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.

           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!

The September Spin In podcast continues with two more rare breeds of sheep, the Navajo Churro and the Jacob breeds.

And Yarnspinner talks about just why there is so much stash!

Pictures of the sheep breed samples can be found on the blog.

And be sure to check out the new way to contact Yarnspinner, at the new site drop.io.

Music is from the Podsafe music network.  This podcast has an autumnal theme, with A Taste of Autumn by Ensemble Variable, and Autumn Colors by Ritchie Hernandez.

Thanks for listening!

Do you really know how your spinning wheel works?  Knowing how it works will help you spin the yarn you want, instead of just spinning whatever happens type of yarn.

It's September, and that means back to school.  So we hit the books and learn about three different types of flyer bobbin systems used in spinning wheels.  Once you figure out what type of wheel you are using, you can then understand how to make your wheel work for you.

There's lots of information on this podcast, so to give us a bit of a break, I am using music from the group CatzintheHatz.  Here's a link to their music:

http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=b588c2cc09c7fe6855202a2901643905

And to close the podcast, there's a wonderful parody song, Wake Me up When this Math Class is Done, by the group fump:

http://www.thefump.com/

As always all music is from the podsafe music network.

Thanks for listening!

Summer is slipping away, and so this month's Yarnspinners Tale is about summer memories.  But there's lots more in the podcast, as I review two rare breeds of sheep, the CVM and Maine Island Sheep.

All music is from the podsafe music network.  I used five different musicians this podcast, all with music around the theme of summer.

The opening song, that said goodbye to summer is by Danny Fong.

The interlude music for the sheep breed discussion is a song called Sweet Summer Memories by Steven Cravis.

A wonderfully summer song, Fireflies, is sung by JJ Grey and Mofro.

The wonderful guitar strumming behind my recap is by Tripple6fusioN (who I have played before)  with Picking Memories.

And last, and best of all for the wonderful female vocals, is The Simple Things with The Moon is Torn.

The photo above is the pink superwash yarn that I have been spinning over the last several months of podcast spin-ins.  It really is lovely, and I still have about 2/3 of a pound of fiber left.  Lots more of that yarn to spin.

Photos of the sheep breed review can be found on my blog.

Thanks for stopping by, and for listening!

Ribbons and not medals are what you win when you let your yarn be judged.  In keeping with the spirit of the Summer Olympics in one segment of this podcast I talk about how to find competitions to enter your spinning and how to prepare the skeins to be judged.

Three other segments also share some of the hints and tips I have after several weeks of experimenting with different techniques.  One segment talks about what to do when you end up with singles on one bobbin and you want to ply that yarn.  The method is called Andean plying and is easier to do than to explain!

A third segment talks about picking a fleece.  Now this is not talking about the actual selection of a fleece, but the process that allows the locks of washed fiber to be opened so that vegetable matter or short nubs of fiber can be removed.  It makes a big difference in the yarn you spin when you take the time to do this step, as I relearned this week.

And finally, the biggest challenge of all to many experienced spinners: spinning a bulky yarn is discussed.  It's a yarn you either love or hate, but either way, it's good to know how to spin it.

Be sure to check out my blog to see some photos of the topics discussed in the podcasts.

Since this podcast is an eclectic mixture of topics, I have an mixture of music too.  As usual, all music is from the podsafe music network and below are links to the specific musicians.

First a special thank you to Claire Dowling for the spinning intro music.

Interlude music called Summer Meadow is by Jim Richmond.

Saffire and the Uppity Blues Women sing for us Don't You Tell Me.

The music behind the thank yous is Butterfly Seranade and is by Tripple6Fusion.

And to close the show, a lovely blues vocal that just sings of summer, Watermelon Time by Marcia Ball.

Thanks for listening!

Spinning and the Summer Olympics, an unexpected pairing.  Unless of course you have been hanging out on Ravelry and have heard all about the knitting olympics.  Yarnspinner takes on the challenge and tells you all about it in this podcast.

Also there are two breed fleece reviews, the well known Romney, and the unfamiliar, but very American Targhee.

All music is from the podsafe music network. 

Providing the interlude with a jazzy summer feel is Boom Boom Beckett.  Since the musicians website is in Italian, here is a link on the music network that will allow you to buy their music.

The music closing the podcast is provided by Douglas Spotted Eagle.  He has a website on My Space, or you can go to the music network for his music here.

Thanks for listening! 

Episode 15 is all about preparing and spinning cotton. Joining me in the podcast are some of my spinning friends with some very good explanations of just how they do this.  And also something new to the show this time:  videos!

