Rovings & Yarns

Color & Shape: Inspiration from Ancient Cultures

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Love capturing images of beautiful design that could be useful in our fiber work:

Inspiring shapes and shades - would you believe from the 5th or 6th century B.C.?

From the Egyptian and Etruscan collections - British Museum, London.

London - the January Sales

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:46:00 +0000

London's January sales for 2011 were pretty good, yarn-wise,
but otherwise - meh. Had much better luck shopping in
Oxford, where Debenham's and other High-Street shops held
a treasure-trove of cut-rate leather goods, outerwear and
costume jewelry. Even a U.S. shopper could do well here.

Many yarn stops this year, including Liberty, John Lewis,
and "indie" shops like Loop and the wonderful IKnit London.
Only it was so wet when I was out & about, I only was able
to capture the Fiber Madness at John Lewis, Oxford Street.
Here's a word I would recognize in any language:

And which colors just weren't "the thing" this year?

Another Big Question: what are London knitters wearing this winter? (Surreptitous research)

Last year's theme was "British Breeds" - this year's is "On Clearance, soft, and not easily found at home". The take:

To end a perfect shopping day, tea at a favorite haunt - Caffe Concerto, Kensington High Street:

And, of course, cake:

Fun with Kokeshi

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:59:00 +0000

For better or worse, Japan has been much in the news lately, raising the profile of Japanese culture here in the U.S. as we look for ways to respond to the country's plight and help its citizens.

I've always been fascinated by Japanese Kokeshi dolls, but never was much interested in the Amigurumi craze, which seems to be going strong in the crochet world, as evidenced by the activity in Ravelry's Amigurumi groups. Looking around for a fund-raising idea, I chanced upon the site of Bigu,a talented crocheter from Mexico, who, though mainly an amigurumi artist, had fashioned a Kokeshi bookmark that looked simple and pretty:

So I set out to create a prototype of a similar idea, perhaps for sale at the local library, proceeds going to the Red Cross for earthquake relief in Japan. My crude version of the above:

Not having any black thread on hand, my 'blondie' is a post-modern Kokeshi, but it was a quick & fun project until I got to the embroidery part -- maybe with some practice...

Bigu's Instructions in Spanglish are here.

Leave a comment if you want to order: $10 per bookmark, including shipping. All proceeds to Red Cross for Japan earthquake relief.

UK Knitting Virtuosity at Ally Pally Show 2010

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:18:00 +0000

London Design Feast

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:07:00 +0000

Getting excited about my upcoming trek to the UK...beginning to plan the routes and make the must-see and must-do lists. Finding the wherewithal and creating the packing list can come later!

Textile-related venues and activities that are high on the list:

The Enchanted Palace, an installation that transforms Kensington Palace into an even more magical space, featuring several of the UK's outstanding designers referencing historical and modern princesses who've lived here.

More in Vogue.com

Fresh perspectives on old favorites, like plaid and handknitting, are hallmarks of the fall/winter collections at Dover Street Market.

Dover Street Market

This hipper-than-thou emporium showcases such names as Comme des Garcons and Adam Kimmel,
as well as up-and-coming young blood with new ideas about both fashion and display.
Love the London textile scene in all its iterations!

While in the neighborhood, we'll probably window-shop on Old Bond Street and see what's new at Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana and Ferragamo, just for fun. And perhaps pop into Ormonde-Jayne to sample some of their luxurious scented things!

Textile Travel Road Trip to Stitches East, Hartford CT, October 2010

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:36:00 +0000

The latest Textile Travel Road Trip was a great success!

Our group of fiber enthusiasts left Cape Cod in the early hours of Saturday, October 30, enroute to the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT, to shop and gawk at the Stitches East Market.

Dozens of vendors displayed a vast array of commercial and artisanal yarns, fibers, needles, buttons and all manner of accoutrements coveted by crocheters and knitters of all stripes. Attendees swanned around in stunning pieces of knitting and crochet virtuosity....inspiring!

