spinning – Pearson Handmade

Why Fibre Matters More Than You Think

In my last post, I revisited my very first published Tunisian crochet pattern and started experimenting with a redesign. This week, I thought I’d step back and look at something that influences every project before the first stitch is even made: the yarn itself.

Two crocheters can follow exactly the same pattern and end up with finished pieces that feel completely different. The fibre you choose affects drape, warmth, stitch definition, durability and even how enjoyable the project is to make.

Cotton

A natural plant fibre, cotton is soft, absorbent and biodegradable. It resists pilling, but has a tendency to stretch when wet. Cotton has very little natural elasticity, so it doesn’t spring back in the same way as wool. One of my favourite cotton yarns is King Cole Cottonsoft DK, and I’ve used this quite a lot to make blankets and throws. It has a lovely weight, drapes well, and is very soft next to the skin. The only thing I’m always careful about is when I wash or block the design – after immersing in water, always lay the item out flat to dry. Some of my cotton blankets are large, and if I hung them out on a line to dry they would stretch horribly.

Wool

A natural fibre from sheep, wool is the traditional choice for knitting/crocheting. It is warm and durable, however it can be tricky to wash – who hasn’t shrunk a jumper by washing it too hot? Since I started spinning my own yarns, I have come to understand that ‘wool’ is a really broad term. It applies equally to a strong, rustic yarn spun from a Herdwick sheep to the fine, soft yarn spun from Merino. Personally, my own favourite to spin is Corriedale, usually in a blend with silk. One of my favourite commercial wool yarns is a Blue Faced Leicester from World of Wool in their Lowland range. I’ve just finished a shawl design using this yarn, which drapes beautifully. I’m thrilled to announce that the pattern will be in the World of Wool Yarn Advent Calendar 2026.

Acrylic

Acrylic is a synthetic fibre that is lightweight, soft and durable. It often comes in amazing colours and is usually less expensive than other fibres. The synthetic fibre is derived from petroleum. It is less ‘breathable’ than natural fibres, and is prone to pilling. I will use yarn with a little acrylic in it, because premium non-acrylic yarns are just too expensive to use exclusively. These days I very rarely buy 100% acrylic yarn. It has its place—particularly where affordability, easy care or allergies are important—but I find I much prefer working with natural fibres.

Bamboo

A sustainable fibre from the pulp of the bamboo plant, softer than cotton and hypoallergenic. Bamboo yarn has a glossy finish and this can make it feel quite slippery when working. It is also more expensive than traditional yarns, and finished items can shrink so this needs to be allowed for. I have only recently started working with bamboo. I like the finished feel of it (see my Strata Kimono), but it does take a little concentration to work with as the sharp point of the Tunisian crochet hook can split the yarn if you aren’t careful. That being said, the finished weight and drape are well worth a little extra effort.

Alpaca

Alpaca is a natural animal fibre that is softer than sheep’s wool and less prickly. It resists pilling and is hypoallergenic. Alpacas can be white, black or shades of brown, and these natural colours are lovely. The fleece can be spun into heavyweight or fine yarn. One of my absolute favourites, it has a wonderful softness and warmth without the weight, which makes it a joy to wear. Commercial yarns such as Drops offer a 4ply alpaca, or their aran yarn is an alpaca/wool mix. At Wonderwool Wales I found the lady who runs an alpaca farm and markets her alpaca yarn under Penrhallt Alpacas, and closer to home is Homefield Alpacas in Louth. Needless to say, I can’t walk past an alpaca seller without buying something.

There isn’t a single “best” fibre—only the best one for the project you want to make. The more you experiment, the more you’ll discover which yarns suit both your designs and the way you enjoy crafting.

If you’d like to see more of my fibre nerd showing, I share regular updates every Fibre Tuesday on Facebook and Instagram. I’d love for you to join me there and see what yarn I’ve been reading the labels of each week. I’ve also put up a (possibly) helpful free guide to a common range of fibres on my website. If today’s post has sparked your curiosity about wool and fibres, I’ve recently published a Substack article about learning to spin yarn and how it changed the way I think about fibre. You can read it here.

