The new module that went live in the Design Solutions class this week is all about how materials influence design in tapestry weaving. And yarn is definitely the primary material in tapestry. I have become fascinated by the variety of ways to make yarn and learning to spin some years ago now has definitely led me down many yarn-y rabbit holes. And spinning has taught me so much about how yarn is made and how different materials in yarn can change the way it behaves, reflects light, and influences the structure of the textile.

I’ve been working on Jillian Moreno’s current Sample Along (#samplealong2). We are spinning four yarns and so far I’ve only finished this yarn. And I love it. To be honest, every single time I take a new skein of handspun out of its bath in the sink, I think with a bit of a giggle, “I made yarn!” It never gets old.

Handspun yarn from #samplealong2 with Jillian Moreno

In this yarn we spun minnies—tiny bits of fiber about .25 ounces each and then made a two-ply. Here are my minnies, most of which came from Into the Whirled,* but some of which I made from braids I dug out of my stash. I had six minnies in each ply, but some of one of them must have been a lot fatter because I had to add two more minnies to one of these groups to make the plies the same length… of course that couldn’t have happened because of uneven spinning!!!

I strictly divided my minnies so I wouldn’t keep spinning like they were candy. Jillian suggested this and I thought it wise to follow her lead.

Good thing I did…. reaching for an empty bowl of minnies.

I’m not the best spinner in the world, but my goodness if this #samplealong hasn’t been good for me. Having a project that is pure fun and consists of an activity that is not stressful and at the end of the day, no one except me cares how it turns out, is so liberating.

I’m working on the second of four yarns of the sample along. Sunday it was perfect deck-spinning weather. In this one we’re spinning two minnies together at once. Since there is quite a difference in fiber length in some of these bundles, the spinning is more challenging. I’m coping with great aplomb. This one should come off the wheel in a few days just in time for the next challenge. Bring it on Jillian!

What are you creating these days?

*Isn’t the name of their shop the BEST? Into the Whirled.