tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357217672011-04-22T09:44:55.863+10:30A haven for spinners, knitters and felters. See our FREE online magazine on our website at www.thatspinningplace.com. We are a fibre-loving small business in the beautiful Hawkesbury region, situated at the base of the Blue Mountains on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia. We ADORE natural fibres and keenly promote the use of handspun yarns and the ancient skill of handspinning. Our items are handmade, with care.That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.comBlogger751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-44730106656462238402008-09-06T17:31:00.004+10:302008-09-06T17:39:07.141+10:30

I've finally listed some new handspun yarns on the webstore!! I seem to have dropped off the face of the earth for a few months, but am back on the scene now!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-273920029310101772007-12-10T19:52:00.001+11:002008-12-11T15:15:40.935+11:00

Here are some yarn photos for Jan to peek at. This is "Tree Shadow" handspun merino yarn. Back to the spinning wheel tonight... while watching a repeat of the great TV art show "Star Portraits," with Rolf Harris. I have seen the series before, but loved it. Good spinning viewing!!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-81400091795636564922007-11-17T13:37:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:41.699+11:00

New Handspun Yarns have just been listed on the webstore and etsy. "Dance of the Leaves" Bohemian Style Handspun Yarn, "Plum Dance" Handspun Yarn and "Purple Haze" Handspun Yarn.Back into spinning with a vengeance!!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-35372224179967679252007-11-04T14:14:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:42.706+11:00

Wo-ho, is that the time? I seem to have totally missed October...Here are some yarn photos for Steph to peek at. I'm finishing off some other custom spinning projects before I get some yarns and items together for the webstore. Very behind on things at the moment!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-13275132783322866332007-09-29T11:43:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:43.264+11:00

Such a long time since I last blogged!I have been knitting these socks in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in the purple iris colourway. They are a combination of components of socks in "Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. I have been using the wonderful stitchkeepers which I got from The Loopy Ewe - thanks to Sheri for matching the colour of my stitchkeepers with the sock yarn!!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-29081070582463187572007-09-05T11:04:00.001+10:302008-12-11T15:15:44.708+11:00

My extravangant order from The Loopy Ewe came - lovingly undone and rummaged through by Customs, with pamphlets from Australian Quarantine and all squished up again with sticky tape - THANKS CUSTOMS!!I ordered some patterns (with bonus pressies and samples from Sheri at the Loopy Ewe, as she does with all customers!)... Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Sage - I LOVE this colour... Indian Summer

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-16475688119961057312007-08-23T16:10:00.000+10:302007-08-23T16:13:31.385+10:30

...so I'll be back as soon as that nasty piece of technological incompetence is fixed. (Sigh...)

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-12182931976225745892007-08-16T16:38:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:45.622+11:00

Oh, how I loved spinning this BFL yarn! The long fibres just glided through my hands. It was effortless to spin, and is a soft delight to squish. This is my "Freedom Cry" colourway, spun 2 ply in sport weight. There is still some more left to ply, when my little one isn't so demanding due to this nasty flu THAT WON'T GO AWAY. I have had a little preschool-sized body attached to my legs for a

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-72242432171341853232007-08-10T14:25:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:45.754+11:00

I have succumbed. I placed a SOMEWHAT TOO LARGE order with Sheri at The Loopy Ewe for some patterns and scrumdidly yarn. Sheri has very politely been answering my 101 emailed questions, and has a nice range of yarns and other items. US$16 flat postage fee to Australia, and she offers some nice perks for returning customers. Certainly worth a lookie-see.WILL YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SILK YARN!!!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-73919136019259754692007-08-10T10:28:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:46.015+11:00

About a year ago, just as we were selling our small farm, I won a lovely female alpaca in a raffle, of all things! No, not a frozen chook, or a meat tray, but a live alpaca!! Since then, that special alpaca had a female babe, and we have them on agistment. It was a nice way to ease out of the farm (although I still would like another farm in the future!), and was obviously meant to be, as I

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-34595038772821558772007-08-03T20:28:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:46.094+11:00

A lovely friend has just given me mountains of alpaca fleeces, some of which are short but extremely soft cria fleeces. I had to refuse bags of the stuff, but my garage is still packed to the ceiling. There will be LOTS of carding and spinning of those fleeces soon. At the moment I am still getting through the alpaca fleeces I am spinning for a customer. I'm surrounded by mountains of alpaca

