Dear Tabby, I have a special Schacht fan in my life, but they seem to have everything! The holidays are approaching faster than I can think, and I still haven’t gotten them a gift. HELP! Sincerely, Frantic in Frankfort Dear Frantic, Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here are some of our favorite products […]
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If you’ve avoided spinning cotton on your wheel because of the fiber’s reputed need for special equipment or you’ve heard that it’s a difficult spin, have I got news for you: neither of these things is definitively true. With some basic knowledge, a bit of practice, and even just your fast-speed whorl (at a 15:1 […]
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Schacht Spindle Company was founded in 1969 during the back-to-earth movement of the late 1960’s and its accompanying craft resurgence. Brothers Dan and Barry Schacht started their business quite by chance when a friend wanted to learn to spin. They’d heard about Greentree Ranch in Loveland, Colorado, the only place around that taught spinning. One […]
Read MoreDear Tabby, I’ve been trying to weave with a fairly fuzzy mohair yarn, and it’s giving me fits! It keeps sticking together and I am having trouble passing my weft yarn through. HELP!!! -Frustrated Francine Dear Frustrated, Mohair is notoriously difficult to weave with, however the effects are so stunning, that it’s hard to […]
Read MoreDear Tabby, I’m a new weaver and I’ve been told you can’t use knitting yarns for weaving. I have a Cricket Loom and would really like to use some of my knitting yarn stash to weave. –Uncertain Dear Uncertain, You can definitely use knitting yarns for weaving—with a few caveats. You can use almost anything […]
Read MoreDear Tabby, I have a some luxury yarn that I want to weave with as little loom waste as possible. HELP! Exasperated Evelyn Dear Evelyn, There are ways to maximize your warp and waste as little precious yarn as you can, so have no fear. Both of these techniques can be done on a […]
Read MoreTraveling with fiber arts is easy with the right tools and a good plan. I travel to teach a lot, so I take a wheel (my Sidekick) instead of a spindle. The Sidekick fits in tiny spots when I’m traveling by car and into a suitcase when I fly. I’m usually happily surprised with how […]
Read MoreI can’t get enough color in my life! My favorite thing is to spin hand-dyed top because there are so many different ways the colors can play out. I’ve been dipping my toe into weaving using my Cricket, and I recently got the urge to try weaving hand-dyed handspun yarn. It was surprising and brought […]
Read MoreDear Tabby, I’m in the market to buy a new spinning wheel, but with five different Schacht wheels to try, I’m not sure which one will be the best fit. Help! —Indecisive Irene Dear Indecisive, How exciting! The decision to purchase a new spinning wheel is a big one, and it’s very personal. Taking the […]
Read MoreGood things come from spending time with fellow weavers. We share finished projects, newly discovered tools and toys, and honest critiques. Our lively conversations inspire, motivate, and nudge us into trying new structures and unusual materials. Last year, one of my fellow guild members shared a scarf she’d woven with weft from silk fabric “harvested” […]
Read MoreDear Tabby, I have heard of a double-bobbin boat shuttle, but why would I want to use that instead of just winding 2 threads together on a bobbin? —Not Sure Nori Dear Not Sure, You can certainly wind 2 ends together on a bobbin, say if you want to blend colors together or double 2 […]
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Trying new things was on the top of my list for 2018, so I signed up for a 3-day painted warp workshop given by Sarah Saulson at my LYS, Shuttles, Spindles, and Skeins. It had been nearly 20 years (!) since I’d taken a formal class, and I found the experience rejuvenating. Preparation We were to […]
Read MoreDraft Mix and Match: You can take parts of drafts to create your own custom patterns Most of my weaving the past 20 years has been focused on the rigid heddle loom, specifically our Flip and Cricket Loom. This workshop provided an opportunity to weave on a shaft loom (I used our Wolf Pup 8.10). […]
Read MoreDear Tabby, I’ve heard of a floating selvedge but I don’t know when and how to use it? Your help is appreciated. Thanks, June in Jefferson City Dear June, A floating selvedge is an extra warp thread on either side of the weaving. It is wound on just like a regular warp thread, but […]
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Krokbragd, meaning “crooked path”, is a Norwegian word for a particular weft-faced weaving technique. This technique is perfect for making a thick and warm woven fabric that would keep out drafts when used as a wall or window hanging and be very warm as a bed covering or lap blanket in cold Scandinavian climates. The […]
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Dear Tabby I have some yarn that I want to use for a project but I don’t know how much I have. I don’t want to run out. Please help. If you don’t have the original packaging to know what the yards per pound is of the yarn in question. You can easily figure this […]
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I love making pillows, so this pillow challenge was just the motivation I needed to weave up some pillows for my new studio. As far as I’m concerned, texture is a must for a decorative pillow. It was with this start of an idea that I began designing. My first stop was to check out […]
Read MoreHow many of us spin and weave on a daily basis? How often do we intend to, but then don’t do? How often do we wish we could get that project finished? Or start those napkins we’ve been meaning to weave for a year or more? An editorial in issue 36 of Uppercase Magazine, challenged […]
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A few years ago, just as I was learning to spin, my wife went on a road trip to South Dakota. When they returned, they brought back alpaca roving and buffalo down. They gave me about 10 ounces of alpaca, 2 ounces in 5 different natural shades, and a fair amount of buffalo down that […]
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I love patterns in weaving and I especially am captivated by rosepath, a member of the twill family of weave structures. Like only weavers can understand, I get a kick out of threading up a loom and exploring patterns by changing the tie-up and treadling for many different variations. This may all seem obvious, but […]
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