News, Tips and Tutorials

How to cast-on using the long tail method.

This method of casting on creates a nice even edge on your knitting.   You will find it much easier to knit your first row with this cast-on and if you are knitting in the round joining without twisting is also much easier.  This is because you are actually creating a first row of knitting with the long-tail cast-on instead of having those annoying, twisty e-loops.  When you are casting on using the long-tail method you will be making a slip knot to start.  Remember- you will be using up yarn on both sides of the slip knot, so it's important to have a long enough tail.  If it's too short you'll have to rip it out and start over.  Not that big of a deal if you're only casting on 20 stitches, but imagine if you were casting on 200 or 1,000!  It's way better to have too long of a tail than too short.  I've gotten pretty good at making a wild guess, but you can always cast on 10 stitches, pull it out and measure how much yarn you used and then figure out approximately how long your tail should be based on that.

How to do a Long Tail Cast-On

I am sooo in love with my new cardigan sweater!  I used Veera Valimaki's pattern, Golden Wheat.  It is a beautifully written pattern (as are all of her patterns!) and is super easy.  Golden Wheat is knit from the top down all in one piece, so no seaming.  Yay!  I used Madelinetosh Vintage yarnand I am totally addicted!  The color is amazing and it's really soft and it's even machine washable.  My gauge was a little off as I was using a slightly finer yarn than the pattern called for.  I followed the directions for a size larger than I would normally make and used the same size needles as the pattern called for.  It worked great and fits perfectly!   I also decided to knit the pattern in stockinette instead of reverse stockinette and I put buttons all the way down the front.  I decided not to make the pocket.  A very nice sweater that is really comfy and cute to wear and was enjoyable to knit.  A lovely combination :)

Here are a few things to consider when buying a fleece

Sometime within your fiber journey you will come across some fleeces for sale.  The price of raw wool fleece can vary quite a bit and some really nice fleeces can even be found for...free!  When you do come across a fleece or are new to shopping for a fleece at a fiber festival etc, here are some tips.

Look for consistency

A good quality fleece will be mostly the same color and staple length.  Also take a look at a few of the staples from the fleece and compare them side by side.  If they are fairly consistent you are looking good.

Make sure it's clean...

Check for vegetation throughout the fleece.  For the most part it should be clean, a little is ok but if there is a lot don't pay much if anything for it. It could be salvageable depending on how tight the fibers have locked in the vegetation.  If you do end up purchasing a fleece that needs some vegetation removed you'll need some wool hand combs.  If there is a lot of "veg" or vegetation in the fleece don't bother with it unless it's free and you have hand combs already and a lot of free time.

Investigate the Staples

You can tell a lot about a fleece by examining the staples.  See if they have breaks anywhere or thin spots in the staples.  When an animal goes through any type of illness or other trauma while the fleece is growing there can be thin spots or discoloration.  Also note the tips of the staples.  If the staples are too pointed that's not good, they should graduate gently to the tip.  You'll also want to make sure the staple length is not too short, typically a 3-5 inch staple is desirable for hand-spinning depending on breed.

Make sure it pulls apart easily

Often fleeces that have been sitting for some time can get felted.  This is where heat and moisture and a little agitation has bonded the scales of the wool together, not good.  Once fiber is felted...it's compost.  You won't be able to spin or process it, forget it.

You will find a variety of fleeces are available at fiber shows, most of which are from farmers who are showing their animals regularly.  Use these tips above as well as your best judgement to determine what the fleece is worth to you.  Also note that other unique breeds may need to be classified and judged with more subjectivity, these are basic guidelines and many factors determine if a fleece is right for you and your specific needs.

Article Written by Travis Romine self proclaimed fiber junkie and Spinning Enthusiast.  Travis runs Paradise Fibers with his wife Sara (and a wild dingo puppy named Sophie).

Choosing the proper knitting accessories and knitting tools can go a long way in terms of getting the quality result that you're looking for and enjoying the process of your knitting. Why not enjoy your favorite pastime instead of getting frustrated by the knitting tools that you're selecting? Taking the time to select the proper equipment is key, and there are many different needle shapes and sizes to consider that can best serve your current project, including Addi turbo knitting needles.

