Colour Collab // Diana Twiss: Shadows on Snow
Earlier this year, we invited the spinning instructors at the School of SweetGeorgia to help us create new colourways inspired by photographs that spoke to them. The result is our Colour Collab Collection: Winter Inspirations. Over five weeks, we’ll be sharing these yarns with you, along with the stories behind how each one was spun. Whether inspiration comes from a photograph, a colourway, or a finished yarn, we love sharing that creative spark with our fibre arts community. Diana Twiss: Shadows on Snow is the second post in the series.
Please check back to see all five posts as they are released:
- Kim McKenna- River Walk
- Diana Twiss- Shadows on Snow
- Rachel Smith- Wesley’s Field
- Debbie Held- Winter Skies
- Katrina Stewart- Sprinkles of Joy
Shadows on Snow Colourway
The Inspirational Photograph
“I have always been surprised and delighted by the colours found in shadows hitting the snow. We often think of shadows as being shades of black or grey, but there is a variety of blues and purples in the shadows. A great example of this is seen in this painting. In the winter, the sun is lower in the sky, and it leads to a dramatic contrast of light, warm colours hitting the snow against the deeper, cooler colours of the shadows. It’s icy and cool, yet somehow visually complete. “
The Fibre: Trifecta & Corriedale
Trifecta: This base begins with Bluefaced Leicester wool, a fibre known for its strength and surprising softness, making it perfect for next-to-skin projects. We then add mohair, not to create a fuzzy texture, but to boost durability. Finally, a touch of silk brings both extra strength and a beautiful sheen, enhancing the natural lustre of the blend. Together, these fibres create a yarn that is strong enough for socks yet soft and drapey enough for the dreamiest shawls.
Corriedale: Corriedale is a favourite among many spinners, and for good reason. It’s easy to manage while spinning, takes colour beautifully, and is durable and soft enough for next-to-skin use. Many beginners start with Corriedale because it leads to satisfying results right from the start.
The Handspun Yarns
Diana has a way of combining technique and colour that always feels fresh and unexpected. You’ll find all the step-by-step details a little further down in this post.
Sampling to Learn & Play
Diana: “To get used to the fibre and the dyeing pattern used in the colourway, I did a series of 2-ply yarn experiments. Simple and quick samples like these give me a lot of information about the fibre (especially after it is finished/washed) and how the colours are working.
From my samples, I determined that I liked the look of the second sample, Shadows on Snow with the undyed Trifecta, and wanted to explore it in a cabled yarn.”
Traditional Crepe Yarn
Diana: “The cabled yarn I made was a standard 2-ply x 2-ply cable. In a cabled yarn, you are making 2-ply yarn (with extra twist), and with another 2-ply (with extra twist). My resulting cabled yarn was well structured with the two yarns locking into each other, and it was a soft yarn.”
Bubble Crepe Yarn
Diana: “The next experiments were with crepe yarn variations. Crepe yarn is similar to cabled yarn in that it is a compound yarn; you rework the plied yarn to get a specific effect. With a crepe yarn, you are plying a singles yarn around a two-ply yarn. This is where the variations can come in. To further explore the Shadows on Snow imagery, I made a bubble yarn. When done correctly, the two thin singles appear to strangle the thick single, making the bubble effect.”
Diana Twiss
Diana Twiss is an experienced fibre arts instructor with a strong background in adult education and fine art. Passionate about fibre, fabric, colour, and texture, she has introduced countless beginners to the joy of creating yarn and has helped seasoned spinners explore new techniques, colourways, and fibres to elevate their skills. She has a particular love for spindles, appreciating their simplicity, beauty, and portability.
Based in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Diana regularly teaches fibre arts classes throughout the region and on the Sunshine Coast. She has also contributed to PLY and Spin Off Magazine.
Diana Twiss’s Courses
Colour & Fibre Play
This course is all about exploring colour through fibre blending! Instructor Diana Twiss takes us on a journey through colour combinations, from soft blends to vibrant rainbows. Along the way, she’ll demonstrate a variety of tools, including hand carders, hackles, blending boards, and drum carders.
