the hands of someone else I’ve been wanting to put a retreat together again. It’s been on my list and on my mind for a few years but there was always something holding me back.

But no more. The ideas are forming and getting solidified.

What about a retreat that includes classes? What about a retreat that includes free time at a fantastic fiber festival? And most meals? And lodging? What if it were small and exclusive? Like 10 people or less?

Are you free in October?

If you think this might be fun please leave a comment here and also make sure you sign up for my newsletter.

PS Did you read yesterday’s post about the Giveaway?

It’s a Giveaway!

Remember a few weeks ago when I talked about how things were going to change around here?

Then remember a couple of weeks ago when I talked about the spin and weave along? 

Well, things are moving along at a very nice speed. Lots of changes are coming and time is flying by so we just keep working and having new ideas and making more exciting work for ourselves.

Today I want to talk about the Spin and Weave Along, how it’s going to work, and then a little contest. This can work for people with floor looms, table looms or rigid heddle looms so everybody!

Have you signed up for the Weaving Newsletter yet? The first issue will go out on Friday November 24th. In that newsletter will be an opportunity to buy the kit for the Spin and Weave Along before everyone else can get it. The thing about that is there will be a limited number of kits available so having a subscription to the weaving newsletter may be advantageous.

The following week the kits will be available on my website. I will be taking orders for the kits and all kits will go in the mail on December 20th.

On January 1 we will begin the weekly newsletter that will go on for 4 weeks. Each week will include hints and tips and links. We will be using commercial yarn for the warp in this scarf project and we will be spinning the weft. You can either do exactly what I say or I can give a few ideas about how you can change things a little. Some little tips will be on the blog but the majority of the information will be found in the newsletter. Even if you aren’t interested in a kit, sign up for the newsletter and you can follow along with your own materials.

Together we will warp our looms, spin the weft, weave the scarf and talk about finishing. The yarn being used in Colorway 1 will be Spunky Eclectic Glimmer which is a Superwash Merino with a tiny bit of Lurex glimmer blended in. Colorway 2 and 3 are Spunky Eclectic Panda Sock which is a blend of Superwash Merino with about 35% Bamboo. The fiber we will be spinning is a very lovely Polwarth top.

Now for the contest. I am giving away one kit to a lucky winner. Here’s how you can enter; comment on this blog post!

But, if you would like to earn three additional chances to win you can share this post on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter – you just have to make sure you use the hashtag #SpinAndWeaveAlongWithBeth so that I can keep track of all the shares! Each share gives you another opportunity to win! You can will get to pick your favorite from the three available colorways. The winner will be drawn on Monday, November 27th and announced here!

 

My Favorite Weaving Shuttles

I have a small collection of shuttles from a few different makers. I’ve also held quite a few in my hand at fiber festivals and shops. I know what I currently like. That’s not to say that my opinion won’t change over time but for now I can say what I like best.

I’m going to begin with Schacht Boat Shuttles. I like these I think because they are the ones I learned with. Similar to whether you prefer flat or curved hand cards, I think the ones the weaver  learns with will always hold a tender place in his/her heart. I have one standard boat shuttle which is the one in the back. It has some good weight. Two slim shuttle which are often my go to size and a mini boat shuttle which is nice for small projects and can be easily used on a rigid heddle loom.

Next Are the Schacht End Delivery shuttles. I love these! This was the beginning of better selvedges. I know that selvedges get better if you don’t touch them but I was having an issue with my fingers listening to my brain. When I switched to this shuttle things got better. Now the last couple of days I went back to the regular open boat shuttle and everything is great so I’m happy I worked with these. Plus the pirn holds a bunch of yarn. There is a learning curve to filling the pirns though so be ready for that.

These shuttles from a maker named Howell called Little Man Shuttles are fun, the weight is nice and the shape is nice. Sara Lamb recommended them to me a few years ago and I obviously do whatever she tells me. But I haven’t used them very much. I’m not sure if these are made anymore but the Woolery carries a shuttle that reminds me of these very much. They are called McFarland and when I saw them in person I was sure they were the ones I own.

I have this shuttle which I bought used and I have no idea who made it. I like how it feels in my hand. I should probably use it more. Practice makes perfect you know.

 

 

 

And this Leclerc Double Bobbin Shuttle which I’ve never used but I’m keeping it just in case.

I did have a Bluster Bay closed bottom boat shuttle for a while but I wasn’t a fan and I think that’s because of the way I hold and throw the shuttle. I felt out of control and the yarn would spin out off the bobbin. But I have been eyeing a Bluster Bay End Delivery Shuttle….

What are your favorite shuttles? I’m always happy to try new things.

My Favorite Christmas Albums

Kat and I were talking again and we found out that we both love Christmas and consider November 1 the perfect day to begin playing those favorite songs. But as we talked more we found out our favorite types of Christmas music is very different. So today we are doing tandem posting. Go check out her blog if you want more ideas about the joyful music to add to your collection.

First up is Elvis’s Christmas Album. this is the album that I remember from my childhood. Every year it was playing at Christmas. I can’t not listen to it. It’s part of my life and I’m no spring chicken anymore. But I have to say, I love the classics. There are other, newer versions but this is the cover I remember.

What would Christmas be without Bing Crosby? I love his voice and I love what he does with a Christmas Carol.

 

Frank Sinatra! I have always been a Frank Sinatra fan and I can’t help it. The nice thing is that my darling likes him too. This is classic Sinatra, changing words like Children to Kiddies but still keepin it classy.

 

Barbra Streisand has always been a favorite of mine. No matter what she’s singing and let me tell you, Barbra can sing a Christmas Carol like nobody’s business!

Maybe I’m getting too predictable now? I can’t help it! Michael Buble is awesome. But maybe you see a theme here. He’s got that classic voice for singing the Christmas songs that I love.

 

I was going to stop at 5 but the next two are a must for me every Christmas. And actually the next one is actually a series of 3…or maybe 5…but this first album has Madonna singing Santa Baby and the Eurythmics singing Winter Wonderland. Plus U2 and Bruce and Run DMC! How can you resist? A Very Special Christmas indeed!

And finally something that feel like it doesn’t fit in this collection but I can’t help it because I love it so much is the Christmas album from The Chieftans. I love Irish music anyway but add a bit of holiday in and we’re set! If Flogging Molly had a Christmas album I would have included it in my list!

 

Funny, I just checked out Kat’s blog and she’s got the Chieftans on her list too!

Bonus: My least favorite Christmas song of all time – Do They Know it’s Christmas. I refuse to listen to it. If it comes on in the car and the channel does not get changed all of the passengers are afflicted with my yearly rant about that song.

Do you have any favorites? I’m always happy to add to my list.

Sunday Inspiration

I went to a meeting on Friday night for the youth of our church and President Nelson and his wife Wendy Nelson were speaking. Both of these things were said and I love them!