There's a misconception in the spinning community that if you know how to spin a yarn, you know how to ply. In this episode I talk all about the whys and ways of putting single strands of handspun yarn into complex yarns. I would like to thank the following authors for writing their books and thus helping me pass along what I learned from them in my podcast: Alden Amos: Big Book of Handspinning Margaret Stove: Handspinning Dyeing & Working with Merino and Superfine Wools Diane Varney Spinnin...
Apr 30, 2009•57 min•Ep. 30
Road Trip! In the yarnspinners tale today I talk all about a trip to visit the wonderful spinning and weaving store The Woolery. Speaking of traveling, one of today's sheep breeds is all the way from Norway. Spaelsau is an old Norweigen breed with a double coated fleece and I have the opportunity to work with some of the fiber. Close in nature to that breed and more readily obtainable, I also talk about the Icelandic breed in today's review of sheep breed fleeces. If you want to visit the Wooler...
Apr 23, 2009•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 29
Dipping in the dyepots, because I am in the mood for color. But there's a second reason and I talk all about what to do if you have a yellow and discolored fleece. Dye it of course! I have posted a number of photos on my blog that show the original fleece, the dyed fiber and even a few batts carded from the fiber. Be sure to take a look. The music comes again from the podsafe music network . If you like what you heard, click on the links for the musicians and support them. Thank you also to Clai...
Mar 30, 2009•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 28
Spring is fickle and comes and goes, but the spinning goes on anyway. Today's podcast has discussions on two rare breeds of sheep, the Tunis and the Karakul. And later, as I spin on some cashgora, I talk about the unnamed spinners and her influence in my fiber life. All music today has a spring theme and is from the podsafe music network. Sounding for all the world like a 1940's tune, Tom Waits sings You Can Never Hold Back Spring. The interlude music between the yarnspinner tale today is Steps ...
Mar 14, 2009•48 min•Ep. 27
Woolen spun or worsted spun, as spinners we hear the terms all the time. But do you really know the difference? If someone put fiber in your hand and asked you to spin it into a worsted yarn, could you? Listen in on this podcast as I explain the difference, and actual techniques. Edit to add list of books: I realized I mention several books in the podcast as sources of my information and that I should probably give the names of the books here for your reference. Merino Handspinning Dyeing and Wo...
Feb 15, 2009•57 min•Ep. 26
It's a good day for snuggling up with some warm fiber and spinning. In today's podcast I talk about an unusual fiber cashgora. And later, while spinning this fiber, I have my yarnspinner tale about balance. All music in the podcast today has the theme of snow, and I would like to give a big thank you to the following musicians for sharing their songs with us on the Podsafe Music Network. Snow by The Standalone Snowman by the Egerton Boys Snow by Comfortable Snow Angel by Laura Hughes And a final...
Jan 31, 2009•55 min•Ep. 25
Slick and shiny top, or interesting and challenging hankies, whatever form of silk fiber you have can be spun and dyed into wonderful yarn. Today's podcast talk's all about my experiences with spinning and dyeing silk. I refer to a number of links online during the podcast, so here they are, all conveniently gathered for you in one post. Sources of fiber and dyes: Tweenway Silks Cheryl Kolander with peace silks (Aurora silk) Silk Things for the instant silk 'teacup' dyes Paradise Fibers for coun...
Jan 25, 2009•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 24
Happy Holidays listeners! The main part of this podcast is all about drop spindles. I talk through the basics of how to spin with one, and then talk about the different spindles I have, and what fibers they spin well. There's a yarnspinner tale too, although it's an indulgent list crossing off session of holiday happenings. As always, there's music to bebop along with as you work or drive, with a holiday theme. I hope you find the music as enjoyable as I did. All music is from the Podsafe Music ...
Dec 20, 2008•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 23
My first year anniversary podcast! For this spin in, the fiber animal is, for once, not a sheep. Instead alpaca fiber is discussed. Also, a bit of audio indexing, as the year of podcasting here is reviewed. Finally, spinning really did happen, and all day. Hear all about a day at a fiber fair. Music for this podcast is from the podsafe music network . There is lots of wonderful music in this podcast. Check out these websites and give them your support, for sharing their music with the world. Int...
Oct 31, 2008•54 min•Ep. 22
Felting fleece is something we spinners fear right? Not always. What if you think outside of the box, and felt fleece to your advantage? The photo shows one time Yarnspinner thought outside of that fear of felting a fleece. Listen to the podcast to learn all about how a non spinnable fleece was felted into a lovely wool pelt. On the more practical side, fleece batts can be shape felted into anything, as long as you have a form to serve for shaping. The next example talked about in the podcast is...
