Prepping Batts and Spinning Yarn - Plus My Time Travel Story

[@JillianEve]

What is your favorite way to prep and spin a batt? You can find the batts I used in the video here (affiliate) 👉www.paradisefibers.com/collections/fiber/products/compass-moon-creations-carded-batts?rfsn=1897535.a62e6a6&variant=37570536767664

[@nimeryaspawnbrd1049]

I'm the costume maker for a Renaissance reenacting association here in Florence, and I have to say I love to time travel the way you and your cousin did... so much that I made it my main job 😜😂❤

[@sepp5762]

I read the first 6 Outlander books 15 years before the series was released. I have never been able to watch the series because I have such a fixed vision of how Claire and Jamie should look, and they are so different on screen. I now have all the books and an aiming to create your shawl. Thankyou for your videos and your story. From Australia.

[@jenthulhu]

I grew up in Illinois so I've been to New Salem a few times. It's a really wonderful place. The only thing I've ever been to that compares is the Feast of the Hunter's Moon that happens every year just south of West Lafayette, Indiana. It's a HUGE festival reenacting the 18th century at a French outpost and the soldiers interactions with Native Americans. It's a ton of fun. It's the first time I ever saw spinning in person.

[@rebeccahawrot8345]

Evie, that is the BEST STORY EVER!!!! Thank you so much for the entertainment while watching you spin!!!!!

[@sovereigns1grace]

Yay time travel! I did that once ... as an adult. Went to N. C. for a Renaissance Reenactment event. After the event my friend and my daughter and I decided to take a trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway. We needed a potty break and spotted a park. Unexpectedly, it was an historic park that had an old log cabin, a spring house and an herb garden. We poked around outside first which was very interesting. In the herb garden there was a large patch of flax growing. Being fiber enthusiasts this was very exciting to see flax actually growing! Next, we went in side to find ... a WORKING antique floor loom!!!!! We were thrilled! There was a young lady park attendant there who told us all about it. She, too was a fiber enthusiast AND participated in Civil War reenactment. She was able to demonstrate and show quite a bit about the flax processing as well a wool. I tell you, for a chance stop, it was a dream!!! Thanks for showing 2 ways of preparing the batts. Pretty colors & cute scarf/shawl. I love that you have one of those brooches ;)

[@JillianEve]

Yes, you had an awesome adventure too! What a perfect stop! 💜

[@goldensolitude]

You are amazing, to spin, ply and knit a scarf so fast! One project after another, month after month. You have such energy!

[@JillianEve]

Oh thank you! I love making things, so I just keep at it! 😄

[@Lucy-vx2ls]

That story is so cute! 🤣🤣 That's totally something I would have done as a kid.

[@gailstringer1158]

Love your time travel yarn ( good pun, eh). I'm Canadian, so allowed to say "eh". About a decade ago, I drove across the U.S., picking up a cousin in Montana, to do family research in New England. We visited the Plymouth village, and I "met" my ancestor, a brother of one of the Mayflower passengers! It was the trip of a lifetime!

[@pamyclark1263]

I was worried about your veracity until you explained. BEST EPISODE EVER!

[@JillianEve]

Hahaha! Thank you! 🧶💜😂

[@LisaMyEclecticLife]

I loved your shawl and your time travel adventure. So much fun.

[@nglitch3111]

That is such an awesome story! I love it! Young me would have been right there with you! I loved Little House on the Prairie and always wanted to live old-fashiony. But the fact that you had that little bit of magic for a little while is really is amazing. What a great memory.

[@patriciabeames2850]

I really enjoyed your story and watching you spin + your beautiful face and smiles!

[@Bobbieliz]

I love your story. I went to New Salem as a Girl Scout with my troop YEARS ago, and there were fewer buildings there then, I'm sure, but there was no reenactment at that time. It was not as exciting as it was for you!

[@JillianEve]

I will say that the reenactors really make the experience come to life! 😂

[@RavenAttwoode]

Oooo! I absolutely LOVED visiting New Salem when I was a kid! I grew up in Springfield, IL so that was a field trip destination for my school. 😍

[@katyarncrafts]

Love your time travel story. 😃 Thanks for showing two different ways of prepping batts. Have a lovely Sunday. ☕️ ~ Kat

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! You too! 🧶💜

[@isi98ani7]

Love your project box where you save a bit of fiber from each project. That's such a fun idea!

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 😊 I need to show it more in each video so you can watch it grow too!

