How to Spin Yarn Blog by Ashley Martineau, Author Spinning and Dyeing Yarn

Learn to Ply Yarn at the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool Fair 2015!

2015-04-27T18:29:00.000-04:00

I am teaching a plying class Saturday May 23rd (11am - 2pm) at the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool Festival! You can find more information on their website http://www.masheepwool.org/workshops.html It's only $30! Join us for a fun day of coiling and twisting and wear your yarn for the rest of the day!

Only 3 more days until my next LIVE Spin-In on YouTube! I will be spinning my favorite yarn and asking you about your favorites. I'm working on activities and games to play as well. It will be a fun night! If you can't make it, the video will be available on YouTube after the broadcast. The time of that will be from 9pm - 11pm EST (Boston time).

At the end of my LIVE event I'll be drawing the winner of my Spinning and Dyeing Yarn Book Giveaway! You can enter the Giveaway on the blog post below at www.handspunartyarn.com. Sam already autographed one of the pages very delicately, so it's an extra special copy.

Happy Spinning!

- AM

Spinning and Dyeing Yarn - Autographed Book Giveaway!

2015-04-20T10:53:00.002-04:00

Spinning by the Pond

2015-04-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

My inlaws in CT have a beautiful piece of property with a quiet pond that is perfect for spinning yarn. One of my favorite features of the SpinOlution Firefly is the portability. I love that I don't even need to pack along a chair, I can literally sit and spin anywhere with a beautiful ambience. None of the other electric wheels on the market have the big bobbin & open orifice that I love - so with these three factors combined (big bobbin, open orifice, portable) I think I've finally found the perfect wheel for me.

I completed the SpinOlution Bobbin Challenge!

2015-04-19T20:53:00.001-04:00

Online Spin Along at howtospinyarn.com

2015-04-16T10:03:00.000-04:00

Last night I hosted a free Online Spin Along on my video channel howtospinyarn.com. We spun a Gratitude Yarn together, and it was really fun! I've decided to try to do these spin-alongs about once a month. So the next one is scheduled for Thursday, April 30th from 9:00pm - 11:00pm EST (Boston Time).

Please join the event on Facebook so you can get the link to the Spin-Along when the event goes LIVE on April 30th!

https://www.facebook.com/events/387197974786686/

And here is the video from our first Spin Along! If you spin a gratitude yarn please tag your photos on Facebook and Instagram with #gratitudeyarn so we can see each other's finished works! Happy Spinning!

Sam & Josephine

2015-04-10T18:45:00.000-04:00

Side by Side Comparison of the Ashford Country Spinner and SpinOlution Firefly

2015-04-06T21:52:00.000-04:00

Spinning Yarn & Baby Wearing

2015-04-05T22:50:00.000-04:00

It doesn't get any better than this.

Purchase a SpinOlution Firefly in my ETSY Shop

2015-04-04T21:19:00.000-04:00

I have added the SpinOlution Firefly to my ETSY shop if you'd like to purchase one. They are available with 8 oz, 16 oz, and 32 oz setup. They are also available with 1 Bobbin or 3 Bobbins. You can purchase the Package Deal which includes both 8 oz & 32 oz Setups and all the Accessories you'll need. Happy Spinning!

Josephine Photobomb.

2015-04-03T18:42:00.000-04:00

Firefly Package Deal

2015-04-02T18:12:00.000-04:00

SpinOlution Echo - Limited Package Deal

2015-04-01T18:17:00.000-04:00

For a Limited Time SpinOlution is offering a DEAL on their Echo Wheel! This package of the economical "Echo" wheel base with 16 oz Flyer & Three 16 oz Bobbins is the perfect alternative to the original Country Spinner wheel which isn't being manufactured anymore. If you have any questions, or if you'd like to order please visit my shop or send me an email. Happy Spinning!

How to Spin Yarn on an Ashford Country Spinner - YouTube Playlist

2015-03-31T17:59:00.000-04:00

Creativity Exercise - Get Out of a Color Rut!

