Create Gradient Yarn w/o Spinning

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Yes, it's possible for non-spinners to create a gradient yarn.

Check out the tutorial on the Louet blog post: Make a Custom Gradient Yarn 

Choosing a Weaving Shuttle

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Weavers love their yarn… but it’s safe to say that (perhaps more than other fiber artists), they're absolutely in love with their equipment!

So many choices… and so many variations that seriously impact the ease with which they weave.

The Louet blog discusses the different decision points weavers run across when choosing a shuttle and why they might prefer one style over another. How to Choose a Weaving Shuttle

Show & Tell - October

Brenda H. brought a worsted weight shawl that she knit

Cinde P. told the group about the Darn Good Yarn Company club. She
showed the members the shawl she knit with the reclaimed silk she
received in one of the club packages for $14.99. Cinde also brought a cowl
that she knit from a single skein. Cinde is knitting a tabard for a granddaughter.

Jane J. explained the knit bubble stitch.

Julie W. told the members about the Stirckmich! club - four unique designs
and kits are shipped to members each year. Julie brought the projects she
received and knit in 2017. Enrollment in the club is open to the public in
early November. Check out the Facebook page or Strichmich!
 for more information.

Rachel B. modeled a sweater she knit.The pattern is free on
Ravelry: Brick by Clare Lee

Sali A. is working on Christmas gifts for her family. She's making mittens
out of felted wool sweaters and needle-felting designs in the top. Sali
also crocheted the poncho she is wearing. 

Sue O. crocheted cases for her Crohooks and Tunisian crochet hooks.
Sue showed the members a shawl she crocheted from the yarn she purchased
at the Fiber House in Sheridan, WY. Sue created the shawl using the
Virus Stitch.

Sandy W. continues to amaze everyone with her spinning. She created the
 grey/white yarn in the top left photo (called Eclipse) to knit a shawl for
her mother who was unable to visit for the eclipse in August. The yarn in the
bottom row were an experiment in core spinning. Sandy is knitting a
Brickless shawl. 

Wool Ornament

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The holiday season is quickly approaching.

If you need a quick gift for friends or family, Riley Blake Designs can help you turn bits of wool into an adorable ornament or a personalized gift tag.

Brown Sheep Yarn Company

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What’s not to love about locally sourced wool, spun and dyed at a family-owned mill, using environmentally friendly methods? 

Go behind the scenes at Brown Sheep Yarn Company with Amy Palmer in the Interweave article: American Wool from the Great Plains: Brown Sheep Yarn Company.

FYI - you can see and purchase Brown Sheep Yarn at the newly opened Pingora Yarns in Lander, WY

Faces of Wool

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Merino is most likely the first breed you think of when you think of sheep, and it’s probably the only breed non-crafters could name. Merino is also the most popular type of wool for knitters, crocheters, spinners, and crafty types of all stripes. Interweave's article explains why these sheep are so special. 

Pingora Yarns

Carrie J. (owner of Pingora Yarns)
Lander, WY
October 2017

Guild member, Carrie J. opened Pingora Yarns in Lander, WY in early October and will be hosting a Grand Opening on Saturday,  October 28, 2017 from 11 AM - 2 PM.  The shop is located at 153 North 4th Street, Lander, WY.

Carrie has stocked the store with a nice selection of natural fibers - many from the Rocky Mountain region.

large display room filled with colorful yarn

The rooms of the shop are filled with well organized displays of yarn (various weights) and knit samples.

Tags clipped to the samples give pattern information. 

bulky yarn in a wide range of colors

yarn on the wall pegs are from the Rocky Mountain region

needles and hooks in many sizes and types

notions for knitters and crocheters

The shop has good lighting and a couple of chairs to sit and knit or crochet. A good-sized classroom is also available: check Carrie's website for a calendar of events.

Plans are being made for the shop's tree to be
yarn bombed. Ask Carrie how you can be a part of
the project. 

Four Ways to Make a Yarn Over

This video by Roving Crafters shows the four situations that will dictate how to make the yarn over:

          •   knit, yarn over, knit

           •  purl, yarn over, purl

           •  knit, yarn over, purl

           •   purl, yarn over, knit

Meeting Reminder

Sandy W. will be presenting a program on needle-felting. Members can make an ornament or a name tag. Bring an open cookie cutter to create a felted shape.

Enlarging Patterns

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So you want to enlarge a sewing or craft pattern from a book, but you don't want to run to the library to use the copy machine? 

Use your cell phone and computer

SewCanShe offers tutorials on the process for both formats:

iPhones and MacBooks

Smartphones and Windows

Shop Finder

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The Shop Finder will help you find shops while traveling.

