Spinning Fundamentals Encore Episode 

In this episode, Sasha talks about what she calls The Pillars of Skillful Spinning™, and how they can help you think about the field of spinning knowledge in a more holistic way.

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

Since these episodes are encores, you may occasionally hear Sasha mention classes or offers that are no longer available.

Spinning Fundamentals Encore Episode 

This week’s episode of The Sheepspot Podcast, on The Spinner’s Journey, will help bring you clarity on where you are in your spinner’s journey, and what you might want to work on next to improve your spinning and make more yarns you love.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Episodes 56 and 57, about Sasha’s spinning story.

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

Since these episodes are encores, you may occasionally hear Sasha mention classes or offers that are no longer available.

In this episode, Sasha talks about the inspiring effects of community.

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Scenius: why creatives are stronger together

• Wired.com, Scenius, or Communal Genius

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Will Taylor/Judith MacKenzie Lazy Kate

Tyvek Wristbands

In this episode, Sasha talks about her spinning wheels—past and present.

Mentioned in this episode:

DIY Twist Angle Gauge

Online Classes at Sheepspot

Episode 4: Woolen/Worsted

McMorran Yarn Balance from The Woolery

Ravelry's Standard Yarn Weights

Additional resources:

Jillian Moreno, "A Spinner's Compass," Knitty 47 (Spring/Summer 2014).

Jillian Moreno, "The Gist of Grist," Ply (Summer 2014; the twist issue).

Michele Boyd, "Twist Angle," Ply (Summer 2014; the twist issue).

Rachel Smith, "Grist: It is Kind of Really Important," Welford Purls blog.

In this episode of the podcast, Sasha gives you six ways to stop spinning your default yarn over and over.

Download the resource guide for a list of books and video classes to help get you out of your spinning rut and back into your spinning groove!

In this episode of the podcast, Sasha talks about how the way we think about spinning affects how easily we become better spinners.

Mentioned in this episode:

Bust Your Spinning Ruts, an online class from Sheepspot coming in early May

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck

In this episode of the podcast, Sasha tells all about her trip to PlyAway, including that weird day when she was accused of shacking up with someone with (almost) the same name as hers.

Mentioned in this episode:

Online classes from Sheepspot!

Jack Stack's

Mentioned in this episode:

"Washing & Spinning Cormo Locks and Other Fine Wools" by Beth Smith

Judith Mackenzie’s Interweave DVD, Three Bags Full

Mesh Lingerie Bags

Cleaner's Supply Comforter Bags

Unicorn Power Scour, at Amazon or directly from Unicorn

Mesh Sweater Drying Rack

The Sheepspot Fleece Club

Mentioned in this episode:

Sheepspot Podcast Episode 2 and Episode 6

Sheepspot Fleece Club

Mentioned in this episode:

The Meathead Hat pattern by Larissa Brown

Mentioned in this episode:

The Sheepspot Fiber Club

The Sheepspot Community Facebook Page

In this episode, Sasha talks about what to look for in a healthy spinning community.

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

In this episode of the podcast, Sasha talks about how to assemble a spinning toolkit that you can hang right from your wheel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Felted Spinning Wheel Bag pattern

Oil pen

Embroidery scissors

Wraps per inch tools

Rosie’s Precise Control Card

Mentioned in this episode:

Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP

"Know Your Wheel" Interweave DVD

Mentioned in this episode:

6 inch bobbins from Schacht

Bobbin winder from Louet

Bobbin winder from Schacht

Handcrafted Maple Weavers' Shuttle Bobbin Winder

DIY bobbin winder

Rachel Smith's video on winding bobbins

The Sheepspot Newsletter

Mentioned in this episode:

Sarah Anderson's DIY Lazy Kate

The Sheepspot Podcast Episode 10

Subscribe to The Sheepspot Newsletter

Mentioned in this episode:

Spinning Consistent Singles Workshop at The Sheepspot Studio

In this episode of the podcast, Sasha talks about one of her favorite wools, Rambouillet.

Mentioned in this episode:

Rambouillet at Sheepspot

Mentioned in this episode:

Episode 2 of the Sheepspot Podcast

Tuille Sausages

Episode 4 of the Sheepspot Podcast

Sasha on Instagram

In this episode of the podcast, Sasha talks about what's involved in getting a fiber club shipment ready to go out to members.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Sheepspot Fiber Club

Mentioned in this episode:

Judith Mackenzie, Three Bags Full

Kate Larson, The Practical Spinner’s Guide: Wool

Beth Smith, The Spinner’s Book of Fleece

Ashford flick carder

Schacht fine wool cards

Clemes and Clemes wool cards

Blue Mountain Handcrafts two pitch hand combs

Valkyrie superfine hand combs

Louet mini-combs

Esther Rogers, Fiber Preparation for Spinning

Beth Smith’s handcarding video for Schacht

The Sheepspot Fleece Club

In this episode of the podcast, Sasha talks about whether our creative projects find us, or we find them.

