00:00:00Introduction
00:03:00It may be spring but there’s still an occasional chill in the air. Evie shares her new throw blanket, woven with a mix of dusty rose and grey shades, plus fringe. A stash-buster that made the most of Evie’s Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn odds and ends.
00:10:45A question about Advent Calendars. Plans are in the works for a “spin-along" option for next holiday season. Ideas welcome!
00:11:25All about weaving with acrylic yarns. There are no “blanket” statements (pun intended) when it comes to factors such as fuzziness, structure, how tightly you’re weaving and the equipment you’re using.
00:15:00:“The Book of Looms: A History of the Handloom from Ancient Times to the Present," by Eric Broody
00:20:50“Weaving is just so fascinating. On the one hand it’s so simple … but on the other hand so complex. The patterns and color possibilities are endless!”
00:22:20Fun fact: The flying shuttle allowed for wider widths and faster weaving and ultimately sparked a critical component of the Industrial Revolution: the need for more yarn.
00:24:05• “The Intentional Spinner: A Holistic Approach to Making Yarn,” by Judith MacKenzie McCuin.
00:27:25“I’m always making connections from fiber to music. You hear a song and it just takes you back to a place, maybe a relationship. It takes you there 100%. Spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet, cross stitch, all of these things can connect us in that way.”
00:31:43More stash-busting for Evie, who recently finished some socks from a vanilla-with-sprinkles pattern by Jenna Krupar. They are a great example of how to mix-and-match and use up small bits of hand-spun yarn.
00:38:45What are some of Evie’s favorite fibers for spinning? Wool, cotton, silk, alpaca...
00:40:20Which types of fiber are most challenging for Evie? Blends such as silk and wool can be especially tricky, but they can be a fun challenge nonetheless.
00:40:32Can silk be spun on its own? Yes! Evie is working on a light and flow-y silk project currently!
00:41:08“The challenge is part of what makes a project satisfying. Having something that presents you with an obstacle, figuring it out through creative ideas, trying things out, digging into your toolbox of techniques to make it work can be deeply satisfying."
00:47:49Evie just finished spinning a Blue-Faced Leister (BFL sheep breed) and silk blend called “Downey Downpour” from Paradise Fibers
00:53:29“This is going to be hand-spun, then hand-spun and hand-dyed and then hand-beaded in the knitting. I need somewhere fancy to wear this! I’m so excited. It’s going to be so pretty.”
00:54:50About the excitement of inspiration — seeing or imagining something so compelling that it’s impossible not to turn it into a project — with or without a pattern, special planning or guaranteed outcome. It’s the definition of passion!
00:55:35“It’s something about who I am, that I need to be creating things. And when I find a project that connects in that way, on so many levels, it’s just the best feeling. It’s better than an amusement park."
