We are simply delighted to welcome another locally made yarn to space! Local artist Nan Lopata has delivered a gorgeous batch of handspun to the shop.
Nan comes from a family of crafters. Her mom taught her how to sew when she was 6 (she says in an effort to keep her out of trouble—only partially successful!). She was taught to knit by her grandmother when she was 7, and she picked it up again during her first year of college. After discovering how it reduced her stress level, she’s been knitting ever since! She learned to spin about 10 years ago at our shop! When I reached out to learn more about her journey to becoming a handspinner, Nan said “I’m excited to share my yarns with you at fibre space, my favorite yarn store! I hope I can inspire your creative journey!”
We asked Nan how she got into spinning, and she shared that her love of attending fibre events like the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival drew her in. “There are events and demonstrations, and after watching the spinning demo, I was intrigued. It seemed like spinning had a lot of the same effects of knitting – the rhythm is relaxing and soothing.” After trying out a spinning wheel, she was hooked and has been creating yarn ever since.
When Nan shared what she loves about spinning, she said that her favorite material to work with is batts of wool she has dyed herself. Even though she’ll incorporate fleece in various stages of preparation that are for spinning (from dyed, carded, and ready-to-go, to raw wool right off the sheep), there’s something about the process of dying the wool herself that speaks to her love of creating color and designs that resonate. The process requires her to immerse the fleece in hot water, add dye, rinse, and let it dry in the sun. After it dries, Nan throws it under her dining room table where she combines colors, fibers, and textures like a mad scientist to make one-of-a-kind skeins. Nan said, “I’m inspired by colors in nature, a little color theory and photos, but my favorite inspiration is the fleece colors under my table-they seem to gravitate toward each other and tell me what they want to do!” Once inspired, she cards the fleece with a barrel-shaped hand-cranked machine called a drum carder. After this, she can tear off strips and get spinning
Yarn details:
-
Handspun – weights may vary by skein
- Spun in the DMV!
- Hand wash, Dry Flat
- $40-68
Yarnista pattern picks:
We’ve selected some projects for both knitting and crochet that we think will shine in a unique skein of handspun yarn.
Buck’s Hat
Sizes
17(19)” around, to fit an 18(20)” head.
Yarn
- 175 – 200 yards (approximately one skein)
Needles and Notions
-
US 6 (4.0 mm) 16″ needle
-
US 7 (4.5 mm) 16″ needle and DPNs
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
Gauge
20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in gauge given in 1×1 ribbing, cable gauge in pattern.
Pioneer Mittens
Sizes
Fits wrist 5-6 (6.25-7.25)inches
Yarn
- 190 – 200 yards(approximately one skein)
Needles and Notions
-
US 7 (4.5 mm) 16″ needle and DPNs
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
Gauge
16 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette
Vineyard Beanie
Sizes
One Size
Yarn
- 115 – 120 yards (approximately one skein)
Hook and Notions
-
5.5 mm (I)
- Removable Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
Gauge
12.5 stitches and 12.5 rows = 4 inches in pattern
Vineyard Cowl
Sizes
One Size
Yarn
- One Skein
Hook and Notions
-
6.5 mm (K)
- Removable Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
Gauge
9 stitches and 7 rows = 4 inches in pattern stitch
