Get Back to the Basics with Handspun Yarn

What is handspun yarn?

Don't feel silly. Many people ask this question. After all, most of us grew up making trips to our favorite craft store. Choosing from a rainbow of colors and planning our next project. How were we supposed to know such a thing, as handspun existed?

Handspun yarn is yarn spun manually, one skein at a time, instead of by machines in a factory. Skilled craftswomen spin this yarn on farms instead of mass-producing it.

Often the fiber comes from animals raised on the farm. They harvest, wash, dye, and finally spin it into wonderful one-of-a-kind yarn. Many different types of yarn come from this process including the traditional two-ply. Three-ply, single-ply, and novelty yarns are others created from the method.

What's so great about handspun yarn?

A creative and naturally made yarn is very popular with knitters. It has a unique nature and many knitters feel that it is the best possible yarn to work with. There are many knitters who work with handspun and nothing else.

Some knitters love knowing the fact that the projects they create are one-of-a-kind when made from handspun. Because each fiber is different, it gives each yarn a unique nature -- like nothing you can buy in a traditional store.

What types of handspun are available?

As mentioned above, you can get single-, two-, and three-ply yarns plus novelty yarns. But the variety doesn't stop there. Handspun alpaca yarn, cashmere yarn, and silk yarn are also readily available. By combining these elements, along with the variety of colors, knitting projects that are truly unique is a given.

So, if you want to try something new -- try something old -- handspun yarn. A word of warning -- you'll fall in love with this yarn and may never go back.