Spindle spinning is fascinating, Using a wheel may be much faster when comes to actually producing yarn. But using a spindle is a great way to start. It’s portable. And it’s cheap. It can be so cheap! It’s basically just a stick with a weight attached. This was an exercise in 2 things Make a…
DetailsThe Somerset Levels couldn’t be more of a contrast to the soft, rolling hills and valleys of West Dorset. And sometimes a change is as good as a rest. On a warm, sunny holiday weekend it’s a great place for an early morning explore, heading inland when most people are making for the coast. Less…
DetailsLyme Regis is no stranger to being used as a film location. Here we go again. This time it’s the backdrop to the story of Mary Anning, an early 19th century fossil hunting pioneer who lived in the town. ‘Ammonite’ boasts a star studded cast, including Kate Winslet and Soarsie Ronan. So there’s been a…
DetailsSpinning, dyeing and weaving has taken over the cottage! Part of this take over, as mentioned in another recent spinning, dyeing and weaving post, is what came to be known as the ‘Project’. The aim was to take raw fleece through all the processes, to end up with a finished textile item – a scarf.…
DetailsLanhydrock is a late Victorian Gothic pile deep, deep down in the West Country, near Bodmin in Cornwall. But turns out it’s an easy drive from West Dorset along the A30 (at least it is out of season), skirting the top of Dartmoor and going across Bodmin Moor. The main reason for visiting Lanhydrock is…
DetailsSpinning, dyeing and weaving are taking over. Looking back, it’s only been a little over a year since the first spinning wheel came into the cottage and a less than a year when it comes to looms. But looking around the other day and there was fleece and yarn at various stages of processing everywhere.…
DetailsTablet weaving or card weaving is ancient and low tech. It produces narrow bands that are strong and decorative, used for belts, straps and trimmings. Ever curious to try out new techniques, this is just a little dabble. As the name suggests it uses tablets or cards. These tablets have a hole at each corner…
DetailsLast year was a year of discovery, venturing into the world of weaving. It started with the purchase of two vintage looms (read about all that here). Weaving is both beautifully simple and complex. There has been a lot of experimentation.Learning through trial and error. This post is an update on progress so far. The…
DetailsRag Rug Making – well it’s been quite a while since there’s been much of that around here. But after a frenzy of yarn dyeing and sock making leading up to Christmas there was time in that limbo over the ‘holiday’ period to finally get down to it in a big way. So there is…
DetailsChristmas Stockings – well they have to be red don’t they! And when it comes to natural dyeing nothing does red like cochineal. Cochineal is expensive, it always has been. Highly prized for centuries as producing the best reds for textile dyeing. When it arrived in Europe following the Spanish conquest of Mexico it was…
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