Colour & Fibre Play II
As fibre artists, it can be tricky to recreate the magic of a small sample when scaling up for a bigger project. In this course, Diana shares helpful techniques for blending, spinning, and plying so you can confidently create larger quantities of yarn that stay true to your original vision.
Spinning with Suspended Spindles
Curious about spindle spinning? Diana Twiss teaches the basics of spinning with suspended spindles. With just a spindle and some fibre, you’ll be ready to create beautiful handspun yarn for knitting, crocheting, or weaving.
Next-Level Spindle Spinning
Spindle spinning is a simple, portable, and great way to make yarn. In this course, Diana builds on our earlier spindle classes to help you refine your skills with both suspended and supported spindles. Learn how to choose the right spindle, build better cops, spin luxury fibres, ply, and even create art yarn, all while developing an ergonomic daily practice.
Explore our online courses and community of fibre arts makers at the School of SweetGeorgia! Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!
More About Diana Twiss
Diana also creates content on the SweetGeorgia site. Browse Diana’s articles to discover techniques, refine your skills, and spark creativity.
Colour Collab // Diana Twiss: Shadows on Snow
Equipment
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1 Spinning Tool of Choice
Materials
- 1 braid SweetGeorgia Trifecta fibre Shadows on Snow colourway
- 1 braid SweetGeorgia Trifecta fibre undyed
- 1 braid SweetGeorgia Corriedale Fibre Shadows on Snow colourway
Instructions
Sampling
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Spin your default yarn when sampling for colour play. This can tell you a lot about how the finished colours will work together. Sample 1: Ply 1- Shadows on Snow on Trifecta Ply 2- Shadows on Snow on Trifecta
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Sample 2: Ply 1- Shadows on Snow on Trifecta Ply 2- Undyed Trifecta
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Sample 3: Ply 1- Shadows on Snow on Trifecta Ply 2- Yellow Corriedale & Muga Silk blend
Traditional Cabled Yarn
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This is a traditional 2-ply x 2-ply cabled yarn. For this, you need to make two 2-ply yarns, then ply them together. First, start by making four soft and fine singles. Spin the singles clockwise, to the right, with Z-twist, with just enough twist to lock the fibres. Too much twist can result in the yarn feeling like rope. Note: only one of the four singles is from the Shadows on Snow colourway; the remaining 3 singles are undyed trifecta.
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Now, you need to make two 2-ply yarns. Ply both the 2-ply yarns counterclockwise, to the left, with S-twist. You need to put extra twist into these 2-ply yarns. The first 2-ply yarn: Both strands are undyed Trifecta fibre. The second 2-ply yarn: Shadows on Snow is one ply; undyed Trifecta is the second ply. *Diana suggests that the most consistent way to do this is to ply as you normally would, and then to put it through your wheel a second time, adding the extra twist. You want the 2ply yarns, when doubled back on itself, to have enough extra twist that the two yarns lock into each other.
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Finally, take those two 2-ply yarns and ply them with each other, clockwise, to the right, with a Z-twist.
Bubble Crepe Yarns
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Crepe yarn is similar to cabled yarn in that it is a compound yarn. With a crepe yarn, you are plying a singles around a two-ply yarn. To start, you will need to spin a thick single and a thin single yarn, both spun clockwise, to the right, with Z-twist.
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Next, you need to ply the thin and thick singles together, counterclockwise, to the left, with S-twist. If we leave the yarn as is, it is known as a gimp yarn. But, since we are making a bubble crepe yarn, we need to keep going. Add extra ply-twist, as suggested in the traditional cabled yarn above*.
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Now, you will need to make the final ply, a thin single. Spin it counterclockwise, to the left, with S-twist.
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To complete this yarn, take the newly spun single and ply it with the 2-ply yarn, clockwise, to the right, with Z-twist.
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Bubble Yarn 1: The thick single is the Shadows on Snow colourway on the Corriedale; the two thin singles are undyed Trifecta.
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Bubble Yarn 2: The thick single is the undyed Trifecta; the two thin singles are the Shadows on Snow colourway.
Notes
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