Having attended many of these frenzied spend-fests, I vowed to limit my acquisitions to $100 worth of fibery goodness. First up, a nice fat (4 ounce, 435 yd) skein of silk-and-wool Tinkerbell by Ellyn Cooper, in the Fern Gully colorway, sparkling with sterling silver thread - tasty!

Next, venturing around the floor I came upon the new-to-me booth of Stichuary, featuring a lush collection of yarns from small producers...a kind of distributorship for small farmers?

The deep, dappled shades in Purple Haze called to me....and whaddaya know? it coordinates perfectly in both weight and tone with the Tinkerbell I just acquired.

Sold times two.

...And from the storehouse of delicacy called Habu, a cone of ultra-fine stainless steel thread, and one of a dusty violet fine merino, to complete my Jimi Hendrix-inspired theme of Purple Haze and Heavy Metal.

Now, to find or dream up a project that will incorporate these disparate elements into

a luxurious yet modest garment for MOI...

Every needleworker's dilemma: look, dream, fawn over and pet your stash; eventually the

perfect project will present itself. That, or you'll add it to your own personal Museum of Possibility - a win either way!

Oh wait, I forgot to check my wishlist, and here are the renowned Kollage Yarns Square Needles.

OK, I'll get one set of size 4 circs with the soft cable, just to test them out.

These will be good for many uses; bizarre feeling once they're in your hands... and I've been told that the soft cables can bend at the joint, but the verdict is not yet in. I will report back after engaging in friendly combat with these pups.

Much shopping, visiting and spending later, we repaired to the fabulous

Rein's deli in Vernon, CT enroute back to the Cape....great end to an awesome day!

Giftwork

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:04:00 +0000

Thanks to the inventive folks at Ravelry, many knitwear and crochet designers have contributed thousands of free or low-cost patterns for practically anything that can be knitted or crocheted, all stored in a searchable database. As my Traveldiva page shows, the queue for stuff I want to make is getting longer than my life expectancy.
Some recent finished items featuring Ravelry-gleaned patterns:

Two little-girl shrugs using the "Shrug This" pattern by Toni Kayser Weiner from the wonderful book - "One Skein Wonders". Each one took only an evening, and a little more time for the flowery pins of my own creation. This book and its companions, such as Luxury Yarn One-skein Wonders, are works of genius, edited by Judith Durant; they belong on every fiber lover's bookshelf!

A "Warm Wardrobe" of handknits for my nephew, John Patrick, a seagoing salt embarking on a career as a marine biologist on the chilly seas off New Bedford, MA. Wool items are practical, as the wool will still provide warmth even when wet, but several will be needed since they'll take forever to dry.

First up, JP gets the Cousteau Look with the Marsan Watchcap, a great pattern by Stacyjoy Elkin, made with Lamb's Pride Worsted. The twisted rib and ingenious cuff make this a warm and winning design.

This head-hugging style is a modified version of another pattern from
"One Skein Wonders"...two strands of worsted-weight wool/mohair blend from my stash:

A quick and easy knit, Sara Amoroso's Swampfield Cowl is a simple yet interesting design that provides warmth with enough stretch so the wearer doesn't feel like he's choking.

And a self-designed crocheted topper made with super-bulky Lion Brand wool - not too tight on the head, but warm. I'm still partial to crochet for its speed and versatility.

And another no-pattern item - a wrap crocheted in a grid pattern using Vanna's Choice Glamour in black with silver glitz thread; I'll probably make another, wider version as it packs well for travel, and the grid structure lets it double as a scarf:

Travel Security Pouch

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:59:00 +0000

Several travelers have asked how I hide valuables while on travel, particularly in crowded places. To begin with, I try not to carry too many items of value that need to be kept track of. If I'm staying in a hotel or on a cruise ship, I leave all cards and currency in the safe except one credit/debit card and some cash. These I stash in my handy little crocheted Travel Security Pouch, which is then stuffed securely into my bra. To avoid arrest, I discreetly retrieve the contents as needed, in a ladies room or shop fitting room.