[@taniamitchell604]

Oh, I so would have enjoyed seeing New Salem. I would not ever want to leave. I love history, especially social history

[@JillianEve]

I promise when I go back to visit that carder (some day...) I'll do a vlog video of it! Such fun!

[@gbdfawoman]

LOVED your story. You absolutely did time travel. No one will convince me otherwise. I must admit that I had my doubts about combining those two batts, but the final yarn and especially the final project showed me the error of my concerns. This is beautiful. Thank you so much for the way you teach us in your videos. I am just getting started and appreciate your combination of joy, humor, and history.

[@JillianEve]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I've played with a lot of color so I can kind of picture it before I finish it. If you are ever worried about trying a color combination, do a sample before you spin up the whole thing. That's what I still do sometimes if I'm trying something new that I can't easily picture. Happy spinning! 🧶💜

[@Which-Craft]

omigosh, i love your time travel story! that would be so much fun as a kid - or adult!

[@glendamersdorf5968]

The colors and how the bats are in the beginning reminds me of the Cheshire cat lol

[@YunMei17]

Evie, I love that story. I've been crocheting and knitting since I was little, but I got into spinning and fiber prep through my time with the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), but I just LOVE your child's POV of accidentally visiting the historic site before you officially visited the site. I hope you always remember it as time-travel!

[@lorrie6736]

I love that story! What a magical time in your childhood! As a child I’ve always loved the past. My grandparents had a room in their house they called “the old fashion room “ and I loved it! I’m 63 years old so back the room was filled with old stuff! I have some of the antiques from that room and I treasure them. Thank you for sharing your time travel expedition 😀

[@heikehoyer1284]

A really beautiful yarn! The thread is so full of Life, I Love it!!

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 🥰

[@ThimbleAndPlume]

You had me laughing so hard! What a fun adventure! The scarf turned out beautiful. I just love the color.

[@JillianEve]

Thank you so much! I tried to adjust my brooch so I would be at a jaunty angle! 😁💜

[@ThimbleAndPlume]

@@JillianEve I think it was sufficiently jaunty....I approve! :)

[@lthorn9772]

I loved your time travel story!!!! So funny and so understandable.

[@lindyeck4866]

What fun and I loved your time travel adventure!

[@emmagoff]

Really good to see fiber prep, I keep hearing it mentioned but never see it done! Lovely to see a project start to finish and a great story, gave a good chuckle to start my day!!!

[@JillianEve]

Awesome, thank you!

[@tracyirwin103]

I love your time travel story! What an adventure lol. Your shawl is adorable 🥰 Thanks for another wonderful video.

[@JillianEve]

I had Grogu on my desk cheering me on while worked on the shawl! ❤😀

[@devong1414]

Oooh I liked the spinning story. More of that please.☺

[@JillianEve]

I liked it too! It was fun to chat while I was spinning. I felt like I was spinning with friends. I'll be sure to add more history stories in my upcoming videos! There are so many!!!! 💜

[@esmecat]

omg, i love your story. i know how complete the illusion can be because i worked Renaissance Faire booth for a while... and in the morning, when only the people working faire are there, and everyone is setting up for the day... with the fog in and making the whole world cozy and small... it was an amazing experience. the antics that went on then were special too. like one of the performers that usually sang on the main stage would wander from booth to booth and sing to us folk songs along with her fiddle while we worked, encouraging us to sing along. and the guys from the scottish clans groups stealing the throne for the court because they wanted Mary on the throne... (briefly having the spell broken in a seriously surreal moment as security drove past in a golf cart with guys in armor from the joust group on back... shouting through a bullhorn about finding the throne, LMAO) so many beautiful and unique moments. i haven't spun many batts yet. i have one in my stash that i've been waiting to spin because it's so beautiful i'm hesitant to use it. if i ever end up planning something for it to become, i will definitely spin it up... but right now, it's just a treasure just as it is.

[@wendymurray8594]

Oh that's a wondetful memory, I think I'd have loved seeing armoured knights on a golf cart!! 🤣💖🙏🏻

[@JillianEve]

I'm with Wendy too, I would love to see a golf cart full of knights! Lol! 🤣

[@feltlikeitbydebs]

I am so inspired right now. Thank you so very much.

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! 💜🧶

[@sadiesspincraft6319]

What a lovely story I really enjoyed it x

[@lenka3393]

This was hilarious and so “me” 😂

[@feekok]

I love seeing the bats going from that stage to a full on finished project!

[@JillianEve]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 🧶💜

[@attheranch873]

That turned out great!

[@Love6187]

Very inspirational!