First as promised a very special spinning movie.  Currently it is on YouTube, to save me some MB storage space here.  The  Spinning Movie is set to music from Kelvin Bear, who I found on the Podsafe Music Network.  This artist does not seem to have a website, so here's a link to his music. 

Now for some instructional videos. 

These are for folks with DSL access.

Carding cotton and making punis

 <enclosure url="http://media.libsyn.com/media/yarnspinnerstales/adsl.wmv" length="13478823"

type="video/x-ms-wmv" />

Support spindle spinning cotton

<enclosure url="http://media.libsyn.com/media/yarnspinnerstales/cdsl.wmv" length="5894115"

type="video/x-ms-wmv" />

 Setting up a charkha and spinning

<enclosure url="http://media.libsyn.com/media/yarnspinnerstales/chdsl.wmv" length="7385453" type="video/x-ms-wmv" />

Here are the same videos, at reduced bandwidths for dialup:

Carding cotton and making punis

<enclosure url="http://media.libsyn.com/media/yarnspinnerstales/adial.wmv" length="1092172"

type="video/x-ms-wmv" />

 Support spindle spinning cotton

<enclosure url="http://media.libsyn.com/media/yarnspinnerstales/cdial.wmv" length="476820"

type="video/x-ms-wmv" />

 Setting up a charkha and spinning cotton

<enclosure url="http://media.libsyn.com/media/yarnspinnerstales/chdial.wmv" length="598558" type="video/x-ms-wmv" />

This is all a grand experiment for me, and you may find that because I had to use Windows Movie Maker for editing, that they will only play in Windows Media Player.  If you do not have that media playing software, you should at least be able to view the Spinning Movie on Youtube, and well as the Cotton Carding  and Support spindle spinning cotton.

Enjoy!

All music for this podcast is from the Podcast Music Network.

Brian McRae  song July Moon provided the interlude music.

Ben Willmott  ends the podcasts with the song Fireworks.

 This was a fun podcast to make, and I hope you have as much fun listening to it.

Happy Spinning!

Spinning on my front porch, means cool morning air, birdsong and the occasional cow mooing in the background.  But the topic of the yarnspinnerstale this month is very cool, as I tell all about my recent cruise to Alaska with Seasocks 08.

Before that though, I discuss two sheep breeds from my rare breed sampler:  Cormo and Montadale.  The photo is from some of the cormo spun from combed top pulled through a diz.

Music for this podcast is from the Podsafe Music Network.  New music artists include:

Janet Spahr  with Rosemary

Damh the Bard with Lady of the Silver Wheel

And special thanks to Wren Ross for letting me use Baa Baa Black sheep with the sheep fleece reviews, and to Clare Dowling for the opening Spinning song.

A few links I said I would include are:

Amy Singer   her webpage is here.  Amy taught a shawl Plug and Play class on the cruise.

Crissy Gardner, and Heather Ordover  each taught in the Heels, Heels, Heels classes.

And Brenda Dayne, talking all about her experiences podcasting, was the highlight of the trip, for this podcaster.

Finally, I issue an Olympic challenge.  I did this for the winter Olympics, and the blog entry is in the archives from my blog.  But I am in the mood to do something different this time, and talk about that in the podcast.  I hope you will join me in August as I watch the Olympics and take on your own Olympic spinning challenge. You have a bit of time, but don't dally, the challenge starts 08/08/08.

Happy summer solstice!

Part 2 of the cotton dyeing discusses how I dyed the roving using a natural dyestuff.  And a very unusual dyestuff too.

There are photos, and a detailed description of the process on my blog.

I've included two songs in today's podcast, both from the podsafe music network.  Be sure and check out the musicians webpages if you like the songs.

Copper Box  played Need a Little Squeezin   It's a great tune, and is featured on their website too.

Clare Dowling  of Moot Music opens every podcast for me with her spinning song, and for this podcast, closes with Go With the Flow.

Hope you have enjoyed these two podcasts of dyeing cotton. Comments are always welcomed here or on my blog.  And if you use Itunes, and could look me up there, searching under Yarnspinners Tales, leave a review.  It'll help more spinners find me.

Until next time, hope all you fiber colors are wonderul.

Dyeing Cotton Part one.

In today's podcast I am joined by my local spinners/knitters for a day of dyepots, fiber and fun.  Cotton fiber, specifically and the project was all for a fiber swap starting in the Ravelry group, Garden Spinning.