The pouch is simple to make and 'install'. When time permits, I'll post actual patterns for knit and crocheted versions, but even for a beginning needlewoman, it's a simple bag made of soft sport or baby yarn; dimensions are 3 inches wide by 3.25 inches long, not including the flap with its little loop on the end. Attached is a lanyard about 6.5 inches long, also with a loop at the end. You need a small button with a good-sized shank that can accommodate both loops.

Installation:

1. Wrap the lanyard around a bra strap and button it on:

2. Fill the pouch with your millions:

3. Button the flap to close:

4. Slide pouch into the bra cup:
Voila! Your wealth will be safe and warm, and easily accessible.

I'm curious to know how others handle this important travel detail...what are your most effective security measures?

Hub Mills Store, Lowell MA

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:20:00 +0000

A bonus in my visit to Western Avenue Artists' Studios in Lowell, Mass. is that the Hub Mills Store is located on the fourth floor of the same mill building. No longer a 'real' factory store (as no yarn is actually made here), the shop is nevertheless a treasure trove of discontinued and closeout yarns by Classic Elite.

They also carry a full range of fiber paraphernalia, including patterns, needles, stitch markers and felting supplies. Knowledgeable staff are friendly, yet not intrusive as you're left to explore the shelves and bins for bargain booty.

Knit and crochet freeformers can find one-of-a-kind skeins in many textures and fiber blends to enhance their collections. I found this silk & mohair blend to bring on our summer Mediterranean cruise with Prudence Mapstone...it has the watery/vibrant/soft look I'm dreaming about for cruise projects. Also scored some Beatrice wool blend for a pair of socks for the latest Afghans for Afghans appeal.

I've been searching for two years for a not-too-springy sportweight yarn in black that will substitute for Aunt Lydia's Shimmer (which doesn't come in black), to crochet a lacy skirt. Finally, I found this Classic Elite Silk at a great price and seized nine balls of it:

Eager to start on the skirt, it took me three tries to get the gauge adjusted, but since then it's gone fast! I'll post a final pic shortly, after it's fitted to it's owner's waist size.

Adorable Kitty Knitting Book

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:23:00 +0000

Want a knitting-related book to read to young children or grandkids?
David Elliot's charming Knitty Kitty is a gentle glimpse into the lives of a knitting Kitty and her kitten friends. Beautifully illustrated by Christopher Denise, Knitty Kitty hits all the right notes as it plays with language, storytelling and adventure in a picture book that will delight young children and the knitters who love them.

See Knitty Kitty and many other fiber related children's books on Textile Travel's Resource Page.

Lowell, Massachusetts

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Lowell, Massachusetts has a long industrial and social history associated with the textile trade, particularly concerning the nineteenth century Lowell Mill Girls and their struggle for decent working conditions and equitable pay. The soon-to-be-reopened American Textile History Museum has a comprehensive collection of letters, photos and educational events from the period that paint a grim but noble picture of the times and trials of Lowell mill workers.

Western Ave. Studios, Lowell, Massachusetts

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:28:00 +0000

Many of Lowell's mill and factory buildings have been repurposed as residential lofts, mini-factories and artists' spaces. Outstanding among them is Western Avenue Studios which houses over 160 artists working in multiple media, from fine art painting, sculpture and photography to wearable textile art and quilt work. An amazing array of creative work calls to you in this dynamic space; everything from the whimsical to the highbrow is on show.

First Saturday Open Studios
First Saturday Open Studios at Western Avenue offer a fascinating view into the artists' spaces, work products and sensibilities. On a recent Saturday, I explored just a fraction of the studios, and found the artists invariably open, friendly and eager to share their love of art and craft.

Around the Mill
The old mill floorboards creak as I make my way among three stories of artists' spaces, stopping to take in tantalizing sample works outside the studios as artists and craftswomen draw me in.