The width of your needles go a long way in determining the overall look of your knitting piece. Wide needles will result in a larger stitch and a looser, more elastic finished product. Using smaller needles will result in a smaller stitch and most often a thicker, tighter piece. Needle length should also be taken into consideration, and you should choose a needle of sufficient length to comfortably stitch from row to row. Larger pieces are usually easier worked on with larger needles and smaller projects are well served by smaller needles. For any size knitting job ADDI Turbo knitting needles are fantastic choices that are developing a large following. Manufactured in Germany, they are quality handmade needles that have the unique ADDI finish and highly flexible cables to accentuate their overall outstanding quality.

Another consideration regarding knitting tools and crochet supplies is selecting the best material to fit your knitting project. Aluminum, bamboo and plastic are popular choices and it's important to factor in the skill level of the knitter and the yarn being used when selecting your type of needles. It is usually best for beginners to avoid needles that are slippery and more prone to causing the yarn to slide off. Experienced knitters tend to prefer smoother needles that allow the stitching to move in a quicker and more efficient manner.

Bamboo needles are more flexible than plastic or metal needles and are excellent for beginners. Be careful however, because they are more likely to break. Metal needles are the heaviest variety and very reliable, but their slippery nature makes them best for experienced knitters who are focused on speed. They are a favorite among knitters in terms of working on projects composed of wool and acrylics. Plastic needles are flexible and are a user-friendly choice for larger projects, especially ones made of yarn. Wooden needles are much like bamboo needles in that they are an excellent choice for beginners. Be careful in terms of their tendency to break, and keep them in mind for slippery yarn projects.

Just be sure to choose your knitting tools and crochet supplies carefully, and that will go a long way towards the quality of your finished product and the enjoyment that you receive from your knitting projects!

When considering weaving looms for sale it is important to take into consideration what types of items that you want to weave. Larger fabrics and rugs are common selections, and the amount of space that you have for a weaving loom must also be taken into consideration. For beginners and those with limited space, rigid heddle looms are a good and inexpensive solution to get started in weaving. They provide sufficient capacity for light weaving work and have the capacity of a standard two harness loom. One of the best features of rigid heddle looms is their low cost, and they are a great way for beginners to get their feet wet and begin to learn the craft before graduating to larger weaving looms that are more expensive and difficult to use. Inkle looms are similar to rigid heddle looms in ease of use and size, and are popular selections for beginners and children as well.

Four harness looms are another popular selection for those choosing from a selection of weaving looms for sale. The larger number of harnesses, or shafts as some call them, gives the four-harness loom more design capabilities than inkle looms or rigid heddle looms. They are quite capable, but it is important to remember in your selection process that weaving looms get as large and complex as sixteen harnesses. Nonetheless, four harness looms are relatively inexpensive and are easily transported, which is often a very useful feature in weaving looms. They are hand operated and therefore don't have nearly the speed that one would expect in a floor loom, but that is the trade off that you face when choosing lighter and less expensive weaving looms over more substantial and expensive models. The four-harness loom remains a favorite as an economical and convenient option when choosing among weaving looms for sale. Make sure that you determine what the most important qualities of weaving looms are to you before purchasing. This will help you quite a bit in deciding if the larger, higher quality and more expensive models are the way to go or if you are better off with one of the smaller, less expensive and transportable models that are much more convenient and great for beginners. Insert video URL or ID here[/youtube]

There's no shortage of styles and types of spinning wheels for sale, and spinners seek out that perfect wheel that's just right for them. Savvy spinners can look for particular features that will best serve their needs and individual skills, but in terms of desired positive qualities balance and smooth wheel rotation are universally desired traits. As a piece of equipment with moving parts, spinning wheels should have proper balance and weight distribution to ensure a lack of wobbling and overall machine integrity. The wheel should smoothly rotate with little vibration for both peak performance and comfort of the spinner. Sturdiness of frame serves as a very good quality in spinning wheels for sale, with the added weight giving the machine a solid feel and usually providing the smoothness and balance desired. Also, make sure to determine how important it is to you that a spinning wheel is portable in terms of finding the right one to suit your individual needs. Portability can be very useful, but if not required you can focus even more on qualities such as sturdiness and style.

Ashford spinning wheels are an excellent selection when looking for new spinning equipment. Known for its high quality manufacturing and standards, the Ashford spinning wheel is carefully crafted and designed to appeal to both novice and experienced spinners. Built with treadles that are comfortable and simple to operate, Ashford spinning wheels provide ample room for the operator to comfortably position their feet. The sturdiness of design in an Ashford spinning wheel will instill a sense of confidence in the spinner, as these machines are constructed to perform year after year at peak efficiency under heavy use.

