So, I was torn. On the horns of a dilemma. But then it solved itself and I’m almost disappointed. A mass email to parents went out from my son’s school, asking for volunteer speakers for career day. For the first four years we were in this district, I always volunteered and would take some hands-on […]

I’ve updated my class list for Fall 2011 and beyond (to get to the most current class list for all eternity, click on “Contact” and choose “Class List”). There are a few new offerings so I thought I’d tell you about them, and where they come from. First, the new or revised half-day classes (3 […]

So while I was at Rhinebeck my menfolks had to take my cat to the vet. She came home with mega antibiotics and a date with the kitty dentist to deal with an abscessed molar. Ugh. The poor girl. She’s now had that molar out and is winding up her time with the antibiotics in […]

Monday has dawned a little chilly and a little rainy. It’s the last day of October and I spent the weekend thinking about how I was glad I wasn’t driving a cargo van full of textile equipment home from Connecticut in the middle of the snow those folks just had. I’m pouring coffee down my […]

So one of these days, I swear I’m going to come up with a way to viably, meaningfully blog from my phone. Why? Because then I’d be able to pull it off when I have a big span of heavy travel and not being home. I have really mixed feelings about moving to a lifestyle […]

It’s hard to believe, but five years ago today is the date on the WHOIS record for abbysyarns.com. In other words, today we are five. Dude, we’ve come a long way. Baby. I was going to make this a blog post full of recaps, like “Hey, here, look at this old post,” and be all […]

Well folks, Abby’s Yarns has moved to a new home on the net (you’re looking at it). Chances are it doesn’t look much different to you yet, but the behind-the-scenes work has been extensive and there’s more still to come. Let’s hear it for the fearless Jennifer Dodd for all her hard work making this […]

…the more they stay the same. From the pages of the magazine “English Mechanic and the World Of Science,” we have this letter regarding something published in a prior issue: COTTON SPINNING Sir — “Harmonious Cotton Spinner” has not penetrated very deeply into the mysteries of cotton spinning if he has not yet discovered a […]

We just can’t thank you all enough for your tremendous support for Stringtopia. We are so lucky to be part of such a wonderful community. So we wanted to take a minute to start saying thanks to some of the fine folks who are donating door prizes and treats for the goodie bags. In no […]

The Question: You’re working with industrially-produced Blue Faced Leicester (BFL) top, and you find that the yarn you’re producing makes a stiff, dense yarn. Is there any way to make it loftier? The Short Answer: Probably. Many spinners — some people would even say most, these days — default to a drafting method that tends […]