Until next time, happy crafting!

Sue

What’s on My Hook, Loom and Wheel

In my last post, I shared some of the lessons I’ve learned throughout my crafting journey. This week, I thought I’d open the door to my studio and give you a glimpse of what’s currently keeping my hands busy.

If you’ve read my blog for a while, you’ll know that I rarely have just one project on the go. When I first learned to knit and crochet as a child, my Mum insisted that I finish one project before starting another. It was a sensible rule… but one that didn’t survive into adulthood!

These days, I have works in progress strategically dotted around the house so that, whatever the mood or the weather, there’s always something waiting for me.

On my loom this week

Recently I’ve been weaving with a lot of aran and DK handspun, so I fancied a change. This project uses commercial fingering-weight sock yarn, and I decided to challenge myself by warping my loom with the finest heddle I own.

I’ll admit, the warp took far longer than I’d expected. Setting it up became a project in itself, completed over several sessions with plenty of tea breaks in between.

I’ve used two solid colours for the warp, paired with a long-gradient yarn for the weft. Because it’s a cotton and acrylic blend rather than wool, the threads behave very differently—they don’t have that slight “stickiness” that wool naturally provides, so the weaving feels quite different.

My only regret is that I didn’t make the warp a little wider. I suspect I’ll have far more of the beautiful gradient yarn left over than I’d planned. Still, every project teaches me something, and that’s all part of the fun.

On my wheel this week

I’m nearing the end of spinning 200g of one of my favourite fibre blends in a colourway I’ve never tried before.

The combed tops came from Velvet Sixpence, and I picked them up at Wonderwool Wales earlier this year. Watching the colours blend together has been an absolute joy, and I’m especially pleased with how consistent the yarn has become as my spinning continues to improve.

I’m already wondering what it might become. A scarf? A waistcoat? Something else entirely? For now, I’ll just enjoy finishing the spin before making any decisions.

On my hook this week

This is where my inability to stick to just one project really becomes obvious.

Each crochet project lives in its own storage crate, making it easy to pick up whichever one suits the moment.

The largest is a cosy winter throw worked in beautiful undyed yarn from World of Wool. Unsurprisingly, it’s not getting as much attention as it deserves during the current heatwave—having a growing blanket spread across your lap isn’t the most appealing way to spend a warm afternoon!

Alongside that, I’m crocheting a lightweight crop top using a gorgeous indie-dyed sock yarn, which feels much more appropriate for the season.

I also have outlines prepared for two future designs, although I’m doing my best to resist starting them just yet.

Then there’s the project sitting firmly in the “naughty corner”: a Fair Isle knitted waistcoat that I started for myself last winter. The yarn is beautiful, but Fair Isle needs concentration, and somehow it doesn’t feel like a summer activity. I’m fairly sure it’ll find its way back into my hands once the evenings start drawing in again.

Other creative projects

It almost feels like a confession at this point, but yes, there are even more creative projects quietly waiting their turn.

Every now and then I enjoy beading, and thanks to my Mum I inherited enough beads to keep me occupied for several lifetimes. On those days when it’s simply too hot to work with wool, sitting outside in the shade with a tray of beads is a wonderfully relaxing alternative.

I also have a growing collection of smooth stones waiting to be wrapped and woven with the shorter lengths of yarn from my stash—a perfect way to use up leftovers while creating something completely different.

And finally, there’s my long-planned freeform crochet project. The yarn scraps are sorted, the sample motifs are ready, and the hessian bag they’re destined for is waiting patiently.

All I need now is the one thing every crafter wishes they had a little more of: time.

If you’d like to follow these projects as they evolve, I share regular updates every Work in Progress Wednesday on Facebook and Instagram. I’d love for you to join me there and see what I’ve been making each week.

Until next time, happy crafting!

