I had the opportunity to spin with some amazing ladies up at the Lady Peddler in Hastings last Sunday. Some of these ladies teach classes in dyeing, spinning, felting, knitting and one even owns her own mill. Really, the wisdom that surrounded me was mind-boggling. Did I keep my mouth shut and listen? What do you think?
Examples of Finished Projects using Art Yarn.
Of course not! I am the WonderWhyGal and I do have to keep everyone wondering. Really, I did listen and learn but I couldn't help but talk...it's my nature.
The purpose of the gathering was to share techniques in making art yarn. What is art yarn? Well, it's not what a beginning spinner makes. Art yarn is made with purpose and it creates amazing textures and colors you don't get with "normal" spinning. Just look at these examples.
I was with some ladies who have been working on making these creative yarns for quite awhile and I learned so much. Here I was, again, learning that I need to spin with purpose. I was learning to spin with creativity and fun. I was thinking outside of the box.
Now here it is, the day before the Tour de Fleece begins and what do you think I'm going to be spinning for the challenge? I am going to be working on my spinning techniques, of course, especially art yarn.
These are examples of what everyone created last Sunday. Now I need to think what I want to knit with my new yarn...Sister Bear says she wants and Awesome Shawl. I think I will do that.
So what experiences in Fiber Arts have you had this week?
Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival!
To participate:
- Submit your blog article using your current blog address NOT your complete blog i.e. you would submit
http://wonderwhyalpacafarm.blogspot.com/2010/02/e-i-e-i-doh.html
NOT
http://wonderwhyalpacafarm.blogspot.com
- Link back to Fiber Arts Friday from your post so that your readers can come and see everyone else’s projects! Text link to WISDOM BEGINS IN WONDER!
- Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what helps us all connect!
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Good work on the art yarn! Can never work out what to knit with funky art yarns
ReplyDeleteWhat stunning yarn!
ReplyDeleteFor those of us who can't make our own art yarn, would you consider making more and selling it? I just love the idea!
ReplyDeleteI plan to spin up a bunch during the Tour de fleece so I will definitively have yarn for the fiber shows I'll be at this some and hopefully some for Etsy. I tend to sell my handspun better locally so I haven't posted much in my store.
ReplyDeleteI am using my fun yarn for accents in my knitting either as trim or strips throughout the piece. I've started a shawl that way, at least.
Well, I'll help spread the word online when and if you decide to put some up on Etsy.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for being such a great supporter of my weekly posts. I really appreciate it!
BTW, could you see the slide show? For some reason it's not showing up on my computer now.
Amazing yarn creations! I'm a beginner so I'll stick with working on technique and consistency for Tour de Fleece.
ReplyDeleteEllen, I just checked again and I could see it perfectly. It really is amazing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for participating. I love seeing what other Fiber Artist are learning and creating.
Wow, what fun! I'm experimenting with artsy batts; it makes it almost easy to spin an art yarn when the batt already has the extra goodies in it. See an example of what I mean on my blog/Rav stash. It's so much fun to spin those sometimes, but I also love trying to make more evenly spun yarns, too. Yay for Tour de Fleece!!!
ReplyDeleteJess
Thanks, Andrea. Apparently all of a sudden, I had to update Flash. I can see it now too. Weird 'cause I checked it before it went live and one day it was there and today not.
ReplyDeleteI love your posts and everyone else who connects here. Although I can't spin, I love reading what everyone is doing. Very inspiring and informative.
We're a great community!
Very cool stuff Andrea! I don't have enough imagination in my entire body to make pretty Art Yarn.
ReplyDeleteI've always heard you should spin with a purpose, but I haven't before. I was just trying to make a length of yarn that was the same gauge throughout.
ReplyDeleteStarting tomorrow, with the Tour de Fleece, I will be spinning with a specific end project in mind. Excited to see how it goes and really excited to see what everyone's yarns look like.
I love art yarn! What an amazing experience you had getting to work with all those women. I can't wait to see what you come up with for TdF.
ReplyDeleteAlso - Sister Bear has got awesome fashion sense - I definitely want to see a picture of her modeling her Awesome Shawl.
Flying low to say hello...work is killing me. Your fibery stuff is awesome as always. Toodle-Loo!
ReplyDeleteYes. But HOW DO YOU KNIT WITH IT? I'm seriously challenged on this point.
ReplyDeleteThere are tons of different projects you can do with Art Yarn. The first photo was scarves and shawls. Some people use it as accent yarn in hats, gloves, sweaters too. I usually see people use bigger needles when using art yarn and drop stitches are very common because it lets the pretty pretties show up better. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteYep. darling girl. It does help. Very much.
ReplyDelete