A couple of weeks ago, my friend Tamara and I headed across the border to New Hampshire for a party with Scratch Supply Company for their third year, and a trunk show with Adella of LolaBean Yarn Company. It was great to celebrate independent businesses, women entrepreneurs, and, of course, pick up some gorgeous yarns.
Articles with the Tag Yarn
How to dye yarn with Black-eyed Susans
For a while now I’ve been aware that Black-eyed Susan flowers can be used for natural dyeing, and they’re specifically used to achieve a pale or sage green. But I admit, I’ve been skeptical. Green is a difficult color to dye on it’s own, and past attempts on my part have yielded browns, beiges, and
Colorful Handspun Yarn: Creativity born from constraints
Sometimes, a new design or product will capture your attention and imagination to the point of obsession. This is what happened with me and the Nightshift shawl by Andrea Mowry. The combination of colors and the visual texture she created are mesmerizing, and the effect didn’t wear off after a few days, or even a
Waterbury, Vermont Field Trip: Local Yarn, Food, Beers
This weekend, my mother and I made a quick trip up to Waterbury, Vermont a town about an hour from the homestead. Our venture was prompted by the relocation of our local yarn shop from Montpelier. We were happy to see the new space: bright, open, and buzzing with lots of visitors. Congrats to Lee
How to Dye Wool with Butternut Hulls
A few months ago, our generous neighbor gave me some butternut hulls for dyeing. Butternut are a hardwood tree that were at one time very common across New England. Unfortunately, over-harvesting for the furniture industry has led to their scarcity. It may not be possible to locate a sustainable source of butternut hulls where you
Tour de Fleece 2018
The Tour de Fleece is an event for hand-spinners that takes place during the Tour de France. This year, I’ve joined a team in hopes of finishing off some long-neglected fiber in the stash. This year, the Tour de Fleece Runs Saturday July 7 through Sunday July 29th. There are always a bunch of teams to
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival: Fiber and friends
The Maryland Sheep Wool Festival is a huge event on our calendar. We had a great time at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this year, with our Vermont Natural Sheepskins booth. We had a fantastic time meeting new fans, saying hello to some of our Instagram friends, and connecting with some other fantastic makers.
Knitting Notes – February 2018
If you’ve been watching the YouTube channel for a while, you know that I don’t have a regular segment for knitting projects (this is a craft blog, not a knitting show). But, having recently finished Rick’s sweater, I wanted to share the final garment and update you on my next big project: a pullover that
How I learned to handspin: tools and techniques
My journey with learning to handspin yarn by hand started as many such tales do: I took a class and learned the basics of spindle spinning. It was a useful way to begin, but the potential speed and efficiency of using a spinning wheel was a big lure. Unfortunately, my first wheel and I never
3: Tammy White, Fiber Farmer at Wing & A Prayer Farm
Like so many farmers, Tammy White does a lot. She’s a fiber specialist, raising sheep, angora goats, alpaca and other non-fiber animals as well. She’s a teacher and facilitator, opening the farm to workshop participants and taking her classes on the road. She’s a baker, a gardener, a marketer. She’s a collaborator and co-conspirator with