Cat Bordhi Visits our Shop

What a fun, relaxing, and learning day we had with Cat Bordhi! Cat came to teach us from her new book, "New Pathways for Sock Knitters." In an all day workshop format, most of us were able to finish Learning Sock One or Two in the book, under her clear, gentle guidance. We saw every sock in the book for real, learned Judy's Magic Cast On (very, VERY good) for cast on from the toe up, and other uses. Cat brought along her friend, and Bellingham knitter, Leslie to help out as well, which helped create our calm and stressfree learning environment!

Being an avid sock knitter myself, I'll say I was a bit skeptical about learning a new method for making socks. Why mess with a tried and true way, a way that has been doen for hundreds of years?? By the end of the day, I had a feeling of freedom, actually, to create socks that FIT better around the foot, over the ankle, and through the instep. By the end of the day, I was ready to create an adult size Coriolis Sock! As well as incorporate many other techniques into my sock knitting basket of tricks. I WILL be going back to this book many times!

I think Cat enjoyed coming to the shop as much as we enjoyed having her visit! We look forward to her visit again next autumn when she will offer a class for us in ...... moebius baskets? Or? Stay tuned!

THANK YOU, CAT for visiting NW Handspun Yarns and sharing your love of socks and knitting with us!

P.S. Miss Knitty was out and about meeting students and customers alike. That's Miss Knitty's main job, the Greeter, and she is excellent at it when she's not sleeping on the job!

Waulking 2007

We did it again, this time with blues, golds, rusts, and browns. Thirteen weavers wove off 15 yards of Harrisville Highland in a plaid over the last two weeks. On this past Saturday, the 28th of September, we waulked it, the old fashioned Scottish way. Miss Knitty had her paws in it as well, when we measured the fabric after we took it off the loom; the take up measured the fabric to 13 yards.

We started shortly after 2:00 PM with much enthusiasm, everyone seated in their chairs. The process only takes about 20 minutes. Taylor joined us and sang Gaelic Waulking songs from Scotland. So cool and generous of him to do this for us!

After about 20 minutes "beat, pull, pass, Beat, pull, pass" someone said, " Can we be done? Let's look at it and see if we are done!" So we spread it open, looked at the structure of the fulled fabric, and YES, decided it was done!

Traditionally, the women would have cut the cirlce of the fabric open, and then rolled it over a beam. Traditionally, we at NW Handspun Yarns have paraded it around the block by a few courageous souls, and so, keeping is tradition, for the 2nd year, that's just what we did!

Culturally, in Scotland, it's not something that's done anymore, as Taylor said, there are machines that full wool fabric now. But there are groups all over the world now that remind us of our past, and the way things were once done. We will continue to do this activity each year in the fall at our anniversary sale, to bring back a little bit of history, from the world of fiber!

Thank YOU! To everyone who wove and participated in this year's waulking!

Rigid Heddle Weaving

This year I've discovered the joys and wonders of rigid heddle weaving. One of my creative New Year's resolutions was to weave more, and I thought that would be on my 8 harness loom at home. Well, being a shop owner, and all, I'm not in my loom room much at home. So, I tried the Ashford Knitter's loom first, in the hotel room at Madrona Fiber Arts, in January, and turned my room furniture upside down in order to warp that little loom, and then proceeded to weave during the show. What fun that was! Wove a plaid scarf! Wove many scarfs on that loom so far this year, yes, just in plain weave, but satifying my "need" to weave. Fast, fun and definately portable, especially with that little carry bag.

The next loom I tried out was the Schacht Flip Loom, made of solid maple, and every bit as nice as far as weaving portability goes. I'd say this loom is more serious of a rigid heddle loom. It comes in three weaving widths, and also has the feature of using TWO rigid heddles so that you can double up your ends per inch. So two 10 dent reeds, would give you 20 dents, to play with in your weaving!

Well, it's only May, and although I sell the Kromski Harp looms I haven't played with them much yet. That's the next one. Pat, a customer of ours, bought one in January to travel with in her motor home this winter and she was really pleased with it, so that is a good report! I can't wait to try the Harp out next -- I'll report back to you in another post about the Harp aber I explore it -- alternately you can leave me a post here, too of your experiences with the Harp! I know there are a lot of them out there!

I think what I like so much about the rigid heddle looms is that they are so easy to work with! Warping is a breeze! You can warp right onto the loom! Wow! It's done, and then you are weaving! The other thing (Ashford was right with calling it the "knitter's" loom), is all the wonderful knitting yarns available nowadays -- afford us such creativity! So much color and texture. The newer looms come with W I D E dent reeds to accomodate the thick and boucle yarns so we can play and create to our mind's content! You can use these looms to for tapestry weaving and pick up weaving, hmmmm, the possibilities are endless!