Sue

The Yarn Chooses the Project

In my last post, I wrote about why I choose to make the things I do. This time, I want to explore the part that yarn plays in generating ideas for a new project.

My stash has developed over time. Originally it was stored in a loose colour order and was full of leftover balls of yarn, gifted skeins, abandoned projects and those impulse purchases that simply couldn’t be left in the shop. As my business has evolved, from crochet design into weaving and now spinning my own yarn, my stash cupboard has changed too.

These days I organise everything by weight rather than colour. Much of the yarn I use is aran or double knit, while the yarn I spin myself usually comes out somewhere around double knit or worsted weight. I do, however, have a weakness for sock yarn. Those beautiful indie-dyed skeins and irresistible gradient cakes seem to find their way home with me far more often than I intend!

Organising my stash this way means that when an idea starts to form, I can reach straight for the right weight of yarn to sample with. The colour is less important than the structure and feel of the yarn for those first crochet samples. When weaving, I also tend to keep the warp to a consistent weight, while enjoying a little more freedom to experiment with different textures in the weft.

Since learning to spin, I have become something of a yarn snob. I spend a long time reading fibre content labels at shows and in yarn shops, looking for yarns with a higher proportion of natural fibres. They may cost a little more, but I find them a joy to work with.

More often than not, it is the fibre itself that suggests the project. A basket of wool or alpaca immediately makes me think of cosy shawls, wraps or throws for winter evenings, while bamboo, linen or cotton seem to call out for lighter designs such as picnic blankets or airy summer cover-ups. Sometimes I don’t choose the project at all – the yarn quietly chooses it for me.

If you’re as fascinated by fibres as I am, you might enjoy my weekly Tuesday “Focus on Fibre” posts on Instagram and Facebook. There is always something new to discover about the materials we love to work with.

What fibre do you find impossible to resist? Whatever fibre you choose, I hope it brings you as much inspiration as it brings me.

Happy crafting,

Sue

Slowness

In my last blog post I wrote about rhythm and routine. This time, I want to linger a little longer on something closely related: slow making.

Making things with yarn makes me happy. Crochet, spinning and weaving — my preferred methods of making — are, by their very nature, slow. No matter how urgent the project or how close the deadline, if something is going to be made well, it takes time. There is something quietly grounding about sitting down and picking up a project. Your breathing slows. Your shoulders soften. Your focus narrows to yarn and hook, fibre and spindle. Slowness isn’t a weakness in the process; it is the process.

Whenever I try to rush, it rarely ends well. I’ll spot a fairly calamitous mistake six inches back and end up “frogging” everything done in haste. Yarn has a way of reminding you that care and patience matter.

If you’ve seen my social media this week, it might look as though everything has happened at once. Two patterns released. A design published in a magazine. Very productive. Very busy.

But none of it was fast.

A magazine commission

The current issue of Simply Crochet includes a scarf pattern I designed. The initial concept was sent to the editor in June 2025. Colours and yarn were agreed. The deadline for submission was December 1st. After that, the pattern was tech edited, the scarf was modelled and photographed, and the issue was published in February 2026.

From idea to publication: eight months.

Sometimes deadlines are shorter, sometimes longer, but the principle remains the same. The making must be careful. The pattern writing must be clear and accurate. Time has to be budgeted generously and realistically.

And I will admit — it is always a thrill to see my work professionally styled, modelled and photographed. That part never gets old.

Pistachio Breeze Top

One of the patterns I released this week, the Pistachio Breeze Top, began life in November 2025.

I had a picture in my mind: an oversized top in a very particular shade of green. I spent time browsing yarns, considering weight and fibre content. Once I settled on the right yarn, I sampled. I sketched. I even cut the shape out of brown paper to create a template to work from.

From first spark of an idea to finished design, it took almost four months.

That is the reality behind what looks like a single “new release” post.

Every Last Scrap Cowl

The second pattern, the Every Last Scrap Cowl, is smaller — but no less slow in its origins.