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-70090399664205546902007-07-29T21:27:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:46.378+11:00

I have listed some new fibres from the dyepot - this scrumdidly sooper-squishulated Blue-Faced Leicester, above in the "Freedom Cry" colourway, is gorgeous, with a nice long staple. Lurvely. There are some other colours listed too, and some merino. Also the odd yarn. Listed on the webstore and etsy. I plan to list some new handspun yarns soon - I have some lovely fibres lined up after my dye

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-5370920266008597112007-07-23T17:45:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:46.601+11:00

I've been pottering around in my studio dyeing some yarn and fibres - it has been a while since I have been able to get away from the kids. Even though my studio is very well ventilated, I don't like the idea of them breathing in any of the nasty fumes. I dyed some BFL roving, sportweight finn yarn and some merino superwash fingering weight yarn. Fun experiments!I should be listing some dyed

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-37040473246834981532007-07-20T10:17:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:47.046+11:00

More fibrey goodies (NAUGHTY!!!). Humbug BFL and silk roving (top left), humbug shetland (top centre), humbug BFL (top right) and humbug jacob roving (bottom of top photo). The jacob, in particular, is calling my name. I've been wanting to try the wool of this sheep breed since I was about 14 years old reading up on sheep books. (Weird adolescent?? or die-hard fibre-holic??) MUST GET SOME

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-815333994339689822007-07-15T11:23:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:47.853+11:00

I realised Friday night that I had no beanie to wear while watching my kids play Aussie Rules footy on Saturday morning. The games were out at Richmond where the wind blows over mountains (and any snow that has fallen around Oberon and Orange) right into our faces at the footy field. A cold day was predicted by the weather bureau, and I remembered last time I was there on such a day it was

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-45352573841474227282007-07-09T10:50:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:48.155+11:00

I have gone mad acquiring different wool samples to use when doing the guild spinning competence course (however, that may be just an excuse to buy the stuff...) I like the idea of working through a programme to make sure I try out lots of fibres and ideas. A nice challenge, perhaps not as much as the challenge of actually making the time to do it in between family commitments and house

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-37430618896661404992007-07-05T15:46:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:48.402+11:00

I've done some more custom spinning of the alpaca fleeces for a customer. Rich black alpaca, spun about 8 ply, as well as one of my favourites, amethyst shade of merino and tussah silk, with sequins. I love the way the tussah silk creates ribbon-like waves through the yarn. There is some white alpaca yarn bursting off the bobbins, too, crying out for plying. Soon...

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-52626994008034401992007-06-28T14:30:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:48.595+11:00

Above are some of the fibres I have been enjoying lately - the brown yarn is some handspun alpaca that I am spinning for a customer. The white roving on the left is blue faced leicester (mmm) and the white roving on the right is wensleydale, which I can't wait to see once it is dyed - such long fibres, too. More therapeutic fibres making their way here in the next week or so. I am fascinated by

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-82241373500743520462007-06-15T21:04:00.000+10:302007-06-15T21:07:39.704+10:30

I'm really enjoying checking out the fun progress of the spinners participating in the shawl spin/knit-along on this blog. If you haven't seen it, check it out! For beginner or experienced spinners, doesn't matter...

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-83069433128756558002007-06-11T16:12:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:48.800+11:00

Hi all.Sahara is finished - photos soon. Yay! Got a wee bit tired/irritated/impatient with the project by the end, or was that just due to the torrential flooding storms that hit Sydney and forced the children inside for DAYS, and the sick little croupy child that has been glued under my arm for the past week, as well as the building renovations going on at our place? Hmmm, not sure. Anyhoo,

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-80491759561134594332007-05-28T09:33:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:49.269+11:00

I am totally addicted to knitting this jumper - "Sahara" from Stitch Diva. I'm knitting it in Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 ply machine washable pure wool Classic, colour shade "Spinifex". It will be a nice, not totally soft (! I don't mind a bit of itchy scratch - I WILL NOT wear acrylic as it makes me feel ill) garden variety jumper for me this winter. I am casting off the diamond rib pattern at the

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-88762650943599341532007-05-16T17:01:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:49.650+11:00