Infact, I was so taken by these little looms, I tought a class this spring and had three students in it. A wonderful class, where they selected their own yarns, warped their looms and wove their scarves in one day. Some were just about done with the scarf by the time class was finished. Lisa (not in a photo here) bought a Kromski Harp and a floor stand, after the class, so she could continue weaving at home satisfy her desires while she saves up for that 4 harness loom!

Happy RIGID HEDDLE Weaving!

Weaving Wonders

We just finished another Weaving Weekend, with Laura, Lynne and Margaret. Mama Knitty was there, too, our new, senior rescue cat. With just three students, it was a wonderful relaxing time as they wove their cotton chinelle and boucle scarves and then started on the second project, on Sunday. Using Harrisville yarns and a twill basket weave pattern, they learned how to thread and weave this fun pattern treadling in 2/2 twill.

The purpose of this beginning weaving class is to become familiar with the looms and how they work, warp and weave two projects in plain weave and twill. Students are provided with all the yarns, patterns and worksheets for the projects, and then blank worksheets for their future projects. Students use the looms at the shop, and space is limited, classes usually fill to capacity quickly. Classes are offered once or twice per quarter, including summer.

It's a fun class, and I LOVE to teach it. I've done fiber ever since my childhood, and I've been weaving all my adult life. I've continued to take weaving classes myself, and enjoy the process of learning and discovery.

Oh, and more on Miss Knitty on another post -- she has a happy ending here at the shop!

So Many Shawls!

Whew! One KN this month, several of us showed up with FINISHED shawls. Of course we had a photo shoot!

Lisa Finished the Fiddlesticks pattern, "The Tina Shawl" using Blackberry Ridge lace wight wool silk yarns -- blue. Lisa started the shawl February 1st, a year ago, and finished it February 1st this year! We believe she was the first one to complete it out of about 12 or so. She is SOOOO happy!

Melissa and Debra completed theirs sometime ago, both Fiddlesticks, "Lotus Blossom" shawls. They both used the Fiddlesticks yarn with wool and silk -- beautiful!

I finished mine with much resistance and trouble (still say I'm NOT a lace knitter!) . However, after it was completed, I'll say I was "amazingly posessed" once I put my mind to it to finish it. I could not put it down, and it was the only thing I knit on until it was finished! I used Mt. Colors Weaver's Wool, in Sweet Lavendar -- it is really quite nice!

Meg created a beautiful shawl using Louet's Gems Merino Wool, and on the border added Mohair Silk -- all in a lovely green. Meg wears her shawl a lot, I think she is very proud of it! The pattern is from Blackberry Ridge -- "Wings of Fantasy".

And last, but certainly not least, Diane, who knits with mostly handspun yarns, just completed a classic garter stitch triangular shawl. I really enjoy Diane at KN, she spends most of her time "picking" wool for her next spinning project, her favorite fiber activity!

First Annual "Maya's Aunties" Project a Big Success

On Decebmer 17, 2006, Maya Lauren Penn died before she was born just a heartbreaking two weeks before her due date. The death of their first child was, as you might imagine, devastating for parents, Danny and Esther, Maya's grandparents, and her aunt, uncles and cousins. But as tragic as this event was, the nurses wapped Maya up in a beautiful layette donated by the volunteers of Minutes of Gold -- (http//:www.cm-inc.com/minutesofgold/AboutMinGold.htm) a group dedicated to making bereavement garments for fetal demise. Presented with their beautiful baby bundled up in this cozy layette, the parents and family were able to spend several special and dignified hours with Maya during which her photograph was taken. Now the layette itself is part of Maya's Memory Box and the family has the precious momento of Maya's picture.

Maya's family was so touched by this wonderful gift that her Bellingham Grandma, Dee Dee O'Connor, a Knit Nite regular, contacted Minutes of Gold to volunteer to knit the squares that are part of the breavement layette. Then she came to me to suggest that we begin an auunual project to have the other gals at knit nite knit or crochet squares. Dee Dee called the project, "Maya's Aunties," and the turnout was just amazing. The wonderful and enthusiastic women of Knit Nite donated 26 squares that will provide a bit of comfort to 26 other families during what can easily be described as the worst moments of their lives.

This year (2007) on Maya's burthday, we will officially kick-off our second year with a due date of February 14, 2008. However, if you would like to be a part of this very meaningful effort and would like to get an early start, you can contact us here at NW Handspun Yarns, and we will have Dee Dee contact you with all the particulars.

Dee Dee, her family and NW Handspun Yarns would like to that all those who contributed to this year's project.

Rob and Wilson--Together Again!

For those who know me more personally than others, you know of my continuing saga of the "Sick Cat". Wilson has been sick, and lost a lot of weight, down to 7 pounds, over the last few months. At the same time, his favorite person, Rob, went off to college, not making matters any better for Wilson! Here they are, together during the break between quarters, when Rob was home for three weeks. They BOTH look pretty content, if you ask me!

