A Happy Little Detour: From Bobbins to Yarn Balls

I was just going to try something. That's how it starts. You have an idea and decide to see if it'll work then BOOM you're on and unexpected journey. I saw someone spinning yarn with a spindle made from a spool and thought hmm, that might be a great way to spin cotton. Yes, of…

A Maker’s Journal: Knitting a Handspun Cotton Tee

Once I get inspired to work with a particular material or technique I have to keep going at it until something else grabs my attention. This past summer I was given the opportunity to share my point of view on spinning and knitting cotton. Oh my! In three weeks I ended up designing and knitting…

My Stash: Am I Busting or Building?

I have been spinning a lot of yarn lately. A lot. Now a sane crafter would be telling herself "Good job, see you may buy a lot of craft supplies  but at least you're producing", "Look at all of that yarn you've spun, one day soon your  fiber and yarn stash will be reasonable. Nope not…

2014 Cotton Finale

It's been a long growing season (February to November). My 2014 northern Indiana cotton crop is finally in.  This year I tried a few different things in hopes of increasing my yield, like well, planting twice as many plants and fertilizing. It didn't work. I did not get as much as last year . This probably should…

Update:2014 Indiana Cotton Crop

I am still obsessed with the idea of growing my own fiber for spinning and weaving. Living on a small city lot leaves me few options. Sheep  won't work  here and flax needs special tools to process. Last year I was given a single cotton boll with seeds intact. I planted them in my kitchen that February. They grew!! Read…

Yes, I made this too: Simplicity 2444, Simplicty 3877, Lutterloh 87

Last week was our pastor's 6th anniversary and there was a week long celebration. Each day a different color was chosen for all to wear to the festivities. Ah, yes! the perfect excuse to make stuff. I didn't have a coral or a blue dress to wear so I decided to challenge myself to make them. All week…

Cotton Seeds Sown, They know what to do

Last year I planted my first cotton seeds in my kitchen one frigid February, Indiana winter day. View Post. It was a lot of fun to watch the plants mature. I learned so much and at the end of it all I had useful fiber. It took me a while to get around to spinning…

Ready to Spin

I finally got my cotton crop ready to spin. I carded it with my cotton cards and rolled it into punis. Now it's time to get some yarn spun up. No more excuses.