Free Spinning Projects

Handspun Gallery of Button-Up Neck Warmers

Amy Clarke Moore — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:00:43 GMT

In the Summer 2009 issue of Spin-Off we published Mavis Adam's Button-Up Neck Warmer pattern and issued a call for entries--here are the results!

Horseshoe Cap

Amy Clarke Moore — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:01:27 GMT

Enjoy this free pattern by Janet Wray. If you're happy with your handspun version, consider submitting it to our call for entries! Reader versions of the Horseshoe Cap will be featured in the Summer 2010 issue of Spin-Off's Handspun Gallery.

To download the pattern, please click on the green download button on the righthand side of the screen.

Quant by Star Athena

stefanie berganini — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:06:00 GMT

Star Athena first published her Quant pattern in the Winter 2007 issue of Knitty.com. Many spinners fell in love with this entrelac pattern that uses about 2 ounces and about 200 yards of yarn. It is a great pattern for showing off hand-dyed fiber and handspun yarn.

A handspun gallery of Quants is featured in the Summer 2009 issue of Spin-Off.

Spindle-Spun Singles Shrug by Liz Gipson

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:00:46 GMT

There is an old saying that spinning on a spindle is slower by the hour, but faster by the day. A simple, portable tool, the handspindle, allows you to spin whenever you find a spare moment, so, I never leave home without one. This shrug is a perfect first project for practicing spindle spinning. Each stripe of the versatile garment—it can also be worn as a neck or head scarf—is about a spindle’s worth of yarn. Knitted lengthwise in alternating stripes of garter, seed, and stockinette stitch, it is as fun to make as it is to wear.

Ruffled Legwarmers by Sandi Wiseheart

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:58:33 GMT

Fun and feminine, these flirty legwarmers made with handpainted yarn are simply to dye for. Knit the ruffled version for nights on the town or make a pair without ruffles for everyday wear.

Hannah's Onesie by Amy Clarke Moore

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:56:32 GMT

My husband, Kelly, and I decided to turn our heat down by about 10 degrees in response to the increased gas bill. I don’t mind bundling up with sweaters to keep warm, but my nine-month-old daughter, Hannah, was getting frustrated because she couldn’t move around freely when she was all bundled up. So I decided to make her a little body vest that would keep her warm but allow her mobility as she’s exploring her world, learning how to roll over and crawl. I used my handspun yarn because I wanted her to be wrapped up in warm, soft wool that had been lovingly handcrafted.

Fulled Bag with Slot Handles by Jana Trent

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:53:44 GMT

This bag is worked without shaping from the top edge to the center bottom. The tapered shape is entirely due to shaping by hand after the bag is fulled. You can knit stripes, or incorporate novelty yarns as you knit, or embellish the bag after fulling. Yarn quantities specified here will make a medium-sized bag. The bag on Spin-Off’s cover was knitted with two strands of millspun Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride worsted-weight.

The circumference may be varied by adding or subtracting cast-on stitches in multiples of four. Keep the marked corner stitches consistent with the pattern— that is, the eighth stitch on either side of a side marker. Bag height may also be varied; additional yarn will be required for larger bags. Make a gauge swatch and note the length and width, then full it following the directions on page 3. Measure the swatch after it has been fulled to determine the amount of shrinkage you can expect from your yarn.

Domino-Knitted Tea Cozy by Carol Huebscher Rhoades

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:51:31 GMT

I originally made a cozy for my small (four-cup) Brown Betty teapot with commercially- spun jumper-weight Shetland yarn. When I received a gift of hand-dyed, carded, and gilled Romney slivers from Mary Knox in New Zealand, I knew it would go toward a handspun version of that cozy. The colors were almost identical to those in the original.

Spinning for the domino-knitted cozy was easy because the gilled rovings were so well prepared. I spun each color with a short forward draw on my Schacht wheel at a 9:1 ratio and plied with an 11:1 ratio.

The cozy starts with a ring of dominoknitted squares that fits around the teapot. Shaping and fit are achieved by adjusting the number of squares in a round. To finish, half triangles are knitted to fill in the spaces along the bottom of the cozy. If desired, the cozy can be lined by picking up stitches along the bottom and knitting the lining with decreases as needed to match the shape of the outside.

Chunky Rib Scarf by Liz Gipson

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:48:46 GMT

Beginning spinners often want smooth, uniform yarn that resembles the yarn their teacher makes or the yarns featured in books and magazines. Instead, the new spinner typically churns out wads of lumpy, bumpy yarn. Don’t despair! This rib scarf is a perfect project to show off your first handspun yarn in all its inconsistent glory! In fact, in a few years, you may be struggling to recreate this “designer” yarn.

Bouclé Shrug by Liz Gipson

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:47:34 GMT

Here is a simple dip-dyeing method that gives you three colors in one skein of yarn and a perfect project with which to show it off. This dyeing method allows you to dye large amounts of yarn quickly. I used Cushing Acid dye because it comes in a variety of colors so you don't have to mix your own.

Andean-Style Headband by Kaye Collins

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:45:49 GMT

Because paco-vicuña fiber is so soft, I wanted to make something that could be worn against the skin. The color-stranded designs used so often in Pitumarca, Peru (the Andean village I visited in the spring of 2000), seemed well suited for a headband. Carrying both yarns together makes the piece thick and warm while the softness of the yarn makes the headband very comfortable.

Like alpaca fiber, paco-vicuña fiber has a long staple length and a smooth outer surface. These aspects allow the fibers to align easily during preparation and spinning, and often result in a worsted yarn. I like to encourage the woolen aspects in my yarn by adding air and softness.

Feminine Mittens by Amanda Berka

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:02:19 GMT

To capitalize on the distinct texture of the stitch pattern, a smooth solid yarn is recommended—but with all the fabulous dyed fibers available, we won’t fault you for experimenting with both color and texture.

Guanaco and Vicuña Lace Fingerless Gloves

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:36:13 GMT

Wild guanacos and vicuñas are both beautiful and graceful. They produce some of the finest fibers in the world. It is fitting to knit a light and lacy garment to honor their elegance. These open-fingered gloves are not only decorative but also warm. Learn more about spinning guanaco and vicuña fibers in the Winter 2008 issue of Spin-Off.

Easy Striped Baby Cap

Spin-Off — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:33:11 GMT

Using unspun rolags to knit is a great introduction to spinning—carding and drafting fiber are some of the first steps in learning how to spin. See Carol’s article in the Winter 2008 issue of Spin-Off to learn more of the fundamentals of preparing rolags for knitting.