This is our new little petal born two days ago. Her neck has been shaved so that the vet could rehydrate her as her mum won't let her feed. We now have to hold the mum everytime the baby wants a drink of milk! Hopefully the mother will get the hang of it soon, at the moment it is kick-spit-kick-spit!! and the baby needs to be a little more pushy about feeding too! The mother is a bit sore

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-69021037042817053112007-05-15T18:13:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:50.566+11:00

Life is still going by in a blur. But I have managed a store update and major etsy store update. Our lovely female alpaca that we won after buying one ticket IN A RAFFLE last year (!) has just given birth to a little white female cria. The new mum, though, is a little bewildered and not letting the little one feed, so with a lot of work and crossed fingers, hopefully things will work out OK.

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-34421709633625493042007-05-07T19:51:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:51.536+11:00

I have just listed some new colourways of 4 ply handpainted superwash merino yarn on our webstore page. I haven't yet listed them on etsy, but may when the mood takes me! There are also some mis-dyed skeins, aka "Science Experiments 1-3" which are available heavily discounted. There are also some more Bohemian-Style Handspun Yarn skeins to be listed when I next get a few moments. Back to

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-50123654449634605322007-05-04T12:29:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:51.746+11:00

I'm up to my eyeballs in alpaca fibre which I am custom spinning. Lovely white, choc brown and black. There is a lot of grass in the brown fleece - the alpacas love to roll around, so the fleece can pick up all sorts of bits and pieces. Needless to say, shearing is usually done before the grass burrs arrive. And dust! Worse than usual, of course, due to the drought. Luckily, I don't usually

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-91643803563524663862007-04-26T20:53:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:52.125+11:00

Long time no...blog. Life has been so incredibly hectic here that blogging took a back seat for a while. Still busy, not much sleeping happening, and just keeping head above water!I had family staying here, then a friend with whom I've been co-writing a screenplay. We finally finished the script, after working 12-14 hour days to get it to the finishing line (then having to go into "Mum-mode" for

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-72755632071595763712007-04-16T20:45:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:53.188+11:00

I have been busy filling custom orders for handpainted yarns, amongst other things. Here is a small sample of the dyeing I have been doing. New colourways have been added to the webstore page, with more to come in the next week or so. Most of the yarns I have dyed are sold already, so I'll list more on the store in the next week or so. I LOVE working with colour and coming up with new

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-37914891702783778012007-04-08T23:51:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:53.528+11:00

This yarn above is "Gypsy Rhythm" Bohemian Style Handspun Yarn, and the one below is "Seduction." They are listed for sale on the etsy store and webstore. The colours are LUMINOUS! I enjoyed playing around with these little beauties! Woo hoo!!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-37640988837756074522007-03-30T00:31:00.000+10:302007-03-30T11:54:09.545+10:30

Have a look at some lightly used knitting books and spinning and felting DVDs on ebay - they are FANTASTIC - there is so much faulous information in them!Item number 180101826340 and have a look at my other items!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-21958646993473485662007-03-28T10:07:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:54.281+11:00

I've listed a couple of new handpainted rovings for sale on etsy, with more yarns and fibres coming soon. Dye pot dabbling...Loving the autumn weather... gives an extra ! ZING ! to energy levels!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-9349994347700070782007-03-26T22:03:00.000+10:302008-12-11T15:15:54.444+11:00

Issue 4 is now available for free download on our website at www.thatspinningplace.com.ENJOY!!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-6791377188050965612007-03-21T12:30:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:54.817+11:00

I've been spinning! These are some new handspun yarns I have listed on etsy and the webstore. The top yarn is "Bengal" and the other is "Stormy Night". Super squishy, soft Aussie merino!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-14734737608325830182007-03-19T10:15:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:54.960+11:00

But I climbed back on. There has been knitting. There has been spinning. And there has definitely been !! A LOT !! of family commitments. Issue 4 of Spins & Magazine is a little delayed, but it is coming. I'm sorry, but family comes first.I'm working on another writing project as well (can't resist dabbling...my own fault if I am overloaded!) - it is a period drama screenplay (no details yet),

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-74253865844629297102007-03-08T21:34:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:55.206+11:00

Coming soon to Etsy, EarthMother Designs. Using fibres and yarns from That Spinning Place.

