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!

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!

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!

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!

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! 

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

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

 Setting up a charkha and spinning

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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!

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!

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.

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. 

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!

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.

Yarnspinner

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

Grab your favorite spinning tool and fiber and join me as I spin some yarn, and tell you a few yarnspinners tales. And of course, play music, lots of wonderful autumnal type music all to be found at the Podsafe Music Network.

Check out the following artists and their music: their spouses will thank you!

Spinning My Wheels by Dan Montgomery

Cheetham Hill by Junction Pool

Autumn Colors by Ritchie Hernandez

Autumn by Quinn

Autumn Leaves by Egerton Boyz

With special thanks to Clare Dowling for her Spinning Song used as my Intro.

Join me on my front porch and listen to my detailed explaination of how I use base held large combs for making top from  Shetland wool.  Then enjoy some Halloween music from the Podsafe music network, while either trying your own combing, or just enjoying the music.

A few pictures of the combing process have been posted on my Oct 27th entry of my blog.

All podsafe music used can be found here.

Websites for the musicians in the podcast are:

Well I Wouldn't Call them Demon by DeepSeaDust

Frankenstein's in the Mood by Beau Hall

Halloween by The Coffinshakers

Halloween is Awesome by Hyper Nonsense

And special thanks to Clare Dowling for her Spinning Song used as my Intro music.

Join me in several weeks for a spin along, as I light a fire in my living room fireplace, and talk and spin on one of my wheels.  See you then!

The next and official first episode of Yarnspinners Tales will be about combing fiber with large pitch combs.  So grab your combs and fiber and join me.

All music in this podcast is from the Podsafe Music Network. If you liked what you heard, go to the website and support the musicians.  Their spouses will thank you!

Special thanks to Clare Dowling  for her song Spinning Wheel, my intro theme song.

Refrigerator Blues by 77South

Cyndi by Podcast Troubadour

Goodbye Time by Bluesman Tom Malafarina