Woolgathering

I have temporary custody of a book, Wool’n Magic by Jan Messent. I settled down to look at it this evening, and found myself thinking how much Carole would like it.

It’s an inspirational book, full of ideas about using colour and texture in mainly freeform ways. It’s feeding my ambition to turn my handspun into freeform knitted wall art.

Looking at the book (I must read it later) made me wish that I had far more bits of yarn in my craftroom stash, and inspired me to get on and do something about learning dying techniques. It has also persuaded me to sort out my bits of yarn and fibre* into colour-sorted storage displays. I need some glass jars…

…but whatever will I do with all my rice and pasta?

* By which I mean my other stash, not my spinning/knitting stash - but the bits I keep for papercrafts: bookmaking, collage etc.

Yesterday was busy. And so was today.

Yesterday, G and I went to Kirkwall on the ferry, to meet up with M and go see a very nice man from HIE Orkney. It was a useful and instructive meeting. There will, apparently, be more of these to come. We came away with some paperwork to do, and not much time among competing pressures in which to do it.

After the meeting, among other more boring things, G and I went to the Craft Fair at the Town Hall. We had a good nosey around. My favourite items were cobweb weight (I think) scarves in a wonderful airy cockleshell pattern. I need to find out the pattern for these as I really must have a go! They had a wonderful Edwardian or maybe Art Nouveau feel to them, and are crying out to be made up in in Lavender Grey or nice deep Peacock shades. I’ve been Googling, with little success, and suspect it to be a very traditional stitch pattern. To be honest, I am not even certain that it was knitted. It may be some other craft, like tatting or hairpin lace, but I don’t have the familiarity with those to be able to tell. But gorgeous, and I must make one!

It was a hectic day and I barely managed to pick up a couple of bags of shopping on the way to the return ferry. I knitted some sock on the way home.

Today was spinning day but I was all behind myself when I got up. I rushed out the door, spotting a parcel had arrived, and grabbed it to take with me as I had some idea what may be in it. I had been briefed and prepared for its arrival.

I called at the GP’s surgery on the way, to pick up a prescription (yes, I drove myself again!) and then had to go the long way around as we have high tides just now and the road was flooded again. I got to take the 4WD off-road

The first thing we did at spinning was to go and admire puppies. I figured that it was safe to do so, now that the puppy with the wonky jaw has been promised a home elsewhere

“Ooooh, what a pretty dog!” I said, as the door opened.

I did not expect this to be met with the reply “That’s the one still needing a home” Oh, dear…

Well, she is. Pretty. And shy.  And a real heart-stealer. In fact all three were heart-stealers in their own ways.

We put the dogs away, having met the parents as well, and went to the business of the day. I opened my parcel. The ladies laughed at me as I squealed. I squealed three times.

Squeal #1:

Merino/Tencel. Colour, Peacock. It’s kind of like a waterfall…

Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? This is for laceweight and for that elusive cockleshell scarf. It’s exactly the right Fin de Siècle feel to the colour, I think - and pretty much exactly what I had envisioned yesterday.

It may need beading… actually. Seed beads in emerald/cobalt/violet black peacocky shades.

If I can’t find the pattern for the scarves that we saw yesterday, then this fibre will become one of these shawls. That’s my reserve plan. Can you imagine this, in Peacock? I certainly can.

Squeal #2:

This is Merino/Mohair in grey and burgundy shades, called Castile. Always a favourite colour combination of mine, I think I have to give this away and it will become a gift for my husband - who really does deserve something special as thanks for his unstinting support. I hope I can get enough out for a jumper. I  may have to marry it with toning plain ribbing or something. If I can’t work out that plan, then a very special hat and scarf set, I think. Merino/Mohair will certainly ward off the Orkney winter chills.

Squeal #3:

This is Soy Silk. The stuff left over from making tofu becomes amazing fibre. Just look at those colours - red, Red, RED!!! and orange and magenta… it positively screams “India!” at me. Is it not glorious?

I have no idea what this may become. It is entirely possible that I will never spin it, but just take it out to look at once in a while. I think I have found a whole new obsession, photographing fibre. I may have to take lots more pictures of this one, and the peacock too. It’s very photogenic stuff!

All fibres from Mielke’s Fiber Arts

• Merino/Tencel (OMG - look at those colours!)
• Merino/Mohair (oooh, like the Diablo as well)
• Soy Silk (oh, help - I think I need ALL of those colourways!)

This parcel came from the same very generous person who sent me the parcel from The Alpaca Spinner. Not only a lady with generous impulses, but also one of great taste! Thank you very much indeed.