Last month I went on a course in Finland - Roots and Needles - where I learnt how to do Nalbinding and Sprang among other things. We used nylon stuff for the Sprang and paper string for the Nalbinding. Since I've been back home I've found instructions on the web for doing Nalbinding using the thumb as a tensioning device and have learnt how to do it that way too.
There's a photo of my sprang on my Flickr pages as well as some more of the craft that we covered - bobbin lace for basketry and macrame for basketry too.
We spent a lovely week in Taitoloma with very friendly hosts and course participants from Denmark and Norway and we all learnt a lot.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Dyeing yarn
Last year I agreed to lead a workshop for my guild on how to dye a wool yarn to produce a striped yarn for socks etc. The date was end of June 08 which seemed like a really long way off at the time!
It finally crept up on me and I got everything ready - dyes, clingfilm, brushes, vinegar, yarn, table and so on. I asked the other members to bring their own yarn in long skeins (at least 9ft long) and clingfilm too.
I started by demonstrating, putting the skein round the table with a length of it on a piece of clingfilm. I painted each part of the skein with a different colour of dye, wrapping that length in clingfilm as I finished it. I left a few gaps between the colours so that when I came to knit the yarn it would have a few stitches in white every now and again. I followed the directions in the book I was using and so I used a ziplock bag with some water in it, instead of the big bowl I usually use for dyeing in the microwave.
I put the finished skein in the microwave for 2 minutes, rest for 2 minutes, three times and then left the skein to cool down. Then the other members of the guild painted their own skeins.
When mine was cool I took it out of the clingfilm and held it up triumphantly only to find that it all fell apart. Oh no, it had burnt where the unpainted gaps were left even though I had put extra water in the bag.
We cooked each of the other skeins in the bowl instead of using ziplock bags and they all turned out fine. Everyone else was pleased with their results. I did paint another skein and that turned out okay, but I was really upset with myself for burning the first one!!
It finally crept up on me and I got everything ready - dyes, clingfilm, brushes, vinegar, yarn, table and so on. I asked the other members to bring their own yarn in long skeins (at least 9ft long) and clingfilm too.
I started by demonstrating, putting the skein round the table with a length of it on a piece of clingfilm. I painted each part of the skein with a different colour of dye, wrapping that length in clingfilm as I finished it. I left a few gaps between the colours so that when I came to knit the yarn it would have a few stitches in white every now and again. I followed the directions in the book I was using and so I used a ziplock bag with some water in it, instead of the big bowl I usually use for dyeing in the microwave.
I put the finished skein in the microwave for 2 minutes, rest for 2 minutes, three times and then left the skein to cool down. Then the other members of the guild painted their own skeins.
When mine was cool I took it out of the clingfilm and held it up triumphantly only to find that it all fell apart. Oh no, it had burnt where the unpainted gaps were left even though I had put extra water in the bag.
We cooked each of the other skeins in the bowl instead of using ziplock bags and they all turned out fine. Everyone else was pleased with their results. I did paint another skein and that turned out okay, but I was really upset with myself for burning the first one!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Creek Men
I went to Snape to see the Creek Men sculpture by Laurence Edwards, the Thames Walkway: Boat Race (sheeted) by Keith Wilson, and the Shadows of the Wanderer sculptures by Ana Maria Pacheco in the Big Shed at Iken. It was a lovely day to view these and I was so pleased to have visited. I have put some more photos on Flickr including a self-portrait taken inside the Thames Walkway installation.
I also went to Aldeburgh to see some prints by Ana Maria Pacheco at the Peter Pears Gallery, but wasn't so impressed by them as I was by her sculptures. The setting in the Big Shed was very sympathetic to the sculptures - it was very dark in there with a few lights shining to create the shadows.
I also went to Aldeburgh to see some prints by Ana Maria Pacheco at the Peter Pears Gallery, but wasn't so impressed by them as I was by her sculptures. The setting in the Big Shed was very sympathetic to the sculptures - it was very dark in there with a few lights shining to create the shadows.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Welded steel sculpture in Suffolk
Yesterday (Sunday) I went to see a few of the local artists with Open Studios and was very impressed by the sculptures by Adrian Rumbles which were on display in the garden. I particularly liked this bird and the highland cow.
I was also very impressed by Greta Hansen's paintings and Will Black's photographs.
Roll on next weekend when I shall seek out some more artists.
I was also very impressed by Greta Hansen's paintings and Will Black's photographs.
Roll on next weekend when I shall seek out some more artists.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Newly born kids
This weekend was the wool and shearing event at Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm and it rained all day Saturday. Quite a different day on Sunday, sun and warmth.
Spinners from Mid-Essex and Diss guilds took part on Saturday and Diss and Lavenham on Sunday. We spun some fleece newly sheared from Ouessant, Grey-faced Dartmoor, Llanwenog and Norfolk Horn sheep and knitted up a few squares from the yarn.
Visiting children had a go at felt making - mats and little balls. Not many visitors on Saturday but lots on Sunday and they were all very interested in the animals (especially the Kune Kune piglets and the baby goats born on Sunday morning) and the demonstrations by guild members.
We were very well looked after with plenty to eat and drink.
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