The yarn is entirely handspun. Over half of it came from a Yorkshire Blends sample box bought from Wingham Wools in January. As part of my ongoing quest to improve my spinning, I spent a lovely morning at Old School Crafts Minting with Zoe, who showed me how to chain ply.

The spinning itself was slow and thoughtful. The design process was intentionally simple — I wanted the yarn to shine. The making felt joyful and, compared to the spinning, relatively quick over a couple of weeks.

The pattern is available free on my refreshed Free Crochet Hub page — a small celebration of using every last precious length of yarn.

A slow maker’s desk

I am, unapologetically, a slow crafter — and someone who always has several works in progress.

At the moment I have:

A scarf on my rigid heddle loom
A crochet shawl design in a glorious gradient yarn (for an intermediate crocheter)
A bobble hat in testing (for a confident beginner)
A Tunisian crochet poncho design almost finished (for a confident beginner)
A moss stitch shawl design started purely for the pleasure of something gentle and undemanding

On the spinning wheel, I’m nearly at the end of a sample box from Adelaide Walker, a Christmas gift from my husband. I have no doubt those yarns will find their way into a future design.

Slowness doesn’t mean stagnation. It means depth. It means intention. It means allowing ideas to unfold at the pace they need.

And in a world that often feels rushed, I think that matters.

Happy crafting,
Sue

Preparing to Craft

In my last blog post, I shared a few thoughts about different types of fibres. This week, I’d like to look at some of the small but important steps to take before you settle down to spend time crafting. For me, preparation is not a chore to rush through, but a quiet part of the making process in its own right.

Gauge

Sometimes gauge matters, and sometimes it really doesn’t. If you’re planning to make a fitted garment, it’s worth taking the time to work a sample using your chosen yarn and hook or needles. Nobody enjoys making a gauge swatch, but it’s far worse to spend hours on a project that turns out far too big or far too small.

For items such as blankets, throws, or cushion covers, gauge is usually less critical. A few extra rows or stitches more or less will often make up any discrepancy. I have a small mountain of gauge samples and swatches which, when the mood takes me, I add to whichever freeform crochet project I’m working on.

Yarn Balls and Skeins

Some balls of yarn are designed for a centre pull, and others really aren’t. I quite like a centre pull, as it stops the yarn rolling around while I’m working. Sometimes you’re lucky and find the end with very little fuss; other times you’re rewarded with an impressive yarn barf, feeling as though you’ve disembowelled the ball entirely.

Some crafters wind all their yarn into neat cakes as a matter of course. I’m not one of those people — I tend to take my chances. That said, if you’re working with skeins, they absolutely must be wound into a ball or cake before use. Skipping this step is almost guaranteed to lead to tangled fibre and hours of unnecessary frustration.

Read the Pattern

Before you begin, take a moment to read the pattern properly and make sure you have everything it calls for. Alongside needles or hooks, does it require stitch markers, cable needles, stitch holders, or beads? There’s nothing more frustrating than getting into a good rhythm, only to have to stop and wait for the shops to open because you’re missing a crucial item.

Spinning Fibre

When spinning, I usually work with combed tops. The best advice I ever received was to pre-draft — gently easing the fibres apart along their length between your hands, working down the fibre and back again. It makes the spinning process feel much easier and more controlled.

Once you’ve filled a bobbin with singles, let the fibre rest for at least 24 hours before plying. That pause really does make a difference.

Weaving Fibre

I weave on a rigid heddle loom, and once I’ve chosen the yarn for my warp, my next decision is the size/dent of the reed. I have a bamboo blind, cut to size, on the back beam, so that when I wind on the warp, the yarn spreads evenly. The warp has a huge impact on the finished fabric, so it’s worth taking your time here.

However you choose to spend your crafting time, I hope these reflections encourage you to enjoy the preparation as much as the making itself.

Happy crafting — and next time, I’ll be turning my focus to the tools I find most useful.

