Mandy Moore's Blog, page 10

WWW: pockets; #womensart; Rag Rug weaving; a Big Knit

Pockets in women’s clothing (and lack of functionality thereof) is a topic that is receiving lots of attention. Here are a few recent articles:

Women's Pockets are Inferior
Pockets: Articles of Interest #3 (podcast with full transcript)
When it comes to women’s pockets, size really does matter

Social media sites can be brutal. They can also be beautiful and #womensart is one. They are on holiday until 01 November, however there are over 21k tweets you can browse through to learn about remarkable artists. The photograph is of ‘Little Urchin Crochet Covered Sea Stones’ by Margaret Oomen.

Each week it seems that my news alerts tell me that a different craft will improve my mental health. I figure that’s all to the good. This week it’s rag rug weaving‘s turn. (The book referenced is Weaving Western Sakiori: A Modern Guide for Rag Weaving)

It’s once again that time of year, and Age UK is encouraging participants to get involved with the Big Knit. This campaign is intended to raise awareness about chronic loneliness in the elderly. Last year the Knitting Goddess raised several points about the effectiveness of this charming campaign. Causes will tug at your heart (and purse) strings with various appeals, it is a good idea to evaluate organizations you decide to support and make the decision that is right for you.

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Deep Fall Knittyspin European Dream Shawl

Thick and thin Targhee yarn

Are you looking for a cozy project for yourself or a gift as the weather slides to chilly, might I suggest the European Dreams shawl from this issue of Knitty?

This shawl, designed by Benjamin Krudwig, is thick and quick. It uses Spunky Eclectic Targhee top and is spun long draw, thick and thin, then plied on itself. The WPI is 5-7, thick with extra Targhee squish.

 

European Dreams by Benjamin Krudwig

The knitting is straight forward, just knits and purls, nothing tricky. It’s a great weekend project

Benjamin made his shawl out of naturally color fiber, but it would be lovely spun in a dyed fiber, especially semi solid or a splatter dyed fiber.

It’s a perfect project for new spinners who want to make something to wear from their first yarns.

 

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WWW: Bunny ears; flax baskets to reduce plastic; Rhinebeck weekend

Little bunny Mimi was born without ears and her adopter has crocheted ears for her as well as other head coverings, including the flower crown shown in the photo.

In Christchurch New Zealand, plastic bags are on their way out and flax woven baskets are being adopted by grocery stores as an alternative.

The New York Sheep and Wool Festival (aka “Rhinebeck”) held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in New York is this weekend (New Hours: Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am-4pm). Will you be there? Whether it’s your first time or you’ve attended for years, here are some tips for making the most of your festival experience.

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How Much Fiber Do I Need? Rhinebeck Edition

Dragonfly Fibers (sw Merino/Stellina) Red Bud

Rhinebeck is this weekend, I can feel the shopping fever mounting!

I get asked “how much fiber should I buy?” in most of my spinning classes. The urgency ramps up when I’m teaching at a fiber show or there’s a big show coming up.

Do you know what you’re going to buy yet? I usually make a shopping map.

Here are my quick and dirty shopping amounts for commercial fiber:

4oz – socks, hats, small cowls
8 oz – infinity scarves, big cowls, small shawls
12oz – big shawls, vests
16oz-32oz+ – sweaters. I make an x-large sweater; I always buy 2 pounds.

Here are some of the things that change my fiber buying amounts:

The size of the garment I’m knitting. If you are buying to spin to commercial project, make sure to read it for size, ease and yarn amounts. Right now I’m knitting a sweater that calls for 16″ of ease in my size. I would need more than 2 pounds of fiber for that.

The fiber I’m buying. BFL weighs much more than Merino. Please don’t ask me how many times that fact had to bite me in the butt before I starting buying more of heavier fibers when substituting for a pattern.

The type of yarn I want to spin. How you draft (worsted uses more than woolen), the number of plies (more plies, more fiber), the amount of twist (more twist, more fiber), and the stitch patterns you use (hello sexy, fiber-eating, cables), all contribute to the grist of yarn and should be considered when shopping.

How much sampling I want to do. I may use 1/2-1 ounce if I’m pretty sure of the yarn I want to make. 1-2 ounces if I want to play with draft and yarn structure. If I am going to sample manipulating color in a braid, I will buy a whole extra braid to just play and sample.

My shortest answer to ‘how much?’ is, more than you think you need. I’ve never known a spinner to complain about having too much fiber.

Have fun at Rhinebeck! I’ll be watching all the handknits and fiber shopping on Instagram.

 

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WWW: Knitted map; Weaving Hispanic Heritage; help knit Poppies

Looking to find your way to the Loch Ness Knit Fest? There’s a knitted map displayed in Inverness Airport!

