Weaving and Spinning Expert Liz Gipson

Today on the YarnThing Podcast with Marly Bird: weaving and spinning expert Liz Gipson!

Listen in below to hear Marly and Liz talk about Liz’s journey through the industry, weaving, spinning, video production in the yarn world and much more!

Liz learned to weave from her mother while she was teaching crafts as occupational therapy at the mental health ward of the University of Virginia Hospital.  She has always loved weaving and soon became interested in sheep.  In college she minored in fiber arts, ended up at Interweave (convenient as she lives in northern Colorado) and has been in the industry ever since.  In addition to weaving, Liz also spins and can knit.  She was one of the original people who worked on Knitting Daily TV (and was one of the first 4 co-hosts).  Liz also worked at Schacht Spindle Company.  Schacht produces many of the tools used to make yarn, like spindles and spinning wheels, as well as weaving equipment like looms.  One of the founders, Barry Schacht, also got into making bicycle tech as well.  Liz worked in the sales and marketing department and loves connecting to people.

A few years ago, Liz decided that she needed a change (her back was happy to not spend 2 hours a day in the car as well) and made a leap to self-employment.  As she was well versed with video technology as well as yarn and fiber crafts, she decided to do video production for crafty people.  She also started a website for selling weaving patterns called Yarnworker.com.  Liz’s weaving expertise is with the ridged-heddle loom (she even wrote a book in 2008 called Weaving Made Easy: 19 Projects Using a Simple Loom, check it out) and wanted a place for designers to sell their patterns and hopefully get more people into weaving.  The website is also a great resource because weaving is not jet on Ravelry yet, so it is a place for people to find inspiration as well.

Liz is also involved in Spinzilla, a spinning competition that runs during national spinning and weaving week.  Teams from all over compete to see who can spin the most yardage in a week.  Spinzilla sponsored by TNNA (the National Needlearts Association) and the Spinning and Weaving Group.  Last year, they collectively spun over 1 million yards of yarn!  (Liz also did the video for them, check it out below!)

Important links for today’s show:

• Schacht Spindle Company website
• Yarnworker website
• Yarnworker blog
• Spinzilla website (make sure to check out the video)

And we won’t forget the Giveaway! Leave a comment that includes Liz’s keyword for your chance to win a full set of weaving patterns from Yarnworker.com!

Let’s give some love to our sponsors! 

XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Indian  Lake Artisans
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Bijou Basin Ranch
Buffalo Wool Co.
Green Mountain Spinnery
KnitCrate

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Liz Gipson and what does she do?

So here’s the thing… Liz Gipson is a weaving and spinning expert who used to work for Schacht Spindle Company. She’s also co-hosted Knitting Daily TV and has her own website for weaving patterns called Yarnworker.com. She does a lot of cool stuff in the yarn world!

How did Liz learn to weave?

Honestly… Liz learned to weave from her mom! Her mom taught crafts as occupational therapy at a hospital, and that’s where Liz first fell in love with weaving.

What is Spinzilla?

Yes! Spinzilla is a spinning competition that happens during national spinning and weaving week. Teams compete to see who can spin the most yarn in a week… it’s pretty amazing how much they spin!

What kind of weaving does Liz specialize in?

Well… Liz’s weaving expertise is with the ridged-heddle loom. She even wrote a book about it called “Weaving Made Easy” with lots of projects using a simple loom!

What’s the connection between Liz Gipson and Yarnworker.com?

Oh, that’s a great question! Liz started Yarnworker.com because she wanted a place for designers to sell their weaving patterns and to get more people interested in weaving. It’s also a fantastic resource since weaving isn’t on Ravelry yet… kinda!