Sue

Exploring Fibres

In my last blog post I shared a few ideas for cosy crochet projects — the kind of slow, comforting makes that are perfect for chilly evenings. For this first post of 2026, I wanted to begin the year a little more thoughtfully, by turning my attention to the fibres themselves.

Over time, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to natural fibres. Acrylic and other man‑made yarns certainly have their place — their colours can be wonderfully vibrant and they’re often more budget‑friendly — but when it comes to my own making, I tend to reach for cotton, wool and alpaca. There’s something about their texture, warmth and connection to nature that feels especially fitting for slower, more mindful crafting.

Cotton

The cotton yarn I use most often is King Cole Cottonsoft DK, which comes in a generous range of colours and features in many of my throw designs. As a natural plant fibre, cotton is soft, absorbent and biodegradable, making it a versatile choice for both knitting and crochet projects. Cotton resists pilling well, though it does have a tendency to stretch when wet and isn’t as elastic as some other fibres.

You may also notice some cottons described as mercerised — a chemical process that adds strength and a subtle sheen. A good example is Scheepjes Maxi Sugar Rush, which I enjoy using for crocheted mandalas, where stitch definition and lustre really shine.

Wool

Wool, shorn from sheep, is the traditional choice for knitting and crochet. It’s warm, durable and wonderfully adaptable, though it does require a little care — most of us have, at some point, accidentally shrunk a favourite jumper! Some wool yarns are labelled Superwash, meaning they’ve been treated so they can be washed more easily. I often buy indie‑dyed sock and DK yarns from Moonlight Fibre and Fruitful Fusion, typically blends of Superwash merino and nylon that balance softness with strength.

Alongside this, spinning is an important part of my practice. I enjoy making my own yarn from undyed or dyed combed tops, sourced from Adelaide Walker or Wingham Wools. The process deepens my connection to the fibre and gives me complete control over the finished yarn.

One of my more recent discoveries is a Yak Sock base from Noodle Soup Yarns — a blend of 70% merino, 20% yak and 10% nylon. The addition of yak creates a beautifully soft yarn, and I’ve been very impressed with how it feels and works up. It’s definitely one I’ll return to.

Alpaca

Alpaca is another natural animal fibre that I’m especially fond of. Softer than sheep’s wool and generally less prickly, it’s also hypoallergenic and resistant to pilling. Alpacas produce fleece in a range of natural shades — from white through to black and warm browns — which are lovely in their own right. Alpaca fleece can be spun into both fine and heavyweight yarns. I’ve previously used alpaca from Homefield Alpacas, and I’m currently knitting with King Cole Natural Alpaca, which is beautifully soft and a pleasure to work with.

However you choose to spend your crafting time, I hope these reflections encourage you to embrace slower making, warmer fibres, and projects that bring a little extra comfort at this time of year.

Happy crafting — and next time, I’ll be turning my focus to the preparation that happens before the making begins.

Sue

Cosy Crochet Projects for Chilly Evenings

Last week, I introduced you to my latest Tunisian crochet design, the Mistwood Hooded Scarf. This week, as the evenings draw in and the temperature drops, I wanted to share a few ideas for cosy crochet projects that are perfect for slow, comforting making on chilly nights.

For me, truly cosy projects begin with the yarn. Choosing fibres that feel warm, soft, and satisfying in the hands makes all the difference when you’re settling in for an evening of crochet.

One of my long-standing favourites is Drops Nepal, a wool and alpaca blend classed as an aran weight. It has a lovely warmth and weight, and because it’s aran, projects grow quickly – always a joy when the evenings feel short. I’ve recently designed a particularly cosy project using this yarn, which will appear in the next issue of Simply Crochet magazine, out on 23rd December.

I also regularly use King Cole Fashion Aran, which comes in a huge range of colours. With 30% wool, it’s a more affordable option, making larger projects such as blankets feel achievable without worrying too much about cost. More recently, I’ve discovered King Cole Merino Blend DK, a superwash 100% wool yarn that has worked up beautifully and feels wonderfully soft.

