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Winter 2023 Mood Board – Sweaters
When the chill of winter hits, nothing is cozier than a handspun handknit sweater. Spinning and knitting a sweater takes quite a bit of time and planning, and this issue is here for it!
How do you spin for a pattern or choose a pattern for yarn already spun? What secrets do you have for successful sweater planning? How do you get a sweater spin done when there are so many other things to spin? Do you keep everything the same in your sweaters or do you mix fiber, draft, or color? Tell us why and how.
Do you spin from fleece? How do you choose a great sweater fleece? How do you wash and prep your fleece for the perfect sweater spin? What fibers or blends do you think are best for sweaters? If you want to use a fiber or blend that is not sweater-ideal how do you manipulate it to be more sweater friendly?
Are you a sampler? How do you sample and how much sampling do you do before you start your sweater spin? How do you keep consistent through a sweater spin? Have you spun a sweater on a spindle? How did you keep going? How did you keep track?
Woolen or worsted? 2-ply or 3-ply? What yarn is the ultimate sweater yarn? Sweaters take a lot of yarn which means a lot of joins, so can you tell us all of the ways you make successful joins in singles and while plying?
What about color? How do you plan for dyeing for a sweater? Do you dye the fiber first or wait to dye the yarn? How does it affect the finished color?
What can you tell us about blending already dyed colors to make your perfect combination? Do you use a hackle, combs, hand cards, a drum carder, or just blend colors at the wheel? How do each of these methods change the look of color? Do you have tips about spinning for color transitions? We know you have a super stash of dyed braids. Tell us the ways you use them for a sweater spin.
What about spinning for particular colorwork? Do you spin differently for fair isle and intarsia?
Sweaters don’t always have to be knit. Do you crochet sweaters? Weave sweaters? Use a combination of techniques for sweaters?
We want your ideas, art work, projects, and spins! Proposals are due by December 1, 2022. We’ll get back to you in January and final work is due June 1, 2023. Submit your ideas here:
The last few mood boards are here:
Autumn 2023: Drape
Summer 2023: Place
Spring 2023: Science
Winter 2022: Neck and Shoulders
Autumn 2022: Loft
Summer 2022: Mix
Spring 2022: Goats
Winter 2021: Heads and Hands
Autumn 2021: Consistency