Mentioned in this episode:

How to Survive the End of the World, "Let the Ancestors Speak"

Elizabeth Gilbert's TED Talk; the part of I mention in the podcast is at 10:11.

In this episode, Sasha talks about a particular kind of learning community: the community of inquiry. She describes the essential components of communities of inquiry, using The Guild by Sheepspot as an example of such a community. And she proposes some specific questions you should ask when you're considering joining an online spinning community.

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

In this episode of the podcast, Sasha talks about woolen and worsted yarns, how to spin yarns in either style, and when you might choose a woolen yarn over a worsted one and vice versa.

Additional resources on the woolen-worsted continuum:

Jacey Boggs Faulkner's Craftsy class, From Woolen to Worsted

Judith MacKenzie's dvd/video download, The Spinner's Toolbox

Abby Franquemont's video download, Drafting: The Long and the Short of It

Download your free worsted/woolen cheat sheet at http://www.sheepspot.com/podcast/episode4.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius

The Spinner's Book of Fleece, by Beth Smith

To download your wool types cheat sheet, go to www.sheepspot.com/podcast/episode2.

In this episode, Sasha talks about how plying on an e-spinner challenged her thinking about twist and plying.

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

In this episode, Sasha talks about how to ensure that your yarn has even ply twist throughout the skein when working with a treadle wheel. E-spinning aficionado? We'll talk about ply twist and your e-spinner next week. 

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

If you're interested in Sheepspot's Spinning for the Soul Retreat, you can find all the details here. And if you'd like to join the "Inspired to Spin Challenge," you can do that right here.

In this episode, Sasha talks about how to figure out how much ply twist to use in your yarn and whether spinners should obsess over whether or not their yarns are balanced.

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

In this episode, Sasha talks about why and when to let your singles rest before you ply them. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Sheepspot Podcast Episode 12: Be Kind, Rewind

• Jillian Moreno, "Why Plying with a Center Pull Ball Doesn't Work For Me"

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

In this episode, Sasha talks about what science has to say about the mental health benefits of activities like knitting and spinning.

Mentioned in this episode: 

• The Journal of Positive Psychology: Everyday Creative Activity as a Path to Flourishing

• Kelly Lambert:  Lifting Depression

• Betsan Corkhill:  Knit for Health and Wellness: How to Knit a Flexible Mind and More

• Lisa Mitchell’s Article: Spin Off Summer 2023

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Confused about the difference between "combination drafting" and "combination spinning"? You're not alone! In this episode, Sasha defines and explains each technique, and talks about how she's using both techniques for a current project.

In this episode, Sasha talks about the long and short of woolen drafts.

Spinning Fundamentals Encore Episode 

In this episode, Sasha talks about five beginner-friendly wools that new spinners can use to build their spinning skills.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Sheepspot Podcast, Episodes 56 and 57 (My Spinning Story)

• The Sheepspot Podcast, Episode 44 (Meet the Down Breeds)

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

Since these episodes are encores, you may occasionally hear Sasha mention classes or offers that are no longer available.

 In this episode, Sasha talks about the crucial role your feet play in creating consistent yarns.

In this episode, Sasha talks about predrafting: what it is, how to do it, why you might (or might not) want to do it, and her own evolving relationship with this controversial practice

In this episode, Sasha talks about mistakes she's made (repeatedly!) when knitting with handspun.

In this episode, Sasha talks about how she uses Ravelry to make better projects with her handspun yarn.

In this episode, Sasha offers three tips for how to get great results when knitting with handspun yarns.

In this episode, Sasha explains why new spinners should start using their handspun yarn right away.

In this episode, Sasha talks about her course for new and self-taught spinners, Spin School.

In this episode, members of The Guild by Sheepspot, our membership program that provides community, consistency, and challenge to intermediate and advanced hand spinners, share the rewards they reap from their spinning habits.

In this episode, Sasha talks about how to create a spinning habit quickly and easily.

 In this episode, Sasha talks about how to manage your spinning life in ways that support a durable spinning habit.

Spinning Fundamentals Encore Episode 

In this episode, Sasha talks about what you can do with your wheel, your lazy Kate, and your singles to ply your yarns for consistency.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sarah Anderson's DIY Lazy Kate Video - no longer available online

• The Sheepspot Podcast Episode 10

You can find the transcript for this episode HERE.

You can comment on and discuss this episode here in The Flock, Sheepspot’s free online community for inquisitive spinners.

Here's the link to the Podcast search page and playlists. 

Since these episodes are encores, you may occasionally hear Sasha mention classes or offers that are no longer available

In this episode Sasha explores the nature of habits, and why you should build spinning into your daily routine.

In this episode, Sasha shares her three favorite wheels for newer spinners, why she loves them, and what new spinners should consider when choosing their first wheel.