[@PeggyHoffman722]

I've actually been there myself, lol, with my husband when we first bought our motorhome and were going on short trips from home (Michigan). I love taking those kind of time travel trips ;)

[@JillianEve]

Hi from across the lake! 😄👋

[@sandrahageman9955]

What a fun time travel adventure.

[@jenniferrich5292]

I love how you combined those batts into one beautiful yarn and then one beautiful project🥰 Congrats on recreating the pattern yarn, too! And of course, the story, bringing it all together 👏👏😍

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 😊 I had fun putting it all together!

[@kristinalundin6226]

That time travel story is the cutest I've heard ever!

[@mmcdo61930]

Such a wonderful story, beautiful spinning as a!ways!

[@JillianEve]

Thank you so much! 🧶💜

[@irishcottagerenovation9900]

Love your story and spun yarn looks beautiful.

[@Typhoonyoon]

Hiya Evie! My soon to be 9 yr old absolutely loved your story and retold your tale to her daddy, very excitedly. Thank you for the laugh. I gathered correctly that you two had stumbled upon a reenactment village. Beautiful batts and finished yarn. ❤️

[@sechinah108]

Inspirational, practical and entertaining. Thank for sharing.

[@kachsavage4047]

What a funky story, I love it!

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 😄💜🧶

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

Hi Evie, love your story !! I love all kinds of Social History, i was right there with you.ive those batts how they Spun ip & your shawl that you made with them is gorgeous. Happy Spinning. Take care & stay safe. Love to you all Jen xxxx

[@JillianEve]

Thanks Jen! Happy spinning to you too! 💜

[@mariepla1370]

So beautiful, you're so talented. Thanks for sharing. 😍

[@nancymarchefka3244]

Wow I am so into learning how to spin we were given an 1850 spinning wheel my husband is doing a little research on the part that need to be made and were missing so I am doing research on how to use a spinning wheel just wonderful how you picked a fleece color and mixed them my mind is spinning with ideas but must learn more.....have a wooly day Nancy from Western Massachusetts.❤️

[@JillianEve]

You can do it! If you need a specialist part made, check out SpiritWood Spinning Wheel Restoration. They do great work!

[@MTravelVlog]

I really enjoyed your video. Great channel... ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Greetings from Albania. 👋🏼🇦🇱

[@JillianEve]

Thanks and welcome!

[@inezmichielsen9950]

Nice story! 🤣

[@margaretmurrell4663]

Great video! The scarf is fabulous! ❤

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 😊

[@valeriepenrosee-lock3493]

Such fun. Even though I knew where you were going with the story you told it so well. I sat plying my yarn totally engrossed. Thankyou.😄

[@sadiesspincraft6319]

The yarn turned out beautiful and I love the cowl the brouch tops it off perfectly thank you for doing this video x

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 😊

[@greenecrayon]

That is the best story ever!!!

[@JillianEve]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 😄🧶💜

[@MaryCummingsMaryland]

I love the time travel story!

[@JillianEve]

I'm so glad you liked it! 💜🧶🐑

[@reavanante2160]

I love your story! Great vid. Your spinning and projects are inspirational. You brightened up my day.

[@JillianEve]

Wow, thank you! 🧶💜🐑

[@brittanywinn3955]

Your hair is so cute! And you look beautiful in that shade of green!

[@JillianEve]

Oh thank you!🥰

[@sadiesspincraft6319]

I love beth she is the one I learned how to diz from. She is ace x

[@JillianEve]

She really is! 💜

[@ChrisChambers7732]

Great story sounds like you have a wonderful imagination. Outlander is a favorite of mine. I have read all the books in the series thus far...anxious for the next book. I’ve watched them all too. Beautiful spinning.

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! I listen while I spin sometimes! 😁

[@lizrose7195]

That was great! Love your time travel story and your project!

[@kellieh4807]

Wow! That shawl is gorgeous! I need to find a broach like that because it really tied the whole thing together. What a pure time traveling experience for you, I am sure I would've loved that as a kid as well.

[@isi98ani7]

So here for this! Can't wait to see what a fiber artist does with time travel!

[@lydiamashcka4362]

Wow came out so beautiful!!!!

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 😊

[@debbiedavenport6001]

Loved your story. I wonder if you saw spinners and weavers then and it caught you. The fiber bug. Beautiful yarn and finished project. I think I will also make a distaff fiber collection of fiber. That is a fun idea. Thank you.

