Archives for 2011

Hello Again.

Please enjoy this tease of a real Bohus sweater that exists in the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle. Last summer I was able to take a peek at some of their archives, thanks to a generous and dedicated staff, especially textile exert Karin.

Many apologies for being so absent. I’m in Seattle, where I grew up, for an extended stay. My parents are in their 80’s and I want to spend some time with them now that my schedule is more flexible. Which really means now that my kids are grown and on their own.

Not entirely. My son was in a dreadful accident, which involved his teeth. He had to  be flown up here for all kinds of frightening and painful procedures and surgery. He’s fine. He has both eyes and nothing happened to his brain. Things could have been much worse.

As a result I’ve neglected some things. But…here comes another excuse. My laptop was on the blink, in particular my photo-editing program. Luckily Apple has a store here in Seattle and now I’m best friends with it. I’ve been there 3 times so far, which takes up most of the day since getting there involves bus rides or borrowing a car or both. I think the various “problems” are solved…but the final step is throwing away the photo-library that still exists on my laptop. It also exists on an external hard drive, so I should be fine. If I don’t throw away the one on this laptop, my computer will continue to be waaaaaaay slow, and I won’t be able to add any new photos…that’s how clogged up it is…still I’m terrified. I feel like I should make some more copies of the library…except it wasn’t an easy thing to do. My poor laptop had to spend several nights at the Apple hospital…some corrupted files prohibited me from doing it on my own, though I tried and tried.

I’ve also been spending many unhappy hours talking to the insurance company, and getting emergency room documents faxed here and there trying to prove that the accident was not a “pre-existing condition …whatever…there is more but why bother… it is an endlessly confusing tale that continues.

Did I mention that my phone broke in the middle of all this?

Lordy that was boring for you, sorry.  I’m still a bit overwrought. I feel like I could sleep for a week…or maybe the whole winter like a polar bear. Only they don’t really hibernate, so I won’t either…I’ll try walking hibernation, like they do, where I’ll just conserve energy.

Puyallup, land of the State Fair of my childhood and hometown of Jared Flood has another reason for a pilgrimage, Yellow House Yarns the friendliest little yarn shop in the world.  My friend Leslie and I took a field trip heading south, Mt. Rainier looming ahead, getting huger by the minute. After the beautiful drive we found easy parking in back of a smart little Victorian clapboard house. Stroll in the door and we’re met with fresh coffee and cookies, and the cheerful voices of  owners Megan and Lysa who we find in another room lounging in comfy chairs knitting away!

Wow, what a way to feel instantly at home and never want to leave. The other rooms are chock a block full of gorgeous yarn. The laid back owners are so friendly they shared their breakfast yogurt with me! Knowledgeable about their products – yes ma’am – after listening to my criteria steered me to Shepherd’s Wool from Stonehedge Fiber Mill, a small, woman-owned company in the wilds of Michigan.  And look how pretty my purchase is!!!! Almost hated to open it when I got home but can’t wait to get started now that I did.

Yellow House Yarns
315 2nd Street NE
Puyallup WA 98372
(253) 840- KNIT (5648)

It has been a few months of moving around the globe for me. My latest jaunt was to Interweave’s Knitting Lab in San Mateo California, a really fun event that you should think about participating in next year… Alice Starmore was there….I became a blithering fan-girl.

I know, I’m showing you seaweed. My imaginary-friend-made-real Lisa and her darling Robb took me to the tidepools just north of Half Moon Bay. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law and his mom joined us too. But aren’t the colors beautiful? I love the washed out greyness of the day, with the sea blending with the sky. Lisa can tell you more about creatures we saw here. But don’t stop at that post, read about her backyard farm and the day of the dead and feral cats, all equally fascinating!

At Knitting Lab I taught Fair Isle Knitting, and 2 Andean techniques classes. Let me tell you, my students had a workout, and were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Just look at what the FI Class knit!
I enjoyed a great morning with Eunny Jang, full of mutual fascination with global knitting techniques old and new…plus she gave me a the name of a great noodle shop and a run down on what to expect: you order before you sit down, it is that crowded –line out the door, but it moves fast and is worth it: Santa Ramen just a 5 minute drive away.

