Top This Monkey Crocheted Animal
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Top This Monkey! Using Top This! Yarn to make easy stuffed animals.

DMC has a new hat yarn that comes with a skein of yarn and a character topper. I took one look at these and thought "stuffed animal kit!" After a little trial and error, I present this free crochet pattern for a monkey...
beehive cops
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Beehive Cops on Spindles

While preparing for my Better, Happier Spindle Spinning Class, the topic of cop shapes came up. One of my favorite ways to fit a lot of yarn on a spindle is to use beehive cops. The beehive shape allows the cop to grow out beyond...
Spinzilla Yarn used in the Fox Cowl
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The Best Part of Spinzilla: Using all that Yarn

It's been a year. It didn't take me that long to finish the hood, that was done last fall. It just took me that long to post about it. This fall I pulled it out of one of my many knitting bags as I was searching for a set of needles...
Thank you!

A New Era for the Website!

Amy and I are tentatively excited right now. Today was the big leap – leaving behind the website structure and editor we’ve been using for over a decade, to embrace the new design and WooCommerce shopping system you see...
Wool Yarn Grows When Wet
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Wool Yarn Grows When Wet

Did you know? Wool fibers lengthen when wet. Both skeins were made on the same niddy. The upper skein is dry, the lower skein is wet. Once the lower skein dried, it was the same length as the upper. Cool. Have I ever told you how much I…
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Greek and Albanian Spinning: A Closer Look at a Unique Method

I learned this method of Greek and Albanian Spinning with spindle and distaff from a woman who grew up in Greece. I have also found evidence of this spinning method in Romania...
puni rolag fauxlag psuedo rolag
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Puni, Rolag, Fauxlag, Psuedo Rolag

All fiber bundles for spinning - but with very unusual names! What's the difference? Besides sounding like a child's nonsense song ("...puni rolag fauxlag psuedo rolag..."), what do these funny words mean? Well, they are all bundles…
Lendrum Spinning Wheel on the Patio
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10 minute post exercise – I love to spin

I love to spin. Why?  I'm not sure. Is it the feel of the fiber in my hands?  The mystery of changing it from locks to roving to squooshy, loveable yarn?  Is it the myriad colors, whether shiny or matte or dull or sparkly? Is…
Turkish Spindle

Turkish Spindle Answer: From The Email Archives

Q: How does the Tromp and Treadle Turkish Spindle work? I am not familiar with it. Thanks. - Sharon A: It works the same as any turkish-style spindle. As you wind on your yarn, you go