All Fiber Arts

Madder dye

During winter months, I tend to dye yarns mostly with acid based dyes because they are quick reacting and simple to work with. Now that it is spring and the sun is shining, I can again do some dye work outside so work more with natural plant dyes. Natural dye baths and mordants require much more time to prepare so I leave dye pots outside to steep and do their thing.

Today I am experimenting with madder root, trying out different temperatures and pH levels to see what happens. Alizarin and Purpurin are the main components of madder. Alizerine (reds)attaches itself to fiber at temperatures around 50 deg C. At higher temperatures > 80 deg C, purpurin (yellows) becomes the predominant dye color. For each dye bath I am dyeing approx 100 grams of fiber, using white Romney fleece and natural grey roving.

I have prepared an alum mordant, using 10 grams of alum and 5 grams of tartaric acid.
For subsequent mordants, I reuse the same mordant bath but add an additional 5 grams of alum. I check the pH level and if this increases above pH 4 I add a bit more tartaric acid.

Madder, like many other natural dye substances, is sensitive to heat and pH levels. At different temperatures or pH, you will get different colors.

In the first experiment, I used 15 grams of madder root powder, tied up in a nylon stocking.
I put the madder root into a dyebath and brought the temperature to around 40-50 deg C and let it cook for about an hour.
Then I added the scoured and mordanted wool. I let the dyebath simmer for a few hours, keeping the temperature below 50 deg C. I turned off the heat and let the dyebath cool and sit overnight.
I removed the dyed fleece from the dyebath the following day.
madder dye pot
MADDER ROOT DYE
TEMPERATURE: 40-50 DEG C
PH 4

pH Test Meter

A tool that I find invaluable when working with natural dyes is a good quality pH test meter.
Oakton EcoTestr pH 2 Waterproof pH Tester, 0.0 to 14.0 pH Range

More Organic Dye Recipes

Madder Dye Recipe
How to Make an Alum Mordant
How to Make a Tin Mordant
How to Mordant Cotton and Linen
Sandalwood
Osage Orange
Logwood
Mushroom Dyes

Natural Dye Books

Colour Cauldron

Wild Color, Revised and Updated Edition: The Complete Guide to Making and Using Natural Dyes

Where to Buy Madder

Madder root natural dye, dye extracts and mordants.

Dyeing Crafts
Wild Colours

Natural Dyes and Mordants

Jacquard Alum 1lb Mordant for Dyes Fabric Pre Treat

Current price:

$10.96

Ends in:

0d 7h 21m

Seller: eBay

IRON OXIDE BLACK 1 Pound Lab Chemical (Fe3)O4 Ceramic Pigment Thermite Magnetite

Current price:

$2.46

Ends in:

0d 23h 14m

Seller: eBay

Jacquard MARBLING KIT for Marbling Paint on Paper & Fabric

Current price:

$17.96

Ends in:

1d 5h 43m

Seller: eBay

Jacquard Mehndi Henna Art Kit Brown

Current price:

$11.99

Ends in:

1d 10h 37m

Seller: eBay

How to Felt a Cat Bed

My cat loves wool and crawling into small places to nap. I have many bags of wool so I thought I should make him his own special place to hide from dog and curl up.

I am using the wet felting method to make this cat cave. This project will take about 6 hours to do, and because you will be felting quite a bit of wet wool, it can get quite heavy to work with so take frequent breaks. You may want to complete this project over 2 days. It is fine to leave the wet felt overnight and complete the felting process the next day.

feltmaking

Start by making a thin layer of wool roving over the felting mat approx 24″ square.

Add 3 or 4 more layers of wool roving crossing them in opposite directions.

Place a fine mesh cloth over the wool and spray with warm soapy water.

felted cat bed pattern

Rub gently and add more soapy water until the wool begins to felt.

Gently remove the mesh cloth.

This will be the bottom of the cat bed.

felted cat bed pattern

Cut a piece of thick plastic such as from a heavy plastic bag into an oval shape approx. 20″ x 24″ to use as a form for the cat pod.

Place this over the previously felted wool.

Add another 3-4 layers of wool roving over the form so that it extends over the plastic form about 2 inches around.

Lay the mesh cloth over the wool roving.

Add some warm soapy water and again rub the wool roving until this begins to felt.

Remove the mesh cloth.

Fold and Tuck the ends of the wool roving under the form.

Fold the edges of the bottom layer over the top.

Yes, the plastic form will be left inside the two layers.

felted cat bed pattern

Place the felt piece inside the bamboo felt mat and continue rolling.

Open the felting mat occasionally, spray with more soapy water and turn the felt piece around so that the felting occurs evenly.

Keep rolling and felting.

Eventually the wool will begin to shrink and the edges of the cat bed will start to curl up.

You can now cut a small hole into the felted cat bed and carefully remove the plastic form.

felted cat bed pattern

Roll the felt piece back into the bamboo felting mat and continue to roll and felt until the wool becomes quite hard and firm.
felted cat bed pattern

Place the felted wool into a sink filled with hot water and continue to felt and agitate the wool to continue the felting process.
felted cat bed pattern

Run cold tap water over the felted piece and continue to shape the wool into a ball shape.
The cold water will help to harden the wool so that it holds its shape.

felted cat bed

Stuff the inside of the felted cat pod with plastic bags so that the cat bed holds its shape while it dries.

Yes, this felted cat bed can be washed. Wash it by hand in warm soapy water and rinse. You can gently turn it inside out to wash and clean the inside as well.
Roll the cat bed into a towel and squeeze or step on it to remove the excess water.
Stuff the bed with plastic bags and push it back into shape. Place it in a warm place to dry.

Felted Balls
Make some felted balls for your cat to play with.

Felted Cat Bed Patterns

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 4h 15m

Seller: eBay

Wet Felt Kit: FELTED SOAP Great Kit for Kids to Do! alpaca/wool kit (jjfarm)

Current price:

$9.99

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 4h 20m

Seller: eBay

AFA Newsletter 031013

Hi everyone,
Easter and spring are quickly coming. Here are some highlights of projects I’ve been working on the past few months.

Felted Quail Eggs
Why not felt a few eggs for your Easter basket?

Felted Easter eggs

Rebuilder Tapestry
A new tapestry is underway at Chichester Cathedral.

Felted Pillow
How to make a felted cushion cover.

Why Knit
Some of the health benefits of knitting.

Felted Waterlily
Knit and felt some flowers.

Russian Join
What is a Russian Join?

Fingerless Mittens
Fingerless mitten patterns.

Nalbinding Iphone Case
Make a bag for your Iphone using nalbinding.

Free Crochet Bowl Patterns
Crochet a bowl with leftovers from your stash.

Earth Sky Retreat
Earth and Sky meditative art workshops coming up soon in Ireland and Italy.

AFA Newsletter 102712

Hi Everyone,

Christmas is coming faster than we think. Here are some projects that you might like to try.

Needle Felted Christmas Ornaments
You can easily make needle felted Christmas decorations using a cookie cutter as a template.

Santa Doll
Knit a Santa doll and make him a hand felted Santa suit.

Super Simple Scarf Pattern
Here is an easy scarf that can be quickly knit up using handspun yarns.

Paivatar Yarns
As many of you may know, in addition to managing the All Fiber Arts website, I also work as a handweaver and spinner.

Earth and Sky
When the Christmas rush is over, how about an artistic and meditative retreat?

Marketing Crafts Online
A few things I’ve discovered recently about selling your crafts online.

Knitting Clock
A clock that knits. One of our Facebook members shared this link. The website is in German so you may need to turn on the translator in your browser.

All Fiber Arts Group on Facebook
In addition to our ongoing Delphi Forum, I have also started up a Facebook Group for weavers and fiber artists who like to use Facebook. Come join our friendly group if you like.

Free Crochet Bowl Patterns

Hemp Crochet Bowl

Hemp Crochet Bowl

Crochet bowls are a fun project for a beginner and use up odd bits of yarn.
I crocheted this bowl using one of the crochet bowl patterns below.
I used a hemp yarn and size 3.5 crochet hook.

I have recently discovered double ended crochet hooks by Knit Pro Symfonie which I love. They are made from birch wood and come in lovely colors. Since I mostly tend to work with thicker yarns and handspun wools, the set of 5 hooks ranging in 10 sizes from 3.0 mm – 8 mm gives me the variety of sizes that I need.

UK: Knit Pro Symfonie Wood Crochet Hook Set (Double Ended)

US: Knitter’s Pride Symfonie Rose Crochet Hook Set. Single Ended

Crochet Nesting Bowls
Crochet several bowls in different colors and sizes.

Free Crochet Basket and Bowl Patterns

Crochet Fabric Bowl
Crochet a bowl with strips of narrow fabric.