Interweave Knitting Lab is sure to go down the annals of Knitting History. Talk about Knitterati!  Barabara Walker, Meg Swanson, The Nancys: Bush and Marchant…and hold on…Alice Starmore!

And more more more! Cookie A, Ann Bud, Anne Berk, Amy Detjen, Cat Bordhi, Beth Brown-Reinsel, Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, Donna Druchunas, Teva Durham, Karen Frisa, Kate Gagnon Osborn & Courtney Kelley, Robin Hansen, Vivian Hoxbro, Stefanie Japel, June Hemmons Hiatt, Galina Khmeleva, Annie Modesitt, Shirley Paden, Clara Parkes, Carol Rhoades, Gayle Roehm and Susan Strawn.

The event is mostly sold out but there are a few spaces left in some classes including my  Popcorns and Points class on Thursday, where you will learn two of my favorite Andean trims. We’ll learn to make the sweet scallopy punta edging found on traditional men’s chullo hats, I’ve used it as the edging of the wristet above. We’ll also learn to make grutas, strings of popcorns that can applied later or knit in. You can see I’ve popped a few in between the checkerboard pattern, just enough to make it absolutely darling. I’ll give you the pattern for the wristlet, or you can add them to just about anything you want. Beware! Once mastered, both are addictive fun.

You’ll need: Sport weight yarn, smooth plain yarns are best. Puntas (Scalloped Edging): 10 yds each of 3 different colors; Grutas (Popcorns): Assorted lengths of various colors of smooth yarns, 15” minimum length. Needles: 1 set dpn, and one 24” circular, US 5.

Below are some of the great fellows who patiently shared their techniques with me…do you spy a wee bit of Kirkwall, my Twist Collective socks?

Don’t miss my book signing, 200 Fair Isle Motifs, Thursday at 4pm!

I had every intention of continuing the timely posts of Shetland, sorry for the lapse!

One of the highlights of the not-to-be-missed Shetland Wool Week was meeting the mega-talent scholar-designer Kate Davies. See us at Gudrun Johnston‘s Shetland Trader Trunk Show at Jamieson & Smith. Can you see how much fun we are having? As you well know from reading her blog needled, Kate is amazing, and fun and funny too.

I gave a lecture at J&S, where afterward I got the thrill of meeting Hazel Tindall – the worlds fastest knitter – and the nicest woman ever. She kindly gave me tips on the use of a knitting belt and counseled me on which needles, or rather, “wires” to get. Read Kate’s wonderful story about her afternoon with Hazel, and prepare to die of envy.

I also met Kathy Coull, of Fair Isle who I’ve corresponded with over the years, trying in vain to get to Fair Isle.  It was so nice to finally meet her and share a little time together. She is so knowledgeable about fair isle knitting, I could easily spend a week in her pleasant company and dearly hope to do so…someday.

Liz Lovik was there too! You must know her, of Northern Lace fame? She’s an ace Fair Isle Knitter too. We seem to run into each other now an again despite living nearly 3,000 miles apart. She’s got some great blog posts about Shetland Wool Week.

I kick myself for forgetting my camera the night of the Jamieson & Smith Knit Real Shetland book launch, where I was mesmerized by Kate’s plaid dress complete with petticoats. Hazel was there with her husband Trevor, who was wearing one of her gorgeous jumpers…sigh… As you might imagine, Trevor is a lively and charming fellow who confided that he completed the 3 year course and received a degree from the Textile Department at Shetland College… just in case! There was also an amazing little girls lace dress made by Cathie Leask, which fortunately Kate snapped. The dress accompanied Cathie’s entry in The Real Shetland Stories Competition. The winner Drew Ratter won a hand-made mattress by Vi-Spring, a major sponsor of Shetland Wool Week, worth £11,000! Made with real Shetland wool of course.

More to come!

Gudrun’s dad brought out some vintage sweaters his kids wore, and one even older… a look inside revealed the finishing….knots! In this case carefully woven in, the following one…not!