My latest free project for Schacht Spindle Co. has been published. While the project isn't one of my favorites, the topic certainly is. Sett.
 
There is a lack of helpful information on recommended sett for knitting yarns. Plus there are no right answers for what sett is the correct sett for any yarn. It's all about what you want your outcome to be. Many weavers poo-poo knitting yarns as an option when weaving, quick to point out what makes them unsuitable and generally less cost effective for weaving. But as many a rigid heddle weaver will tell you, knitting yarns offer up some wonderfully creative options, and heck yeah you can weave with them. And if cost is a concern? I always check out the sale bins at yarn shops to pick up some unique additions to my stash. Often you can find one or two skeins of something wonderful at a discount.
 

Well I was going to do a nice little write up about Schacht Spindle Company's 40th anniversary contest and celebration, but the lovely and incomparable Beth Smith decided to do it for me (scroll past Miley to get to the good stuff). If you are a spinner and/or a weaver and you don't know Beth, well here are a few reasons why you should:
 
1. The Spinning Loft - This is my favorite place to buy beautiful fleeces, and right now Beth is having a sale, and I spent an entire month's paycheck. True story. 
 
2. This washing and spinning of fine wool article inspired me to make my own version of the tulle washing gizmo. In fact my love of the raw fleece is all thanks to Beth, brilliant spinner and enabler and Margaret Russell, brilliant weaver, fellow guild member and writer of the rare breeds column in Wild Fibers Magazine. Subscribe. It's fiber-y eye candy and excellent writing.
 
3. Her fantastic spinning videos. Beth's videos are 3-D. Ok. Not really. But it feels that way.
 
4. I saw her latest knittyspin design in person. It's lovely. 
 
5. And she wrote this awesome article about longwools and lace spinning.
 
6. She sells spinning fiber kits that contain a few ounces of several different breeds in one handy box. This is seriously the best way to get to know your fiber animals. The super fiber sampler contains 18 different breeds! 
 
OK, so I could go on and on about Beth and her overall brilliance, but don't take my word for it, check her out for yourself.

With a grandbaby on the the way and not wanting to be out of town, Jane asked if I would help (wo)man the Schacht booth at TNNA. This meant that I would be reunited with my fabulous pal Stephanie and get to scope out the latest and greatest in yarn. Um, yes please.
 
So off I went to Columbus, Ohio. Cool town from what little I have seen the two times I have been there. We were so busy, we barely had time to walk the show floor. My very favorite discovery was the Artemis/Hanah Silk booth. They hand dye silk ribbon in the most amazing colors and color combinations you can imagine. Plus, the gal who does the dyeing was there, and she was a real sweetheart. Ivy Brambles had some beautifully dyed yarns, and they are a stone's throw away in New Hampshire. I like local. My love of The Fibre Company yarns was also reaffirmed. Art Yarns has an achingly soft cashmere yarn. They source it from Italy and dye it themselves, and I wanted to take one of every color home.