Perfect Weather - for spinning outdoors

I've been enjoying the recent lovely summer weather spinning at a couple of local events - the Ardoch Agricultural Show at Braco last Saturday (above), and the Lochearnhead Highland Games the weekend before (below). Both days I was really glad to be able to keep cool in the shade (but I do think spinning in sunglasses looks funny!)

Both are very traditional Scottish events, a really good day out and I enjoyed meeting and chatting to lots of interesting (and interested) people about spinning, dyeing, feltmaking and knitting. People came from far and wide - the top photo was taken by Nancy from San Antonio, USA.
One thing that has attracted a lot of attention is my 'library' of natural dyed handspun yarn samples

You can see that I took different spinning wheels - I like to give them all a good 'run' from time to time and spinning for six or seven hours straight is a good opportunity.
The wheels in the photos are Ashford Traditionals, both at least 35 years old. The dark coloured one (top photo and below) is one I've just acquired and reconditioned - now it is running beautifully and looking for a new home. let me know if you are interested. Hamish clearly is! I'll post details under the Equipment tab.

Here are the yarns I was spinning at the two events

from left to right: Zwartbles (a local fleece which was still running around in the field three weeks ago!)
Italian Bose wool dyed with Beetroot
Blue Texel - another local fleece
Shetland wool dyed with Kool Aid
.... I did the plying at home, it's not so interesting for people to watch.

My next outing will be to the Aberfeldy Highland Games on the 10th August, then the Strathardle Gathering on the 24th, and finally the Blairgowrie Games on September 8th. If you can get along to any of these come and say hello (and even if you can't, wish for good weather!!)

Shetland Wool Week - I can't wait!

I'm getting excited about going back to Shetland in October!!

Andy Ross, who will host my workshops during Shetland Wool Week, has just posted a blog entry about the workshops, where he includes some helpful links about travel and accommodation http://bit.ly/15rSj6M

The first two workshops are on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th October in Yell - really easy to get to from the main town of Lerwick. And once you are in Yell, its only a hop skip and short ferry ride to Unst, where the Heritage Centre has a fantastic collection of knitwear and spinning, well worth a visit.

I strongly believe that these beginners' workshops are the most important stage of learning to spin. Learning about the materials and equipment we use, the best way to do each stage of the process, and why each step is important, gives you a good foundation on which to develop your own style of spinning and creativity. The two workshops taken together are the very best start I can give you on your spinning journey. They are also great fun, as people discover new things together, share laughs and stories and often develop lasting friendships.

During the Monday workshop in Yell we will learn about different types of fleece, different breeds of sheep and other fibres. Using a lovely Shetland fleece (of course) I will show you how to grade the wool into different qualities. I will explain the differences between woollen and worsted yarns and teach you how to card and comb the wool to prepare it for spinning. In the afternoon you will learn to spin your prepared wool using a drop-spindle, and how (and why) to ply to yarns together. At the end of a busy (but fun) day you will have produced a small skein of your very own 2-ply handspun yarn.

Tuesday's workshop (also in Yell) is where beginners can learn how to spin using a spinning wheel, and more experienced spinners can learn a variety of techniques to get the best from their wheel. If you have already learned to spin with a drop-spindle (maybe at Monday's workshop) this will be a great help, as the way you handle the fibre is just the same. We will discus different types of spinning wheels and how to look after them while you are spinning and plying lovely Shetland wool into yarn, and learning how to finish off your yarn ready for knitting or weaving. I'll also tell you how you can plan and design your yarns so that you can produce exactly the right type of yarn for any project you have in mind.

On Wednesday 8th October the Art Yarns workshop will be in Lerwick, in the wonderful Shetland Museum - which also has a fantastic textile collection that can occupy a whole rainy day (yes, I've done that!!). Creating your own yarn is a great way of expressing your creativity, and we will explore lots of different ways of combining colour, texture and structure in yarn. I often use images from nature as inspirational stating points, and I will bring some along. but if you want to bring your own sources of inspiration that would be great. We'll have lots of different fibres and colours to play with and the day will pass really quickly. While we're playing and creating I'll explain some of the factors that we need to bear in mind to ensure that our yarn is not only beautiful but also functional and fit for purpose. You will take away your own completely unique yarn, and maybe some fibre that you have prepared to spin at home.

If you would like to know more about the workshops, or about getting to Yell, drop me an e-mail at deborah.gray7@btinternet.com
Workshop places must be booked through shetlandboxoffice
I do hope you will join us on a woolly adventure!

Finishes and starts Finire e comminciare

This week I have finished three knitting projects:
Questa settimana ho finito tre capi ai ferri:

First - A shawl in mohair loop yarn, which I dyed with Japanese Indigo which I grew in my garden last summer. I got the shaded and flecked effect by winding the yarn tightly into two centre-pull balls using a ball winder before dyeing them in the indigo vat. I started knitting at the point of the shawl using the end on the outside of the first ball of yarn, so the point is blue then fades gradually to white with flecks of blue. I increased one stitch at the beginning of each row. When the first ball of yarn ran out I joined on the end from the inside of the second ball, continuing to increase and casting off when I reached the last few metres of yarn - back to blue along the top edge of the shawl.
Primo capo - una scialle in mohair, tinto da me con indaco giapponese, cresciuto nel mio orto l'estate scorsa. Per questa sfumatura ho avvolto strettamente il filato in due gomitoli prima di tingere.
Ho cominciato a lavorare al punto della scialla con il filato al esteriore del primo gomitolo. Quando il primo gomitolo era finito, ho aggiunto il filato dal interior dal secondo gomitolo.