2015-03-30T15:45:00.000-04:00

Are you finding yourself using the same fiber and yarn colors over, and over in your projects? Stuck in a world of 50 shades of purple? When was the last time you tried using orange? Are you finding yourself becoming bored with same color syndrome?

Here are some ideas for getting you out of that color rut and into a world of new creative possibilities!

Click here to Read More.

How to Repair a Broken Yarn when Plying

2015-03-29T08:19:00.000-04:00

How to Autowrap using a Hook Orifice on a SpinOlution Firefly

2015-03-28T08:47:00.000-04:00

Hook orifices (and delta orifices) are a nightmare to autowrap on. If you've ever tried it, your thread will get wrapped all over the orifice and even throw itself around the flyer if you aren't careful! Here are two techniques you can use to prevent that from happening.

Free Online Spinning Lessons by Ashley Martineau

2015-03-27T18:38:00.000-04:00

I'm so pleased to be creating again. I took a long break after writing a book and getting fiber art burnout. I savored the baby days with Sam, who is now a fun and brilliant toddler. I got pregnant with Josephine about a year ago, and she is a happy quiet light in our home. I love being a mom, and I am so excited to see them grow in their own talents and interests.

Now I'm spinning with a new wheel, a SpinOlution Firefly. She has all the features that I love in a wheel, plus she's portable. I love being able to store her on top of my piano when the kids are up, and taking her down during naptime. I have a feeling another SpinOlution wheel will be on the way soon, but I'm not sure which one.

I've been working with the SpinOlution brand to improve their marketing and website. It's been a really fun project - website programming and graphic design is really fun for me. So you may see me on their YouTube channel doing demos of their products and making tutorials for their wheels. You can purchase SpinOlution products in my ETSY shop, or you can find a local dealer on their website. No sales pressure here. I just love the product.

I've been spinning since 2003, and spun on the same wheel (Ashford Country Spinner) for 12 of those years. It was time for a change, a renewal. New presence, new wheel, new videos, new ideas. I'm tired of creating behind a logo and a business name. So "Neauveau Fiber Arts" will slowly fade into the past and I'll just be known as me.

Looking forward to teaching you how to spin yarn!

Happy Spinning!

Ashley Martineau

Plying at Top Speed on the SpinOlution Firefly with One Hand

2015-03-27T08:17:00.002-04:00

The SpinOlution Firefly

2015-03-26T08:46:00.002-04:00

What to do with Accidentally Felted Wool

2015-03-25T15:43:00.000-04:00

I've totally been there. Forgot I was washing a fleece in the washing machine and the cycle continued and when I finally remembered I had a hard matt of wool with no plans on how to use it.

After some brainstorming I came up with some possible ideas to upcycle that felted fleece (or top, or roving) into some cool crafty works of art!

Click Here to Read More.

Choosing a Drum Carder: 4 Questions to Ask Before you Buy

2015-03-18T15:32:00.000-04:00

A drum carder is a big investment for many spinners, and with all the options out there it's overwhelming to try to decide what carder is the best choice for you. Here are questions to ask yourself to narrow down your search! Click on the picture below to read more.

Click to Read this blog I wrote on Craftsy!

http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2015/02/choosing-drum-carder/

My new wheel just arrived!

2015-03-16T18:43:00.000-04:00

Free Baby Leggings Knitting Pattern

2015-03-13T15:47:00.000-04:00

FREE for you! Check out this free pattern + tutorial for knitting cozy baby leggings, using intuitive knitting techniques. Simply follow the measurements, including sizes newborn and child.

Click Here to Read More

SpinOlution Bobbin Sizes, Measurements, and Wheel Compatibility

2015-03-11T18:09:00.000-04:00

Coming Soon: A New Spinning Wheel

2015-03-11T15:28:00.000-04:00

After Spinning on an original Ashford Country Spinner since 2003, I am finally adding a second wheel to my collection! These are the features I'm totally excited about:

Portability
Great for Teaching
2 pound (32 oz) Bobbin Capacity
Big orifice

Guess what I'm getting in the comments box below! And here's a video I made about my new wheel.