An accidentally free book

I ordered a copy of Tommye Scanlin's new book Marking Time with Fabric and Thread from Thriftbooks. (Amazon and I had a falling out several years ago.) I chose the free shipping option, which relies on the USPS for transport and delivery. By tracking the book's progress, I saw that it landed in Indianapolis. And that was it. No updates for a week. So I contacted Thriftbooks, they refunded my money AND told me if the book arrived, to not send it back. So of course the book arrived several days later. Whoo-hoo!

I'm really excited about the idea of journaling using fiber arts. The book is full of profiles and examples and how-to's. Even the reverse side of the book jacket helps, with its display of prompts.

Now I just need to figure out what I want to journal via fiber. My interest in inkle weaving is perking up again, so maybe that is the path forward. Or my little Mirrix Saffron pocket loom for little tapestries.

Knitting: I started one cuff of the ice dyed socks, then got distracted; however, my granddaughter is participating in the local Academic Bowl this week, which will give me an opportunity to sit and knit. The three-color simple cowl is done except for the weaving in of the ends.
Weaving: I have finished five panels of the buffalo plaid blanket, plan to do seven; started number six today.

I missed another local-ish fiber festival this weekend: the Black Swamp Spinners Guild Market Day, in Bowling Green, OH. I've been there a couple of times, thought I might give it another try, but the past week has been rough. It's a good weekend to just stay home.

That went well

I confess that I took over the programming for the spinning guild because I thought we could do better (and no one objected). The program for this week's meeting was sock knitting. A lot of spinners also knit (gotta use up that yarn somehow), and this topic was well-received.

The person who served as the "main event" went over how to knit top-down socks; the next person presented a one-page "cheat sheet" she has assembled for knitting socks on the go; and I offered up my tips and tricks, as the "Opinionated Sock Knitter". During the Q&A, others added their two cents worth, so it was an interesting and lively time.

The next program will be hands-on chain-plying, for wheels and spindles. I hope it goes as well.

Knitting: Ready to start the cuffs on the ice dyed socks. I decided how to use the three colors for the cowl of leftovers, divided up the yarn, and am ready to proceed.

Weaving: Finished panel number three on the buffalo plaid blanket; started panel four.

The next meeting of the weaving guild is to be about rigid heddle weaving. I'm hoping to have my blanket finished by then, as an example of just what one can do with a simple loom, because multi-shaft loom weavers can be a bit snotty about rigid heddle weaving.

I've been accompanying my daughter while she checks out senior living residences for her dad (I'm the moral support). Not having to cook or clean anymore certainly looks enticing - think of all the fiber stuff I could get done! But it's expensive and I'm not quite ready for that... yet.

Not this time

Due to some family obligations, I did not make it to the Jay County Fiber Arts Fest this weekend. Not that I need any more fiber or fiber tools or yarn bowls. However, I was looking forward to some pie. Oh, well, maybe next year.

Knitting: Finished Cora the Emotional Support Chicken; see previous post. Nearing the cuffs on the ice dyed socks. Started a 2x2 ribbed cowl just to use up the rest of the Jamieson & Smith yarn.

Spinning: I think I did a little spinning, but I am not enjoying the Wensleydale fiber, may abandon it for something more fun.
Weaving: Finished panel #2 of the buffalo plaid blanket and started panel #3.

The program in this past week's weaving guild meeting was about weaving transparencies. My interest in this topic is not great. However, one of the presenters spoke of Norwegian transparency weaving. *That* caught my interest. If it sounds like fun to you, check out Robbie LaFleur's website.

This week's spinning guild program is about sock knitting, which is one reason I paused my current socks, as I want to use them as an example of toe-up, knitted-on-DPNs socks. I'm not the main event, so I'm not too concerned about what I have to say, but I do need to print some handouts.

Cora the Emotional Support Chicken

Cora was abandoned in October, in favor of holiday knitting. With the next spinning guild meeting breathing down my neck, I felt motivated to finish *something* since I've been nagging other guild members to do the same.

Pattern: Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino
Yarn: Cascade 220, naturally dyed with dyers coreopsis and onion skins
Needles: US7
Modifications: none

Cora is knitted, so came out a little smaller than her sister Sunny Tutu. I've toyed with the idea of creating a pattern for a stockinette ESC, but I have plenty of other things to work on.

So the completion of this gal brings my completed UFOs to two for the year. What shall I work on next?

Stuff

I edited my previous post to include the link to the article about Heritage Spinning and Weaving. If you don't want to look back, the link is here.

Which brings me to the topic of the source: Farm & Fiber Knits, another subscription from Long Thread Media. I'm not a subscriber, but if you are interested in local farms, natural fibers, shepherds, and unique designers, this is one source. It's not that I am not interested in those things; I am feeling overwhelmed by email and online information at the present moment. Even fiber can be too much sometimes.

Knitting: Still slogging away on the ice dyed socks.
Spinning: Still working on the Wensleydale top; I've read that this fiber felts well, but it seems very wispy, so I slather up with hand lotion when spinning it, to try to tame it a bit.
Weaving: The first panel of the buffalo plaid blanket is woven; started the second one.

For a while there, I was not feeling the weaving. After finishing the log cabin scarf for my SO, my interest perked up, probably because the scarf turned out so nice. Maybe I just needed a boost in confidence to get going again at a loom. I have several new weaving projects in mind, so stay tuned!

Local (and not so local) fiber stores

I came across an interview with Joan Sheridan, owner of Heritage Spinning and Weaving, somewhere. (Of course, I cannot find the interview now. EDITED: The link is here.) It led me to her store, and I am in love. We were in the neighborhood when we visited the Cranbrook Art Museum; too bad I didn't know about the store at the time. They will be at the Michigan Fiber Festival, though, so now I have an excuse to go to that.

We have several local fiber stores in the Fort Wayne area. One is Simply Socks Yarn Co which does most of its business online, but the storefront is open alternating Saturdays and Tuesdays. Another is Knitting Off Broadway, which of late has few hours, but is full of luscious yarn. And then there is Little Shop of Spinning, which hosts monthly spin-ins that I usually attend. While I have attended classes at all three, post-pandemic not much is happening in that area. Maybe I need to put a bug in someone's ear.

Knitting: Still plugging along on the ice dyed socks.
Spinning: Back to spinning the Wensleydale top; it's... unusual, so I am pre-drafting it.
Weaving: The buffalo plaid blanket is off to a slow start - the yarn is sticky - but I feel like I am on the way.

Now I am feeling dumb. I could not figure out why Joan Sheridan's name sounded so familiar. It's because I took a class from her in 2021 over Zoom; there is even a link to the store on my post. She has published several articles in Little Looms as well. Duh!

Box hat in Shetland

When I saw this pattern on Purl Soho, I had to give it a try. Instead of the usual round top, the hat has a boxy shape. I also liked the deep ribbing.

Pattern: Box Hat by Purl Soho
Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran Worsted, in 'Flugga White' and 'Light Grey'
Needles: US8
Modifications: None except I didn't use bulky yarn as suggested in the pattern; also, I cast on using the alternating long tail method and US9 needle

This hat is very comfortable and very warm. Unfortunately, I don't know how to do the Kitchener stitch without forming "ears".

If you are looking for an easy and quick hat to knit, I highly recommend this one.

(An aside: Purl Soho started as a brick-and-mortar shop in New York Ciy. I was there once! It was early days of my return to knitting and, even though the shop was relatively tiny, I found it a bit overwhelming and intimidating. Plus I am shy. In 2023, the owners made the decision to go online only, sad for the neighborhood, but their website is amazing. Check them out!)