The site allows you to select the type of products sold in the shop(s) you are seeking:

Yarn
Spinning
Embroidery
Quilting
Weaving
Sewing Machines
Needlepoint
Cross-stitch

What We Leave Behind

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Twist Collective's Rachel Herron shares her thoughts about leaving a legacy to our family and friends in her article What We Leave Behind 

Almost Lost Washcloth Pattern

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We probably all have one favorite pattern that is hand-written on a scrap of paper. Simply Notable shares a round washcloth pattern that was "almost lost"

Pattern

Tutorial 

Miniature version

Distributing Stitches Evenly

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Tina McElmoyl shared this knitting tip on WEBS. It's sure to help the next time you need to pick up stitches for a collar or armhole.

"When I need to pick up a specific number of stitches evenly, around an armhole or along a hem, I like to mark the pick-up edge at regular points with locking stitch markers. This helps me to distribute the picked-up stitches so that there is a similar amount between each marker. If I’m picking up along a hem, I’ll fold the fabric in half to give me an estimate of the halfway point. If I’m picking up along a circular edge, an armhole for example, I’ll mark the edge at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock (and maybe also at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock)."

Wyoming Wool Industry

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The Wyoming Wool Industry has an interesting history and is shared on the Wyoming Wool Growers' Association website

As Guild members, we should support the local industry as much as we possibly can by purchasing local wool products or by helping to promote the industry.

Wyoming Wool Growers - FaceBook page

Cabled Slouchy Beanie - Crochet

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Hopeful Honey shares a free pattern for a crocheted Cabled Slouchy Beanie

Other crochet patterns are also available.

Tips for Longarm Rulerwork

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Lisa H Calle shares her insights and tips for using rulers for longarm quilting. "Quilting with rulers, I know the first rulers that come to mind might be rotary cutting rulers. However, I am speaking of quilting rulers or often they are referred to as “templates”. They are implemented for executing those beautiful quilting designs you see magically appear on quilts.

I love teaching beginner classes on quilting rulers to my longarm quilters and yes, even domestic quilters. Usually, I witness students entering my class with the look of apprehension on their faces as if there is no way by the end of our session they will have gained the skills required to use these rulers. Fears such as hitting the template and throwing their machine out of timing is just one of the many “what if’s” I encounter. Just imagine the expression on their faces when they realize that yes it isn’t rocket science and yes they are quite capable of walking out of my class with this skill under their cap. WOW, what a wonderful moment for me and them to behold! So, perhaps you are a novice to quilting, or maybe a seasoned quilter that hasn’t stepped into the world of rulers, if that is the case, I am going to give you my tips for longarm rulerwork."

Lisa's tips on rulerwork can be found here.

Quilting on a Budget

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With the cost of fabric and supplies increasing regularly, it is difficult to justify a quilting hobby.  Cluck Cluck Sew shares 5 simple ways to spend less and quilt within a budget. 

 

Her tips and suggestions can be found here. 

Spinning Gradient Yarn

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From Interweave: "I am the boss of my yarn! I can blend colors! I can change from one fiber to another in the same skein of yarn! I can spin gradient yarn from any old fibers! But sometimes being the boss is too much work. Sometimes you want the fiber to do the work for you. You want to spin gradient-dyed fiber.

There are more ways than you might think to spin gradient yarn that preserve the color progression."

Interweave shares the four easiest ways to spring gradient yarn in this post

Knit in the Row Below

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Knit in the row below patterns can create a textured and airy fabric when worked with knits and purls on the right side but also simulate stranded knitting when worked as stockinette. Like with the slip stitch patterns the knit in the row below patterns don’t curl on the edges when worked as rib or garter stitch, but behave like stockinette when all right side stitches are knitted.

A tutorial and simple patterns using the technique can be found on the Pumora website. 

Crochet Charts

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Recently charts have been appearing on crochet websites and in crochet patterns.

Threadbare takes the mystery out of these charts and has created a list of the common symbols used in the crochet charts.

Check out the Threadbare post on How to Read a Crochet Chart.

Darn Those Socks!

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From HJS Studio: "If you've ever put the time into handknitting a pair of socks for yourself or someone else, only to find holes in the socks later on, this article might be useful. It took me a couple of tries to get the hang of darning socks, but it's a good skill to have if you want to prolong the life of your precious handknitting, particularly if you've also handspun the yarn.

Give it a try! Do it in the spring, before you put your clean wool socks away for the summer. Do it in the summer, on one of those lazy days as you bask in the sun. Do it in the fall, getting ready for blustery winter days. Do it in the winter, to keep your tootsies toasty during chores. Do it as soon as you see the first thin spot, or you'll be seeing holes shortly!"

Complete tutorial can be found here.