The crocus have gone, but the garden has put forth its first crop of flowers for picking. I’m anxious for it to be warm enough to work outside a little and get the garden beds in shape. Lots of raking to do, and weeding, of course. I’d really love to have a super-power of being able to cause weeds not to grow in my garden. The weeds I have are completely oblivious to my efforts.
The sunshine and (slightly) warmer weather has done its job in getting me into spring cleaning mode. It is thwarted somewhat by the cats, who like to “help” with everything and are curious to bat around anything that falls on the floor. After being generally good around yarn they have turned into maniacs, and I’m finding skeins all over the house. This is in spite of high shelves and containers, so you know that they’ve learned how to get into everything at night when we’re not looking.
The real progress has come in my studio, where Bruce installed shelves along one wall to take up more of the clutter. He’s also installing new lights to lessen the cave-like look that the low ceilings produce in winter. The original owner of the house put in barn boards on the walls and their deep brown contributes to the dreary look. We didn’t want to paint, however, so the colors of yarn and white shelves have really lifted the space out of the gloom. AND, with all of the new boxes and baskets I’m actually able to find things. No more piles! (Well, fewer piles anyway)
My time continues to be split between knitting, spinning and band weaving. Even a little sewing thrown in. I actually set up my knitting machine (it’s in the picture above mounted on an old treadle machine base that my dad painted brightly). Now that it’s on a solid base, it might work like it’s supposed to, but I’m avoiding going any further until I make some progress on the Works In Progress.
This is the shawl that I plan to add woven bands to in order to tie it on. The “wings” will wrap around my back, and then the bands will come back and be tied in the front.
I’ve re-started this shawl several times as I couldn’t seem to get the fabric I wanted. The yarn is from Loch Ness Knitting. Two lovely taupe colors are produced with natural dyes by Dwynwen in a small village near Inverness. I’ve written about her before, but hadn’t knitted with her yarn. Now that I have, I must say it’s really nice, soft, squishy and the colors are subtle and interesting. Can you describe a color as “comfortable?” This greyish-brown has that feel to me, and when done, I think I’ll reach for this shawl often. It’s meant to be a working shawl, and the ties should keep it in place.
I sometimes think that my brain is slightly connected to my friend Josefin in Stockholm, since I had just started this when she texted me to ask about patterns for a Sontag/Bosom Friend/Hjärtevärmare. I wasn’t familiar with that name, but knew the style, and mine is based on a design by Kate Whiting. She has done a number of patterns for Loch Ness Yarns and designed a number of lovely patterns inspired by the television series Outlander; that has once again popularized this shawl style.
19th Century American Sontag 
Contemporary Sontag taken from Godey’s Lady’s Book of 1860 (this version from Knitting Traditions, Fall 2014
My Electric Eel version 6.0 also arrived recently, so I’ve been spending some time learning to use it. It’s a joy (quiet and fast) to work with, and I’m hoping to finally get to the three braids from Inglenook Fibers that have been sitting on the pile for some time. This beautiful green/blue-green/yellow-green braid has wonderful depth of color as it’s spun, and I’m really enjoying it slip through my fingers. The base is Polwarth and the long staple has taken some getting used to. It’s a real difference to the Romney I’ve been working on with my big wheel since January.
I continue to have no shortage of projects, and an ever-increasing stash of unfinished projects. Such is the life of the knitter!
Looking to the Future
I’ve signed up to go to my first SOAR (Spin Off Autumn Retreat). It will be held in September in Boulder, CO. Bruce and I are hoping to go together to be able to spend some time in the Rockies. We’ve talked about doing a “camping trip” in the West ever since we first met. Now mind you, I don’t camp. There will be no ground sleeping or outdoor group toilets for this girl, but I’ve agreed to RV camping (yes, Suzanne Larson, I’m going to give it another try). It’s all dependent on being able to get a room for the both of us at SOAR, and at the moment, they all are sold out. I’ve registered anyway and am on a waiting list for a “couples” room. The class list is amazing, and I’ve signed up for 4 short classes and 1 full-length (2-day) class. I won’t know for a while if I get the ones I’ve requested. Here is a link to the full program. I’ll let you know how that all turns out once I get more information from the organizers.
Meanwhile….
Keep practicing your textile arts. If they don’t completely calm you down, at least they produce something in the end!
The RV will be very different than our experience. For one thing it will be completely outfitted! No running to the discount store to buy towels, a coffee maker, etc….
I thought about SOAR but the timing isn’t great for me. We hope to be getting the house ready to go on the market in the fall/winter. I hope you can go …I want to hear all about it when you get back.