Yarnspinners Tales's Podcast

Latest Episodes:

YST Episode 30 Plying Apr 30, 2009

Show notes

There's a misconception in the spinning community that if you know how to spin a yarn, you know how to ply. In this episode I talk all about the whys and ways of putting single strands of handspun yarn into complex yarns.

I would like to thank the following authors for writing their books and thus helping me pass along what I learned from them in my podcast:

Alden Amos: Big Book of Handspinning

Margaret Stove: Handspinning Dyeing & Working with Merino and Superfine Wools

Diane Varney Spinning Designer Yarns

Music in the podcast is from the Podsafe Music Network

The interlude music is by Kelvin Bear and is called The Mist

The ending song is by Iona Leigh and is called Blackbird

As always a big thank you to Claire Dowling for the spinning song I use as the intro to the podcast.

YST Episode 29 April 2009 Spin In Apr 23, 2009

Show notes

Road Trip! In the yarnspinners tale today I talk all about a trip to visit the wonderful spinning and weaving store The Woolery.

Speaking of traveling, one of today's sheep breeds is all the way from Norway. Spaelsau is an old Norweigen breed with a double coated fleece and I have the opportunity to work with some of the fiber. Close in nature to that breed and more readily obtainable, I also talk about the Icelandic breed in today's review of sheep breed fleeces.

If you want to visit the Woolery's website, you can find it here.

Pictures of the yarns I spun, and of the friction wheel I saw at the Woolery can be found on my blog.

All music today was provided by Marc Gunn and found on the podsafe music network. As a podcast listener, I also enjoy Marc's podcast, The Irish and Celtic Music podcast. You can find that on ITunes.

Thanks for listening!

YST Episode 28 Dipping in the Dyepots Mar 30, 2009

Show notes

Dipping in the dyepots, because I am in the mood for color. But there's a second reason and I talk all about what to do if you have a yellow and discolored fleece. Dye it of course!

I have posted a number of photos on my blog that show the original fleece, the dyed fiber and even a few batts carded from the fiber. Be sure to take a look.

The music comes again from the podsafe music network. If you like what you heard, click on the links for the musicians and support them. Thank you also to Claire Dowling for her Spinning Song used as my opening theme music.

The Sugar People with In the Color Blue was the snippet opening music for the dyeing discussion.

Sandro G Masoni provided the interlude music during the show with Soft Spring Rain

Ax did a lovely short instrumental piece called Pure Romantic Spring Feelings

And the podcast closes with a song from the group bobby blue call Sunshine Ode to Spring.

And so we have safely sung spring into my part of the world again. Soon it will be time for podcasting from the front porch.

YST Episode 27 Almost Spring Spin In Mar 14, 2009

Show notes

Spring is fickle and comes and goes, but the spinning goes on anyway.

Today's podcast has discussions on two rare breeds of sheep, the Tunis and the Karakul. And later, as I spin on some cashgora, I talk about the unnamed spinners and her influence in my fiber life.

All music today has a spring theme and is from the podsafe music network.

Sounding for all the world like a 1940's tune, Tom Waits sings You Can Never Hold Back Spring.

The interlude music between the yarnspinner tale today is Steps to Spring by Ishmail Abatay.

The podcast closes with the song Winterspring by the Ampersands.

Of course, I must thank Wren Ross for Baa Baa Black Sheep, and Clare Dowling for the Spinning Song.

YST Episode 26 Woolen or Worsted Feb 15, 2009

Show notes

Woolen spun or worsted spun, as spinners we hear the terms all the time. But do you really know the difference? If someone put fiber in your hand and asked you to spin it into a worsted yarn, could you? Listen in on this podcast as I explain the difference, and actual techniques.

Edit to add list of books:

I realized I mention several books in the podcast as sources of my information and that I should probably give the names of the books here for your reference.

Merino Handspinning Dyeing and Working with Merino and Superfine Wools by Margaret Stove.

The Alden Amos Big book of Handspinning

The Whole Craft of Spinning by Carol Kroll

And of course there is music, bouncy enough to make you toes tap. All music is from the Podsafe Music network, and I want to send a specific thank you to the following musicians for sharing there songs on that site.

Opening music is by Cubaxd and is called A Folk Song without a Name.

Kurveball gives us lovely musical advice to let go and Leave It Behind.

And to close, for all of you that suffer as I do right now, with a winter cold, Eddy Delbridge sings a soothing going to sleep song, called The Prone Zone.