Crochet Lace Bowl
A lovely bowl in a lacey crochet pattern.

Felt Crochet Bowl
Using leftover wool from your yarn stash, crochet a bowl and felt it.

Crochet Bowls
A basic pattern for a crochet bowl – use your imagination.

Crochet Bowl Pattern
A free crochet pattern for a bowl with a scalloped edge.

crochet hemp basket

Crochet Hemp Basket

Stampavie Anne Cresci Clear Stamp-Yolene 3-7/8"

" />

Current price:

$5.85

Ends in:

0d 0h 29m

Seller: eBay

Stampavie Anne Cresci Clear Stamp-Lili-Rose 3-1/2"

" />

Current price:

$5.85

Ends in:

0d 0h 30m

Seller: eBay

Stampavie Anne Cresci Clear Stamp-Marion 3-3/4"

" />

Current price:

$5.85

Ends in:

0d 0h 30m

Seller: eBay

Stampavie Anne Cresci Clear Stamp-Lilou Abeille 4"

" />

Current price:

$5.85

Ends in:

0d 0h 30m

Seller: eBay

Rebuilder Tapestry

LouLou Morris, one of the regulars to our local Stitch and Bitch group that meets on Monday evenings at The Park Tavern in Chichester, is also a tapestry weaver. Recently she was commissioned to weave a tapestry for the Chichester Cathedral to celebrate the rebuilding of the cathedral spire.
Rebuilder tapestry

Artist Statement

Loulou Morris
“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People live” Isaiah 58:12

Although the theme of my residency is linked to the collapse and subsequent rebuilding of the Cathedral spire, I have chosen to use the prophetic words to explore the idea of “rebuilding” in other ways – as I believe they were intended. There is much to celebrate in the reconstruction of a building; there is even more to celebrate in the regeneration of a people, the renewal of relationships or the healing of an individual. All these strands have been in my mind as I have chosen imagery and words to be included in the tapestry that I shall be weaving during the residency. The act of weaving – creating both imagery and surface at the same time – is wonderful to partake in, as spectator or maker. First there is emptiness, then warp as the foundation and then weft builds the structure and tells the story. Tapestry weaving is a slow and careful art in a fast world. There are no instant results.

Tapestry Artist Rebuilds New Spire
Halfunderstood Blogspot
How long will it take to complete? Loulou estimates about 4 months. So follow on to LouLou’s blogspot to watch the continued progress of this tapestry.

Rebuilder tapestry

0d 2h 37m

Seller: eBay

Felt pillow

This is a project to felt and sew a hand felted cushion cover.

felt pillow

Materials used:
Wool roving for making felt
approx 1 yard of cotton fabric
16 inch zipper
19 inch pillow form

Hand made Felt

To make the felt top for this pillow, I made a large piece of felt approx 24 inches square. During the felting process the felt will shrink about 10%-15%.
I don’t like to waste wool, so I use the leftover thrums from carding for making felt. This comes from the fleece that is left on the drum carder and isn’t a good enough quality for hand spinning.
I placed a thin layer of the leftover wool onto the felting mat. I then added a second layer of gray wool roving over the wool thrums, laying the fiber in the opposite direction. I added a third thin layer of gray roving over the previous layer, again in the opposite direction.
I wet the wool with warm water and soap and rolled it up in a felting mat.
For more detailed instructions of how to make a piece of felt please see below.

felt thrums

After the wool was felted, the completed felt piece measured approx 19-20 inches square.
I cut 2 pieces of cotton fabric approx 2 inches larger than the felted piece.

felt pillow
I stitched the felt piece to one of the cotton fabric pieces close to the edge of the felt. I want to leave the outer edges of the handmade felt as a border on the pillow.
I sewed a second row of stitching about 1 inch inside of the outer edge, to create a border to the pillow.
sewing felt

I folded and pinned the outer edges of the felt to the inside, to prevent them from being sewn as I sewed the backing onto the pillow.
sewing felt
Right sides together I pinned the fabric for the pillow back to the pillow front.
I sewed one of the seams together and added a zipper.

sewing felt pillow
After adding the zipper, I sewed the remaining 3 sides of the pillow together.
Turn the cushion cover right side out, remove all the pins and insert the pillow.
Time to put your feet up and enjoy!

sewing felt pillow

Felt Making

How to Make Felt
Valentine Felt Pillow
How to Make Handmade Felt
Felted Place Mats

How to Sew a Zipper

Threads: How to Sew a Zipper
Sewing 101 – Zippers

Felting Kits

Dimensions Cross Stitch Kit - Snowmen Gathering Stocking

Current price:

$29.95

Ends in:

0d 0h 31m

Seller: eBay

Bucilla "MR & MRS SANTA" Toys Presents Christmas Ornaments Felt Applique Kit NEW

" />

Current price:

$34.19

Ends in:

0d 0h 34m

Seller: eBay

Dimensions Felt Applique Needle Work Kit BNIP Welcome Baby Birth Date Banner

Current price:

$8.50

Ends in:

0d 1h 34m

Seller: eBay

Bucilla Felt Kit Angel Treetop Centerpiece #82962 BNIP FREE SHIPPING

Current price:

$31.99

Ends in:

0d 1h 35m

Seller: eBay

Why Knit

Why should you take up knitting?

knit sheep

Many people associate crafts like knitting and crocheting with old ladies, however this is a stereotype which could not be more wrong. An increasing number of young people are now getting into this creative past time and are knitting scarves, gloves and even toys. Plus in this economic climate, learning a skill like knitting is a great way to save money by making home made gifts.

With the current popularity of these crafts and the variety of yarns and fun projects available, there’s never been a better time than now to take up this creative activity. If you normally spend your free time watching reruns of TV shows or playing some FoxyBingo.com online, but now you would like to try being more creative and productive, then it sounds like knitting is the perfect hobby for you.

Knitting relieves stress

After a long or stressful day at the office, there’s no better way to relax than sitting on the sofa, enjoying a cup of tea and getting on with some knitting. You’ll find that all the worries of the day melt away due to the relaxing, rhythmic and simple nature of knitting. The repetitive movements of knitting help to lull us into a relaxed rhythm because all we need to do is focus on just one task. In addition, knitting helps you to gather your thoughts and find a calm and positive state of mind where you’re not mulling over the past or fretting about the future.

Health advantages

There’s more to knitting which meets the eye. According to research conducted by Professor Richard Davidson of Wisconsin University, it is thought that practising rhythmic and repetitive movements such as knitting for eight weeks can have a positive effect on brain function and even strengthen the immune system. This is because therapeutic activities such as knitting evoke relaxation responses which can help reduce blood pressure, heart rate and help to prevent stress related illnesses.

Knitting improves your mood

In research by Dr. Barry Jacobs of Princetown University it has been discovered that repetitive movements in animals enhance the release of serotonin. In depression, serotonin levels are low but rhythmical movements such as knitting release a chemical called serotonin which can help you feel more calm and happy.

So when you are feeling stressed at work, it’s time for a knitting break!

Investigating Healthy Minds
An interview with Richard Davidson

What Causes Depression
New insights into serotonin, neurogenesis and depression.

The Emotional Life of Your Brain: How Its Unique Patterns Affect the Way You Think, Feel, and Live–and How You Can Change Them

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness

Knitting Needle Sizes

Crochet Hook Sizes

Felted Waterlily

A great way to use up some of your handspun stash is to knit flowers and felt them.
Here is an example of a waterlily that I knitted.

The pattern came from a book I purchased from Amazon – Knitted Flowers, 20 to make.
The pattern calls for double knitting weight yarn. I substituted this for my woolen hand spun in variegated colours.

Knitted Flowers (Twenty to Make)

To make the flower first knit the set of outer petals in garter stitch following the instructions given.
knit waterlily

The inner petals of the flower are knitted in a similar fashion, but slightly smaller in size.
knitted waterlily
The center of the flower is knit in a contrasting color by simply casting on and casting off. For this I used another hand spun wool yarn dyed in yellow.
knit waterlily

After knitting the flower sections, sew them together following the pattern instructions.
Then I felted the completed flower, by putting it into a sink full of hot tap water with a bit of dish detergent. I rubbed and massaged the flower quite vigorously until it felted. I further felted the flower by dipping it into cold and hot water repeatedly.
felted waterlily

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 4h 15m

Seller: eBay

Wet Felt Kit: FELTED SOAP Great Kit for Kids to Do! alpaca/wool kit (jjfarm)

Current price:

$9.99

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 4h 20m

Seller: eBay

How to Russian Join Yarn Ends

What is a Russian join? A Russian join is a very effective way to join 2 yarn ends without using a knot. It works well on any type of plied yarn, especially when the yarn doesn’t felt, such as for cotton, linen or superwash wool yarns. It can be used for knitting and crochet. I also like to use this method for nalbinding.