Oct 27, 2008•52 min•Ep. 21
The September Spin In podcast continues with two more rare breeds of sheep, the Navajo Churro and the Jacob breeds. And Yarnspinner talks about just why there is so much stash! Pictures of the sheep breed samples can be found on the blog. And be sure to check out the new way to contact Yarnspinner, at the new site drop.io . Music is from the Podsafe music network. This podcast has an autumnal theme, with A Taste of Autumn by Ensemble Variable , and Autumn Colors by Ritchie Hernandez . Thanks for...
Sep 30, 2008•55 min•Ep. 20
Do you really know how your spinning wheel works? Knowing how it works will help you spin the yarn you want, instead of just spinning whatever happens type of yarn. It's September, and that means back to school. So we hit the books and learn about three different types of flyer bobbin systems used in spinning wheels. Once you figure out what type of wheel you are using, you can then understand how to make your wheel work for you. There's lots of information on this podcast, so to give us a bit o...
Sep 16, 2008•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 19
Summer is slipping away, and so this month's Yarnspinners Tale is about summer memories. But there's lots more in the podcast, as I review two rare breeds of sheep, the CVM and Maine Island Sheep. All music is from the podsafe music network . I used five different musicians this podcast, all with music around the theme of summer. The opening song, that said goodbye to summer is by Danny Fong . The interlude music for the sheep breed discussion is a song called Sweet Summer Memories by Steven Cra...
Sep 01, 2008•59 min•Ep. 18
Ribbons and not medals are what you win when you let your yarn be judged. In keeping with the spirit of the Summer Olympics in one segment of this podcast I talk about how to find competitions to enter your spinning and how to prepare the skeins to be judged. Three other segments also share some of the hints and tips I have after several weeks of experimenting with different techniques. One segment talks about what to do when you end up with singles on one bobbin and you want to ply that yarn. T...
Aug 17, 2008•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 17
Spinning and the Summer Olympics, an unexpected pairing. Unless of course you have been hanging out on Ravelry and have heard all about the knitting olympics. Yarnspinner takes on the challenge and tells you all about it in this podcast. Also there are two breed fleece reviews, the well known Romney, and the unfamiliar, but very American Targhee. All music is from the podsafe music network . Providing the interlude with a jazzy summer feel is Boom Boom Beckett. Since the musicians website is in ...
Jul 31, 2008•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 16
Episode 15 is all about preparing and spinning cotton. Joining me in the podcast are some of my spinning friends with some very good explanations of just how they do this. And also something new to the show this time: videos! First as promised a very special spinning movie . Currently it is on YouTube, to save me some MB storage space here. The Spinning Movie is set to music from Kelvin Bear, who I found on the Podsafe Music Network. This artist does not seem to have a website, so here's a link ...
Jul 18, 2008•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 15
Spinning on my front porch, means cool morning air, birdsong and the occasional cow mooing in the background. But the topic of the yarnspinnerstale this month is very cool, as I tell all about my recent cruise to Alaska with Seasocks 08. Before that though, I discuss two sheep breeds from my rare breed sampler: Cormo and Montadale. The photo is from some of the cormo spun from combed top pulled through a diz. Music for this podcast is from the Podsafe Music Network . New music artists include: J...
Jun 20, 2008•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 14
Part 2 of the cotton dyeing discusses how I dyed the roving using a natural dyestuff. And a very unusual dyestuff too. There are photos, and a detailed description of the process on my blog . I've included two songs in today's podcast, both from the podsafe music network. Be sure and check out the musicians webpages if you like the songs. Copper Box played Need a Little Squeezin It's a great tune, and is featured on their website too. Clare Dowling of Moot Music opens every podcast for me with h...
Jun 01, 2008•38 min•Ep. 13
Dyeing Cotton Part one. In today's podcast I am joined by my local spinners/knitters for a day of dyepots, fiber and fun. Cotton fiber, specifically and the project was all for a fiber swap starting in the Ravelry group, Garden Spinning. Please be sure to check out the blogs for each of the dyers, for lots of pictures. Anita , Andrea , and Viki . Yarnspinners blog is here . Here's a few key points about what we learned: Cotton needs to be soaked very thoroughly in soda ash water, to take up the ...
May 30, 2008•40 min•Ep. 12
A bit of change in the format this time, change is good, right? In this episode I review three books that include spinning information, and I share with you about a real live outside spin-in that I joined. Since this is not a hands on, technical podcast this time, just think of this as time to catch up on your spinning projects. The podcast will be back to its usual format in a couple weeks. Meanwhile, enjoy the chat and music of this show. All music is from the podsafe music network. The interl...
