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Commission in Progress: Sparkle and Rainbow

I’m currently spinning up two different bits of fiber for a client. These two bobbins, of a superwash wool/sparkle nylon blend, will be plied (twisted) together. You can’t tell from the photo, but the yarn goes from blue to green to blue again repeatedly.

Fiber by Turtlepurl Yarns & Notions

And this is the first bobbin of a rainbow gradient. I’m spinning it very fine, at the client’s request.

Fiber by Franjous Fibers

I have two weaving commissions coming up next — fabric for a tote bag, and then a scarf with a custom design on it. As always, if you’re interested in my custom work, contact me!

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Coming soon: LGBTQIA+ bracelets!

Today I did up some ace pride bracelets. I’m planning trans, non-binary, intersex, demi-sexual, bisexual, and pansexual one’s in the near future too.

I’m planning on shoelaces and skate laces as well. And I’m taking requests. Subscribe to the blog or follow me on Facebook to see when the bracelets are posted to the shop. They’ll be $6 each plus about a dollar for shipping within the US. All handwoven by me on an inkle loom!

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Handknits in the shop

I don’t like knitting for money. Knitting takes a long time, so it’s not cost-effective if I want to make a profit. But sometimes I knit things for fun and have no idea what to do with them afterward. So I’ve put a few things in the shop, for prices that basically just cover the yarn I used for them. Better than they go to good homes than sitting in a box in my apartment!

I also have one handwoven piece, a twill scarf. Weaving is faster than knitting, unless I’m doing something really complex. I plan to weave more for the shop soon.

I’m currently working on some more yarn for the shop, but my weaving is all commissions at the moment. Contact me if you’d like to have something done especially for you!

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Consistency is Everything

One of the things I, and most other spinners, strive for in spinning is consistency. I’m pretty good at it. Proof: each of these bobbins once held about 220 yards. When I finished plying them together, this is how much was leftover:

Mostly Empty Bobbins

The yarn I was making was navy blue. The other colors you see are the leader yarns, which remain on the bobbins permanently.

The bobbin on the left emptied first. The middle one had perhaps 6 inches left on it, and the one on the right about 1.5 feet. I wind up with this much fairly regularly. On the rare occasions I wind up with more left over, it’s usually because I didn’t divide the fiber evenly enough.

(Yes, I’m bragging a little. But it is a pretty impressive skill to have, so I think I’ve earned it!)

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Custom spinning is back!

I’m taking commissions for handspun again. Right now I’m working on six skeins of merino for someone I met on Ravelry.

I’ll be posting a shop update later this week, by the way. I have a few new skeins of fingering, sport, and worsted weight, all currently drying in my laundry room. Once they’re dry I’ll photograph them and post them to the shop. Stay tuned!

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Aaaand we’re back!

I had gone quiet for a while because I couldn’t spin. The shop was still open, of course, but I haven’t added anything new since December. I was in a fender bender that hurt my right hip, and I treadle with my right foot… I thought my days of spinning were over, or that I’d have to get an electric wheel. But! A couple of weeks ago I finished healing, and I’m back to spinning up some more pretty yarns for the shop. So far I’ve done some luscious Shetland wool/silk blend and more of my beloved Haunui. Right now I’m working on some delicious merino. Watch the blog or social media for the updates!