The Ashford spinning wheel comes in both single and double drives, with both models providing the quality, durability and ease of use that customers have come to expect from Ashford machines. Both models are easy to set up, and there is nothing like the beautiful wooden construction of Ashford spinning wheels to enhance the look of any sewing room, making it a place that you will love to work on your spinning projects time and time again!

Choosing the right spinning wool and spinning yarn can go a long way in assuring the quality that you are looking for in your knitting projects. There are plenty of spinning yarn and spinning wool selections to choose from, and it is important to get a quality product to avoid the itchy and scratchy feel of substandard fibers. Making sure that you have a proper material to work with is the first step to working your craft on spinning wheels and ending up with a product that with feel right and bring you a sense of pride.

One of the easiest steps to making sure that your spinning wool and spinning yarn is up to par is to go your local craft shop or yarn store and feel the product. If it feels right and the color appeals to you, then you're on the right track to begin with. Try to make sure that you select the proper weight for the item that you are working on, and remember that both basic yarns and novelty yarns are available.

Spinning wheels are very functional and quite a bit of fun to work on. Most spinning wheels can serve a beginner well, and with most endeavors the more experienced practitioners tend to find specific models that appeal to them and work best for them. One good approach to choosing a spinning wheel is finding a fiber shop that will let you sample a few spinning wheels and selecting one that fits well and they feel comfortable with. Also, an experienced spinner can go a long way into pointing out specific features of spinning wheels as well as showing you which ones work the best for different types of spinning wool and spinning yarn.

The most important thing is to take the time to educate yourself and to sample as many spinning wheels and types of spinning yarn and spinning wool as possible. Knowledge is power, and try to learn as much as you can from every fiber shop and every experienced spinner as you can. Multitasking spinning wheels are a good first choice, and for those who are really trying to maximize savings you can always look online and in the newspaper for used spinning wheels. Take a look at both single drive and double drive spinning wheels, and whether you choose to buy new or used always try to opt for a quality product that will last and help you to weave the best end products from your spinning wool and spinning yarn.

I just tried natural dyeing for the first time last week. It was fast, easy and cheap. Why did I wait so long?

This yarn was dyed naturally with woad from Mom's garden!

I started my six woad seedlings (seed purchased from Pinetree) under lights in March. They proved to be indestructible—unconcerned about negligent watering and soil from the backyard. Oh wait! Did I forget to mention that woad is considered a noxious weed in some states? I just hope mine isn’t one of them. Once out in the garden they grew into large rosettes with thick, dark green leaves—again, almost no maintenance. When frost threatened, I prepared my first woad dyebath using the directions in Rita Buchanan’s book, A Dyer’s Garden. I was concerned when I read that my six woad plants would only dye 1oz of yarn! But I chose to disregard that information and dyed over a pound of yarn a nice powder blue if I do say so. I also boiled the leaves a second time for a dusty rose color. The directions for dyeing with woad require a couple of tablespoons of Spectralite which I had trouble finding until someone told me it is better known as thiorea dioxide, a staple in dye supply shops.

I’m definitely doing the woad thing next year but may just start the seeds in the garden as they are quite feisty.

Sadly, for the past few months I haven't been knitting.  However, a few weeks ago I decided to pick up a lovely sweater that I started knitting almost a year ago and had left hibernating in a lonely basket in the corner.  Once I picked it back up I remembered how excited I was to wear it when I started it last year and how I didn't quite get it finished before it started to warm up enough that I knew it would be a while before it was sweater season again. It only took me a couple of evenings of knitting before my sweater was complete!  The sweater is Idlewood and you can find it on Ravelry.  I decided to knit my Idlewood using Cascade Eco Cloud Yarn.  I am in love with this yarn!  It has that really neat chainette construction that gives great stitch definition and knits up into a squishy fabric.  Eco Cloud is a blend of merino and alpaca and is processed naturally with no chemicals.  I will definitely use this yarn again.  It's really soft and not itchy at all.  I am also really happy with the pattern.  Despite it taking me almost a year to finish, there is really very little knitting time involved.  It's a quick top down sweater and is very well written.  Now that I've finished my sweater I have totally been bitten by the knitting bug again and am already half way done with another sweater!