May 09, 2008•32 min•Ep. 11
April is not only about spring, but many other things on this month's spin in podcast. I talk about the fleece from two rare breeds of sheep, the Finn Sheep and the Perendale. And as usual there is lots of music, and a Yarnspinner's Tale. Today's music comes from the Podsafe Music Network . I encourage you to check out this website as well as the websites for any of the artists used on today's podcast. Special thank you's go to Clare Dowling and Wren Ross for use of their music to introduce segm...
Apr 22, 2008•44 min•Ep. 10
Spring Cleaning time, means fleece washing time. Join me as I talk through the process of converting this fleece straight off the shetland sheep into a beautifully clean fiber, ready to comb or card. Pictures of everything I talk about are located on my blog, Yarnspinner Tales. All music today can be found on the podsafe music network . The Eggerton Boys are back in this show with the appropriate, Bath Time. Jimmy Nicholas sings The House Cleaning Blues. His records hang out with over Texas Blue...
Apr 02, 2008•42 min•Ep. 9
It's the month of hearts and pink. It's still wintery here, but spring is in my heart. Join me as I sit by the fireplace and spin and talk about my history with the internet. After all, without this vital interactive web, you would never be able to hear this month's Yarnspinners Tale. There are other pictures on my blog Yarnspinners . All music in the podcast came from the podsafe music network . Be sure to go to this and the musicians websites and support them for their generous sharing of musi...
Mar 02, 2008•47 min•Ep. 8
If skirting a fleece makes you think of running to your nearby clothing store, you really need to listen to this spinning podcast. Find out just how you take a five pound raw fleece and get it ready for the wash. Today's music found on the podsafe music network , is provided by: MDL with Acoustic Heart Tom Smith with Stupid Belated Valentine The next podcast will be a spin-in, with lots of heart related music in honor of the month of February, as well as some yarnspinnerstales. See you then, and...
Feb 16, 2008•26 min•Ep. 7
In today's show I talk about two sheep breeds, and lots of snow. I have added a segment to the spin-in shows to share with the listeners my spinning studies of different breeds of sheep. This started out as rare breed sheep only, but expanded into just about any breed that I have had a chance to sample fleece. Today's two breeds are Border Leicester, and Blue Face Leicester. All music in the show is from the Podsafe music network . The first musical interlude is Snowfall by Rada Neal . Snow's No...
Feb 02, 2008•51 min•Ep. 6
Did you know that angora rabbits come in dyelots? I talk about this and many other hopefully helpful explanations of how to process and spin that angora fiber you bought (and have stashed forever). All the music in this podcast is provided by Clare Dowling through the podsafe music network . She sings with a group known as The Moot, so that is the webpage to which you will be directed. I featured her and her music in this show, because I am using her song Spinning Wheel, as my opening theme song...
Jan 18, 2008•49 min•Ep. 5
Not even a picture of decked out everygreens, jolly fat men dressed in red velvet or winter globe snow scenes. Not a bit of spinning here, neither fiber nor tales. Just lots of holiday music which will hopefully add a bit of zing to your holiday MP3 player. Welcome to the non traditional seating of the holiday manor. A very big thank you to all of the musicians that allow their music to be shared on this podcast. All music is from the podsafe music network Please visit the musicians websites and...
Dec 16, 2007•48 min
Christmas...it's all about traditions, at least in this podcast. Oh were you looking for somthing about spinning? Well the only thing spun, are two yarnspinners tales, the first about playing with someone else's toys and the second about her Christmas traditions. To keep with the theme, there is lots of music in, of course, a traditional style. All music is from the podsafe music network And because I want to send a big thank you to all the musicians that kindly shared some holiday music for us,...
Dec 16, 2007•42 min•Ep. 4
Join me in my barn today, and learn how to harvest the wonderful fiber angora from a rabbit. And there's a few rabbits in the music hat too! Musical interludes in the barn are from: Dancing in November by Monika Herzig For our music break, we pulled these rabbits out of the hat: Run Rabbit/The Chase by Brain Buckit Bunny Boiler Pablo Eskimo And we close with some country bluegrass from the Smithsonian Archives: Rabbit in a Log by The Stanley Brothers And as always a thank you for my spinning whe...
Dec 01, 2007•54 min•Ep. 3
Grab your favorite spinning tool and fiber and join me as I spin some yarn, and tell you a few yarnspinners tales. And of course, play music, lots of wonderful autumnal type music all to be found at the Podsafe Music Network. Check out the following artists and their music: their spouses will thank you! Spinning My Wheels by Dan Montgomery Cheetham Hill by Junction Pool Autumn Colors by Ritchie Hernandez Autumn by Quinn Autumn Leaves by Egerton Boyz With special thanks to Clare Dowling for her S...
Nov 13, 2007•46 min•Ep. 2
