Ask Jillian January 2025
Ask Jillian! Eleanor from Ithaca, New York asks, “How do you get yourself to practice other styles and structures of yarn? I learn to do something new and then just go back to my default yarn. I want to make new yarns! “
Author Archive for: Jillian
Entries by Jillian Moreno
Desert Island Spinning: 3 Small Tools
If you were stranded and limited to only three small spinning tools, what would you choose? What are the tools you can’t live without, at least this week? I have never grown out of playing ‘what if’ games. It’s just fun and I always want to know what other people would choose. I will add […]
My Favorite Way to Get Spinning Done
It seems like at the beginning of the new year every spinner I know has the goal of spinning more. Me included! This year I want to spin 10 new-to-me-dyers and make 12 things for myself (some handspun some not). I have a favorite trick to get myself to spin more, it works for me […]
A PLY-ing Giveaway!
UPDATE: We have a winner! Chris P check your email! Woo-hoo it’s a fiber giveaway! My article about plying with color in the new issue of PLY was so much fun to write! My favorite part was spinning and knitting the samples, there are so many options it’s hard to stop. I know when […]
Where Did My Mojo Go?
In the words of Lucinda Williams, ” I think I lost it Let me know if you come across it Let me know if I let it fall Along a back road somewhere…” My spinning, knitting and fiber mojo has left the building. I think about doing things, I make plans to do things, I […]
Spinning at the Hardware Store
I love a good hardware store as much as I love a good book store. I can wander for hours exclaiming over all the doodads. There are so many things that can be used for other purposes, including spinning tools. I have four hardware store tools that I use for spinning that I wouldn’t want […]
Spinning Confession: I Write On My Bobbins
Yes, you read that right. I take a brand new piece of equipment that costs between $30 & $50 and write on it. With a Sharpie. And it keeps me sane. My spinning tools are just that, tools that I use to make yarn. It took me a long time to finally break down […]
Hand Prepping the Itch – All the Mistakes
I am not a very patient person. I think that’s one of the reasons why I’ve shied away from hand prepping fiber. But now that I want to learn to hand prep I have to slow down and be patient. I knew that somewhere along the way it was going to be a struggle, and […]
Scratching the Itch
You all knew I’d fall. Now I’m trying not to fall too hard too fast. I decided to process the portion of Bond fleece I have. I think it’s about two pounds. I made a plan, which includes not buying any more fleeces until I finish with this one. Did you see the plural in […]
