Slow knit / slow yarn

Yarn is such a personal thing. We like this color or fiber maybe not so much another. We hold that yarn in our hands for many hours as we make something for ourselves or a loved one. It is not too far a stretch to imagine that the yarn picks up some of our personal vibration. How much more of ourselves then would be embodied in something made from yarn we have handspun?

 Not too far in the past, a 150 years or so, all our garments would have been made through one slow method or another. Handspun, handwoven would have been the norm, and garments lasted for years. They were passed down through the family finally becoming quilts and rags. 

Making things by hand helps ground us. It gives us a tangible place in the world where our minds can slow down and be still for a time. I am beginning a new slow project. I've solar dyed some (28 ounces) of Blue Faced Leicester. The first 4 ounces have been spun on my Matchless into a two ply that is worsted weight - the  first skein was not quite 220 yards. I'm making a guage swatch in linen stitch with a vest in mind. The colorway is Autumn Shadows. 

Summer is a good time to slow down the mind. Join me.

Ramble Preview

Just a couple of items I will be showing off during the Ramble tonight and the Market tomorrow. The shawl is a soft cotton boucle in terra cotta with a subtle turquoise stripe of rayon ribbon. It comes down to a V in the back.

Front with one side draped over the shoulder.

The V in the back is very flattering.

 The cowl is one of my merino and silk creations. All hand dyed and knit - they come in various colors.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

November

I love November. The light here in New Mexico in November is like fine wine, it is rare and you can almost taste it. The shadows are getting long and it is nippy early and late and the temptation to have a fire inside or out is great. This is on my front door:

Yes, I did make it myself and I'm happy with it and my neighbors (who are somewhat conservative) should be Thrilled it is not covered with little witches and flashing lights, but just looks mundane and like a Normal Autumn Wreath.

And This is what I have been working on for the next Ramble which is Tomorrow! This project is as close to sheep to shawl as I ever get. I bought the raw wool and washed it and dyed it and spun it into yarn and then knitted this shawl with it. The locks are Blue Faced Leicester from up near Albuquerque. The dyes are kind to the environment Acid dyes and are colorfast and lightfast. Those of you who know me personally will be totally surprised to see any kind of knitted project actually finished from my two hands. I am one of those people who loves to start knitting projects but then quickly looses interest and moves on to another knitting project. That is why I make yarn for a living and don't sell knitted items. Anyway this beauty will be on sale at the gallery (Quillin Studio and Gallery - behind COAS on Water St) until Christmas. If you see it and want to own it, send me an email.

You can see in this final picture that my loyal assistant was supervising every step. She rolled in the grass on her back as I snapped pics. It is good to be an old dog helping Mom outside in the November sunshine.

Art yarn from yesterday's post, finished and dried. It is wool, cotton and rayon, 116 yards.

This evening I've been knitting. This seems such a decadent pastime to me as I always feel like I should be spinning or weaving. However, my house is full of this beautiful hand dyed, hand spun yarn and my fingers just itch to get into some of it and make something before it flies out the door. I am making a hat. It is orange and olive greens and much nicer color combination than it sounds like it would be. Autumn is my favorite time of the year and this yarn is like having Fall in my hands. Of course where I live it was in the 70's today and not very Fall like, but I'm an optimist and I'm hoping someone will see the hat and decide they want to make one of their own, using my handspun preferably. I love to see people wearing hand made hats, or really hand made anything because I think things made by hand are a thousand times better than stuff made on machines or by slave labor overseas. I believe all gifts should be hand made! Let's start a revolution!

The Joy of Art Yarn

The only thing more exciting than spinning up beautiful singles from hand dyed wool is making it into fun art yarn. The yarn on the left is a single in pinks, reds and purples that I call Heart's Desire and the one on the right is Pink Party Yarn, that includes wool, eyelash and small pom poms all coiled around gold lame thread. While I like them both there is definitely more going on with the yarn on the right. Art yarns are taking off all over. I was in London in January and saw people everywhere wearing scarves made from hand spun wool with all kinds of stuff woven in. I think an accessory item knitted up with art yarn is just the thing to chase off the winter blahs. Look for both of these new yarns on my website: http://www.quillinfiberarts.com .

Also for all of you who emailed me about not posting more, I will try to mend my slothly ways. After four years working overseas my husband returned home this past weekend. While he is trying to decide what to do next I am working on building inventory for the show in June and spinning as much yarn as my fingers can! It is great to have him home.