Lowanna. What's in a name?
I've often been asked why I use the word Lowanna for my yarn. For one thing, it is my middle name but I am proud of the story behind it....
Merino silk double twist
Many people who knit socks are usually looking for durability in their sock yarn. This is often achieved by using a percentage of nylon for added strength. While many are happy with this, others prefer a more natural approach. White Gum Wool have been working on achieving a happy medium. This is what they have come up with.
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Merino silk double twist is a 70% superfine Tasmanian merino and 30% silk blend. This is spun into a 2 ply construction (2 strands twisted together) and for added durability, 2 of these 2 ply strands are then twisted together. The construction, as well as the silk, make for a more durable yarn, with none of the nylon. This is very exciting for sock knitters like me!
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We all know that merino socks are great for keeping your feet regulated, sweat free and incredibly comfortable. So I would like to share this excitement with you by making this the feature of the month. With any Merino silk double twist yarn you purchase in May, you will get a free sock pattern from Winwick Mum, a fabulous beginner's pattern with loads of support at every step. As I really value your feedback on a new product, I will email you a feedback sheet for those using their yarn for socks. To thank you for your feedback I will send you a discount code for a future purchase with Lowanna Yarns when you return the feedback sheet.
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To find this yarn in the shop, it will be any of those with the tag May Feature.
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I hope you enjoy using this gorgeous natural yarn.
Fibre for Spinning
If you haven't already given spinning a go... now is the time!
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While I use a few different treadle spinning wheels and a couple of espinner wheels, my absolutely go to when I want to slow down is the Turkish spindle. While any spindle will work just as well, I prefer the Turkish spindle as it is easy for both spinning and plying and breaks down into components making it very portable. I will be uploading a blogpost this month, with a step by step guide for beginners. And while I will have a few beautiful spindles for sale, made by hand for me by a lovely guy who uses repurposed timbers, you can easily make your own out of a pencil and a CD (remember those?!). In fact I've had a woman approach me when she saw me spinning to tell me she used to use a potato and a stick! It all works!
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So given that spinning is the feature of the month, I have dyed some beautiful superfine merino and added a couple of spindles to the shop. I love dyeing fibre, as some of the dyes 'break' into their component colours to give a very different effect. Check out the pink, purple and white fibre...it comes from a grey dye!
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So if you are after more guidance and information, head over to the blog, otherwise, click on 'Start Shopping'!
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