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-60707410862457744402007-03-05T13:12:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:56.191+11:00

Lots of spinning fibres listed in the webstore and on etsy. Also fleeces - beautiful coloured corriedale, English Leicester and merino X. Get some and get spinning!!! Have fun!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-29752381352348387932007-02-28T16:45:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:56.680+11:00

I love the colours in this yarn series - colours that speak to the soul. I've added "Gypsy Passion" (above) and "Amethyst Dreaming" (below) to the etsy store and webstore. There will be more yarns and rovings listed soon as I can hardly peel myself away from the spinning wheel. I led a felting workshop at a local high school yesterday. It is almost a ! sport ! with all of the hard physical

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-37062687334358330352007-02-25T13:34:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:57.269+11:00

I've been spinning up a storm! This yarn is begins my new range of "Bohemian Themed Handspun Yarns", and is called "Earthmother's Repose". I do love it. Rich, vibrant colours, varied textures with coils, and lots of embellishment with charms, amethyst stones, sari silk, shell discs and sequins, creating a gypsy/bohemian style. Stunning! I think I need to redecorate my home in these colours, I

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-15506952161688890442007-02-21T00:34:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:57.973+11:00

I've listed some new handpainted rovings and yarns on etsy and the webstore, with more to come in the next few days. There is a mountain of fibrey things to list - carded batts, handspun yarns, more rovings, some gorgeous local coloured corriedale fleeces.I'm preparing for a workshop I am doing next week at a local high school for textile students. We're doing some felting and I'm going to try

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-35851664304240925802007-02-18T20:45:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:58.695+11:00

Have you seen these? If you are in the market for some stitch markers, you may like to support Miss Violet of Lime & Violet podcast fame in her drive for funds to help her *afford* to fight breast cancer. Pierre the Yarn Snob has some little boobie stitch markers for sale in this etsy shop, and has plans to donate sale funds. Let it all hang out in your knitting! My fibre fest came to a grinding

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-90151680970855746652007-02-14T23:23:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:15:59.847+11:00

Some of this... Became this... And I did this... And some of this... (gratuitous fluffy alpaca cloud photo)I managed to play with fibre ALL DAY today, except for the quick school run and whipping together some dinner for the kids.ALL DAY PLAYING WITH FIBRE. Rare. Dyeing, washing sheep and alpaca fleeces, more dyeing, more fiddling around with ideas. (Dye spills on the old carpet...oh well. Had to

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-9617483385578013892007-02-14T02:10:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:00.089+11:00

Fibre-y science experiments in the wee small hours, with drum carder and wheel. I carded some batts of naturally coloured fine merino (home grown fleece) complete with nepps, some nice white alpaca, and silk. I then spun a plied, textured thick and thin yarn, just because. Amazingly, the yarn was balanced and it is exquisitely soft. Fun! I really must peel myself away from it all and GET

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-71749373294792972802007-02-10T08:32:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:00.330+11:00

Been a bit under the weather with a cold this week, so short on posts. However, have been quietly doing some spinning, and garment design (in-head and on paper), as well as quite a bit of research on fibre preparation and other fibre-y things. Also planning a high school workshop on natural fibres for textile students - yup, not much resting going on here.These batts are suffolk fleece that I

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-6622032023239060762007-02-06T11:53:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:01.578+11:00

Miscellaneous spinning pictures for this week. Dyed merino top in "Land and Sky" colourway and some lovely coloured corriedale fleece at the bottom. I haven't spun raw fleece for a couple of months, and it is nice to get back to the basics with it. This fleece is so soft, and quite free of chaff, which is amazing considering the handfeeding going on with this persistent drought. I love the

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-90976335067278091862007-01-31T13:21:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:02.051+11:00

I finished spinning the "Marine Dream" finn/cashmere blend plied yarn. It took a while to get through it all. The yarn will soon be listed on etsy and the webstore. Now, what to spin next? Probably some raw fleece, which I haven't spun from for a while. There is a huge selection bagged up in the garage. Corriedale today, I think...