How to Russian Join Yarn

Step 1:
Thread a needle with one of the yarns you wish to join.
Work the needle back through the yarn for about an inch, forming a loop.

Russian join yarn step 1

Step 2:
Pull the thread through, leaving a loop in the yarn end.
Russian join yarn step 2

Step 3:
Thread the second yarn end through the loop.
Russian join yarn step 3

Step 4:
Thread the needle with the second yarn.
Work the needle back through the second yarn end for about an inch.
Russian join yarn step 4

Step 5:
Pull the needle through the yarn, leaving a second loop.
Russian join yarn step 5

Step 6:
Pull gently on both yarn ends to close the loops.
Russian join yarn step 6

You can now trim the yarn ends leaving you with a neatly joined yarn.

Fiber Art Teachers

Here is a list of fiber art, weaving, hand spinning, knitting, crochet teachers and instructors. If you teach and would like to be added to this list please contact me.
If you are already listed and your contact details have changed, could you also please contact me so that I can update the pages.

Australia

Australia – BB Yarn Supply
Ursula Schmid teaches colour theory classes and gives workshops on weaving textures, linen, summer & winter, using a warping mill and other handweaving courses.

Australia – Romida Fibre & Spinning Supplies
Cheryl Hutchinson teaches spinning on drop spindles and wheels, both privately and to larger groups.

New Zealand – The Christchurch Tapestry Workshop
Marilyn Rea-Menzies teaches beginner and intermediate classes in tapestry and elements of design.

Canada

BC – The Stitchhiker
Birthe Achtner teaches Scandinavian knitting and weaving.

ON – Baskets & Bobbins
Terryl Ryan teaches classes in beginner weaving, basketry, twig furniture building and quilting, in Ontario, Canada.

Ontario – Jette Vandermeiden
Beginner weaving, complex structures, drawloom classes.

Quebec – Toisons de Ville
Micheline Beluse has 20 years experience and training in spinning and natural dyes. Special interests include 18th Century textiles and dyes.

U.S.

AZ – Dine Woven
Roy Kady is a Master Weaver in Navajo textiles. Classes include all regional styles of Navajo weaving, lap spinning techniques, local vegetable dyes, Sumac fiber coiling, basket weaving and wool feltmaking.

CA – Rug & Yarn Hut
Karen Brayton-McFall offers classes for beginners, and more experienced weavers, tapestry, handspinning, corsetmaking, Orenburg lace knitting, crochet, braiding and many other fiber art techniques. Guest teachers and mentors are also featured.

CA – Heather Wells
Lessons in crochet, knitting, afghan stitch, pattern reading, and color theory. Jewelery, polymer clay and soap making classes also available.

CA – Kimberly KellerSurface design, sewing, burn-out, silk-screen.

CA – Nancy Jackson
Specializing in traditional Aubusson/Gobelin Tapestry

CA – Shuttlebug’s Studio
Debbie Bartle teaches beginner weaving, spinning and kool-aid dyes.

FL – Tingomaria Homestead
Susan Keller gives demonstrations and classes on weaving and spinning with a wheel or a drop spindle.

FL – Too Warped Weavers
Martha and Esther teach both weaving and beadwork.

IA – DeSigns4U
Sandi Carstensen teaches how to make Buggy Wheel rugs.

IN – The Weavers Loft
Barb Gallagher has over 20 years experience teaching individuals and doing workshops in rug weaving and randome warp dyeing.

Brenda Kopmeyer-Kaspar
is an award-winning fiber artist. She teaches a wide range of textile techniques, dyeing, felting, papermaking.

KS – The Wool Winders
Sharon Rooney teaches weaving on frame and 4 harness looms, and beginner spinning on wheels and spindles.

KS – Great Plains Artisans LLC
Sally Brandon teaches bobbin lace, beginner and advanced weaving, spinning, dyeing and basketry.

MA – Judy Goodwin
Beginner weaving, spinning, dye classes as well as hand and machine knitting.

MA – Squirrels’ Nest
Cheryl Marsolais teaches handknitting and drop spindle spinning to both adults and children.

ME – Atelier 9
Donald Talbot teaches introductory and intermediate classes on 18th and 19th century looms, spinning on antique wheels and various dye techniques.

MI – Kathy Rowe
Frame loom weaving, Ikat dyeing.

MN – Traudi Bestler
Traudi Bestler gives workshops on beginner and advanced weaving, tapestry, kumihimo braiding, dyeing and warp painting.

MI – Virginia Handy
Virginia Handy, Log Cabin Crafts – teaches weaving, handspinning and natural dye classes.

MO – Brenda Brewington
Knitting lessons, custom crochet work.

MO – Emmie Seaman
Improvisational quiltmaking, spontaneous dyeing on fabric, surface design.

MS – Earthart Collective (sm)
Sandra Nickeson teaches workshops on creativity enhancement, surface design and mixed media art applications, including visual journeying.

MT – Elkhorn Mountains Weaving Studio
Joanne Hall gives workshops in Swedish weaving, drawloom weaving, tapestry, rug making and many other weave structures.

MT – JK Fiber Works
Jan Nordwick has extensive spinning and knitting training and experience and offers workshops in fiber arts.

NC – Jutta Zuloaga
Hand and machine knitting, design finishing.

NC – Lamplight Creations
Johnetta Heil offers classes in triangle loom weaving, circular weaving, Inkle and other small looms.

NC – Spinner’s Ridge
Elaine Ross raises angora goats, and teaches beginner spinning, drafting techniques and going beyond the basics.

NC – Lisa Kennedy
Alpacas, tri-loom weaving, spinning 101, drop spindling, dyeing and felting.

NC – Woven Dreams
Bonnie Pulver teaches beginner weaving and silk painting.

NY – Fiber Design
Ann Songayllo teaches beginner and advanced weaving classes.

NY – Joanna Lines
Classes in woven textiles and yarn dyeing.

OH – Leigh McDonald
Quilting, fabric painting, dyeing, machine and hand embroidery.

OR – Linda Hendrickson
Ply-split, tablet weaving, warp twining, Andean pebble weave.

NJ – Winding Way Weaver
Barbara Flexner teaches weaving, spinning, wool processing and using natural dyes.

NY – The Art Studio & Mia…
Mia Barkan Clarke is a working artist and practicing art therapist, specializing in fiber arts for adults suffering from mental illness.

OK – Cherokee Baskets
Peggy Brennan is a Cherokee Tribal member and specializes in Native American basketry.

OR – Patrie Studios
Pam Patrie specializes in teaching tapesty and rug weaving. She has produced works for many public and private buildings.

PA – From Hands That Weave
Irene Smith teaches basic beginner weaving, tapestry, crochet, quilting, sewing and machine embroidery.

PA – Ramona Lord
Ramona Lord teaches beginner weaving on a frame-loom, boundweave, drafting and design as well as other types of weaving.

Puerto Rico – Artesanias Marypili
Maria del Pilar Batista teaches weaving with palm leaves.

TN – Larkspin Fiberworks
Charlotte Iverson teaches basic handspinning on both the wheel and the drop spindle and is willing to travel to workshops.

TX – Gail Crossman Moore
Gail Crossman Moore offers feltmaking classes for beginners or intermediates.

VA – Cecelia Cassady
Cecelia Cassady gives beginner and intermediate weaving and drop spindle spinning classes.

WA – Black Sheep Studio
Deborah DeRose offers knitting classes to children and beginner knitters.

Fingering Weight - Handpainted Cotton/rayon - CRAZY CROCUS

Current price:

$9.99

Ends in:

0d 0h 33m

Seller: eBay

Lavender Sachet Potpourri 40 -o-

Current price:

$13.99

Ends in:

0d 0h 33m

Seller: eBay

4*50g Skeins Soft Aloes Fiber Cotton baby/crochet yarn;Fingering;200g;blue

Current price:

$14.99

Ends in:

0d 0h 41m

Seller: eBay

Handpainted Bulky Cot/Ray Velour Chenille - BABY BLUES

Current price:

$8.50

Ends in:

0d 0h 59m

Seller: eBay

Big List of Page Links

Alpaca/Llama Yarns & Spinning Fibres
Sources, farms and information about camelid fibre producers, alpaca, llama and suppliers of yarn and spinning fibre.

Angora Rabbit Yarns & Spinning Fibres
Breeders and suppliers of fluffy angora bunnies, weaving yarn and fibre for the handspinner or crafter.

Baby Blankets
Free patterns for weaving things for babies.

Basketry

Basketry
Supplies and resources for weaving baskets.