[@JillianEve]

It is completely possible! 😄

[@GYPSYWILDFLOWER]

I loved the story. 😍 x

[@JillianEve]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nikkay3148]

Beautiful Shawl!! Love the video!!!

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@gabrielasoto2305]

Beautiful 🤩

[@JillianEve]

Thanks 🤗

[@ylvasundell6948]

I absolutely loved your story and I time travelled WITH YOU as you were telling! What an adventure! I imagine you and your cousns adventure where even better in the morning than later that day! Loved your tip about RoLOG also! Greetings from Sweden! :-)

[@JillianEve]

Thank you so much! 💜🧶

[@lorimurphy889]

my daughter's partner was a interpretor at Plymouth Plantation before the pandemic and it was like going thru time.

[@JillianEve]

Wow! That is definitely a place I would love to go visit! They have some looms there.... 😁 Maybe some day!

[@lorimurphy889]

@@JillianEve if you come to Plymouth we would have to meet up

[@alisonhenry820]

You're so funny Evie! Thanks for sharing yet another adorable moment with us. Your shawl is gorgeous! I'm learning so much about spinning from you, thank you 🧶🧵🤗

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! 🧶💜

[@sharonmurrell9291]

You're a terrific storyteller!!!!!

[@angeladavis3066]

I love everything about this episode SO much! I am going to copy you and knit this wrap to remind me of your magical childhood story and the memories that it brings me too! ❤️💕❤️

[@JillianEve]

Have fun! 💜🧶

[@melanieo15]

That turned out so pretty! What a fun story as well! I love how you combine all the things you are passionate about, it’s fun to watch and listen to.

[@JillianEve]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 😄💜🧶

[@TropicanaThunda]

OH That story was great! Totally a thing I wouldve thought about too. I loved watching you spin and work with your batts. They looked like floofy soft marshmallows. I wanted to squish them and sniff. lol Cause Im totally not weird. AT ALL. I'm knitting like crazy on this crib blanket for my new baby coming soon and then I found the cutest pattern for blue footed booby socks that I also now NEED to knit for him. XD Every baby deserves silly socks.

[@JillianEve]

That's so funny you mentioned it because someone in my knitting group just posted a random picture of a blue footed booby! Lol! I bet they will be adorable socks! ❤🧶

[@TropicanaThunda]

@@JillianEve such a small world! 😂😂😂

[@etchersplace]

Great story!!!!!!!

[@DreamWeavr]

What a delightful time traveling tale! I so enjoyed it! You have encouraged me - so much - to dust off my spinning wheel. This is the best spinning podcast on youtube!

[@JillianEve]

You are so welcome! Happy spinning!!! 😀🐑💜🧶

[@dawanariley4183]

Love the story. Batts are beautiful colors. Thank you

[@JillianEve]

Glad you liked it! 💜🧶😄

[@zoes_story]

I had a similar experience where my cousins and I would walk along the ditches at the back of their house. Turned out if you walked far enough you'd get to this like lumber yard? Lots of logs and these huge machines which seemed totally out of place because it was in the fens, a place traditionally known for just, not having forest at all. We deadass thought we'd wondered into some alternative universe because where would the trees have come from?! Unfortunately as an adult I know that it was actually a small business who'd dry and cut logs for firewood and the yard was probably only the size of a football pitch, but the only wood stores we'd ever seen had been in forested areas before. 😂 We thought the ditch was some kind of fairy pathway or something lol

[@msday2vzw]

Ohhhh, I love Outlander! That is why I started spinning! That was a beautiful project! Thank you for all you do! Gosh I wish I could go back in time! Or at least think I did!

[@JillianEve]

Thank you!

[@davidkish9829]

Love that story!

[@liadale3083]

Ohmygoodness!!! I love your time traveling story! 😂 and I’m a HUGE Outlander fan as well! Learned about the books and the show from my knitting group...you can say I’m obsessed 😜

[@cinderjw]

Now i really want to go to new Salem!

[@rachelmaynard2042]

Off topic, but I just need to tell you your eyeliner is PERFECT today!

[@JillianEve]

Oh thank you! 🥰

[@spudy-bug1956]

So happy to find you. I got a spinning wheels and I have having so much trouble getting it right. I'm hanging in there!

[@JillianEve]

You got this! If you are interested, I offer virtual spinning lessons. I also have a spinning course and more tutorials you can find on my Patreon. www.patreon.com/jillianeve Hope that helps! Happy spinning!

[@rachelkeller6378]

That's such a great story! The Batts are gorgeous. I'm heading over to paradise fibers now!

