Spinning Around - A book by the founder of the River Spinners!

Spinning Around: Spinning, Dyeing & Knitting Elizabeth Zimmermann's Classics (December 15)

—Jeannine Bakriges 

Jeannine Bakriges worked for years to compile this beautiful and informative book that culminates 30 years of fiber work. Imagine seeing something you'd like to knit, then having sufficient knowledge and skill to decide how to achieve your end goal. The long journey was well worth it with instructions from sheep to finished garment. Softcover. $29.95 Preorder by December 10 for free shipping (in the continental U.S.).

In addition to this book being by our Jenny - Guild members Leslie Markey, Maureen Clark, Jenna Konesko, and Elizabeth Johnson are featured and contributed via spinning, knitting, dyeing, and photos.

Other River Spinners have written books too - perhaps we should do a post about those as well :)  Send us your ideas!  Our librarian also thinks we should have a bibliography - don't you agree!

February Business Meeting - Plying on Drop Spindle

What a fantastic Business Meeting tonight!

When our Fearless Leader, Alison, suggested that we discuss plying on a drop spindle at our next meeting, one of our newest members Sadelle Wiltshire rose to the occasion and gave us a fantastic demo of Tammy Rizzo's Navajo Ply on the Fly technique. Sadelle, an experienced fiber artist and instructor, had put her own twist on it for us. Others have come about similar twists and they are documented on the video creator's blog.


Of course she was sure to bring samples of yarn that she had spun in this fashion - this has become her way of spinning as of late. To paraphrase Sadelle, she likes it because when you are done your are done. Oh and she we sure to point out that the yarn she passed around was Spincerely Yours' Grape Goddess Colorway. What a treat!

Maryanne brought samples of yarn that she spun and plied on the drop spindle. One piece was particularly fun - it was spun in one direction and then plied in the same direction as the singles. It was quite bouncy and fun. (Sorry I dropped it on the floor when I tried to shoot Alison with it!)

Alison gave us an excellent demo of how to use a Nostepinde - when doing a quick search on how to spell it correctly I found this informative link to the once Grafton Fiber now DyakCraft site.

We had lots of other show and tell and fun encouraging our newest member Deb who was on her second day of spinning!

Ewesfully yours,
E