Easter Basketry
Valentine’s Basketry

Beadwork

Bead Looms
Free patterns, supplies and resources for bead weavers.

Easter Beadwork
Valentine’s Beadwork
Halloween Beadwork
St. Patrick’s Day Beadwork
Thanksgiving Beadkwork Christmas Beadwork

Books

Amazon Bookstore
Bed & Breakfasts

A collection of Bed and Breakfasts for the textile traveller and tourist.Knitters Blogs

Lacemaking

Bobbin Lace
Museums, gallery displays, free patterns, lessons and suppliers for bobbin lace making.

Bobbin Lace Suppliers
Shops and suppliers for making bobbin lace: pillows, bobbins, yarn.

Books, Magazines & Videos
Weaving, spinning, dyeing, crafts and textile-related books, on-line magazines and videos for the weaver, spinner, designer or textile traveller.
Braiding
Information, links and resources for braiding techniques, ply-split, sprang.
Cashmere & Qiviut
Sources for suppliers and breeders of the ultimate in luxury weaving yarns and exotic spinning fibres: cashmere, qiviut, shatoosh, pashmina.
Chenille Yarns

Sources of suppliers and information about cotton, acrylic, silk and rayon chenille yarns for weaving.
Charkha Spinning

Links and information about handspinning with a charkha.

Christmas Craft

Christmas Beadwork

Christmas Crochet

Christmas Cross Stitch

Christmas Feltmaking

Christmas Knitting

Christmas Weaving

Classes

Classes, Workshops & Education

Weaving, spinning and dye classes and workshops, as well as links to Educational facilities, universities, schools, colleges and private instructors that offer weaving, textile design, arts and crafts programmes.
Instructors
Hand spinning and weaving instructors who can give private lessons, workshops.

Craft Clipart

Clip Art & Screen Savers
Add some fiber to your computer with these weaving and spinning related free web clip art graphic collections and screensavers.
Clipart Flowers

Free clip art flowers, dyeplants, pictures and screensavers to dress up your desktop.Clip Art – PSP Tube Flowers
For natural dyers, flower and plant lovers, here is a collection of free Paint Shop Pro Tube flowers that you can download and use in your web graphics.
Clip Art – PSP Tube Fabrics

Free Paint Shop Pro tubes featuring fabrics and textures.
Conversion Tables
Handy tables for knitting needle sizes, crochet hooks, reed sizes, setts for weaving yarns and other UK, US and metric conversions.

Cultural Travel

Cultural Travel & Tours
Travel and cultural tours for the spinner, weaver and textile arts and crafts enthusiast.
Travel – Europe

Travel – Ireland

Travel – Scandinavia

Travel – UK
Felted Dolls

A collection of felted dolls, patterns and instructions.
Weaving, Spinning & Dyers Conferences

Weavers, spinners and dyers annual conferences and exhibits.
Cotton Yarns & Spinning Fibre

Sources of and articles about cotton weaving yarns and fibre for handspinning.
Crafts Business Information

Marketing and sales resources, supplies and tips for craft business.

Crochet

Free patterns, supplies and resources for crochet.
Crochet Accessories
Crochet Afghans Baby Crochet

Crochet Bags

Crochet Edgings
Filet Crochet
Crochet Hats
Crochet Toys
Crochet Halloween >Crochet St Patricks Day
Crochet Thanksgiving
Crochet Christmas

Cross Stitch

Free patterns, supplies and resources for the stitcher.
Easter Cross Stitch
Halloween Cross Stitch
St Patricks Day Cross Stitch
Thanksgiving Cross Stitch
Valentines Cross Stitch
Christmas Cross Stitch
Cyber Exchanges

Join in on the fun with these Cyber weaving, spinning and craft exchanges. Make tea towels, lace, linens and share them with your friends.

Dyes

Dye Recipes
Dye Supplies and Recipes

Projects, recipes and information pertaining to using natural and synthetic dyes, mordants and sources of dye supplies for weaving, spinning and other crafts.
Natural Dye Lesson Plans

Lesson plans for teaching natural dyes in schools.
Dye Information and Colouring

Information about using dyes to colour theory, fibre, yarns and textiles for weaving, spinning or other crafts.Natural Dye Plants & Flowers

Plant a dyers garden. Here is a collection of natural and vegetable dyeplants and wildflowers, with pictures, information on planting, growing, dye recipes for wool, cotton, silk and other spinning fibres, fabrics and yarns.
Natural & Vegetable Dyeing

Information, history, recipes and sources for dyeing yarns and spinning fibres with natural, vegetable dyes and mordants.
Natural Dyes – part 2
Natural Dyes – Part 3.
Dyers Walks
Photographic strolls through fields of flowers and meadows.
Rhubarb Recipes

Rhubarb can be used in your dyepot or your kitchen. Here are some recipes for both the natural dyer, cook or organic gardener.Synthetic Dyes

Recipes, sources and information about using synthetic dyes(CIBA, Procion, Dekka, Gaywool) for colouring yarns, batik, fiber & other craft items.

Easter Crafts

Easter

Free Easter weaving, spinning, dye and other crafts and projects.

Easter Clipart Ethnic & Traditional Weaving

Information and history about ethnic and traditional weaving looms and techniques.Family Fun Projects
Easy, beginner craft projects for kids and families.Fashion Designers

Art to wear and fashion designers who specialize in handwoven fabrics and clothing.
Felting & Papermaking

Instructions, free projects and information about making handmade felt and paper.
Loom Building

Free instructions, plans and patterns for building your own loom.
Naalbinding

Instructions and patterns for this single-needle knitting technique.

EBay Watch

Ebay
Look for your craft supplies at Ebay – US, UK, Canada, Australia.

Ebay Tapestry
E-Cards Fairy Tales

From Aesop’s fables to Grimm’s fairy tales and other traditional folklore, spinners and weavers display qualities of power, wisdom and magic. Here are some of these stories for your enjoyment.
Family Fun Projects

Kids love to play with fibres and yarns. Some ideas and links to weaving activities, puzzles, crafts and textile projects for families.Fashion Designers
Art to Wear

Feltmaking

Feltmaking
Felt Dolls
Felting and Papermaking
Felted Bags
Nuno Felting
Halloween Felting
Thanksgiving Felting
Christmas Felting
Valentines Day Felting
Fiber & Yarn Sources

Breeders, suppliers and shops of handspinning fibres, wools, fleeces and weaving yarns, organized by geographic location, or type of fiber.
Fibre Suppliers – Australia & NZ

Sources for spinning fibre and weaving yarns down under in Australia and New Zealand.Feng Shui

Fibres and Yarns

Fibre Information

Information about various textile and spinning fibres, their identification, characteristics, preparation.Fibre Resources

Where to find spinning fiber, yarns for knitting, weaving, crochet, farms, sheep breeders and suppliers of wools, cottons, linen, craft supplies, spinning fibres and weaving yarns in Canada.
Fibre Suppliers – Europe and U.K.
Fibre Suppliers – US Midwest
Fibre Suppliers – US NE
Fibre Suppliers – Southern U.S.
Fibre Suppliers – U.S. West
Fiber Australia
Fiber Finland
Fiber Iceland
Fiber Sweden

Fiber and Yarns by Type

Fibers by Type for Spinning, Weaving or

Information about and suppliers of numerous spinning fibers and yarns for weaving, knitting or crochet, organized by type: Alpaca, Angora, Mohair, Cottons, Wools, Organic yarns, Novelty Silks, Linens, Chenilles, Rayons.
Alpaca/Llama Yarns & Spinning Fibres

Sources, farms and information about camelid fibre producers, alpaca, llama and suppliers of yarn and spinning fibre.
Angora Rabbit Yarns & Spinning Fibres

Breeders and suppliers of fluffy angora bunnies, weaving yarn and fibre for the handspinner or crafter.
Cashmere & Qiviut

Sources for suppliers and breeders of the ultimate in luxury weaving yarns and exotic spinning fibres: cashmere, qiviut, shatoosh, pashmina.Chenille Yarns

Sources of suppliers and information about cotton, acrylic, silk and rayon chenille yarns for weaving.Cotton Yarns & Spinning Fibre

Sources of and articles about cotton weaving yarns and fibre for handspinning.
Flax and Linen Yarns & Spinning Fibres

Suppliers and articles about flax, linen, ramie weaving yarns for warp and weft and handspinning.Handspun Yarns

Handspun yarns add a unique touch to that special weaving, knitting or craft project. Here are some project ideas that you can make with your handspun. If you don’t want to spin the yarn yourself, spinners that can do it for you are also listed.
Hemp Yarns & Spinning Fibres

How can you find some hemp fibre to try out? Here are some links to suppliers of hemp yarns and blends and spinning fibres.
Mohair Yarns & Spinning Fibres

Mohair yarns are wonderful for weaving blankets and clothing. Links to Angora goat producers and sources for both mohair spinning fibre and yarns.
Natural & Organic Yarns & Fibres

For the purist, natural and organic wool and cotton weaving yarns and spinning fibres.
Novelty Yarns

Novelty, wools, cotton, boucles and designer yarns for the handweaver, knitter or crafter.
Ramie
Ramie, jute, bamboo and other unusual yarns.Rug Yarns

Suppliers of craft and rug yarns, wool, cotton for weaving both warp and weft.
Silk Yarns & Spinning Fibre

Exotic tussah, bombyx silk yarns, fibre caps and bricks for the handspinner or weaver, looking for an extra special treat.
Wool Yarns & Spinning Fibres

Pure wool comes in a multitude of types. Links to sheep breeders and suppliers of fleece, spinning fibres and yarns for the weaver, spinner or crafter: Merino, Romney, Corriedale, Churro and more.

