Yarntopia

The display in the front window includes handspun yarn, hand dyed roving, the jewelry kits and a shawl and hat that were made using my handspun yarn.

We fiber folks are a peculiar bunch.   We fondle yarn, collect yarn, dream about yarn, and a few of us even sniff yarn (and you know who you are).  Our passion for yarn is exceeded only by our need for oxygen and food.  Last Friday we celebrated our love for yarn, and today I want to continue that love-fest by sharing some other fibery goodness with you.

As many of you know I have become infatuated with spinning.  There is something so magical about having the ability to turn a pile of wool into useable, beautiful yarn.  As I learn more and more about spinning I think the intimate knowledge gained will make me a better knitter and fiber artist. The preparation and spinning of the fiber greatly affects the final knitted project.  

Today, the term worsted is most commonly used in reference to a weight of yarn; however, worsted is also a method of wool preparation inwhich the fibers are combed so that the fibers all lay parallel to one another.  Spinning the yarn in this direction will result in a yarn with fewer exposed fiber ends thus a yarn that is smooth rather than fuzzy and less likely to cause a  prickly feeling.  Yarn that is prepared and spun woolen has a halo due to the fiber going in many different directions and many exposed fibers.

Spinning is not for everyone.  Your status as a fiberista is not in jeopardy if you have no desire to spin yarn.  There are plenty of commercial yarns available to satisfy your fiber needs.  We will not think less of you.  In actuality it is we spinners who are in the minority in the wonderful world of fiber.

Playing with unspun fiber is fun and spinning is not the only thing one can do with fiber.  There are two classes on the calendar that would be fun and the end result would make great gifts.  

Straight From The Sheep (almost) - Using large needles or crochet hook we will learn to work straight from a coloful roving.  You will learn to separate the fibers and predraft them which is a skill that transfers to spinning.  The class project is a scarf that can be wet felt in the next class.

Needle Felted Jewelry - We have two awesome kits from Imperial Ranch.  Needle felting is fun and very therapuetic (I some aggression out as I stab the fiber).  Projects include a ring or necklace.

(I don't have finished samples yet, buth they are coming soon, and I will post pictures in an email.)

Fiber adds so much pleasure to our lives and we believe in exploring all that it has to offer.  Spread your wings and try something new this fall.