Color & Shape: Inspiration from Ancient Cultures

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

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

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

London Design Feast

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

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

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!

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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.

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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

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

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.