[@JillianEve]

Have fun! They are such a nice spin!

[@valeriegeorgevitch3876]

That was a fabulous story --- don't we miss the innocence and naivety of youth!! That yarn and project turned out awesome--- love the mix and the way the colors blended so well!! BTW is that the Narnia yarn on the niddy noddy behind you? Now I want to get two batts and play .... THX for the inspiration!!

[@JillianEve]

Thanks! That color is so close isn't it? It's 4 oz of carded corriedale. 🧶💜

[@reeree05]

Loved thos video and the whole process plus story was fun .you may have I aspired me to make a shawl like this hehe ✌🌻

[@JillianEve]

You should! It's such a great handspun project! 😄💜

[@cindybenjamin9607]

Jillian, I totally loved this episode! ❤️ It was a moment in time. I ordered two batts from Etsy last night. Need to go back and order another two to spin enough yarn. What was your pattern? Where did you purchase the yarn swift and ball winder? It was calming and warm and fun! I have Parkinson’s and you have made my day! Thank you so much!!! 💙💛💜🧡💚☺️

[@JillianEve]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! The pattern I used was inspired by this pattern www.favecrafts.com/Knit-Clothes-Patterns/Button-Scarf-Wrap Happy spinning! 💖

[@l.rowanmcknight7853]

I would argue that you did, in fact, go back in time

[@JillianEve]

I mean...it was pretty awesome! Lol! 😂

[@hawthorngrove3629]

I love your Shawl

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 🧶

[@marlenemikkelborg1278]

Jeg elsker at dit hår er glat, det klæder dig virkelig meget ❤

[@suzannefolsom7470]

I absolutely love your story!!!!! I was really surprised at how much the bright pink was toned down - it made a beautiful yarn. What ball winder are you using???

[@JillianEve]

Thank you so much! The ball winder is from Amazon amzn.to/3tySYoR It can wind a massive yarn cake!

[@joyceohman4789]

I love the finish on you Ashford traditional! Did you do it yourself? I think that would be great on my Traveller. I bought it used a long time ago and it’s finished somehow, but the woods have color differences. I like the bright look of your Traditional.

[@JillianEve]

Yes! Here is the blog post about it - jillianeve.com/i-painted-my-spinning-wheel-and-i-dont-hate-it/

[@m2ym2y99]

I love your story, and your beautiful new shawl. Did you set the twist in the yarn?

[@JillianEve]

Yes I did! I washed it with Soak, thwacked it, and hung it to dry without a weight. 😄🧶💜

[@vickimerchlewitz]

This is my favorite video yet from you. I love spinning from batts. I’m also really into plums and fuschia and mauve colors right now. Do you think it’s possible to get these two batts from wherever you got them?

[@JillianEve]

In the video description. 😊💕🧶

[@cyndidaves5313]

Hi Eve, I am trying to find a video that helps me decide what fibers to use when making a batt. I have tons (dozens of different wool and Mohair) raw fleece but I don't know what fibers to use and blend to make a yarn for knitting a sweater, or which fibers to use to make a yarn for socks or a hat or a cardigan. Do you have a video that teaches which fibers to use. I know this is a loaded question and probably would be a lengthy video? Can you guide me in a direction to find this info. Maybe a video or a book, etc. Thank you so much for any help. I appreciate you.

[@renaebettenhausen3611]

I think THAT'S what is called "Spinning a good yarn"

[@traceytowner176]

Hi Jillian, love this! I finally got the hang of long draw. I was wondering what size whorl you used and about how many treadles to your draw back and approx. how long you draw back before you let it feed on? I am a new spinner and I am confused about how much twist needs to be in a long draw. Also, what size whorl for the ply?

[@JillianEve]

It is going to be different for each yarn and prep but for my spin, my yarn was thicker and I wanted it to be soft so I only put a couple twists in each inch of it to keep it nice and fluffy. The whorl I used was a 6.5:1 To determine how much twist you need, try pulling on the yarn as you make it. If it falls apart, you need more twist, if you can draft from your fiber supply, you are just right, and if you can't draft, you have too much twist. That's a bit general, but it should help! Happy spinning!

[@traceytowner176]

Did you ply with a 6.5:1 also? Thanks so much for the reply!

[@Which-Craft]

btw, what's the best method for drafting? i'm a newb and I have trouble keeping it consistent. Do you have a video for that?

[@JillianEve]

I talk about it in lots of videos because it is different for various fibers, equipment, and what you want your yarn to be. It all gets easier with practice. 😊💜🧶