In between rainstorms there have been a few moments punctuated by multiple bird visits to the feeders. I recognize these, but can’t identify all of the various visitors. The number of goldfinches has been amazing. Our feeders have been totally busy this summer.
We also are getting our usual compliment of squirrels and chipmunks. The squirrels and our cats seem to have come to some sort of agreement about territory. Now when a cat jumps at the screen to scare the squirrel, the squirrel jumps back. It’s not particularly aggressive, so they may have actually developed a method of play.
It’s not a huge project, but the Buggifloor Beanie (this year’s Shetland Wool Week hat) is DONE! It was a fun knit, and was a nice break from socks.
But the real milestone was finishing one sock from each of the two yarns I’ve selected for the pattern I’m working on for the Yarn Journal fall issue. I’ve also just finished the second sock in the light-color yarn (Uist Wool Canach in the oat cottongrass colorway, 100% Shetland, 175 meters/50 g skeins). That one needs a blocking, but then on Wednesday I can ship them out to be photographed.
Before starting on the second dark brown one, I’m taking a little break to start a sweater…more about that later.
Shetland Wool Week
This past week was also the week where registration opened for Shetland Wool Week. I have to say that it wasn’t the easiest registration I’ve ever done — the website crashed at least 10 times while I was trying to sign up for classes, and in more than one instance, by the time I was able to log in again the class was already full (in the first 10 minutes no less!). That said, I did manage to get my first two choices, knitting using a knitting belt with Hazel Tindall, and a spinning class with Elizabeth Johnson. Both of these women are veritable institutions in the Shetland Islands, known for their incredible expertise as both designers and knitters of Fair Isle and Shetland Lace. In addition, Hazel is known as the world’s fastest knitter, and Elizabeth as an amazing spinner of super-fine lace-weight wool.
It will probably not surprise you that I also signed up for a full day focused on Gunnister Man. It will start off with a lecture by Dr. Carol Christiansen from the Shetland Museum. Her lecture will cover the research she and her team did that informed the reproduction of the clothing recovered from the burial site in 1951 (the reproductions were made for the Shetland Museum as the originals are on display in Edinburgh). It was a fragment from that burial that was the inspiration for the socks, above.
The day will include a visit to the bog site and a chance to knit with the other participants and make a modern version of the well-known small purse recovered from the site. That same evening I will be going to listen to some traditional music; a wonderful way to end a very exciting first day.
Updates…
My heartfelt thanks to all of you who sent me yarn to pass along to Lydia, our new friend from Ukraine. She has received the first box I sent, but I now have 3 full garbage-size bags full. It’s not economically reasonable to mail that much, so the bags will be driven to Connecticut. It actually will be nice to be able to meet her in person. I really would like to make another run through my studio to sort more of my stash for her, but I’m really focused on the next sweater, and really want to get it started. What will that be?
It will be another color work sweater, top down with a yoke. I’m modifying the pattern (are you surprised?) to change it from a pullover to a cardigan — adding stitches in the front for steeking, and curving the fronts to more of a v-neck shape than a crew neck. There will be a few additional modifications since I’m using a single strand of fingering rather than a dk weight, but otherwise, it’s pretty straightforward.
The other thing consuming my time is planning for my research trip to Scotland right before Wool Week. Bruce and I will be heading for the Outer Hebrides this time — a trip that’s somewhat complicated by matching up ferries and other forms of public transportation to get from one place to another. For all that, we’re only going to be spending time on two of the islands — Lewis and Harris (that’s actually 1 island) and Uist.
Of course, there will be sheep involved, and I’m really looking forward to seeing this multiple-horned beauties. They are quite small (females only about 80 pounds) and like the others I’m fond of, quite an old breed. Acquisition of a small bag of fleece is anticipated!
Meanwhile…
It’s time for the Tour de Fleece, and I’m already behind. I really had planned to spend at least a half-hour each day making a dent in the fleece pile, but have yet to start. My two objectives are to finish up the black Gotland, and start on at least one of my other heritage breeds.
I’ve also planned to go through the unprocessed fleece one more time and make some final decisions about what gets kept and what must go. I’ve not grown any fonder of processing, so my plan is to be “ruthless.” Ha! We shall see.
So, until the next time, spin, weave, embroider, knit, crochet (and any other craft) on, with joy in your heart and peace in your soul.
That brought back some wonderful memories! Classes with Hazel and Elizabeth at The Spider’s Web in 1998. When I saw Elizabeth working with her knitting belt I asked if she could teach me. Which she graciously did (in the middle of a knitting class). And again in 2000. We had a lace knitting class in 2012 too, when we met you on Polly’s tour.
Cherry Hansen is very adept at spinning lacewgt. which I learned on a Shetland wheel in 2000. Looking forward to your next trip adventures, Sara.