I'm seeking out the fiber artists, and the high level of talent and warm welcome I receive have me already planning my return. Also, there are frequent theme events in the area, such as Women's Week , with activities to interest and intrigue all ages and abilities.

Young & Freewheelin' Knit Girls

On my rounds, I meet the very talented spinner, Rachel Lieman, and her yarn/knitting designer studiomate, Amber Daniels.

They are busily working while entertaining and patiently answering visitors' questions. Amber is creating a cool knitted tuxedo jacket, while Rachel has on display one of the most masterful BSJ's you will ever see - her own hand-dyed wool in a vibrant colorway that would compliment any baby - cute buttons, too!

Mature yet Playful Ladies
On to the scene at the Lowell Fiber Studio, a self-proclaimed "powerful group of women visionary artists". Yep, that about sums them up. A widely diverse group glued together by common space and mutual support (including a weekly meeting), these women are serious artists working in fiber and adjunct media. A sample is Susan Webber's fabric iPod case:

I zone in on the work of Sharon Sawyer, whose Catholic-school-survivor sensibility closely matches my own. Hard as you may try to let the nuns go, they're your lifelong guardian angels and the reason you can speak and write English. Her wall pieces of nuns in cars and saints in unlikely settings are gems with deep resonance for all of us formerly-uniformed Catholic girls.

Altered Consciousness
Signe (Penny) Kaleel combines an artist's eye with a craftswoman's technical skill in creating her lively pieces from fiber and found objects....interesting mix from an imaginative mind!

A Fresh Fiber Voice

Tarja Cockell presents a unique vision in wearable fiber and mixed media art pieces.
Tarja, a native of Finland, brings a fresh eye to simple dyed and painted silk scarves. Her colorways are delicate and subtle, flattering but in a backgroundy way that doesn't scream "look at me!". Her quilt and wall-art pieces have the same light yet memorable touch of a gifted artist expressing her worldview with natural fibers and virtuosic embroidery. Worth a trip.

The Textile Museum, Washington D.C.

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:49:00 +0000

While in Washington for the Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference, I made a pilgrimage to the Textile Museum, a place I've always wanted to see!

Although photography isn't allowed inside the exhibition spaces, I spent several hours studying the current show: "Timbuktu to Tibet: Rugs and Textiles of the Hajji Babas", an outstanding collection that's on show until March 8, 2009. If you live there or will be visiting soon - don't miss it! There are beautiful examples of both nomadic and urban textile design as old as the 15th Century, with fascinating commentary on the origins of the wool and silk pieces.

The museum is housed in a hilltop mansion on "S" street in the Kalorama neighborhood. In addition to exhibit space, there is a Learning Center with examples of fiber art techniques, particularly weaving, as well as a Library and Museum Shop. The museum also features online documents, such as a Guide to the Care and Display of Textiles; overall a great textile resource.

The garden's winter look was stark yet still beautiful; its summer view must be stunning:

Washington - Stitch D.C.

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:34:00 +0000

While in Georgetown, I stopped in at Stitch D.C.'s outpost there. Friendly ambience, knowledgable staff, lots of luxury and locally-produced fiber!

Xenobia Bailey at the Fuller Craft Museum

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:12:00 +0000

"Craft artist" Xenobia Bailey, really a fine artist who works in the medium of yarn, presents an exhilarating installation through March 8, 2009, at the Fuller Museum of Craft in Brockton, Massachusetts.

A portion of her Re:Positioning: Fiber Work by Xenobia Bailey is on show in the Museum's exhibition space, and it's a dynamic, life-filled display of large-scale crocheted mandalas. The show demonstrates the versatility and legitimacy of this 'domestic' craft as a vehicle for bold artistic statement.

The show not only showcases Xenobia's brilliant vision of the mandala as an iconic symbol,
it also offers a series of interactive lessons on how to crochet, featuring 'scrumbles'
of crocheted pieces created and embellished by museum visitors. A tour de force!

