News & Notes From FGF
What’s Your Preference? Cowl or Scarf?
I am a cowl girl. Yes, I spelled it right. I prefer cowls over scarves. Where does that preference come from? As a weaver, I made a TON of scarves. They are linear. They are finite. They are fun. They can show off your dyeing, your yarn choice and your skill at...
Is swatching a dirty word?
Do you do it? Or do you just dive right into a project? As many of you know, I started this journey as a weaver. How closely you set your threads is the key to getting the fabric that you want. And once you know that you can build the rest of your...
Banish This Word in the New Year
At this time of year, I like many people are thinking about their word of the year. It is a North Star or value or resolution. It marks how you want to spend your year. That is all good and I do come up with my word of the year each January. But I want to talk to you...
The Health and Wellness Benefits of Knitting and Crochet
It's a proven fact. There is research. Yes, knitting and crochet does in fact enhance your health and well being. I know that when I am feeling low and tired, but still feel the need to "do" something, I take out my project bag and knit a few stitches or rows or...
Yarn Weights and Measures: What Do They All Mean?
I've been thinking a lot about what all those ways that yarn manufacturers, including myself, categorize the yarn. There are so many ways of speaking about the size of the yarn. The standard yarn weight information is set up in a table with discreet squares. But I've...
Being an Artist
I read the Artist's Way in 1992 when my life took a total shift away from an abusive situation to one where I was the one in control of my life. It's funny to say that now, because there are so many days when really I don't feel like I'm in control. But really, I do...
Stash Appreciation– Be a Color Explorer
Most makers I know have a stash of one kind or another. It may be beads, fabric, yarn, roving, threads, magazines, papers or all of the above. Yes, I do have a stash. Even though I dye my own yarn all the time, I also buy yarn and roving that calls my name. Very...
Why You Should Use The Good Stuff
"I'm just learning, so I'm going to use cheap yarn/roving until I know what I'm doing. I don't want to waste it." I hear those words all the time in my spinning and knitting classes. I even said it myself when I was learning how to knit socks. Before I had the yarn...
Stash Appreciation–Spinning with Alpaca Fiber
Spinning Alpaca How do I get alpaca fiber? Alpaca is available as a commercial top for spinning or you can go to your local alpaca farm and buy fleeces. Fleeces are sheared from the animals once a year. They are usually graded at the time of shearing into 3 to 7...
Stash Appreciation–Alpaca Part 2
What about alpaca yarn? Remember I said it was really warm. When you consider making a garment with alpaca, consider the warmth requirements of the wearer. Don't make a sweater for someone with hot flashes, just sayin'. But that same lovely person, may have cold feet,...
