Category: Spinning History

Historical Textiles-

Spinning-

Spinning History

From Wool to Cloth: Using a Historical Weaving Technique on my Wildwool Farms Rolag Box

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So many people have been buzzing about Wildwool Farms and their incredible rolag boxes — so I had to try one! The rolag box was a surprise because I didn't pick out specific colors or fibers. I was going to try to spin and weave whatever was in the box. My goal for this project was just to have fun, embrace the challenge, and try to make a beautiful, historically inspired woven cloth out of it.Read More

Spinning-

Spinning History-

Wool-

Yarn

From Fleece to Fabric — An American Tunis Breed Study

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Just as there are many dog breeds that come in different sizes, colors, and coat types — there is a wide variety of sheep breeds. Each sheep breed has been bred throughout history to produce wools with different characteristics. So how do you choose the right breed for your project? Breed studies can be immensely helpful for understanding this. I generously received a gifted sample of some American Tunis wool. So, I am going to walk through a miniature breed study, from raw wool to finished yarn, with American Tunis.Read More

Evie Gets Dressed-

Intentional Wardrobe-

Knitting-

Spinning History-

Tutorial

Spinning Angora Rabbit Fiber to Knit a Vintage 1960s Hat Pattern

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I’ve always loved the look of mid-century vintage beret hats — especially the ones that have an angora halo. There's just something about that iconic angora halo that gives the hat such a romantic feel, and I love it! So, I decided to make one! For this project, I’ll be spinning angora rabbit fiber with merino wool to replicate a discontinued yarn and knit a vintage hat pattern from the 1960s. I walk through the process from carding, spinning, and dyeing the yarn, to knitting a beautiful beret with a classic angora halo.Read More

Historical Textiles-

Spinning-

Wool-

Yarn

How to: Tablet Weaving with Handspun Yarn

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Tablet weaving with handspun yarn can make an absolutely beautiful woolen, card woven band. Having a yarn that is intentionally spun for weaving can make all the difference in how well your pattern will show up, reducing the pilling and fuzzing that can happen with fluffier commercial yarns, and of course, custom dyeing can give you the color pallet you want for your project. Here's how I created a simple tablet woven band that I created with my hand-dyed and handspun yarn.Read More

Spinning-

Spinning History-

Spinning Wheels-

Wool

Canadian Production Wheel (CPW) — History, Spinning, and Long Draw

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Have you ever wondered about the history of Canadian Production Wheels (CPWs)? Why were so many produced in Quebec during the late 1800s and early 1900s? I was inspired to do some research on CPWs after acquiring one myself. The CPW is a beautiful historical spinning wheel and a real workhorse. I like to compare it to a draft horse and adoringly call my wheel Philippe after the draft horse in Beauty and the Beast. Keep reading to learn all about the history, key features, and how to spin on a CPW.Read More

Spinning-

Spinning History-

Tutorial-

Wool

How to Make DIY Spindle Whorls from Polymer Clay

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Spindle whorls have been discovered in the most ancient of archeological sites and are still used today to hand spin yarn by yarn crafters, reenactors, and people working to preserve their cultural heritage and textile traditions, and by YouTubers (like me!). This was a super fun project where I learned how easy it is to make DIY spindle whorls out of polymer clay.Read More