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-31318700701679886532007-01-28T11:09:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:02.417+11:00

The yellow cotton child's socks are finished (yay!) and I delved straight into more socks. These are adult socks in Nundle Mill's 8 ply Hemp + Wool. This yarn is growing on me the further along I get. It will be interesting to see how it is after a number of wears and washes. I have been spinning up this colourway "Marine Dream" in a finn/cashmere blend. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. LOVE THE

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-86365988585064353862007-01-25T15:49:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:03.451+11:00

I have been playing around with some pure finn top and found it wonderfully fast to spin. Even though it is a medium wool, it is nice and soft and has a lovely lustre found in longwools such as English Leicester, but without the itchy scratchy factor. This colourway is "watermelon" and I have chain plied it. I also dyed some of the finn top in our "Vintage" colourway... and spun up a plied

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1160143908918070062007-01-21T21:28:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:03.733+11:00

In the obscene heat of the last couple of days, I managed to finish plying this yarn which I have decided to call "Camouflage". At least the green is a cool colour to look at - I don't think I could have managed to spin anything red or yellow! I've also been dabbling in the dyepot again, so I will have lots of spinning in the works. The fibres will probably be dry in 10 minutes, it is so hot.

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-38471130667967318702007-01-19T09:58:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:04.133+11:00

Yesterday morning we woke up to the kids bringing in a tray with breakfast cereal and the all important cup of tea. It was our fifteen year wedding anniversary, and they had coloured in decorations which they had stuck with sticky tape all over the walls outside our bedroom door (luckily we hadn't yet painted the walls since we moved in). Our son had also wrapped up a block of chocolate he had

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-55489466599674130892007-01-14T22:22:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:04.609+11:00

"Mulberry Delight" - plied handspun merino yarn is all done and ready to have the twist set. It will be listed on our etsy and webstore tomorrow when I take some decent photos. Still having troubles with the Majacraft plying bobbin... I wonder if they are going to reply to the email I sent in December asking about it...

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-15693754722028208502007-01-11T11:01:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:05.055+11:00

The last two nights I threw everything else aside, swiped the dust off Elspeth, and did some spinning. The plied yarn is merino dyed in a new colourway, "Atmosphere," which I have been playing around with and, wow, did this yarn turn out SOFT and SPROINGy!! I keep squeezing it just for fun. The single on the bobbin is merino in our "Mulberry Delight" colourway. Online and Etsy Store updates

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-74607988513267578112007-01-09T01:24:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:05.188+11:00

A dodgy photo of the yellow child's sock in progress. I didn't get quite as far as I planned, since I overenthusiastically kept decreasing while watching a movie, and had to unpick and retrieve those stitches!I have been knitting over the New Year but no spinning for a while, as I have been working on a screenplay and it is hard to squeeze everything in to the 24 hours of the day. Especially in

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-25328347514430864922007-01-07T19:48:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:05.474+11:00

I finished knitting the Country Fair socks and, just for a change, cast on another pair of...socks! Addictive knitting projects. As soon as the first pair of socks were off the needles, they were grabbed by my daughter and worn around the house. Not even time for a photo. After I managed to get them back, they were placed on some borrowed legs for a quick snap. Just to prove they were indeed

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-91357692779864815612007-01-03T13:15:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:05.915+11:00

We've been bringing in the new year with the best that summer fruit can bring...big fat juicy black cherries and white nectarines. Mmmm.On a not so exciting note, knitting has been slow after the new year clean up exposed a tax form that should have been filled out back in July. Oops. Procrastination is such an ugly word.Tonight as a family we are going to watch the movie "Sabrina." Before

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-4688383733101936782006-12-21T22:36:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:06.355+11:00

Back from family holidays with just one holiday snap - knitting essentials for the car. The Cadbury choc is just as important as the yarn and needles... (Sock number 2 - or part thereof -absorbing chocolate by osmosis)And one more knitting "accessory" - Breville are now producing an ALMIGHTY sized crockpot which can cook multiple nights worth of wholesome meals for table and freezer - FREEING UP

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-66660842701033550902006-12-08T03:16:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:06.563+11:00

Well, issue 3 of our free online magazine "Spins and Needles" is now available on our website. Scroll down the webstore home page and click on the link to download the magazine. Our web store will be closed for one week while we take a break with the family. Any orders received while we are away will be filled from 19 December.Enjoy the magazine!Wendy

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-23269787068925144732006-12-03T20:16:00.000+11:002008-12-11T15:16:07.177+11:00

