When it comes to slow crafts, like spinning yarn, weaving, knitting, and the like, plans take a much longer view than we modern people are usually used to! Since I’ve been spinning year, especially, I view my work and processes in seasons.
Dyers Garden!
Spring is the only month you can do one task a number of modern spinners do, and all spinners did long ago: planting a dyers gardens!
It’s true that you can use foraged plant materials. Here in NY we have golden rod whether we like it or not! And there are a number of “weeds” that make wonderful dye materials. In our area we have black walnut, goldenrod, and pokeberry growing in our hedges and fields, as well as others.
But for those wanting specific colors in natural dyes, spring is the time to plan and plant!
This year I was able to get some plant starts from Goldenrod Fiber Studio! I got Dyers Coreopsis, Weld, and Madder. I’m not planning on doing a ton of dying this year, but a dyers garden is something I’ve really been wanting to start – and these are great ones to start with! The Coreopsis should self seed and the madder needs time to build up its root system (the roots are ground up to make dye materials) and the weld was an impulse buy!
Next up in our Spinners Year is Wash Day
Warm spring days are just perfect for washing wool!
Most years I have been out washing raw fleece, but this year I am focusing on weaving and woodworking- and I just don’t have time for everything! But I kept tradition alive with a nice outdoor wet finishing one morning.
It’s always a fun reason to use the antique wringer, and I like to think drying skeins on the line in the breeze and the sunshine injects them with a little magic.
Another Spring Special – Fiber Fests
It’s true that Fiber Fests are an all year event. But for us in the vendor circuit, and especially in the colder areas, warmer weather means festival season!
I had one Fiber Fest in April, and perhaps my biggest this year will be the CNY Fiber Fest will be in June. There’s a whole lot of industry going on around here! Between spindle making, testing, booth set up testing, and some rather frantic weaving to keep up with my weaving goals this year – it’s a whole lot!
But perhaps the most fun, is just to visit!
Spinning, Spinning, Always Spinning!
Spring is a world of new things, but there are also constants – and for spinners that’s spinning!
Both modern and historically speaking, spinners spin all the year through. There’s really never enough yarn! And other than smaller breaks for dying or washing, and bigger breaks for knitting, crocheting, or weaving – there’s always more spinning to do!
Wool Sourcing
Another thing that is really booming in spring, is shearing and lambs and all things sheep!
Spring is the best time of year to source raw fleeces, and shepherds are often eager to sell off the wool left over from last years shearing.
Not to mention meeting all the local wool suppliers from shepherds to dyers at fiber fests!
This is my haul from Shepherds Wool Market in Rush NY, that’s a regular in early May.
Not shown is fiber from another local farm I’m considering for our Viking Kits!
Making Plans
Between dying and fiber sourcing, attending fiber fests and spinning – it’s always best to have a project in mind!
I made a plan to weave a seasonal inspired scarf every month this year using hand spun weft yarns, and I’m moving right along with that goal!
Having plans and goals help me make sure I have what I need when the time comes to use it, and helps me make choices with confidence.
Although! Other years I’ve just created as the spirit led and that was also very fun!
There’s just something about spring that lends itself to thinking about the future.
Spring is also my favorite season, and I’m so glad there are still some weeks left! We are deep into graduation and wedding season at our house, which is starting to slow down already, and then it’s back into weaving and making spindles!
Here’s to finishing up spring with lots of wooly goodness in beautiful spring colors!
Happy spinning,
Ann
The Apple Creek Farm 
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