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Three Main Types of Woven Fabric

The three main types of woven fabric are: plain weave, twill, and satin weave. All other weave structures are variations of the three …
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Handspun and Hand-knitted Hickory-dyed Lace Tunic

How I made my Wool Lace Tunic from Start to Finish Making things from scratch is so rewarding! So, when I crafted my lace tunic a few years ago, I intended experience every aspect of …
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Vicuna Wool – the Golden Fleece

Vicuna is an ancestor of alpaca and the smallest undomesticated camelid living in the Central Andes of South America. Vicuna is known for the exceptionally fine, soft, and warm wool …
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Kerry Hill Sheep

Originated in Powys county of Wales, Kerry Hill sheep are excellent farm animals producing medium-to-soft fleece and even great as pets …
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Romney Sheep

Origin and a little history of Romney sheep breed. Characteristics of the animal and its wool from the perspective of a farmer and a spinner …
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Perendale Sheep

History of Perendale Sheep Perendale sheep. The Perendale breed was one of the numerous achievements of Sir Geoffrey Peren, the professor, the Principle, and the Chair of Agriculture at Massey Agricultural College. The school later …
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Yarn & Fabric Types by Content

Two fabric types classified by content are natural and synthetic. See summary tables of fiber & fabric classification based on material type …
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Glossary of Spinning Terms

TermDescriptionBattA wide, rolled-up bundle of carded fleece that unrolls into a blanket.BenchA table of the spinning wheel on which the wheel and spinning mechanism are mountedBulkWool’s filling power or “bounce” is the volume occupied by …
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Open Cast On

Open cast-on, aka provisional or invisible cast-on, is the type of cast-on that produces unfastened stitches that will unravel whenever possible …
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E-Wrap Cast On

In machine knitting, e-wrap (aka e-loop) is a type of cast-on in which the yarn is wrapped around each needle counterclockwise forming loops that look like a lower case letter “e” …
Image: E-wrap cast on with an anchor

E-Wrap Cast On with an Anchor

E-wrap cast on with an anchor helps avoid flaws of the regular e-wrap cast on. This method saves time and gives a professional look …
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Crochet Cast On

Crochet cast on is a simple way to create a neat and even border using crochet hook or a latch tool on a flatbed knitting machine …
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Key Points in Sewing Pattern Making

Mode, material, and measurements are the three basic concepts (3 Ms) of pattern making …
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Kitchen Design Mistakes and Solutions

Kitchen design mistakes, such as protruding fridge, inadequate lighting, low cabinets, trendy kitchens, and a wrong layout can be corrected …
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Crochet Abbreviations, Definitions, and Explanations

A master list of the most common crochet abbreviations with descriptions and explanations: reference for beginners and advanced crocheters …
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Master List of Knitting Abbreviations

A sortable and searchable table of abbreviations and acronyms used by hand and machine knitters. A US based master list …
Image: Bodice pattern

How to to Draft a Basic Bodice Pattern (Sloper) Quickly and Efficiently

How many times have you drafted a bodice pattern following instructions, only to have your head spinning at the end of this project and still not understanding how you got there? I’ve done it too …
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Knitting Needle Size Conversion Chart

A chart of knitting needle sizes in millimeters and their corresponding codes used in the US, UK, and Canada. If you are not sure what size needle should be used for your yarn, this rule …
Side slant pocket

How to Make Side Slant Pockets: A Comprehensive Tutorial

Step-by-step tutorial on how to make side slant pockets. These pockets are very comfortable, and fit the hand naturally …
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Sari Silk Pillow Fashioned on a Rigid Heddle Loom: Part I

Cotton lace embellished sari silk pillow features handwoven pillowcase using silk fabric and a mercerized cotton …
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Sari Silk Pillow Fashioned on a Rigid Heddle Loom: Part II

Sari silk pillow woven with mercerized cotton yarn and embellished with cotton lace. It can be decorative or used for added comfort …
Image: Lace alpaca cowl

Hoof to Hanger: How Alpaca Fleece Becomes Clothing

The steps include: alpaca sheering; skirting or removal of debris; scouring (washing) fleece; dyeing fleece; pocking; carding or combing fleece; spinning and plying yarn; washing yarn; knitting garment or weaving; blocking …
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Alpaca Festival in Sierra Vista

Alpaca festival at the local Alpaca ranch celebrates natural lpaca, Angora goat and rabbit fibers, fleece process, natural wool yarns and garments …
Image: Wool rugged mittens

White-and-Blue Romney Wool Rugged Mittens

A step-by-step transformation of the fleece into a pair of mittens: spinning, plying, making skeins, washing, drying, and finally knitting …
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