Galleries and Studios

Galleries & Studios

Meet other handweavers, fashion designers, spinners, textile and tapestry artists and visit their on-line galleries, studios and web sites.
Galleries – Africa

On-line galleries and web sites, studios of weavers, spinners and textile artists in Africa.

Galleries – Asia

On-line galleries, homepages, web sites and studios of weavers, spinners and textile artists in Asia.

Galleries – Australia/NZ

On-line galleries, web sites homepages and studios of weavers and textile artists in New Zealand and Australia.

Galleries – Canada

On-line galleries, web sites, homepages and studios of weavers, spinners and textile artists in Canada.

Galleries – Europe & U.K.

Galleries, web sites and on-line design studios of weavers, spinners and textile artists in Europe and the U.K.

Galleries – Central/South America

On-line galleries, homepages and studios of weavers and textile artists in Central and South America.

Galleries – U.S.

Meet weavers and textile artists in the U.S. and visit their on-line galleries, web sites, studios and homepages.

Guilds

Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Guilds

Trying to find a Guild near you? Here are some links to Weavers, Handspinners and Dyers Guilds and associations, sorted by geographic location.
Guilds – Canada

Handweavers, spinners, dyers and textile arts and dyers guilds in Canada.Guilds – Australia/NZ

Weaving, spinning, dyers and crafts guilds in Australia and New Zealand.

Guilds – Europe and U.K.

Handweavers, spinners, crafts, textile arts and dyers guilds and associations in Europe and the U.K.
Guilds – U.S. Midwest

Handweaving, spinning, crafts and dyers guilds in the US midwest.
Guilds – U.S. Northeast

Weaving, spinning, crafts, fiber arts and dyers guilds in the US Northeast.
Guilds – US South

Handweavers, spinners, dyers, fiber crafts and textile arts guilds and associations in the southern US.
Guilds – US West

Handweavers, fiber arts, spinners, dyers and crafts guilds in the western US.
Handspun Yarns

Halloween Crafts

Halloween Beadwork Halloween Clipart Halloween Cross stitch Halloween Felting
Halloween Knitting Hemp Yarns & Spinning Fibres

How can you find some hemp fibre to try out? Here are some links to suppliers of hemp yarns and blends and spinning fibres.Hand Spindles

You don’t need a lot of equipment to make handspun yarn. Here are some how-to lessons, suppliers and makers spindles, drop, supported, Turkish.Harry Potter
Inkle Looms
Instructors
Kimono

Patterns, pictures and information about the Japanese kimono.
Kits

Do you want to spin or weave, but don’t want all the work of planning the project? Kits are the answer: for wool, silk, chenille, cotton scarves, towels, blankets, tapestry, spinning, felting and other crafts.

Knitting

Knitting techniques, free patterns and other helpful resources for the knitter.Knitted Hat Patterns

A collection of knitting patterns for hats and caps.Knitting Motifs
Knitted Slippers

Knitted Socks

Free knitting patterns for socks.

Knitted Scarves

Knitting patterns for scarves.

Knitted Toys
Knitted Vests

Links to free knitting patterns for vests.
Knitting Software

Software for both hand and machine knitters.
Kumihimo / Braiding

Lessons, information and sources for Japanese kumihimo, maru dai braiding techniques and equipment.
Labels

Resources and suppliers for labels and information about labeling your woven, handspun, and handmade craft products.
Lacemaking Suppliers
Lanolin

Looms

Weaving Looms and Suppliers

All about weaving looms, both big and small: inkle, rigid heddle, table, floorlooms, used equipment, suppliers, maintenance.
Loom Building
Instructions for making your own loom.Loom Suppliers

Looms come in all shapes and sizes, from child-size to tapestry and large floor looms. You can find listings for the suppliers, makers and sellers of looms.
Small Looms
Table looms, inkle, beadlooms>Mailing Lists

Mailing lists and egroups related to weaving, spinning tapestry, and the fibre arts.
Math and Weaving
How are they related?
Member Gallery
Members show and tell.

Mills

Mills & Fiber Processing

Woolen mills, carding, spinning and fiber processing services.
Mills & Fibre Processing – Canada

Woollen mills, custom carding, spinning yarns and fibre processing services in Canada.

Mills – UK

Mills – US

Mohair Yarns & Spinning Fibres

Mohair yarns are wonderful for weaving blankets and clothing. Links to Angora goat producers and sources for both mohair spinning fibre and yarns.

Museums
Take a cyber-tour of weaving, textiles and tapestry. Visit on-line galleries, exhibits and museums.

Music for the Handweaver & Spinner

Weavers & handspinners have always loved to sing as they work. Here are some music clips of traditional weaving & spinning songs. Enjoy!
Mythology & Stories

Mythology, fairy tales and folk lore about weaving and spinning.
Natural & Organic Yarns & Fibres

For the purist, natural and organic wool and cotton weaving yarns and spinning fibres.Needlepoint

Free patterns, supplies and resources for needlework.Novelty Yarns

Novelty, wools, cotton, boucles and designer yarns for the handweaver, knitter or crafter.Papermaking

Free projects, instructions, information and suppliers for making your own handmade paper.

Patterns

Patterns & Projects

Looking for some ideas of what to do with the yarn in your stash? Here are some free weaving patterns and knitting or crochet projects you can make with your handspun yarns.
Patterns – For Baby

Free weaving and spinning projects and patterns for baby blankets and other baby items.
Patterns – Beadloom

Free bead weaving patterns and projects you can make with beads. Because beadloom patterns are based on a grid, they can be easily adapted for use in woven tapestries, inlay designs or transparencies.
Patterns – Blankets & Pillows

Free weaving patterns and projects for making blankets, throws and pillows.
Patterns – Clothing & Accessories

Free patterns and projects for weaving, knitting and crafts with handspun yarns, handwoven clothing and accessories
.Patterns – Handspun Knit & Crochet

Free knitting, crafts and crochet patterns and projects that use handspun yarn.
Patterns – Kimono

Patterns, designs and instructions for sewing a kimono. A perfect project for using handwoven fabrics.
Patterns – Sewn With Handwoven

Free patterns and projects you can sew with handwoven fabrics.
Patterns – Rugs & Wall Hangings

Free weaving patterns and projects for wool rugs, carpets and wall hangings.
Patterns – Table Linens

Free patterns and projects for weaving placemats, runners, tablecloths and linens.
Patterns: Tartans

Free Scottish tartan patterns and weaving drafts.
Patterns – Towels

Free weaving patterns and projects for making handwoven cotton bath and tea towels.
Patterns – Weaving Drafts

Free weaving drafts, drawdowns, WIF files and patterns.
Drafts
Quilting

Free patterns, supplies and resources for the quilter.
Ramie
Ramie, jute, bamboo and other unusual yarns.

Craft and Fibre Resources and Supplies

Resources – Australia/NZ

Weaving yarn, spinning fiber and craft suppliers, guilds, associations and galleries in Australia and New Zealand.Resources – Geographic

A listing of weaving and spinning resources, suppliers, guilds and galleries by geographic region.
Resources: Canada

Yarn shops, spinning fibres, guilds, and other resources for weavers, crafters and handspinners in Canada.Resources – Europe

Weaving yarn, spinning fibre, suppliers and shops, guilds and galleries in Europe and the U.K.
Resources – U.S.

Weaving yarns and spinning fiber suppliers, guilds, and galleries in the U.S.Ramie & Jute

Links to ramie, jute, cedar bark and other unusual spinnable fibres, crafts and weaving yarn suppliers.

Rug Hooking

Free patterns, supplies and resources for the rug hooker.Rug Yarns

Suppliers of craft and rug yarns, wool, cotton for weaving both warp and weft.

