Digits & Threads is no longer publishing new content, but please enjoy the archives, which will remain available through the summer of 2025.
[For Studio Members] Master spinner Michelle Boyd explains the hows and whys of “finishing” yarns for use in weaving, knitting and crochet projects. This helpful guide also includes tips for finishing a variety of fibre types under different water conditions.
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[For Studio Members] Master spinner Michelle Boyd dives deep into how we communicate yarn thickness, explaining the various systems that are used, and the strengths and weaknesses of each. And she provides excellent tips for how to assess a yarn for use in knitting, crochet or weaving.
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[For Studio Members] Master spinner Michelle Boyd returns with a detailed, photo-illustrated tutorial on how to spin singles yarn for knitting, crocheting and weaving applications. She addresses use of spindle and wheel, and discusses fibre choice.
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[For Studio Members] Cabled yarns are constructed from multiple plied strands, and can add strength and lustre to items made with them. In this third and final installment of her series on yarn structure and how it affects the fabrics we make, master spinner Michelle Boyd illuminates the role cabled yarns can play in knitting, crochet and weaving projects.
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[For Studio Members] Learn how plied yarns are constructed, how their structure affects how they behave and wear, and what they bring to various types of fabrics—woven, crocheted and knitted. The newest lesson from master spinner Michelle Boyd is a detailed and photo-illustrated exploration of plied yarns.
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[Open Access] Master spinner Michelle Boyd explores and explains the characteristics and behaviour of singles yarns, with insights into using them to best effect in knitting, crochet and weaving.
Read More![[Recording] Studio Hours, August 2021: Michelle Boyd on Suspended Spinning with Spindles](https://www.digitsandthreads.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/august-studio-hours-video-image.png)
“Spinning is all about potential.” Our August Studio Hours featured special guest Michelle Boyd, who joined us from Olds, Alberta, for a spindle spinning demo and discussion about her twenty-five-year obsession with making yarn. Here’s a recording of the session for Founding and Studio Members. If you aren’t yet a Studio Member, join or upgrade today to enjoy the video, and to receive your invitation to monthly virtual Studio Hours!
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Spindle spinning is a great way to start spinning, but like most crafts, there’s a bit of a learning curve when you begin. “Park and draft” spinning is a gentle first step that can help ease that curve. This method is also great for spinners who have physical barriers to using spindles, for those wanting to reduce the risk of injury, and for spinners who want to spin for long periods of time. Renowned instructor Michelle Boyd provides a photo tutorial on how to do it.
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