I found this short documentary on YouTube this weekend and wanted to share it with you.
Yes to the empowerment of knitting!
Until next time…
Yak Attack!
Today I finished the plying of the Qiviut fiber I spun on Saturday. With that drying and my Polonaise wheel set up for lace/fingering weight spinning, I grabbed the yak I found in my stash.
I have to say, I found the Qiviut fiber easier to handle and spin than this yak. Maybe I spoiled myself for all other fibers.
Here’s a wee bit of information on Yak Down:
Staple Length: 1 1/4-2 1/4 inches (3.2-5.7 cm)
Natural Colors: Black, dark gray, white, reddish, with dark brown being the most common.
Fiber Diameter: Down, 13-22 microns
Yet another warm fiber that I will make a lace project with.
Until next time…Yak, that’s the fact, Jack!
Homespun
Grab a cup of tea, your spinning wheel and fiber and take 15 minutes to enjoy this short film from the US National Archives now available on YouTube. Full credits and information available
Enjoy!
Credit Information from YouTube: Published on Jun 14, 2016 "Homespun" Made by Sharon and Thomas Hudgins This film was made with funds from the United States Information Agency's Young Filmmakers Bicentennial Grant Project. From the USIA records: A documentary film about the traditional craft of handweaving in America. Photographed at the Hambridge Center of Weaving in southern Appalachia, the process and history of weaving is explored to the background of authentic mountain music. Creator(s): U.S. Information Agency. 1982-10/1/1999 (Most Recent) Series: Moving Images Relating to U.S. Domestic and International Activities , 1982 - 1999 Record Group 306: Records of the U.S. Information Agency, 1900 - 2003 Contact(s): National Archives at College Park - Motion Pictures (RDSM), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road College Park, MD 20740-6001 Phone: 301-837-3540, Fax: 301-837-3620, Email: mopix@nara.gov National Archives Identifier: 53137 Local Identifier: 306.7151 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/53137
Spinner’s Gold – Qiviut
For New Year’s eve, I stash dove into my collection of fibers and pulled up 1 oz. of spinner’s gold – qiviut.
I purchased it back in August 2015 when I went to visit my friend, Larraine, up in Alaska. I’ve been holding onto it for the right time and reason. I believe going into a new year spinning it was just what I was waiting for.
Here is a bit of information on Qiviut:
Qiviut Down Length: 1/2 – 6 inches (2-16.5 cm)
Qiviut Down Diameter: estimated between 11 and 19 microns
Qiviut needs to be dehaired and is great for knitting, though it has not fiber memory.
It has a natural color of soft gray-brown. It can be dyed, but why?
At the price per oz. back in 2015 ($40/oz) it would go a long way if mixed with another fiber with a low micron count.
I plan to knit a simple, lace cowl for myself. Hopefully I can get enough yardage to ply it on itself.
Until next time…stay warm.
January #handmadeholiday2017
In the spirit of taking back the holidays, I am suggesting a year of #handmadeholiday2017 on Instagram.
Make a list, check it twice…then start the year off with a stash busting hat and a few gift tags to print out to complete your gift.
Let’s start with the hat.
This month will be devoted to hats. The Family of Stripey Hats from Churchmouse Yarn & Teas is a free pattern and is perfect for using up bits of worsted weight yarn stash to create unique hats for everyone you want to gift a handmade, hand knit item to.
There are many knit-a-longs starting soon, though the one I’m joining in on is #caramomcoffeeKAL for the new pattern design from Boyland Knitworks. Another stash busting pattern for fingering weight yarns, especially if you have a drawer full like I do.
Next, grab a page or two of cardstock and print out some of these lovely tags.
For a very simple set of 8 tags I made myself.
I love using a paper lunch bag, maybe decorated with a pinecone and cinnamon stick or just a ribbon added with a tag. How easy and yes, thoughtful a small package can be.
Just keeping it simple.
Until next time…
The Gift of Research: Weaver’s Journal
I happened across a website with 46 issues of Weaver’s Journal in PDF format and wanted to share it with you.
There is some great information for all fiber artist’s in Weaver’s Journal. Even though it dates back to the 1970’s and 1980’s, working with fiber is a timeless classic that never goes out of style.
I hope you enjoy the issues as much as I do.
Happy holidays!
Peg Loom
Nothing like enjoying a new craft such as the peg loom.
Until next time…
Blue Texel on a Sunday Afternoon
Just a little wool processing on a rainy, October Sunday. A makers gotta make and I’m on the edge of my happiness doing so.
Music from Free Music Archive.org.
“Grace, Fully” by Wildlight
Addicted to Sheep – Trailer
I’m looking forward to “Addicted to Sheep: A year in the life of a British farming family as they try to breed the perfect sheep.”
Coming soon to iTunes. Until then, check out the trailer.
Until next time…
DIY: We are the makers…
the dreamers, the fiber fanatics galore.
Years ago, I purchased cloth labels to attach to my creations. Since then, I have collected lots of craft supplies that I could certainly create my own.
If you are ever in need of a million ways to make something, head on over to Pinterest. It is full of ideas and DIY’s, really more than any one person would have need of in a lifetime.
Gather your supplies:
Freezer Paper (need iron) or
(optional: copy paper- baste fabric onto paper – cut to 8.5″ x 11″
cotton fabric – cut to 8.5″ x 11″
scissors or rotary cutter/mat
iron
word program to create labels
ink jet printer
sewing machine (optional)
Using a word program, create your label with any font, clip art, etc. I won’t go into detail on this part, as there are so many options.
Print a draft of your labels and decide how you will finish them off. I created 8 to a page for folding over the edges.
Cut freezer paper and fabric to 8.5″ x 11″. Iron fabric to freezer paper.
Optional: You can baste your fabric onto standard copy paper. I may do this next time as I did have a bit of a fold happen each time the printer took up the fabric/freezer paper.
Run your fabric/paper through printer one at a time. Stand by when it is printing in case it jams.
Once printed, remove paper and heat set the ink to the fabric with an iron, probably 20-30 seconds with a HOT iron.
Cut the labels leaving a good 1/2″ on the top and bottom of the printing and about 1-1/5″ on each side. (I cut across each row, then cut the two apart)
Fold down the top edge and iron, repeat for the bottom edge.
I top stitched each label, though you could leave them without the stitches or do a running stitch by hand for a more folk art look. Also, I didn’t turn under the raw edges on the back as it wasn’t going to unravel.
Pretty simple and a great way to use up your craft supply stash.
Until next time…