Visitor-generated crocheted scrumble:

Alaska Cruise with Prudence Mapstone

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Textile Travel's Freeform Fest 2008 was a great success, as we cruised Alaska's Inside Passage
with Prudence Mapstone as our eminent instructor. We enjoyed the ship, Star Princess,
as well as LYS visits to Seattle Yarn and the Beehive in Victoria, B.C. , where Prudence demonstrated her virtuoso freeform crochet and knitting technique.
See more photos on our YouTube channel, and think about joining us for Freeform Fest 2009
sailing the Mediterranean from Rome, Italy, August 17-27, 2009.

Inspiration - Man and Nature

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:58:00 +0000

A journey to Boothbay, Maine in August to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
took us through the town of Bath, so we naturally stopped at Halcyon Yarn, a treasure trove of
fibers, supplies and books for textile lovers of all stripes. Heading to Maine for leisure or business, I wouldn't waste the chance to be inspired here....

By the end of the day I was overloaded with inspiration, both from the wonderfully rich colors at Halcyon, and by the juxtaposition of color and tone, texture and light offered by the stunning Coastal Garden. With a stop in the Garden Cafe, a perfect agenda for a late summer's day!

On my return, I took my color lead from nature when crocheting these spa cloths
in green and purple nubby cotton from Halcyon:

Spring Yarn Fling at Stitch House

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:02:00 +0000

Love the yarns and ambience at this new neighborhood boutique...and I didn't yet have a photo of the owner, Annissa, so I dropped in on Stitch House once more for their spring brunch featuring FPs and WIPs by their clients and staff:

An eclectic group of OFDs (Originally From Dorchester) and New Bostonians crowded in on Sunday to have a coffee and a look at the yarns and fabrics in this light-filled shop.

I scored me some jewel-toned alpaca and organic cotton for the Alaska trip, expertly wound by the owner:

...and also captured Annissa looking serene despite the chaos - perhaps being the mother of four boys (including triplets) helps her maintain her equilibrium!

Bad Knitting Story

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:56:00 +0000

I've never been a knitter. Having learned to crochet doll hats with my Nana at the age of eight, I'd been content to explore the crochet world and leave knitting alone.
Particularly since I couldn't stand the wrist action of throwing the yarn - madness.
Then I volunteered at the Knit Out & Crochet extravaganza at Boston's South Station in 2002. The honored guest at the fashion show was Kaffe Fassett, whom I'd met in a tiny London yarn shop years ago, where to my embarrassment I'd learned that his name doesn't rhyme with 'coffee'.

It was exciting enough to see Kaffe again (rhymes with 'safe'), but while volunteering at the 'Learn to Crochet' booth, I was surrounded by knitting virtuosi: to my left, a lady knitting Continental style with seemingly no stress on her wrists and no throwing of yarn. To my right, some Waldorf elementary school kids knitting up scarves and whittling knitting needles out of wood. I'm intrigued!

Cut to last summer, when I became hot to knit, yet again, so I could do some felting projects.

Now I see there are instructions on the Internet, including some videos on Knitting Help of how to do Continental - great! Only the self-taught method yielded a somewhat crooked result, which led to my realizing I was Continentally challenged.

Thinkin that when I felted the little bag, the crooked stitches would straighten out - priceless.

So now I'm on a 'stealth embellishment' quest to camouflage my lame knitting with some freeform crochet using odd balls of Malabrigo, Noro and no-name yarns. In my dreams I'm able to transform it into something wonderful.

In my 'real' dreams I'm forever seeing the awesome Caribbean Reef Octopus I discovered last month while snorkling off the coast of Haiti. I followed this guy for about 1/2 mile along the reef, and don't know when I've met a more amazing creature!

So, using him as a sea-motif, I'm working on the transformation from amateurish knitting to freeform masterpiece - outcome to be posted soon, but I'd appreciate any ideas from you expert knitters!