Second project: my fifth (!!!) Sheep Carousel teacosy. can you spot the sheep with it's back turned?
capo secondo: la mia quinta(!!!) copriteiera Sheep Carousel. Vedi la pecora girata?

I have kits available with original Kate Davies printed pattern and 100% Shetland Supreme natural undyed Shetland wool yarn, either white and moorit as shown or white and natural black.

Third project: a cosy pair of socks, my own design, with divided toes to keep my tootsies cosy while wearing fit-flops (in the house) in winter. Knitted two-at-a-time and toe-up, with the soles in reversed stocking stitch for extra comfort. These are in DK Mirasol yarn and some DK cashmere. The pattern (printed copies available) is written for both standard sock yarn and DK, and the divided toes are optional.
Terzo capo: calze caldissime, il mio modello, per piedi caldi con infradita (in casa) in inverno. Lavorato due - alla - volta in tondo, dalla dita. Queste sono in DK Mirasol e cachemire, la schema (disponibile stampata) e scritto per filato di calze normale e DK, la infradita e un opzione.

Two new solar dyeing experiments started this week:
Due esperimenti nuove di tintura solare comminciati questa settimana:

buttercup petals  petalli di Ranunculus repens
plenty of this in my garden! Ho tante nel orto!

Forsythia leaves  foglie di Forsythia

Finally, I'm replanting dyeplants  - woad (guado) and madder (robbia)

Shetland shearing time La tosatura a Shetland

Oliver in the Jamieson & Smith wool store

Here in Perthshire the sheep are mostly shorn now, in Shetland the shearing is probably also well underway. Here is a link to a nice post about Shetland Wool from the real experts, Jamieson and Smith the Shetland Wool Brokers.

It makes me look forward even more to Shetland Wool Week and the three workshops I will be teaching, using lovely Shetland wool of course!

http://bit.ly/10pQBmx

Miei corsi a Pavia - un'altra punta di vista

Blog pubblicato di una mie gentilissime allieve - grazie L! Bellissime imagine.

My workshop in Pavia - another point of view - blog post from one of my lovely students - thankyou L! Lovely photos
http://birbolina-birbolina.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/due-giorni-intensi.html

Ritorno a Pavia e una gita al mare - Return to Pavia and a trip to the sea

Che emozione! Tornare a Pavia per rincontrare dei amici dal primo visito, e per incontrare amici nuovi .

It was so exciting to be going back to Pavia, to meet up again with friends from my first visit and to meet new friends.

sabato 8 giugno - approfondimento di filature a mano
Saturday 8th June - advanced hand-spinning

selezione e preparazione delle fibre, filature col fuso o col filatoio
choosing and preparing fibre, spinning with spindle or spinning wheel

mescolando fibre usando spazzole, poi filatura dei filati unichi
blending fibres using hand carders, then spinning unique yarns

imperando le tecniche di Navajo Plying, boucle, spiral e loop yarn
learning the techniques of Navajo Plying, boucle, spiral and curled loop yarns





Domenica 9 giugno
Sunday 9th June

Tintura naturale - mostra e spiegazione su piu' di 60 campione tinti e filati a mano
natural dyeing - display and explanation of more than 60 samples, hand dyed and hand spun

Spiegazione su tecniche tradizionale della tintura naturale
Discussion of traditional natural dyeing techniques

Esperimenti di tintura solare - due o tre vasi da portare ognuna a casa per il sviluppimento del colore
Practical experiments of solar dyeing - two or three jars each to take home for the colour to develop

Sabato 15 giugno - feltro ragnatela
Saturday 15th June - gossamer felt

Ognuna ha fatto una sciarpa bellissima e unica
each person made a beautiful and unique scarf

















Domenica 16 giugno - mostra -mercatino dei filati artigianale, dimostrazione di filature manual in Cupola Arnaboldi, nel centro storico di Pavia
Sunday 16th June - show and market of craft yarns and spinning demonstration in Cupola Arnaboldi in the historic centre of Pavia

Fra le fine settemane, un po' di relax al mare, a Rapallo (Liguria)
Between the two weekends, a bit of relaxation by the sea at Rapallo, Liguria

Un bel posto per pranzo - e un bel pranzo - burata
A lovely setting for lunch - and a lovely lunch - burata

Lavoro tradizionale di Rapallo - pizzi al tombolo - c'e anche un museo di merlotto
Traditional craft of Rapallo - bobbin lace - there is also a lace museum

Lots of boats!

In traghetto per Santa Margherita Ligure e Portofino
on the ferry to Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino

Santa Margherita

Portofino

Forse  pua essere tradotto in maglia Fair Isle?
maybe could be translated into Fair Isle knitting?

Portofino's wild side and wildlife

Some seriously big boats!

Camminando da Rapallo a San Martino in Pagana
walking from Rapallo to San Martino in Pagana

Non ho mai visto o assiagiato le nespole prima...
I had never seen or tasted NESPOLE before..... yumm!

A bit of local colour

Giovedi - Il mercato grande di Rapallo
Thursday -the big market at Rapallo

World Wide Knit In Public Day......

..... and something else I created in public

raccolto dei foglie di Eucalyptus (per tingere e eco-stampa)
a harvest of Eucalyptus leaves (for dyeing and eco-print)

Cena e tramonto vicino del castello
Dinner and sunset beside the castle

pansoti con sugo di noci per pranzo, prima di tornare a Pavia
pansoti with walnut sauce for lunch before returning to Pavia