I've managed to squeeze some spinning time into this busy time of year. Rainbow sprinkles is now plied - handpainted pure finn.I also spun the "Smokey Rose" merino top I dyed a while ago. This was spun in a slubby style and plied with a lovely shiny pink embroidery thread.Then I latched on to some cashmere/finn top I had handpainted with some left over dyes a while back - unfortunately I didn't

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-70095012496402253732006-11-28T21:59:00.000+11:002006-12-01T14:11:51.688+11:00

Another scorching day in Sydney - perfect weather to be plying pure wool yarn for winter woollies!!! (???)I had dyed some pure finn combed top a while ago, and today spun a single on to my *#%&? Majacraft plying bobbin. I then wound the single into a ball before plying from both ends of the ball, holding the ball in my left hand and guiding the plying with my right hand. I'm happy with the

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-21199081187027280212006-11-26T11:05:00.000+11:002006-11-26T11:34:56.933+11:00

I have finally been diagnosed!I have worked out that I have contracted a serious condition, known now as CPCS "Compulsive Project Commencement Syndrome" - I've begun three knitting projects and two handspun yarn projects just this week alone.No, I haven't finished my socks from a month ago.No, I haven't finished spinning all of the merino/silk yarn I've been working on. They are all on the "To Do

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-65270487414438174022006-11-20T09:25:00.000+11:002006-11-20T09:41:02.393+11:00

Things are a little busy around here, working hard on issue 3 of our free online magazine, Spins & Needles. It will be available on our website early December, and if you haven't seen issue 1 or 2, scroll down our homepage and click on the cover photo to get to the link. The back issues are always available as well for new readers.I spent last Saturday stabbing evil felting needles into fibre at

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-41413890928960366162006-11-17T00:33:00.000+11:002006-11-17T00:45:51.172+11:00

Yes, although it is again late into the night, I couldn't resist skeining up this yarn I finished tonight. "Festive", merino plied with a nice gold metallic thread. Brings up memories of Bing Crosby crooning Christmas songs (I think that's a good thing...) It is for sale on our etsy store and webstore. Now for some shut-eye!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-51760724206230201262006-11-15T09:41:00.000+11:002007-01-11T11:17:08.078+11:00

Another cool find from our moving boxes - some merino top I had dyed a while ago in our Dancing Queen colourway. Vibrant and motivating, these colours! It has now been whipped up on Elspeth into a slubby yarn. I prefer spinning the smooth yarns, rather than thick and thin. Anyhoo, the yarn is for sale in our webstore and etsy store (having some troubles with etsy links after the etsy v2 launch).

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-14518273499378261842006-11-12T21:18:00.000+11:002006-11-12T21:37:58.288+11:00

What a great weekend! Mostly spent outside doing heavy duty gardening with the kids playing in the backyard, and picking the ripe boysenberries from the bush. Those are some of my favourite memories of childhood, and I hope it will be for my kids too. Squeezed some time in for a quick dye and spin (a true fibre addict!). Merino top, dyed with red and greens, which I plan to ply with metallic

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1162907485274430542006-11-08T00:27:00.000+11:002006-11-11T10:14:46.863+11:00

Berries & Chocolate is off the wheel and on the market! I really like this colour combination - rich and calming. It is up on our webstore and etsy store.Issue 3 of our free online magazine, Spins & Needles, is due for online publication in December on our website at www.thatspinningplace.com. We are always interested in article submissions, so if you have something inspiring to share about your

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1162881871668341962006-11-07T17:42:00.000+11:002006-11-11T10:48:54.910+11:00

It's finished! Happy birthday present, Aphrodite, she of the yellow rose! Looking forward to your visit!

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1162703687264979352006-11-05T16:01:00.000+11:002006-11-11T10:15:01.682+11:00

Where has this week gone? It passed by in a blur as I grabbed the opportunity for some Christmas shopping without little ones in tow (such a feeling of liberation while other mothers were juggling strollers, hungry newborns, screaming toddlers and then the shopping!), also filling in orders for handspun yarn and other items.Sadly our sheep ended up at the saleyards (sniff!) including the gorgeous

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1162114465090954322006-10-29T20:25:00.000+11:002006-11-11T10:15:18.453+11:00

I opened a tub in my studio in which I had crammed some items before we moved house. Out spilled wafts of colourful fibre I had dyed, then squished into that tub and forgotten about while we were so busy. Just like an early Christmas present!!I got busy spinning straight away, so here is "Parsley" Handspun Yarn Accent Kit. If you would like some Parsley to garnish your next knitting project, it