Enjoy!

YST Episode 25 Jan 2009 Spin In Jan 31, 2009

Show notes

It's a good day for snuggling up with some warm fiber and spinning. In today's podcast I talk about an unusual fiber cashgora. And later, while spinning this fiber, I have my yarnspinner tale about balance.

All music in the podcast today has the theme of snow, and I would like to give a big thank you to the following musicians for sharing their songs with us on the Podsafe Music Network.

Snow by The Standalone

Snowman by the Egerton Boys

Snow by Comfortable

Snow Angel by Laura Hughes

And a final thank you to Clare Dowling for the Spinning Song and Wren Ross for BaaBaa Black Sheep.

YST Episode 24 Spinning and Dyeing Silk Jan 25, 2009

Show notes

Slick and shiny top, or interesting and challenging hankies, whatever form of silk fiber you have can be spun and dyed into wonderful yarn. Today's podcast talk's all about my experiences with spinning and dyeing silk.

I refer to a number of links online during the podcast, so here they are, all conveniently gathered for you in one post.

Sources of fiber and dyes:

Tweenway Silks

Cheryl Kolander with peace silks (Aurora silk)

Silk Things for the instant silk 'teacup' dyes

Paradise Fibers for country classic dyes (or google country classic dyes)

YouTube videos:

Preparing a silk hanky to spin demonstrated by me

An interesting video of cocoons being reeled

A page of the well known WormSpit silk blog, showing how silk hankies are made

Last but not at all the least, the music in today's podcast. All music is from the Podsafe music network. Songs in order of appearance are:

Silk Route by Satya

Coffee by Liveloop

Changka by Don't be a Stranger

YST Episode 23 Drop Spindles Dec 20, 2008

Show notes

Happy Holidays listeners! The main part of this podcast is all about drop spindles. I talk through the basics of how to spin with one, and then talk about the different spindles I have, and what fibers they spin well.

There's a yarnspinner tale too, although it's an indulgent list crossing off session of holiday happenings.

As always, there's music to bebop along with as you work or drive, with a holiday theme. I hope you find the music as enjoyable as I did.

All music is from the Podsafe Music Network. Today's podcast opens with, What Child Is This? - Greensleeves - classical guitar Christmas instrumental by Derek K Miller.

Next Winzenried a.k.a. Hollywood Drunks gives us an upbeat version of Carol of the Bells.

Pink Christmas by The Moneyshot Cosmonauts is between the segments and the podcast is closed by Hipcola with Winter Wonderland.

OK so it's a cliche...but talk to you next year! Thanks for listening.

YST Episode 22 October Spin In Oct 31, 2008

Show notes

My first year anniversary podcast! For this spin in, the fiber animal is, for once, not a sheep. Instead alpaca fiber is discussed.

Also, a bit of audio indexing, as the year of podcasting here is reviewed. Finally, spinning really did happen, and all day. Hear all about a day at a fiber fair.

Music for this podcast is from the podsafe music network. There is lots of wonderful music in this podcast. Check out these websites and give them your support, for sharing their music with the world.

Interlude music is Talking by rob

Great vocal song by Sarah Donner called Suffragette

Lovely background music called Autumn Stream by Adam Zampino

Closing female vocalist Caren Kennedy with Just Talking

Closing male vocalist Dropkick with Listen to You.

Thanks for listening! Today, all last year, and the year to come.

YST Episode 21 Felting Fleece Oct 27, 2008

Show notes

Felting fleece is something we spinners fear right? Not always. What if you think outside of the box, and felt fleece to your advantage?

The photo shows one time Yarnspinner thought outside of that fear of felting a fleece. Listen to the podcast to learn all about how a non spinnable fleece was felted into a lovely wool pelt.

On the more practical side, fleece batts can be shape felted into anything, as long as you have a form to serve for shaping. The next example talked about in the podcast is a felted hat.

There are many more photos on this blog, be sure to take a look at those photos of the process explained in the podcast.

All the music in the podcast is from the podsafe music network. Since it is so close to Halloween, the tunes are intentional a bit spooky. A big thank you to all the musicians that shared their music. Be sure to check out links for the websites of those that you like.

Vampire Organ by Jeff Rosiana was the spooky intro.

Spooky Fractal Magic by Embertime and Spooky by Podcast Troubadour Jeff Shields both provided the interlude music.

Windy October Day by Roland Blum is the podcast's closing song.

Thanks for listening!

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