Sewing

Free patterns, supplies and resources for sewing.Sewing Tips for Handwovens

Handy tips and free how-to advice for sewing with your handwoven fabrics and garments.Sheep’s Wool Yarns & Spinning Fibres

Pure wool comes in a multitude of types. Links to sheep breeders and suppliers of fleece, spinning fibres and yarns for the weaver, spinner or crafter: Merino, Romney, Corriedale, Churro and more.
Silk Yarns & Spinning Fibre

Exotic tussah, bombyx silk yarns, fibre caps and bricks for the handspinner or weaver, looking for an extra special treat.

Spinning

Spinning & Weaving Stories

Amusing stories, folk tales, jokes and poetry about weaving, sheep and spinning.
Spinning Wheels & Spindles

Looking for a new spinning wheel? Here’s where you can find the suppliers and manufacturers of wheels, equipment, fibres and yarns from Australia to Holland.Spinning Wheel Pictures

Links to pictures and information about antique spinning wheels.
&
Software

Weaving drafts can now be easily planned on your computer. You can find links for Drafting software for beginners and advanced weaving for both the PC and Mac as well as knitting and design software for your handspun yarns.

Spinning

Spinning Wheels & Spindles

Makers, suppliers and information about spinning wheels, spindles, charkhas, and clip art.
Spinning Wheels
Spinning Information

Interesting potpourri of facts and useful information about handspinning and weaving yarns and techniques: plying, twist, tension, chemistry of fibres, fleece and different handspinning methods including video clips.
Spinning Tools

Where you can find and what you can do with all those strange and nifty spinners tools: hand cards, drum carders, wool combs, niddy-noddys, and blockers.
Spinning Wheel Pictures
Photo gallery of various spinning wheels.Stamps

Postage stamps with a weaving, handicraft or textiles theme.

St. Patrick’s Day Crafts

St. Patrick’s Day

Crafts, projects, and information about all things Irish.

St. Patrick’s Day Beadwork

St. Patricks Day Cross Stitch

St. Patrick’s Day Knitting

Swedish Weaving

Sources and information for Monk’s cloth and Swedish weaving patterns and designs.Tartans

Weaving drafts, patterns and information about Scottish tartans.Tatting

Free patterns, supplies and resources for the tatter.Thrums
Miscellaneous information about weaving.Teachers & Fiberarts Instructors

A directory of teachers, instructors and classes for weaving, spinning, dyeing and other fiberarts.Wheel Information

Information about making, maintaining and selecting a spinning wheel.

St. Valentine’s Day Crafts

Valentine’s Day

Projects, patterns, crafts and specials to make for that special person on Valentine’s Day.
Valentine Basketry
Valentine Beadwork
Valentine Clipart
Valentine Knitting
Valentine Cross Stitch
Valentine Weaving

Weaving

Ethnic Weaving
Karelian Weaving
Special weaving techniques from Karelia, Finland.
Small Looms

You don’t need a big floor loom to weave. Here are some small and portable looms for narrow projects: Inkle, card, frame, finger and tablet weaving, lucet.
Tapestry Weaving

Tapestry is a rich and powerful artistic medium. Get inspired by some fabulous and creative tapestry art works.Thrums

Ethnic weaving, Miscellaneous tips, info and techniques about weaving, looms, spinning wheels, yarns, crafts and administrative information about this site.
Used Equipment

Places for weavers and spinners to barter, list and find used looms, spinning wheels, tools, equipment and yarns.
Weaving Information

Miscellaneous information,tips and techniques about weaving, warps, looms and textiles.

Yarn Shops

Yarn & Fiber Suppliers

Looking for a yarn shop? This is an alphabetic list of yarn and spinning fiber suppliers and dealers.Yarn Suppliers A – E

Alphabetic list of wool, cotton and other weaving yarns and spinning fibre suppliers, A-E.Yarn Suppliers F – L

Alphabetic listing of weaving yarn and spinning fibre suppliers.
Yarn Suppliers: M – Q

Alphabetic listing of weaving yarn and spinning fibre suppliers. M – QYarn Suppliers: R – Z

Alphabetic listing of weaving, knitting or crochet yarn and spinning fiber suppliers and shops, R – Z.

Feature Articles

1997 Articles
1998 Articles
1999 Articles
2000 Articles
2001 Articles
2002 Articles
2003 Articles
2004 Articles
2005 Articles
2006 Articles
2007 Articles
2008 Articles
2009 Articles
2010 Articles

Free Knit Lace Edging Pattern

A free knitting pattern for a lace knitted edging.

This sample was knit using 3 ply hemp in bleached white.

This edging is worked crosswise.

lace382.jpg, 33051 bytes

Cast on 9 sts.

Row 1

Knit 9 sts.
Row 2

Sl1, K2, (K2 tog, yo)twice, K1, yo, K1
Row 3

Knit across (10 sts)
Row 4

Sl1, K1, (K2 tog, yo) twice, K3, yo, K1
Row 5

Knit across (11 sts)
Row 6

Sl1, K2, (K2 tog, yo) twice, K 5, yo, K1
Row 7

Knit across (12 sts)
Row 8

Sl1, K2, (yo, K2 tog) twice, K1, K2 tog, you, K2 tog
Row 9

Knit across (11 sts)
Row 10

S1l, K3, yo, K2 tog, yo, K3 tog, yo, K2 tog
Row 11

Knit across (10 sts)
Row 12

Sl1, K4, yo, K 3 tog, yo, K2 tog
Repeat From Row 1 for desired length.

Knitting Patterns

Rib Lines
Holey Lace
Shetland Squares

Hemp Yarn

2008 ~ Handwoven Magazine ~ May/June ~ Warp Rep Ducape Overshot Hemp Projects

Current price:

$3.50

Ends in:

0d 2h 37m

Seller: eBay

Bernat Organic Natural Cotton - Hemp, 3 skeins

Current price:

$6.50

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 6h 39m

Seller: eBay

2 Backstrap weaving sets

Current price:

$45.00

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 7h 7m

Seller: eBay

3 Skein Yarn Reel Silk Lace weight 350g Weaving Thread

Current price:

$21.49

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 9h 52m

Seller: eBay

Beadwork Bag Patterns

Here are some free patterns for weaving beaded bags.

The Bead Lady
Here is a selection of free beaded bags you can make: Gold Tiger Amulet Bag, Fringe Pendant Bag, Evening Bag with Ridges.

Priscilla Beadwork Book
A pdf file containing detailed patterns for beaded bags, necklaces and other items from the Antique Pattern library.
Priscilla Beadwork Book – Part 2

Amulet Purses
Here are some free beading charts for making amulet purses.

Iphone Case
A free pattern chart for bead weaving an Iphone case.

Beaded IPhone Purse

Beads

6mm Sri Lanka Sapphire Round Loose Gemstone Beads 15“AA

Current price:

$1.87

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 0h 30m

Seller: eBay

50x New Purple Clover Charms Beads Fit Bracelets 150485

Current price:

$16.45

Ends in:

0d 0h 30m

Seller: eBay

440Pcs Wholesale Yellow Glass Faux Pearl Loose Bead 10MM 110155

Current price:

$16.25

Ends in:

0d 0h 30m

Seller: eBay

2x 100 Hot Pink Pyramid Studs Spots Punk Spikes for DIY Craft Leathercraft Shoe

Current price:

$5.18

Ends in:

0d 0h 30m

Seller: eBay

Fingerless Mitten Knitting Patterns

Here are some free patterns for knitting fingerless mittens

fingerless mittens

Kids Fingerless Mittens
Knit these up in an evening using variegated yarns.

Knoon Designs
Fingerless mittens knit in worsted weight yarn.

Learn How to Knit Fingerless Mittens
These mittens are reversible – knit in reverse stocking stitch and twisted moss stitch.

2 Hour Fingerless Mitten Pattern

Optimistic Mittens
Knit these fingerless mittens in superwash merino wool.

Charmed Fingerless Mittens
Knit these luxurious mittens in cashmere and mohair yarn.

Fast and Easy Fingerless Mitts
Knit these mittens in worsted weight wool – using just 50 grams of yarn.

Knitting Patterns

Paivatar Hand Spun Yarns

Hand Spun Yarns

HAND SPUN YARN, 100% WOOL, MADE IN USA, SPORT WEIGHT, "KIWI"

<div>HAND SPUN YARN, 100% WOOL, MADE IN USA, SPORT WEIGHT,

" />

Current price:

$6.50

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 1h 51m

Seller: eBay

1 new skein HANDSPUN DARK BROWN ALPACA YARN 4.2 ounces USA shipping included!

