Yarnspinners Tales's Podcast

Latest Episodes:

YST Episode 58 Different Types of Fiber Combs Feb 14, 2011

Show notes

Fibers combs all are designed to give the spinner lovely top to spin. But with such a wide variety of type of combs available to the spinner, how does one decide which is right for them? That is the question I talk about in this podcast, discussing things I know from experience, and from internet research.

One interesting webpost I discovered was about a person's attempt to recreat an old Icelandic comb, which was probably used both from human and animal hair. That site can be found here.

Several web sources to purchase combs are:

Forsyth Combs

Woodland Woolworks

Susan's Fiber Shop

The music today is from Music Alley

The interlude is by Blake and is called The Hungarian Love Song

The closing song is by Debbie Cunningham and is the jazz classic, My Funny Valentine

Until later, happy spinning!

YST Episode 57 Blending Hackle Jan 29, 2011

Show notes

This unusual and pointy looking object really is a useful tool for blending. On the hackle is both merino top and dyed angora, being blended into a wonderful top. In the podcast I talk about the process for using this tool.

I decided not to make a video, even though with this tool it is very helpful to see someone using it. I made this decision because there are already several good ones by other fiber artists on YouTube. I recommend Bluemtnhandcrafts videos. The first of three is here.

The music in this podcast is from Music Alley formerly the Podsafe music network. The interlude music is by The Rev Jimmie Bratcher and is called Grammy's House. The closing song is Over Coffee and Tea by The Simple Carnival.

Until later, happy spinning!

YST Epidode 56 Blending the Tertiary color Jan 10, 2011

Show notes

In this last podcast on working with color in your spinning, I take the fiber I dyed in the six tertiary colors and discuss how to blend and spin them for a shawl. There are many options, and I must admit I have not made my final decision. But I certainly had a good time exploring the possible comibinations and found some lovely multicolored yarns along the way.

I did take some photos along the way, and will have those posted on my blog Yarnspinners. The photo here is just one of those, showing the fiber blended from two sets of three different colors.

The first part of this podcast is actually reviews of the two books I have used as references for this project. First is Color in Spinning, by Deb Menz. The second book is Dyeing to Knit, by Elaine Eskesen.

Music in the podcast is from the podsafe music network (Music Alley). The interlude music is by Gokul Salvadi and is titled Color Blindness. The closing song, (indulge me for my love of the blues) is by Doug Macleod and is called Sheep of Different Color.

Happy Spinning!

YST Episode 55 Color Theory for spinners part 2 Nov 10, 2010

Show notes

Talking about color turned into such a long conversation for my daughter and I that we had to make it into two podcasts. Here is part two of that discussion.

For many years I just picked a dyed fiber because I loved the colors, spun it, and wondered what the yarn would look like when I was done. Now armed with some of the tools found with the color wheel, I have a better chance of not only knowing what will result, but maybe changing something to make it look more like I want.

The photo on the posts for episodes 54-55 is a yarn spun by my daughter (photo used with her permission). In the podcast she explains how she was able to keep the nice stretch of contrasting colors. Those contrasts were very aptly named for the Shel Silverstein poem, HugOWar.

Since our conversations were so long, there was not much music in these two podcasts. Instead I used the music of Clare Dowling, who's Spinning Wheel song has been the theme song for this podcast over three years. A big thank you to Clare for sharing this song with podcasters and their listeners on Musicalley (formerly the podsafe music network.)

Until later-happy spinning!

YST Episode 54 Color Theory for Spinners part 1 Nov 10, 2010

Show notes

Color is one thing spinners seem to either love or hate. This podcast is the first part of a conversation between my daughter and I on color theory and how spinners can apply those theories to the vibrant fibers they spin.

YST Episode 53 A Front Porch Spin in Oct 23, 2010

Show notes

Talking and spinning can go hand in hand, even if it's via microphone for me and an mp3 player for you.

I do a recap of the last few months, including a wrap up of the Tour de Fleece spinning, and entering skeins into the state fair. And speaking of state fairs, this podcast has captured some of the stars of the barns, as I stroll along and look at the sheep. I ran into a new breed for me Dorper Sheep, take a look!

There's a yarnspinnerstale too, on creativity.

Along inbetween is some good music from the podsafe music network

A short interlude comes from Tim Foley with Monkeyshine, called Back Porch.

And keeping with the porch theme, My Back Porch is by Brian McRae

In the podcast I mention a blog, Hyperbole and a Half, and I want to make sure others can find it and enjoy it as much as I did!

YST Episode 52 Walnut Leaf and Indigo dyeing of fiber Sep 28, 2010

Show notes

The last part of the three part fiber dyeing series discusses my experiences with using walnut leaves (and mordants) to produce the lovely colors shown in this photo. I also talk about making and using the 'quick' version of an indigo dyepot, a totally magical dyeing experience, since the fiber comes out of the pot one color and turns blue as it sits in the air.

I also spend a bit of time talking about just how fiber feels after it's been dyed and dried, how not to felt it, and how to get it back in shape for spinning.

Music in today's podcast is from the podsafe music network

The interlude music is called Living Color by Doug Astrop

The closing song is So Color Me by Tenth Hour Calling

Thanks to all my wonderful listeners for your comments, suggestions and questions!

Until later....happy spinning.

YST Episode 51 Dyeing the tertiary colors Aug 28, 2010

Show notes

Part 2 of the three part series on dyeing discusses dyeing wool with acid dyes to a specific color. I challenged myself to try and create the color wheels tertiary colors with dyes, and found some failures and successes along the way. Listen in as I talk all about all of that experience.

Music for today's podcast continues with the theme of color and is from the podsafe music network.

The interlude music is by Psykosoul and is called Coloring Outside the Lines.

The closing song is by Matthew Ebel and is called Every Color.

Enjoy and happy dyeing!

YST Episode 50 Pour and Wrap dyeing Aug 14, 2010

Show notes

Part one of a three part series on dyeing fiber. Listen in as I explore the saran wrap method of putting color on just part of your fiber. Shown here in the photo is a Cotswold roving, gray in color with russet and purple dyes applied with the method.

And since dyeing is of course all about color, today's music has the theme of color. The music is from the Podsafe Music network and includes these musicians:

Eric Strom with Oh the Colors

Marie Crehan with the hauntingly lovely Orange & blue

A thank you to these musicians for sharing these songs for podcasters, if you loved the music, please check out their other songs and support them.

YST Episode 49 A Chatty Spin In Jul 12, 2010

Show notes

Sitting and spinning just seems to go along with sitting and chatting. So today's podcast is three different sections, all on topics that I love to talk about.

First segment is a fiber review of carbonized bamboo. It's what I am spinning while recording the podcast. The next section is about my plans for the Tour de Fleece spinning challenge. If you are not familiar with this, more information can be found on Ravelry. The idea is to challenge yourself as a spinner during the time that those bikers are spinning their wheels in the Tour de France. I took the challenge to spin some everyday. Pictured here is the dyed polworth roving that is one of my major projects during this challenge.

The last topic was a request, and is a bit of history on my three spinning wheels, how I got them and why.

In between is some wonderful music from the podsafe music network. The first song is Black Coffee.d by Stephanie J Hager. Next is Limerick Rake by Celtic Reboot . And yes, your ears do not deceive you, I played this group last podcast too.

The podcast is closed with the wonderful voice of Alyssa Anjelica James with Laughter in the Distance.

To those expecting a podcast on Dyeing, it will come next. Meanwhile grab your favorite spinning tool, fiber and relax with me as we spin.

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