Please be sure to check out the blogs for each of the dyers, for lots of pictures.

Anita, Andrea, and Viki.   Yarnspinners blog is here.

Here's a few key points about what we learned:

Cotton needs to be soaked very thoroughly in soda ash water, to take up the dye well. 

Dyes created specifically for cotton need to be used.  These are the old formula Cushings union dyes or any dye specifically created for tie dyeing.

Solar heating or low tech variations with a heating pad work well to set the dyes.  Temperatures need to be around 100 degrees.

Cotton takes a very long time to dry, needs lots of dry heat or breeze to dry and looks pretty compacted until it does dry.

A good thumping on the cotton, once it is dry will fluff it up and make it ready to spin.

There's lots more on the podcast!  So much more, that I had to divide the podcasts into two parts.  So continue on with episode 13 to hear the rest of the story.

Music for the podcast is from the podsafe music network.  Clare Dowling provides my opening theme, and the interludes today are by Dan Tharp. 

A bit of change in the format this time, change is good, right?

In this episode I review three books that include spinning information, and I share with you about a real live outside spin-in that I joined. 

Since this is not a hands on, technical podcast this time, just think of this as time to catch up on your spinning projects.  The podcast will be back to its usual format in a couple weeks.  Meanwhile, enjoy the chat and music of this show.

All music is from the podsafe music network.

The interlude music, Blacksmiths Dance  is by Eastern Blok

The ending song is Coffee Man by Calvin Owens

Until later, happy spinning!

April is not only about spring, but many other things on this month's spin in podcast.  I talk about the fleece from two rare breeds of sheep, the Finn Sheep and the Perendale.   And as usual there is lots of music, and a Yarnspinner's Tale.

Today's music comes from the Podsafe Music Network.  I encourage you to check out this website as well as the websites for any of the artists used on today's podcast.

Special thank you's go to Clare Dowling and Wren Ross for use of their music to introduce segments in the podcasts.

The music behind the spring poem was provided by Monica Herzig.

The song Memory Lane was done by Elliott Smith.

Hardly Enough is from WAZ.

And the show closes with music from the group Parker Street Cinema.

Until the next podcast, hope all of your memories are well spun.

Just a note to say I had to set the comment function for this website to moderate, because the spammers finally found me.  So for all of you lovely listeners that take the time to leave me comments, be patient, your comment will show up soon as I OK it.  I know no one wants to see the spam in the comments either.

Yarnspinner

Spring Cleaning time, means fleece washing time.  

Join me as I talk through the process of converting this fleece straight off the shetland sheep into a beautifully clean fiber, ready to comb or card.

Pictures of everything I talk about are located on my blog, Yarnspinner Tales.

All music today can be found on the podsafe music network.

The Eggerton Boys are back in this show with the appropriate, Bath Time.

Jimmy Nicholas sings The House Cleaning Blues.  His records hang out with over Texas Bluesman at this label.

And the closing surprise piece, was done by these artists.

Hope the show helps you along with any of your spring cleaning chores this month, whether you are washing windows (you do, really?  Can you come to my house?) or fleece.

See you in a couple of weeks for a spin-in show.

It's the month of hearts and pink.  It's still wintery here, but spring is in my heart.  Join me as I sit by the fireplace and spin and talk about my history with the internet.   After all, without this vital interactive web, you would never be able to hear this month's Yarnspinners Tale.

There are other pictures on my blog Yarnspinners.

All music in the podcast came from the podsafe music network. Be sure to go to this and the musicians websites and support them for their generous sharing of music for this podcast.

My Heart by Norman Hedman Tropique provided the toes in the sand feeling.    http://normanhedman.com/

Wren Ross does a song that just made me laugh out loud and I hope you find it just as much fun. You'll recognize the song, but not the words! Her website is http://www.wrenross.com/

The podcast closes with just a modern lovesong in honor of Valentine's Day, The Love Song you Always Wanted.  http://www.deadheartbloom.com/html/news.htm

A big thank you to all that have left comments here, and on my blog.  It truly feels like a gift to read your comments.

Spring will be on it's way by the next podcast, and I think it will be time to open up the windows and get out the dyepots.  I hope you will join me then too.  Until then, happy spinning.

If skirting a fleece makes you think of running to your nearby clothing store, you really need to listen to this spinning podcast.  Find out just how you take a five pound raw fleece and get it ready for the wash.