Of course, if you’re able to spin your own yarn, you can really lean into seasonal colours and textures. This very Christmassy Corriedale and sari silk blend from Adelaide Walker, called Medina, is a perfect example – full of depth, warmth, and character.

Once you’ve chosen your yarn, it’s time to find a project you’ll genuinely enjoy. A quick search on Ravelry using the yarn weight you have to hand will reveal plenty of hats, gloves, and scarves that work up quickly and make satisfying gifts. That said, I don’t think there’s much better than crocheting a blanket or throw at this time of year. The gentle weight of the fabric resting in your lap is incredibly comforting, and as the piece grows, you almost find yourself wrapped in its warmth.

Over the years, I’ve built up a small library of pattern books, and the ones I still return to most often include:

Crocheted Throws and Wraps by Melody Griffiths
The Art of Crochet Blankets by Rachele Carmona
Rainbow Crocheted Blankets by Amanda Perkins
Beautiful Blankets, Afghans and Throws by Leonie Morgan

If you’d like to try your hand at Tunisian crochet, Toni Lipsey’s The Tunisian Crochet Handbook is full of cosy, inspiring projects. One of my own bestselling patterns, the Winterborn Throw, is a Tunisian crochet design worked in Fashion Aran yarn and is ideal for slow winter evenings.

However you choose to spend your crafting time, I hope these ideas encourage you to embrace slower making, warmer fibres, and projects that bring a little extra comfort at this time of year.

Happy crafting until next time – which will be after the Christmas break, when I’ll be turning my focus to fibre.

Sue

Why I Spin My Own Yarn

Thank you to everyone who read my first blog post. I thought for my second post, I’d talk about why I spin my own yarn — one of the most rewarding (and sometimes challenging!) parts of my fibre journey.

Initially, I thought a little handspun yarn would add some interesting texture to my crochet and woven projects. So, for Christmas 2023, I asked for a drop spindle kit from Adelaide Walker — a simple spindle, a sheet of instructions, and three fibres to practise with.

I got the basics, but really struggled to make a yarn that was at all useable. I watched a lot of YouTube videos (JillianEve was particularly good), and found the book Yarn Spinning with a Modern Twist by Vanessa Kroening very helpful too. In the end, though, nothing beats a bit of individual tuition, so I spent a couple of hours with the very lovely Zoe at Old School Crafts in Minting.

Drop spindles are wonderfully portable — you can spin almost anywhere — and they range from cheap, homemade versions to beautifully crafted works of art. I have both. They seem to breed.

My drop spindles satisfied my need to make yarn for a while, and the material I produced added interesting texture to my woven projects. But I struggled to make enough to crochet with. So, in February 2025, I took the plunge and bought a used Ashford Traditional spinning wheel. Another sharp learning curve followed — more books, more YouTube videos — but persistence paid off. I can recommend Sasha Torres at Sheepspot for her tutorials and podcasts.

I now spin a little every day, and over time my yarn has improved enough to crochet with. I’ve even written a crochet pattern, the Pebble and Loop Scarf, specifically for my handspun! Like the drop spindles, my spinning wheels are multiplying — I recently added an Ashford Traveller 3 so I can take it to classes and work on improving my technique.

Plying is still a bit of a mystery to me, and definitely something I need to work on. But part of the joy of spinning is that there’s always more to learn. Do you spin your own yarn, or have you ever been tempted to try?

Thanks for reading to the end. Next week, I’ll be sharing how I design for my crochet and weaving projects. In the meantime, happy crafting!

Sue

A New Yarn Begins: Welcome to Pearson Handmade

A new yarn (and a new adventure!) begins as I share my journey with fibre, creativity, and a touch of chaos from my handmade studio.

Hi, I’m Sue — the creative hands behind Pearson Handmade — and welcome to my very first ‘proper’ blog post!
This is my foray into writing a regular weekly blog, so wish me luck. I thought I’d start by sharing a little about what I do, why I love it, and what you can expect in future posts.

