What is a Tensioned Lazy Kate ?- SpinOlution Spinning Wheel Bessie Kate

If you’re new to the world of spinning your own yarn you may be confused about what the term “ lazy kate” even means. Who is Kate? Why is she lazy, how will this lazy woman ever help me with my spinning? Perhaps a distant cousin of Lazy Susan? Well I’m not sure why this spinning tool is called a Lazy Kate but I do know that they are one of the most useful tools I can think of for spining. The long and short of it is that you use a Kate to hold your bobbins full of single ply yarn so that they can spin freely while you are plying your yarn. This is useful no matter if you you are doing a basic double ply or something more fancy like a chain ply. In a pinch you could just put your bobbins or balls of yarn into a shoebox to keep them from running off but this is not ideal at all because they will still be bumping around and possibly damaging fine delicate singles. If you are newer to spinning your singles may not have a firm enough twist and could start to come apart on you with all of the bumping around. This is where the Lazy Kate comes into play. The standard Lazy Kate will hold your bobbins up right on rods letting you ply easily while they free spin. Some spinning wheels have an attached lazy Kate like the pollywog, bullfrog, or bees. The Modular spinning wheels, Echo, Firefly, and Monarch are best used with the attachable standard lazy kate. This accessories can be used either attached or free standing on the floor.

Woolen Style Yarn Spinning- Woolen Vs Worsted Style Spinning

There is just something special about spinning a woolen style yarn. They are rustic and airy and look like they were handspun which is kind of the whole point I think! Let’s Learn how to Spin a Woolen Style Yarn!

Worsted Style Yarn Spinning-Worsted Vs. Woolen Style Spinning

Worsted Style spinning -I just love a well planed out worsted style yarn. This type of spinning makes well behaved singles that are great on their own or even better plyed together. Because they are nice and compact they will create a lovely even yarn and are great for show off those fabulous colors from a dyed braid! Let’s Learn how to Spin a Worsted Style Yarn!

What Wool is Best for Spinning?

Blog on the topic of what wool is best for spinning for different projects.

How to Andean ply with Spinning Shadows-Bonus Section of From Braid to Belt Series

how to Andean ply - learn how to use an Andean ply bracelet to two ply yarn on a drop spindle.

How To Weave a Belt With Yarn- Part 1 of From Braid to Belt- Drop Spindle and Color Theory

Do you love the idea of making something that is truly unique and all your own? Well this is a great time to try. My lovely and super talented friend Jessica Jane Patterson of Spinning Shadows YouTube Channel is a pro at using simple at home tools to create really top notch fiber arts projects. I just love her ability to really walk a project though from beginning to end with a well thought out plan. I loved the idea of being able to not just spin your own yarn( shown on a drop spindle) but weave your own belt with simple at home tools.

Spinning Wool Locks into "Non Art Yarn" Livestream Fiber Arts Class

The question for todays topic was, what can I do with raw wool locks that's not big chunky art yarn because not everybody's into crafting with art yarn. I love art yarn and like to use the chunky lock spun stuff in certain projects but it’s defiantly not something that is suitable for every project so it would be nice to have a way to spin those beautiful wool locks and use the yarn in a different way. .

Spinning Angora on a Spinoluiton Monarch - Fine Fibers on a production wheel

When I first started on my spinning journey 17 years ago, the internet was in its early stages and

YouTube was nonexistent (at least to my knowledge). In researching a small acreage fiber animal,

Angora rabbits were the animal that came up over and over again in articles and blogs. I didn’t even

know they existed. I went on a mission to find out everything I could about them. The one thing that

came up over and over again was the “fact” that you could not spin 100% Angora. Being the rule breaker

I am, I got two French Angoras and said “watch me”. My “farm” knowledge at that time was riding on

the back of my grandpa’s tractor and chickens. All these years later I have my own little “flock” of

beautiful Angoras.

Turn a Roving Braid into blended spin-able Fiber with no tools! Blogger Brianna Mercer shows you how with our Monthly Spinning Fiber Braids.

Brianna Mercer is a friend of CHY and a talented fiber artist, blogger and Home School Mama extraordinaire. she also loves sharing her work, knowledge, and projects with other spinners. Here is a tutorial on how she prepped the October Goosebumps braid into an art batt....without any fancy tools.

One Skein Patterns for Knitting and Crochet. Great for Hand Spun Yarn

I am a huge sucker for a one skein pattern. Working in the fiber arts I’m constantly having to shuffle and work on different things for different projects so when it comes to crafting for my own enjoyment I really love a project when I can just pick out that one cool skein that’s been calling my name and take with with me for car knitting or keeping my hands busy at my women’s bible study group.

knitting blog, handspun yarn tipsErin JamesOctober 7, 2021one skein knitting patterns, one skein crochet patternsComment