Ruben Marroquin taught weaving to fourth-grade students in Cos Cob, Conneticut earlier this month as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

You don’t need to knit poppies alone. If you are near Newcastle’s Grainger Market (UK), there are knitting sessions on Tuesdays through the end of October.

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Spinning at WEBS

Of course I shopped, it’s WEBS! This is the warehouse attached to the store.

WEBS had their second Spinning Summit this past weekend and I was lucky and grateful to teach.

It was a mighty gang that gathered to spin with Amy King, Beth Smith and me. We taught three classes each. The attendees somehow picked three out of the nine classes.

I taught Fractal Frolic, Successive Plying, and premiered a new class – Match Game. It’s all about learning to match, project, intention and yarn for a knitting project. I’m teaching this next in a couple of weeks at SAFF.

My students were dedicated and really fast spinners. They had a ton of questions and burned through all of the material and fiber I had for them. I was so very impressed with how focused they were in class with all of WEBS just inches away. There was yoga, a spin-in, games, a great swag bag, and of course shopping.

A peek into the Spinning Summit.

Every time I walked through the store or warehouse, yarn seemed to jump into my apron pockets. I ended up with a sweater’s worth of yarn for Isobel, yarn for hats, yarn for two projects in the new Mason Dixon Field Guide (patterns by Thea Coleman), and I tiny bit more alpaca to weave scarves.

Yes, I do plan to stop shopping for yarn and start weaving soon. I can hear you thinking.

I hope all of you have been having fun spinning for Spinzilla, or just spinning as fall finally rolls in in North America.

 

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WWW: poppies; local indigo farm; learning to knit

Poppies are being knit and crocheted to mark and remember the centenary of the end of the First World War. Marloes and St Brides — a community in the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire, UK — is working to make 2,000 poppies. If you would like your initiative included, please let me know.

In Cleveland, Ohio, Artist Jessica Pinsky turned a a vacant lot into an indigo farm. Learn more about dyeing with natural dyes such as cochineal, fruity color drink powder, or acid dyes at Knitty!

Last week on twitter, Amy shared this hilarious youtube video about learning to knit. Do you remember your first lesson? Creating tutorials isn’t easy … nor is learning always instantaneous!

Magical Fiber Retreat, New Red Alder Retreat

Knitting and Spinning at Disney World (well, nearby)

Attention Florida or Florida adjacent spinners and knitters!

The classes at the Magical Fiber Fantasy Retreat at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort are now being offered individually. 

You can come and take a spinning or knitting class or two and not have to stay for the whole retreat ( though you may want to).

There are still spaces in all of my spinning classes plus classes with Kirsten Kapur, Tanis Grey, and Alana Dakos available. Classes are November 7-10. Grab a friend and come spin with me!

 

I like wool, do you?

Phenomenal weaver (and my friend) John Mullarkey is partnering with Rebecca Edwards to fill the fiber spot left by the departing Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat.

In 2020 at the same location and date that Madrona would have been, will be a new and spectacular fiber filled weekend, Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat.

If you want more information when it’s available (you know you do) sign up for their mailing list!

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WWW: Dementia-Friendly knitted handwarmers; NH Wool Arts Tour; knitting while waiting

In Glasgow, Scotland, knitters have stepped up and knitted over 70 handwarmers for people with dementia. Twiddlemuffs help to alleviate stress, anxiety and restlessness for dementia sufferers.

The New Hampshire Wool Arts Tour is this upcoming October 6th and 7th. This year is a milestone, it marks the 35th year of the Tour! The free tours surround Hillsboro, in the south central part of New Hampshire. This October, share in the love of fiber and the animals that produce it.

In Timaru, New Zealand, knitters are using their wait time before appointments to knit baby blankets.

Is there a Knitty pattern you wish was in a waiting room you frequent?

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Thinking about Holiday Gifts: It’s Time

My weaving yarn collection. This week, at least.

Do not yell at me! It’s time for me to think about holiday gifts, I didn’t say you had to. I’m not playing Rhinebeck sweater chicken, so It’s time for me to plan other fiber things.

What do I want to make? Something perfectly handcrafted for each person I love in my life.

What does the still rational not-caught-up-in-the-joy-and-delusion-of-holiday-making mind of mine think I will actually do?

2 woven scarves (commercial yarn)
4 zoom loom sachets (handspun)
Something knitted and delicious that’s not a sweater (handspun)

More of these, please.

 

I’m going to ask my local spinning and knitting friends to help me get this done by inviting them over to craft and watch movies on the weekends I’m not teaching.

Another strategy for a better chance to finish is using handspun yarn that is already spun and lounging in a basket, rather than spinning all new yarns. I always forget about all of my lounging yarns, it’s time for them to step up and get knitted and woven.

What about you? Any plans for holiday gifts yet? Any strategy for getting them done?

 

 

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