Spinning flax is a craft not often seen, and I have never taught it until Dani asked if she could learn last week. It was a painful experience. Nothing to do with the pupil – the teacher trapped her forefinger between the crank and the wheel hub- How to look a chump in one easy lesson! […]
Long draw spinning – is this a world’s first? Not the world’s first long draw spinner of course – there are probably fewer living today than there were in the medieval times. Question: is this the world’s first ‘Long draw spinner, Spinning on a Wheel made by her Grandfather’? It is certainly the first time […]
Make Icelandic elf pouch at First Wednesday workshop this week in the practical room at Knuston Hall(lower car park). Store your mystic runes, or knitting place markers, marbles, or sweets gifts in these little fairytale felt pouches inspired by Icelandic folklore. Or make some felt buttons, or simply bring your spinning wheel and spend the […]
Beginner’s spinning ‘First spinning is very special – it is the measure of future improvement – but it is difficult to imagine a more satisfying outcome of your first spinning than this lovely hat in blue faced Leicester fleece in its natural colours. It is only a few weeks since Angie inherited her spinning wheel from […]
Dye workshop in my studio came up with a whole range of fibres in toning colours to be spun into yarn for a Shetland Hap. My pupil dyed all these colours in the studio workshop – a one to one learning zone where mistakes are not failure or wrong, simply part of the learning experience. […]
Spin long draw in one lesson is achievable as this young lady recently demonstrated. Long Draw technique is the hallmark of accomplishment in handspinning. This rosette, the second one to be awarded this month, came as a great surprise to Melanie at only her second spinning lesson. It is always a great pleasure to see […]
Long draw spinner – the world has another one and she was awarded one of my ‘Long Draw Spinner’ rosettes for her skill. This lady made a three hour trip from Yorkshire to learn the ancient craft with me. It only took her an hour or so to master the skill using her own Ashford […]
Wheel bracelets a unique new way to secure spinning wheels for transport or when not in use are now available in my shop. These high quality handmade bracelets from Celtic Leathers (Wales) prevent the flyer falling off or thread getting into a tangle on Ashford Traditional and other wheels which are supported from a stock. […]
Yarn to dye for is worth the trouble – even if it is a two-stage process – when the colours feel as classy and sophisticated as these feel to me. I did a lot of dyeing this winter and will be demonstrating how to do this at the First Wednesday workshop at Knuston Hall next […]
Took my youngest granddaughter out on Nola last Sunday. Granddaughter is 12 and Nola is 25. All three of us had a lovely time. She posed for this photograph to show her friends – probably on Instagram or some such thing – I could imagine a picture caption ‘Riding my Gran’s horse’ ….my horse – […]
House pigeon – things you do for your friends. This poor old scraggy pigeon spent several months in a cage recuperating from a nasty accident. Thinking he needed to be able to fly, my friend released him in with her hens – who attacked it mercilessly as hens do. He was left looking a bit […]
Mohair locks and blue faced leicester top went into this yarn made by Jane who attended my lBeginners Long Draw day at Knuston on 6th September. “Inspired by your session at Knuston last week, I made a skein using the lovely dyed curls carded into some blue faced Leicester top. After spinning, I plied using […]
Spinning Retreat Spinning retreat at Knuston Hall ends today. A huge success for spinning and Knuston Hall which was so fully booked there was not enough room in the newly refurbished dining room – the second time spinners have dined in the library in a week. 11 ladies from as far apart as Bradford and […]
Socks with meaning make delightful gifts and now is the time to start on knitting unique Christmas gifts. These socks are called Meadow and knitted with my own art yarn. All yarn has basic elements which can be used in the design process; these are fibre, spinning method, colour and yarn structure. The fibre choice […]
Art yarn is a spinners response to fibre and colour and texture, in the same way as any art is a personal response to something. Art yarn is yarn made for the purpose of art. Not designed for a project, but created as a result of the will or personal response. The fibre for this lovely yarn was dyed […]
Iceberg lettuce is like watered down cabbage compared to what’s in season here at the moment. I’d rather have English leeks which are at their natural best at this time of year, and there are still a few brussels sprouts, sprouting white and purple broccoli, cabbage, onions, turnips, celery, swede and potatoes and the weather is so mild […]
Making rolags during photoshoot with Danish photographer, Dorte. All looks a bit Hygge I think. . I wondered if I should ask my daughter Jenny – who has lovely elegant hands – to model for me, but Dorte said; “No Pam, your hands know what they are doing’ and I can see she is absolutely right […]
Andean plying is a really useful technique I learned from Kate at my Ashford workshop. She made it so easy I teach it to beginner drop spindlers at their first lesson – it only takes me one lesson to teach long draw on a drop spindle! You can learn all about twist and Andean plying at my next […]
Long draw spinner makes her first art yarn after only two lessons. Vanessa learned to spin long draw in her first lesson and has since created this lovely art yarn. Not bad for someone who had her first lesson on 19th December 2016. I learned to spin when I was about the same age as Vanessa […]
Bullfinches were busy enhancing the view at Woolly day in November, hopefully they will do the same at the next woolly day on 28th January.