My mum taught me to knit, crochet, and cross-stitch when I was a child. Later, when I studied design at college, I discovered that it was possible to work entirely from scratch without a pattern — and that nothing is ever really a mistake (it can always be cut up and reused somewhere else!). I also fell in love with beading, feltmaking, and braiding during that time.

Fast forward to 2020: during the lockdowns, I bought some beautiful yarn and an expensive crochet pattern that turned out to be frustratingly unclear. I ended up unpicking the whole thing, tossing the pattern, and thinking “I could write a better one.”
And that’s how my journey into designing began.

More recently, I’ve taken up spinning and weaving — because, frankly, yarn is my thing and I love having it in my hands. I’m also moving more toward natural fibres and a zero-waste approach, so expect more about that in future posts.

My earlier patterns (pre-2025) are still available on Ravelry and Lovecrafts, but since Brexit, all of my work — both patterns and handmade pieces — can be found exclusively in my Etsy shop.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll join me each week as I share more about my creative process, inspirations, and projects on the go.

Woolly Adventures, New Projects & Free Resources

It’s been a busy few months here at Pearson Handmade—so much making, travelling, and experimenting that September slipped away without a newsletter! The good news is that I have even more to share with you this month.

🌿 Natural Beauties: Woolly Finds in Scotland

In September, I was fortunate to spend some time in Oban, West Scotland, exploring the islands of the Inner Hebrides. My husband and I had a lovely day wandering around the tiny island of Lismore, where we discovered Sarah Campbell’s Mogwaii Design studio. Amongst the treasures there, I found hanks of Shetland wool from her own flock—irresistible! I brought some home and am currently weaving them into a scarf.

Speaking of Shetland wool, I also had three skeins from Lammermuir Wool in rich autumnal shades, bought earlier at the Wool Monty. They inspired my Tunisian Crochet Bracken Scarf. And from the same event, I picked up two skeins of Blue Faced Leicester wool from Dystopic Fibre in the shade Death by Honey—which became the spark for my advanced crochet design, the Fractured Bee Line Scarf.

🧵 Spinning Wheels Are Multiplying…

I first learned to spin with a drop spindle—a simple, affordable way to turn fibre into yarn. But soon, I wanted to produce more, so I hunted down a second-hand Ashford Traditional spinning wheel. After a little time (and a little cursing), I finally produced consistent yarn and was hooked.

Of course, the Traditional isn’t very portable, and I want to attend classes to improve. So, after much thought (and with my husband’s help assembling it), I invested in an Ashford Traveller 3 from Wingham Wools.

Now two wheels sit proudly in my living room, each with singles in progress. I feel very fortunate indeed—and now I just need to find those spinning classes.

✨ Weaving Away the Stash

For the past couple of years, my motto has been no yarn waste. I never throw yarn away—not even short ends. But what to do with those tricky leftover skeins and discontinued fancy yarns?

My answer: use them as weft on the loom. By grouping them into gentle gradients, I’ve been weaving scarves and shawls with no set rules or patterns—just the joy of combining colours and textures to see what emerges. It feels wonderfully freeing.

🎁 More Stash-Busting Ideas

Once the larger leftovers were woven, I was left with shorter yarn runs and loom waste. That’s when I discovered the joy of crocheted Mug Rugs/Coasters. Who knew small rectangles of dense stitches could be so satisfying?

Sometimes I add fringes, beads, or picots to the edges for extra charm. I’m currently writing up a pattern for these little beauties, which will be released later this month—just in time for Christmas gift-making.

🛠 Free Resources for Makers

Here’s a reminder of the free resources I’ve created to support your making:

Thank you for joining me on this month’s making journey. Whether you’re spinning, weaving, crocheting, or simply dreaming up your next project, I hope you’ve found a little inspiration here.

💬 I’d love to hear what you’re working on—share in the comments below or tag me on social media with your projects.

Happy crafting,
Sue