Spinning in Cowgirl Boots – Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle

Want to kick back and listen to me muddle and fuddle up another classic tale? Good. Because I have another Spinning In Cowgirl Boots for ya.

Spin To Win

So the other day I grabbed my spinning wheel, and some fiber, and drove over to my favorite locally owned coffee shop. Its called Quacks 43rd Street Bakery. I live in city that thinks it worth time and effort to maintain a never-ending public campaign to Keep Austin Weird. For the record, at Quacks they have no trouble keeping it weird.

These are the two colorways, both merino wool, that I have been spinning.

Quacks is halfway across town for me and I probably drive past 18 Starbucks to get there. But its worth it. They have a nice outdoor area where I can sit and spin (without being assaulted by air conditioning!) and they have the best chia I’ve ever tasted.

Spinning In Cowgirl Boots – The Wild Swans

Its a drag when you and all your brothers get turned into birds and your little sister has to save you with magical clothing.

Its an even bigger drag if you are the little sister.

Spinning in Cowgirl Boots – Homespuns and the American Revolution

The Struggle for Freedom Meant You Took to Your Spinning Wheel

Happy Birthday America. The freedoms enjoyed in this, my home country, were hard won as all freedom is. Today we hear cries of how freedom is under attack. Guess what?  It always was and it always will be. The people who enjoy freedom must never forget that.

Sunday Stitch – How to Chain Ply Yarn

Today I’m chain plying some of my handspun yarn. If all you have done so far is the traditional plying from two or more bobbins then you will love this. With chain ply, you can to turn a spun single, from just one bobbin, into a three ply yarn.

I’m Coming Out From Under A Cloud

It’s been a tough two weeks for me as you may have been able to tell from the rambling and chaotic direction of my recent posts. If that didn’t tip you off, the lack of any progress whatsoever on my projects probably did! But I’m back on track and I have the pictures to prove it.

Spinning in Cowgirl Boots – A History of Red Dye

I’ll never be a dyer of fiber or yarn. I leave that to others. I have a mommy that dyes fiber with stuff she finds in her backyard and a close friend that dyes yarn with commercial acid  based formulas. Mostly I just play assistant and/or appreciative audience. Mostly I just say things like “Ooo! That’s pretty.”

Confessions of a Simple (Minded) Spinner

Its my first day of summer and I have a plan. The plan is to sit in a nice shady spot with my wheel and finish up the polwarth handspinning project.

Her plan is to interfere with my plan. Of course.

Sunday Stitch – How to Make and Use a Beaded Wrist Distaff

What’s a Distaff? Its a highly sophisticated precision instrument toy for handspinners. And it usually does not look like this.

Picking a Pattern for Handspun Yarn

My polwarth spinning project is progressing. I have a few finished skeins to show off and, while I’m not done with the spinning, I’m far enough along that I’m thinking about patterns. Any pattern I use for a handspun yarn has to be flexible, workable in any weight of yarn, and easy to modify to suit the amount of yarn I actually have. Here are some patterns that have what I’m looking for.

Four Patterns That Will Work For Handspun Yarn