Alive and Well

Two and a half years ago, people began to wonder about me.

I had a big idea. I was going to open a yarn shop and we had purchased a building in need of some serious loving care.

After I spent time talking with my hairdresser, who owns the building next to the Mitten, he, of course, spread the word to many of his curious customers. What was going on next door? What kind of business would it be? Another tea room, perhaps, maybe with Boston Cream Pie? This is what people really want, after all. The idea of a yarn shop had most of them shaking their newly coiffed heads in disbelief. After all, nobody knits anymore, do they???

I'd like to reassure all of them that people really do knit ...big time ...and it is not a dying art practiced only by aged women in rocking chairs. Our recent Friday night knitting groups will attest to this.

It included: two husbands, one child, young women in their 20's and 30's (who sometimes outnumber those over 50) and women who are there to visit with friends, share stories, give comfort and advice and simply care about each other.

Knitting and fibre arts are alive and growing,

...but Boston Cream Pie would have been nice, too!

Continuing the Tradition

The "string revolution" changed history.

When mankind learned how to take fibres and make them strong by twisting and plying, civilization took a turn for the better. With string, we could tether animals, make nets to snare a meal, tie things together to make rafts or huts or tools, and, of course, weave fabric to warm and decorate our bodies. So important were these techniques, that the survival rate of babies and children improved once 'string skills' had been discovered.

Back to the present: learning how we can turn yarns and fibres into useful items

was the goal for our 3 mornings of fibre fun.

These important skills have been passed on for centuries, even millenia.

Such creativity is rewarding, challenging ...

and sometimes, full of surprises!!!

But with young minds, anything is possible and clever uses can be found.

March Break Fibre Fun

Studious looks, concentration, learning.

Seven creative kids spend three mornings of their vacation ...knitting, weaving, felting, and making cords and string.

...and pass it on!!!

Headed South

March Break is such fun!

No, not because we're heading south for some fun in the sun, but because we get to meet interesting, new people.

Meet Wanda Kerr who headed south from Wiarton. She's a rug hooker extraordinaire, dyer, and relatively new spinner.

It's obvious that she loves to inspire others.

She inspired me with the crazy batts she loves to create on her drum carder.

She throws in bits of silk, cut up yarn, chopped up fabric and her beautifully dyed fibres and gets a luscious, exciting, fluffy batt ready to run through her spinning wheel.

And she shares! Here's the batt that she gave me to play with. How lucky am I ???? I guess she noticed how much fun I was having as I watched the exciting colours and textures flow through my hands.

So nice to meet you, Wanda.

One Step Closer

I just finished my slowest pair of socks ...ever.

Usually, I can knit a pair of socks in "no time." That's what I like to call those spare minutes when you are a passenger in a car and can't do anything else ...or when you are visiting your mother-in-law and have to sit in one spot ...or you are waiting for an appointment and you just know that trying to read would be a waste of time because of all the distractions in the room.

Sock knitting has often provided that bit of sanity for me when I just can't sit and do nothing. It feels so good to see what I can accomplish in "no time!"

So why did this pair take so long? Lately, I've been packing two or three projects to work on everytime I go out - I'm getting more organized (at least, that's what I'm telling myself :) Somehow, I'd always choose one of the other projects because, do I really need another pair of socks?

And then there's the colour. If you read my previous post, you'll know that I've been knitting with a lot of cranberry, faded wine, burgundy, reddish purple, dark rose, plum, mulberry - you get the idea. I'm in a rut.

But not for long!!!! Since I finished these socks, that means I'm one step closer to playing with the silk hankies and trying a pair of bright, gorgeous, turquoise mittens. I'm so excited - they are a fabulous shade of turquoise.

I just looked over at them with pleasure and realized that they are turquoise combined with ...oh no ...more purple!

What do you think???

Lately, I've been teased by one special employee about my colour choices.

She seems to think that I'm in a rut.

Here's my most recent sweater (Lamb's Pride), my current sweater (Zara Plus), socks (Tanis Blue Label) and a lovely new (Tanis) silk Ishbel in its infancy. Unfortunately, I forgot to include the leftover Nature Spun I'm swatching for a future project - it would have fit in very nicely here!

I'll keep telling JoLyn that I'm coordinating my wardrobe, but you know, I'm starting to crave some turquoise.