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1161994449741972402006-10-28T10:16:00.000+10:302006-11-11T10:15:37.292+11:00

I'm LOVING my new Majacraft wheel (introduced in a previous blog entry as "Elspeth"). Sleep seems to have gone out the window, with so many hours spent dyeing, spinning and knitting lately. When the inspiration comes, I go with it!!NOT happy with the Majacraft plying bobbin set, though. In fact, I'm not using it due to the high irritation factor (doesn't creating irritation defeat the purpose of

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1161914728600025612006-10-27T11:50:00.000+10:302006-11-11T10:10:54.242+11:00

Today is a sock day! I picked up a skein of our 4 ply handpainted yarn in the "Country Fair" colourway, turned the brain power down to low, and started to knit a pair of very basic socks, making the pattern up as I go. I won't lose this knitting project around the house in a hurry - the colours call out for attention.Lots of dyepot dabbling for customers too - What a great job, playing with

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1161736303506713862006-10-25T10:44:00.000+10:302006-11-11T10:11:15.230+11:00

I've been knitting up some of my handspun yarn into a scarf for my youngest, who NEVER likes to miss out on anything. It is not quite scarf weather outside, but always scarf weather inside at dressing up time!I've had some enquiries from nervous new knitters who are unsure about knitting with single slubby handspun yarns, so I have popped a pattern up on our store pattern page, and it could find

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1161514756698008912006-10-22T21:11:00.000+10:302006-11-11T10:11:36.496+11:00

"Boysenberries and Lime" has now begun life as a yarn!These new yarn combinations are the latest to join our line of handspun yarns. The accent kits will include a skein of our so, so soft handpainted and handspun yarn, along with one skein of our "accent" handspun yarn, which has sari silk or other special highlights to increase the "bling"content in your knitting or fibre projects!These accent

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1161310782624897742006-10-20T12:43:00.000+10:302006-11-11T10:16:32.249+11:00

I've been sewing this gorgeous fabric into a few items for a lovely customer, and got thinking..."What about some yarn to match?" Pull out your sunglasses, folks, here is... Boysenberries and Lime! I'll post up some pics of the yarn once it comes off the wheel.

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1160916382023405272006-10-15T22:59:00.000+10:302006-11-11T10:12:53.471+11:00

Did I mention that I LOVE our new/old house?It is a grandmother's sort of house, very old, rambling, creaky and homey. Not flash and new, so that we can live without anxiety about ruining carpets or dinging woodwork.I have been granted a "studio" in this big old house - my husband's idea. LUCKY, LUCKY ME!!!!! Or perhaps lucky, lucky husband, as he now can move from room to room without jumping/

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1160742665749608312006-10-13T22:24:00.000+10:302006-11-11T10:13:25.453+11:00

Lots of late night dabbling in the dyepot!"Smokey Rose" merino top (ooh, I like it!) and "Rainforest Floor," which has been handspun for a lovely customer.Here is a little pic of "Elspeth" doing her thing!and soaking the yarn to set the twist.Very hot today at 37 degrees C, with tomorrow predicted to be hotter! Spring only lasted 10 minutes and we're straight into summer! So to end the school

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1160531708066140502006-10-11T11:24:00.000+10:302006-11-26T22:35:03.108+11:00

We recently moved house and have inherited a GORGEOUS garden. The scent of roses fills the air and flows through open windows into our house. Aaah, spring!I've been spinning full pelt on my new Majacraft Susie wheel, which has been affectionately named "Elspeth". Elspeth and I will treadle many miles in the years to come, and I love her. We are getting on like a house on fire.The first yarn to

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721767.post-1160367949901923922006-10-09T14:48:00.000+10:302006-11-11T10:14:24.212+11:00

Blogging on...Welcome to the first entry for That Spinning Place in blogland.We've been busy starting our webstore, publishing two issues of our FREE online magazine available through our webstore and...moving house! Time now to put feet to the double treadle and spin some lovely inspiring yarns.Spring has certainly arrived here in Sydney, so we're listing our "Spring Silk" handspun yarn made

That Spinning Placehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782438662462058784noreply@blogger.com3