Stitch House - Dorchester Massachusetts

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:27:00 +0000

A lovely new Textile Travel favorite spot is Stitch House, at 846 Dorchester Ave. in Boston.

Owner Annissa Essaibi George has created a comfortable base for yarn and fabric lovers to meet, learn and share ideas.

The shop caters to newbies and experts alike, from teenage girls learning to construct their first dress, to seasoned crocheters and knitters looking for unique yarns from the likes of Colinette, Debbie Bliss and Twilleys.
Best of luck, Stitch House!

Being from South Boston, I couldn't resist their "Wearin' o'the Green" display, and
picked up a skein of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, and another of Australian Cleckheaton Wool/Silk blend. On arrival home, I immediately set about to make a newborn hat for the Afghans for Afghans project - soft and warm!
The rest will go into my stash to bring to Alaska on our Freeform Fest Cruise.

Celebrity Millennium does the Caribbean Islands right!

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:50:00 +0000

Even in the rain, Tortola is one of my favorite places to be!
Aboard the Celebrity Millennium in February, we stopped in the British Virgin Islands on a showery day, and had arranged a private tour of Peter Island Resort, a gorgeous place! Our happy group loved the ferry ride and tour!
This is one of their beach wedding spots:

We were scouting ports and destinations in the Caribbean for next year's Travelry Cruise - more about the cruise soon!

Research can be pleasant!

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:30:00 +0000

Self-employment has its pitfalls - unpredictable revenue streams, the need to do EVERYTHING oneself, dealing with the IRS - the uncertainties surrounding owning a business are not for the faint of heart.

That's why we travel professionals need to regroup every now and then, travel someplace warm, and relax. Of course, we are working too, scouting future destinations and adventures for our clients. The staff of Textile Travel will soon be doing some intense research aboard the Celebrity Millennium sailing on February 3 from Fort Lauderdale to several Caribbean ports.
As it happens, we are also rabid New England Patriots fans, and as it's Super Bowl Sunday, we will be vociferous participants in the Brady cheering section as the ship sails away.

We can't wait to sample the many features of this upscale ship: Thalassotherapy
spa pool, library & media spaces, and the famous Olympic restaurant, with its 1912 wood panelling from the original ship Olympic:

We'll be sure to report on the cruise while at sea, particularly if we find some fiber nuts or yarn shops of interest!

Putting on the Knitz, Newton Massachusetts

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:19:00 +0000

Yarn that's nice, plus free advice!

Janet and Don are the very capable owners of this neighborhood yarn shop in West Newton MA. They offer free knitting help when you purchase materials at their small but densely-packed shop, which has nary a yarn visible that hasn't been swatched or made into a brilliantly styled sweater or other garment. A treasure house of knitting lore and learning.

1282 Washington Street
Newton, MA 02465
(617) 969-8070

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A Colorful Oasis in Winter

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:10:00 +0000

One of the pleasures of holiday time is visiting studio shows and artist open house events. In Northampton, Massachusetts, the bright and beautiful showing of silk artist Pat Hayes' work is an annual treat.

Pat has been working with silk for over two decades, and is a master of the subleties of dyeing, painting and stencilling many types of silk.

Pat is also an art therapist who is a grant recipient of the Rays of Hope Walk Towards a Cure for Breast Cancer, part of the Baystate Health System in Springfield MA. She facilitates workshops with breast cancer survivors through Art from the Heart, a program she founded in 1999.

In recent years, Pat has teamed up with designer
Cassandra Holden to create one-of-a-kind high-fashion silk clothing that's artful and flattering to all...we like that!

Cassandra (right) and Lauren Matusko model Cassandra's latest creations in Donegal wool tweed.

Pat models the llama/wool mix hat created by me, with yarn contributed by Kathy Elkins of WEBS....which just happens to be right across the street from Pat's studio:

More about Pat Hayes More about Cassandra Holden

World Travel Market, London

noreply@blogger.com (FastNet) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:54:00 +0000

A little more fabric needed, perhaps?