something probably goes here.

Farmer. Museum educator. often found elbow deep in experimental archaeology or living history demos.

[zooarchaeologyatdinner]

Following on from @swords-n-spindles 's discussion of The Pile (which. Yes, all of what you said about unfinished projects and their drain on us. Yes.) this year I also want to prioritize either finishing or cancelling projects that are hanging over my head. In part because of that weight, and in part because there are new skills I want to learn that I've been holding off on because of a feeling of I've already got too much happening.

I'm not counting 'patterns I own and want to make someday' in this project, but I am counting 'projects I have some or all of the physical materials for even if I haven't started them yet'. Does this mean my fibre stash is a problem? Yes; it's bigger than I could spin in a year if I did no other craft. But also that's why I want to go through it. It's too big and parts of it are no longer bringing me joy.

Am I going to get rid of it all? No; working on uncomplicated spinning is -really good- for my mental health. So is knitting, weaving, cross stitch, mending, all handwork.

And so back to the theme of lifting weight off my mind.

This is my challenge to myself for the year: Prioritize, wherever possible, spending some time every day addressing The WIPs Pile.

Some of it's going to be fun and easy. Some of it's probably going to be hard. It'll be good.

[annaszemete]

Folyamatábra

[floweringglass]

Little bouquet

[affreca]

Took the trailer to my favorite campground, and did some spinning in the morning before heading out on a rail trail on the bike. So took advantage of the scenery to photograph my spinning.

[fiberbug]

doing more destashing :)

[deuceofgears-deactivated2025121]

Today's emotional support spinning WIP: IxChel's Guanaco blend (Guanaco 60%, Mulga Silk 25%, Cashmere 12%, Angora Bunny 3%). Fountain pen for ~scale, not integral to the spinning process!

[ezekiellsplayground]

Little video of processing the Swedish Helsinge lamb fleece. Helsinge is a heritage breed known for it’s double coat - the inner coat (thel) is super soft and warm, whilst the outer coat (tog) is coarser and shiny. The different properties of the tog & thel make each more suited for certain applications (ie use thel for something warm and toasty for next to skin, & use tog for outwear that needs to endure weather or abraison). To separate the coats you use double tine combs and comb away until all the strong fibers are aligned so the tog can be dized out leaving the thel caught between the tines.

[this-is-now-cannon]

Hey, fellow textile art folk, remember to gently straighten your neck, and get a drink before going back to work. It's always for the best to remember that you'll get more frustrated if you're dehydrated, from my experience. Also you're doing good.

[the-merry-otter]

Hais

“Take fine dry bread, or biscuit, and grind up well. Take a ratl of this, and three quarters of a ratl of fresh or preserved dates with the stones removed, together with three uqiya of ground almonds and pistachios. Knead all together very well with the hands. Refine two uqiya of sesame-oil, and pour over, working with the hand until it is mixed in. Make into cabobs, and dust with fine-ground sugar. If desired, instead of sesame-oil use butter. This is excellent for travellers.”

2 2/3 c bread crumbs 2 c (about one lb) pitted dates 1/3 c ground almonds 1/3 c ground pistachios 7 T melted butter or sesame oil enough sugar

“We usually mix dates, bread crumbs, and nuts in a food processor or blender. For "cabobs," roll into one inch balls. Good as caravan food (or for taking to wars). They last forever if you do not eat them, but you do so they don't.”

Source: Cariadoc's Miscallany

[ancientknitter]

Pattern Book (Germany, 1760 CE) Collection of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Weaver's thesis book or manuscript of 200 patterns on 157 leaves executed in pen and ink. Patterns for weaving and embroidery with inscriptions. Geometric, floral, and animal designs.

[snowleopardcatdragon]

I think I’m getting the hang of this spinning wheel.

Look at all the yarn I spun! It certainly is much faster than the drop spindle. Mostly because I don’t have to stop every couple feet to wind the cop.

[cabinet-of-crafts]

I took my spindle to the park today

The fiber is peruvian wool from All The Pretty Fibers, I love how the colour matches the leaves

[glaciart]

The sun is setting...

I admit I got a bit bored only spinning undyed wool when such pretty things are sitting in my stash...

It's only 100g, but this will take a long time to finish.

Its my first time spinning merino, too!

[deuceofgears-deactivated2025121]

Today's emotional support spinning WIP, IxChel's Viva Frida Churro Agave Blend (Navajo Churro Sheep 70%, Agave Cactus Fibres 20%, Cashmere 5%, Angora Bunny 5%). I don't know why I'm surprised this spins like ramie (although I'm not wet-spinning as I would with ramie). It likes to be spun quite fine! Curious as to how this will finish as a two-ply, destined for weft yarn in the Unending Janky Weaving Project of Doom.

[dangerphd]

3D printed and sanded with a 220 grit block.

[dilatorysloth]

The spinning wheel do be functioning now! I'm very pleased to have restored it from wonky broken unfinished homebuilt second hand store cheap thing of a wheel :') used one of my least favoured rovings (it had very clear pale mossy greens and oranges along majority of the roving in the photos but what arrived, well. Not so much.) Merino, silk, bamboo, and tweed fluff.

For a first try on tried to restore wheel, and haven't touched a wheel at all for well over a decade, I'm more than happy ^^

With only one bobbin, plying by spindle is the thing x'p 98 grams, plus a few grams of random tufts of... whatever happened when I tried adjusting the wheel to function.

[allonsybadwolf]

Seafoam gradient, merino wool, dyed by me, spun in January '24 🌊