We changed vets, and Wilson is diagnosed with Irritable Bowel. Yeah, it sounds weird, cats get it too! But with proper food, and meds to get him back on the mend, he has just about gained all the weight back that he lost this past autumn. He's playing again, and generally his old self!

YOU did it! 170 CAPS!

From the day after Thanksgiving, to the day before Christmas, you answered the call for knitted caps -- 170 in all. What a great response! What great people you are! I sent the box, the day after Christmas, to arrive by this year's due date of January 2nd. Many of you have asked if we will be doing this again, and YES! We will!

Here's an excerp from the letter sent with your Caps to the Capital:

"In recognition of the 2 million babies who die each year, in the first month of life in developing countries, we made these caps - 170 - in all. We are sending them to you today to demonstrate the need for our country to do more to help newborns survive. These 170 caps join the other 50,000 caps already donated to Save the Children!

"Children Are Our Future. Children deserve to have basic needs met -- medicine, clean environment, water, food and warmth to survive. Please add this important item to you adenda when you meet with Congress in January, 2007.

"Sincerely yours,

Knitters and Crocheters of Bellingham

Debbie, Yvonne, Phyllis, Nancy, Mary, Oksana, Amy, Gina, Gabette, Beth, Linda, Donna, Cassie, Troy, Jody, Rebecca, Judith, Kaera, Cheryl Ann, Margaret, Casandra, Ruth, Elga, M.A., Anita, Janice, Jeannie, Patricia, Anne, Anneka, Naomi, Barbara, Robin, Michelle, Valerie, Rose, Denise, Kathy, Cheri, Denise 2, Yua, Carol, Susie, Rose, Donna, Cheryl, Tina Sido, Sheryl, Anonymous Angel

SAVE THE CHILDREN: CAPS TO THE CAPITAL

Calling all knitters and crocheters: Knit or crochet a cap for newborns in poor countries, including OURS!! Four million newborns die each year in their first year of life. Many infants could be saved by simple low cost items, like sterile blades to cut umbilical cords, antibiotics for pneumonia, and knit caps (this is where YOU come in) to help keep them warm. You can download the patterns at: http://www.savethechildren.org/ . Just down load the Action Kit. The patterns are there for both knit and crochet caps -- premie size. Plus more information about the organization and it's activities.

Bring or send your caps and tag to NW Handspun Yarns by Christmas Day, and we will ship them all TO THE CAPITAL, to arrive by the due date of Janurary 2nd.

It would be so wonderful to meet our goal of 100 caps to send to them! It would be so great to know that you were a part of this group project!

So, get making caps for infants! Enjoy doing them, and know that you will be helping that little one get a better start in life!

Jane Stafford, Jane Patrick and Barry Schacht!

Jane, Jane and Barry visited the shop early in November. Jane Patrick and Barry Schacht were promoting Jane's new book, "Time to Weave". Jane discussed the processes she went through to to create the projects for the book. The book is for novice crafters and experienced weavers who want to explore off loom techniques using many different processes. They showed us the new rigid heddle loom they have designed, and is now available on the market. Jane and Barry are the owner's of Schacht Spindle Company, which makes looms and spinning wheels, which we sell through the shop. We have a few autographed books left over.

Photo: Barry Schacht, Jane Stafford, Jane Patrick

Jane Stafford was also in town giving a workshop through our weaving guild, "Plain Weave". Jane is an accomplished weaver, with loads of creative experience, and a wonderful teacher. I've taken two classes from Jane, and will every chance I get. She shares her knowledge and passion of weaving with each of us in the class. She respects and makes you feel good about where you are in your weaving life. I know I leave totally energized, open to possibilities, as well as finding a focus for weaving after taking classes from Jane. If you ever get a chance to take a class from Jane, DO IT! Jane is the owner of Jane Stafford Textiles, a weaving studio.

In a previous posting I thanked those of us who work to create an environment to pass on the skills and knowledge of spinning and weaving (and other fiber arts, too). Jane S., Jane P. and Barry true examples of why our craft will continue on. THANK YOU so much for visiting the shop, and for your contributions to our creative heritage.

Let it Snow!

What a month! Record rain fall, wind that knocks power out for 1, 2, or 3 days, and now a nor' easter! Yesterday during the storm and snow fall, we took Rob back to WWU after Thanksgiving week end, and decided to close the shop for the Sunday 4 hour shift. At home we got about 15" of snow!

We were open 10 - 4:00 today, and we'll do the same tomorrow. With the wind chill at -9 at night, it just feels better being at home when it's like this! On the way home, about 12 miles north (we live just 6 miles below the Canadian border) the snow was drifting high and blowing across the roadway. Our top speed was 20 mph, vs the 60 mph we usually travel!

But it sure is pretty! And I got that corriedale fleece plied too! I LIKE winter!