Current price:

$9.09

Ends in:

0d 2h 6m

Seller: eBay

1991 ~ Handwoven Magazine ~ Multiple Issues WEAVING SHIBORI SCARVES RAG RUGS DYE

Current price:

$3.75

Ends in:

0d 2h 39m

Seller: eBay

Handspun colied art Spring yarn " 24 yards"

" />

Current price:

$12.00

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 5h 16m

Seller: eBay

Naalbinding Pattern - Iphone Case

Naalbinding is a type of stitching technique that uses a large needle to form interconnecting loops.

nålbinding, naalebinding, nålbindning, Nadelbinden, nålebinding, naaldbinden, nõeltehnika, vattarsaumur, knotless knitting, knotless netting, single needle knitting, neulakinnas

Nalbinding is thought to pre-date knitting. Examples of nalbinding have been found throughout the world in archaeological finds. The technique is still used in parts of Peru, in Nepal and in Scandinavia to make socks, hats, gloves and other clothing and accessories.

Naalbinding is somewhat similar to knitting and crochet but once formed, it does not unravel. If you make a mistake it is very difficult to undo.

I took a short naalbinding class a few years ago but haven’t had time to practice on the technique since. I thought that I would give it a try by making a small case for my Iphone. I think this is a good project for a beginner as it uses only 1 stitch – the Oslo stitch, and a bit of hand spun wool. If you don’t have a naalbinding needle you can use a large wool darning needle.

Here are some good tutorials and how-to instructions on how to do different nalbinding stitches and techniques.

Bernhard Dankebar’s website gives good written instructions and photos of how to start the basic stitch.
The Beginning Stitch
This shows how to make the basic loop and the foundation row. This is also called the Oslo stitch.

The Ring
How to Close the Ring

How to Join Threads
When you work with nalbinding you will be using fairly short lengths of yarn so that it doesn’t tangle as you are working with it. It is best to use a pure wool yarn that will felt, so that you can splice and felt the ends together.

Neulakinnas
This is an excellent site (both in Finnish and English) with good instructions and how to videos that demonstrate many Nalbinding stitches.
Neulaintaat
The Finnish version of this website.

Naalbinding – Oslo Stitch 1+1

How to do the Nalbinding Oslo stitch – Youtube

Iphone Case Pattern

I have used a 2 ply hand spun wool yarn.
I did 30 Oslo stitches for the first row – or enough so that the ring measures 10 inches across.
I will be felting this once it is complete, so have allowed some extra allowance for felting and fulling.

nalbinding

See how to work the second row – at 5:20 in the You Tube video above.

I continued stitching using the Oslo stitch for the remaining rows.
I picked up 1 new loop and one old loop from the previous row and 1 loop from behind my thumb as well as the loop on my thumb and the new pickup thread.

Once you master the basic stitch, you will find that the naalbinding works up quite quickly. As with any type of stitching though, getting the tension right can be a bit tricky. The size of the loops are controlled by how tightly you wrap the yarn around your thumb, so you will need to practice with this. If you are working with fine yarn you can make the loops tighter by slipping the loop off your thumb and onto the naalbinding needle to adjust the tension.

After I completed nalbinding the bag I sewed the bottom and added a strap to it.
I picked up 2 loops from the side and using the Finnish 2/2 nalbinding stitch I stitched the strap and sewed attached the other end to the opposite side of the bag.

nalbinding Iphone case

Where to Buy Nalbinding Needles

Nalbinding Needles
Nalbinding needles made of wood: Juniper, Apple, Lilac, Cherry

Nalbinding Needles
Naalbinding needles made of maple wood.

Naalbinding Needles
Naalbinding needles made of bone or wood.

nalbinding yarn
Naalbinding Yarn

Nalbinding on Ravelry

Nalbinders on Ravelry

PIECEWORK MAGAZINE 2001 6 Issues NEW CD Bobbin Lace Manuscript Sampler Zardozi

Current price:

$19.99

Ends in:

19d 17h 16m

Seller: eBay

How to Market Crafts Online

I have been selling my handwoven items for some time now online. I have a website where I display some of my products and this continues to be an effective method of selling for me.

I realize that as crafters/weavers/handspinners, many of us are looking for alternate ways to sell our work, in addition to selling at craft fairs. The internet is a good way to do this and recently there have become more avenues to promote your work. Here are a few things that I have discovered.

Website

Firstly, start with a good website that is hosted on a reliable server. Purchase your own domain name. The cost of domain registration has come down in price so that it can be quite affordable.
Build a good quality website. Have a clear, easy to navigate menu system so that users can find their way around your website. Use good quality photos of your work.
Set up a Paypal account so that it is easy for the user to order your items and to pay you. Note that Paypal has a standard return policy so allow for this. I make it a rule not to spend my Paypal earnings until I am sure that the customer is satisfied and isn’t going to return the item.

hand spun yarn

In order for your website to be found, make the website search engine friendly. Use appropriate keywords on each page that describe what the page is about. If you are featuring knitted socks, then use keywords that describe the socks: knit socks, hand knit socks, knitted socks, wool socks, etc.
Also use text to describe the socks, what they are made of, what makes them special.
Use “alt” tags on all images so that search engines can understand what your image is. This will make the images more search engine friendly and will allow them to show up on Google image listings.

Also to help your website get noticed and show up in Google it is a good idea to also promote your work on other websites.

Facebook

Facebook now has an option to set up a Page for your business. You will first need to set up a personal Facebook account. Once you do this there will be an option to Create Page.
As an example, I have set up a Facebook Page for my Paivatar Yarn business. I use this to showcase my products and what I am making. I post photos of my work as I dye yarns, card, spin, felt and whatever I happen to be working on.
I also post links to the other website sales outlets that I use – Folksy and Etsy.
Once you have your Facebook Page set up there is an option to link it to your Twitter account, so that when you add a post to your FB Page, a Twitter is sent automatically to your Twitter followers.

Etsy

Etsy.com is an online marketplace where crafters can post their items for sale. Etsy charges a fee of $.20 per item and the item is listed for 4 months. If you have a successful sale Etsy charges an additional fee of 3.5% of the sale price.
If you join Etsy it is helpful to also become part of a team that can support you and help to promote your products. In return you are expected to also help other team members. Find out what the team rules are and follow them.
Paivatar Yarns on Etsy
I have some of my work listed on Etsy.

Folksy

Folksy.com is similar to Etsy but is the UK version. In order to take part you have to be a crafts person who is living in the UK.
Paivatar on Folksy
Since I now live in the UK I am concentrating more of my efforts on the UK version of Etsy – supporting local crafts.
Folksy fees are slightly higher – they charge £.20 to list an item and a 6% fee on a successful sale. However they have an annual payment option of £30 per year, for unlimited number of items. Depending on what type of crafts you produce, this could be a money saving option.
Folksy also has a member forum. I have found them to be very friendly and helpful in supporting each other. So be sure to get involved.

When you post your craft items on these or similar websites, be aware that there is a lot of competition as many crafters are actively involved. In order to be effective it is best to post a new item each day or every few days as new items are added on a continual basis.

The more exposure that you are able to get for your website, the more successful you will be. There are some other avenues to help you to achieve this.

Pinterest.com is an online bulletin board that allows you to ‘Pin’ anything that is of interest to you. It is much like a giant scrapbook or a pin board where you can add your pictures. When Pinterest first started you had to be invited to join. Recently they have opened it up so that anyone can now become a member and start pinning.
When you come across a photo or image online that you like, you can ‘Pin’ it to add to your own Pin Board. The image appears on your Board with a direct link back to the original website. Other Pinterest members can view your boards and if they also like the item they can ‘repin’ it to their own board. The photo link goes back to the original owner’s website.
Allfiberarts on Pinterest
I have a Pinterest account where I pin photos of things that I have liked and also use it to list some of my own work as well. I browse through other members listings and repin or Follow ones that I find interesting.

Twitter

I am sure that everyone has heard of Twitter. The idea is that you can send short Tweets to your friends – about your latest thoughts, ideas or cool things you have come across.
I must admit I haven’t quite mastered the art of tweeting and twittering so I let software tools do it for me. For example, when I post a new article to this All Fiber Arts website, the WordPress software that I use, automatically sends it to my Twitter account to forward it on to my Twitter subscribers.
My Facebook Page has the same feature turned on, so when I post to FB, it tweets it on for me.