Today's music found on the podsafe music network, is provided by:

MDL with Acoustic Heart

Tom Smith with Stupid Belated Valentine

The next podcast will be a spin-in, with lots of heart related music in honor of the month of February, as well as some yarnspinnerstales.  See you then, and thanks for listening.

In today's show I talk about two sheep breeds, and lots of snow.

I have added a segment to the spin-in shows to share with the listeners my spinning studies of different breeds of sheep.  This started out as rare breed sheep only, but expanded into just about any breed that I have had a chance to sample fleece.  Today's two breeds are Border Leicester, and Blue Face Leicester.

All music in the show is from the Podsafe music network.

The first musical interlude is Snowfall by Rada Neal.

Snow's No Fun At All is song by the Danny Daughtridge Trio.

Dreams of a Snowman, was used as the musical interlude during yarnspinner's tale, and was provided by: No Plastic Inside.

And TV's Kyle is back again, with Snowball Fight.

The next podcast will be about just how I take that great big fleece from the sheep and sort it in preparation to washing it.

Thanks for listening!

Did you know that angora rabbits come in dyelots?  I talk about this and many other hopefully helpful explanations of how to process and spin that angora fiber you bought (and have stashed forever).

All the music in this podcast is provided by Clare Dowling through the podsafe music network.  She sings with a group known as The Moot, so that is the webpage to which you will be directed.  I featured her and her music in this show, because I am using her song Spinning Wheel, as my opening theme song.  The interludes between parts of the show are from her Acoustic Blues, and the show ends with Misunderstood.

To view the photos I talk about in the podcast please go to my blog.

Next show will be the spin-in for the month, see you then!

Not even a picture of decked out everygreens, jolly fat men dressed in red velvet or winter globe snow scenes.  Not a bit of spinning here, neither fiber nor tales.  Just lots of holiday music which will hopefully add a bit of zing to your holiday MP3 player.  Welcome to the non traditional seating of the holiday manor.

A very big thank you to all of the musicians that allow their music to be shared on this podcast.  All music is from the podsafe music network 

Please visit the musicians websites and buy their music if you like it. It would be like dropping a little something into their Christmas stockings.

Christmas Here on Mars  by Bubble

A Guy Named Nick by Jim Merillat

A Harry Potter Christmas by Joel Kopischke

Joy-Kinda Holidayish by Charlie Crowe

Oh Come All Ye Faithful by Uncle Seth

Robot Ad by PeeperRadio Theater

Ya, You Betcha Christmas by Gary Sundblad

Santa Claus is Freaking Me Out by Lord Weatherby

Carol of the Bells by Admiral Twin

I'll Be Home for Christmas by Twisted Sister

Let It Snow by Winzenried A.K.A. Hollywood Drunks

Socks and Underpants by TV's Kyle 

Santa's Story 06 by Andy Buscemi

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman by Chris Barker

Jingle Jangle by Larry Seyer

Christmas...it's all about traditions, at least in this podcast. Oh were you looking for somthing about spinning?  Well the only thing spun, are two yarnspinners tales, the first about playing with someone else's toys and the second about her Christmas traditions.  To keep with the theme, there is lots of music in, of course, a traditional style.

All music is from the podsafe music network

And because I want to send a big thank you to all the musicians that kindly shared some holiday music for us, here are their website links.  Go and buy some music from them, their landlords will thank you.

The opening song was It's Christmas Time by Bree Noble

Feels Like Christmas is by: Rusty Bladen

Santa is Coming to Town is by: Andy Buscemi

A Round for Christmas is by: Jim Goodrich

Rise up Shepherd and follow is by: Cat Jahnke

Oh Holy Night is by: The New Autonomous Folksingers

And we close with, Carol of the Bells by: thehipcola

If you heard a strong chorus of Hallelujah! it's because I think I have finally worked out a better audio quality for my voice.  I hope you think so too!

 Join me in my barn today, and learn how to harvest the wonderful fiber angora from a rabbit.  And there's a few rabbits in the music hat too! 

Musical interludes in the barn are from:

     Dancing in November  by Monika Herzig

For our music break, we pulled these rabbits out of the hat:

     Run Rabbit/The Chase  by Brain Buckit 

     Bunny Boiler  Pablo Eskimo

And we close with some country bluegrass from the Smithsonian Archives:

     Rabbit in a Log  by The Stanley Brothers

And as always a thank you for my spinning wheel theme song by Clare Dowling.

All music can be found at the podsafe music network

Next month's podcasts will both be mostly music podcasts, set up for your listening whether you find time to spin, or knit on those have to be done by Christmas socks.  Talk to you then!