Good day, friends!
Wow! Does time ever fly by? Here we are in August already, quickly moving toward the end of summer and, before we know it, into fall—the perfect time to start thinking seriously about Christmas gifts.
As many spinners know, Tour de Fleece 2026 took place in July. This international spinning event coincides with the Tour de France, bringing spinners from all over the world together to set spinning goals, challenge themselves, and enjoy the camaraderie of other spinners both in person and online. This year, I didn’t have lofty goals. I did, however, complete a couple of handspun yarns that I plan to keep for myself!
Shortly before the tour ended, things went a little off track when my almost 90-year-old mom experienced some health issues that required more of my time and help. Life has a way of reminding us that even the best-laid plans sometimes need to be set aside. Fiber Pearls is something I love dearly, and I know I can return to it when life allows. The wool will wait, and there will always be another beautiful idea waiting to be spun.
In July, I did add two new yarns to the shop—Rosewood Pearl Handspun and Fernsong Handspun. There are plenty of yarns to choose from, and I think all of them would make lovely projects.
Having just opened my shop June 1, I’m still working out the details of the direction I’d like to take going forward—fiber choices, colors, and yarn styles. I love spinning everything from core-spun and coil-plied art yarns to finer, more traditional yarns. Art yarns aren’t for everyone, but they sure are fun to spin! They can be wonderful accent yarns for all kinds of fiber-art projects, or they can be knitted with large needles to create lofty, airy scarves and cowls—just enough to wrap around your neck. Weavers also often seek out art yarns for their colors and textures, using them to add interest and dimension to their work. Most of the art yarns I spin are created with weaving in mind, since the yardage tends to be low.
Because my studio is small and located within my home, I don’t have the space to process my own wool directly from a sheep. Instead, I purchase most of my spinning fibers from local farmers, at fiber festivals, or online from other fiber artists. I’m a passionate supporter of small businesses and try whenever possible to acknowledge and appreciate the work of the people whose fibers and products help me create something of my own.
Since I was very young, I’ve had a deep regard for things handmade by artisans. There is something special about knowing that a person put their time, creativity, skill, and heart into making something. To me, there is simply nothing mass-produced in a store that quite compares. I hope that those who purchase one of my yarns or finished pieces share that same appreciation for all things handcrafted.
Looking Ahead:
My goals for the remainder of August are simple: create the rolags from the fibers I gathered together before life intervened, finish knitting two scarves for the shop, and finish a larger spin of a beautiful white mystery wool. There’s something extra beautiful about handspun white yarn. Perhaps it’s the simplicity of the color that allows the texture and character of the fiber—and the hand of the spinner—to shine.
And, of course, my assistant Pearl continues to supervise shop happenings from afar. She was recently diagnosed with asthma, but that hasn’t stopped her from keeping an eye on things. She is a real joy to have in my life. ❤️
Thank you for being here, for supporting Fiber Pearls, and for appreciating the beauty of things made by hand.
Until next time,
Founder & Maker, Lynda Lee