Craftjuice

Craftjuice.com is an interesting website that I discovered recently. It is designed to promote handmade crafts. The Crafts are divided into several categories.
General crafts, Paper crafts, Beads, Pottery, Fabric, Knitting, Crochet, Metalwork.
You have to complete an application form with links to your website and products that you have for sale. It can take a few days to get accepted.
Once you have been accepted complete a short Profile page. To add a new craft item, Click on Submit a New Craft Item.
Provide a url link to your website, or to Etsy, Folksy or wherever you have this product listed for sale.
Add a photo and a short description of the item.
When you have submitted this, the item will appear in the Upcoming Crafts section of the website.
Craftjuice members are allowed to vote on the items. Once you have 5 votes, the item moves into the Popular Items section of the website.
The item then is also tweeted to Craftjuice Twitter subscribers. And Craftjuice sends out a monthly newsletter to its subscribers listing items with the top votes. Craftjuice currently has over 8000 followers so it’s a great promotional tool!

Please be sure to acknowledge others work and if you like it, Like it, Share it, Vote for it, Pin it. Pass the good karma on.
If you know of other good websites for selling or promoting crafts, please let us know by posting a Comment below.

Etsy, Folksy and the mania for making crafts
An article by the BBC about the rise in popularity for handmade crafts.

2007 ~ Handwoven Magazine ~ Sep/Oct ~ BAGS! Totes Game Bags Echo Weave Purses

Current price:

$5.50

Ends in:

0d 2h 37m

Seller: eBay

1992 ~ Handwoven Magazine ~ Sep/Oct ~ PILE: Velvet Rya Chenille Corduroy Rugs

Current price:

$5.00

Ends in:

0d 2h 37m

Seller: eBay

1982 ~ Handwoven Magazine ~ Mar/Apr ~ Name Drafts Karakul Scandinavian Braids

Current price:

$4.50

Ends in:

0d 2h 37m

Seller: eBay

1984 ~ Handwoven Magazine ~ Sep/Oct ~ Honeycomb Ikat Sheepskate Doubleweave

Current price:

$4.50

Ends in:

0d 2h 37m

Seller: eBay

How to Make Felt in your Bathtub

Feltmaking

You can make your own felt easily, in your bath tub.

You will need a flat surface to work on, one where it doesn’t matter if it gets wet. I made the felt in my bath tub.

In summer months, I make felt outdoors, in a kid’s swimming pool. You will need access to hot water. An electric kettle will work fine or a hose attached to your hot water tap.

To make a 20″ square piece of felt, you will need approx. 5 – 6 oz. of pure wool roving. For this project I used dyed merino wool top.

felt making

Place some towels onto the flat surface or floor.

Place a straw beach mat over the towels.

Pull the clean wool roving into small sections, about 4 – 6 inches in length, depending on the wool staple.

Place these wool pieces onto the beach mat, spreading the wool evenly across the mat.

Lay the wool pieces all in the same direction – vertically, and overlap each piece slightly, until the beach mat is covered, creating a 24″ square.

Sprinkle on a thin layer of laundry soap (powder or liquid).

Lay another layer of wool roving over the first layer, but in the opposite direction. (horizontally).

Sprinkle the layer lightly with a bit more laundry soap.

Repeat the above steps, until the wool batt measures about 1.5 – 2 inches in height.

You should have about 4 – 6 layers of wool, each alternating in direction.
The top layer can be decorative. Use different coloured wool roving and even bits of yarn for your design.

Add a bit more laundry soap

feltmaking

Fold the remaining length of beach mat over the fleece batt and roll up the beach mat.

Fill the bath tub with 1 – 2 inches of hot water.

Immerse the rolled up beach mat in the hot water, and turn it, to wet the wool thoroughly.

Roll the beach mat back and forth, working your hands evenly across the mat.

Keep the mat rolling in the hot water, turning it over, for about 3 – 4 minutes.

It is heat and friction that causes wool to felt, not pressure, so you don’t need to press really hard.

Remove the mat from the bathtub, and unroll it gently onto the towel.

The felt is quite fragile at this point, so gently lift it from the beach mat, and turn it 1/4 turn.

Reroll the beach mat and place it back into the hot bathtub water.
If the water has cooled, drain the tub, and refill with hot water.
Roll and turn the beach mat for another 3 -4 minutes.
Turn the felt another 3 or 4 times, and reroll in the hot water for about 3 – 5 minutes between each turn.

Test the felt by rubbing it with your finger. The fibres shouldn’t move and the felt should be quite thick. If it is still soft, turn it again and keep rolling it in the hot water.

Beauty in Italy
end of July 2013

It sounds very peaceful and inspiring, doesn’t it?

Spinning Wheels

ASHFORD Kiwi 2, with Sliding Hook Flyer/ Freebies/Free Shipping/

Current price:

$380.00

Ends in:

0d 2h 1m

Seller: eBay

This is a super simple scarf pattern – designed for the beginner knitter – or those more experienced who like to knit scarves with bulky yarns. I have designed this knitting pattern to work with my hand spun yarns – but it will work fine with any chunky weight yarn.
This scarf knitting pattern uses about 100 grams of yarn.

hand spun knit scarf

I am using a moss stitch for the pattern. I like to use moss stitch for hand spun yarns because it enhances the texture of the yarn.

Moss Stitch
Moss stitch alternates between knit and purl on each row. You knit the purls and purl the knits. It is best to cast on with an odd number of stitches.

Scarf Knitting Pattern

This will knit a scarf that is approx. 7 inches in width and 70 inches in length.

Use size 7 mm needles.
UK size 2, US size 10.5
Knitting Needle Conversion Chart

Cast on 17 stitches.

Row 1: Knit across the row
Row 2: Knit across to create a garter stitch border.
Row 3: K1, P1 across ending on a Knit stitch.
Row 4 :K1, P1 across ending on a Knit stitch.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 to the end of the scarf.
Last 2 rows, knit across to create a garter stitch border.
Cast off.

Hand Spun Knitting Yarn

hand spun knitting yarn
Look for one of a kind hand spun yarns in my Folksy shop.

Scarf Knitting Patterns

Seller: eBay

HAND SPUN YARN, 100% WOOL, MADE IN USA, SPORT WEIGHT, "KIWI"

" />

Current price:

$6.50

Type:

Auction

No. of bids so far:

Ends in:

0d 1h 51m

Seller: eBay

This page last edited on November 29, 2012

by Paivi Suomi

All Fiber Arts by Paivi Suomi is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Textile Workshop in Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland)
With guidance from this leading Scottish textile artist, we produce textile artwork developed from drawing, collage, and exploration of found materials from the secluded Dr Neils' Garden in the ancient... […]
Hatmaking: Blocking Straws and Felts (Floyd, VA)
Interested in creating beautiful big brimmed straw hats for Summer and close fitting felt cloches for Winter? This fun-filled class allows you to use traditional millinery hatblocks, in varying shapes,... […]
Textile Workshop in Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland)
With guidance from this leading Scottish textile artist, we produce textile artwork developed from drawing, collage, and exploration of found materials from the secluded Dr Neils' Garden in the ancient... […]
The Way We Wore: Historic Costume as Inspiration for Surface Design (LaPointe, WI)
Historic clothing and textiles are a rich source of inspiration for fiber artists. But workshops that combine both an understanding of the costumes and the history of the time period plus time to explore... […]
Continued Upholstery (Floyd, VA)
Do you have a fully upholstered chair that needs new life or a footstool that needs uplifting? Bring your project to the weekend upholstery class. A master upholsterer will guide you through the process... […]

Categories

Conversion Charts

Twitter

pH Test Meter

More Organic Dye Recipes

Natural Dye Books

Where to Buy Madder

Natural Dyes and Mordants

Felted Cat Bed Patterns

Felt Making

Free Crochet Basket and Bowl Patterns

Artist Statement

Tapestry Weaving

Hand made Felt

Felt Making

How to Sew a Zipper

Felting Kits

Knitting relieves stress

Health advantages

Knitting improves your mood

Wool Roving

How to Russian Join Yarn

Australia

Canada

U.S.

Basketry

Beadwork

Books

Lacemaking

Christmas Craft

Classes

Craft Clipart

Cultural Travel

Crochet

Cross Stitch

Dyes

Easter Crafts

EBay Watch

Feltmaking

Fibres and Yarns

Fiber and Yarns by Type

Galleries and Studios

Guilds

Halloween Crafts

Knitting

Looms

Mills

Patterns

Craft and Fibre Resources and Supplies

Rug Hooking

Sewing

Spinning

Spinning

St. Patrick’s Day Crafts

Swedish Weaving

St. Valentine’s Day Crafts

Weaving

Yarn Shops

Feature Articles

Knitting Patterns

Hemp Yarn

Beads

Hand Spun Yarns

Naalbinding – Oslo Stitch 1+1

Iphone Case Pattern

Where to Buy Nalbinding Needles

Nalbinding on Ravelry

Website

Facebook

Etsy

Folksy

Pinterest

Twitter

Craftjuice

Feltmaking

Wool Roving

Spinning Wheels