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An Unexpected Fiber Arts Adventure

31 Jul

I love Canada.  I’ve been to select cities and certainly like some over others, but Canada always provides beautiful landscapes, kind people, and a rich history and heritage of fiber arts.  The latter I was vividly reminded of during a recent cruise I took through Canada and New England.  Although I didn’t intend to make the Canadian leg of the journey quite so fiber heavy, it was an unexpected pleasure to visit attractions and locales that feature the fiber arts so prominently.

Highland Village Museum, Iona, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

An established village that highlights the extensive Gaelic heritage and Scottish roots in the maritime provinces, Highland Village had a series of buildings you can visit to see what life was like at various points in the area’s history.

The first log cabin we visited…

… was an example of a home at a point in history, but when I walked in, I discovered activities and culture steeped in the fiber arts.  It was evident all around me.  There was a large spinning wheel and weaving loom:

There was yarn that was colored with natural dyes (e.g., boiled onion skin or beet):

and there were great mounds of raw fiber waiting to be spun:

As we continued on our tour of the village, we found that many of the homes depicted also had fiber-related projects in-progress or the tools to use for such pursuits:

And one building was home to a full-scale industrial wool carder that would process raw wool much more quickly and prepare it for spinning (a much quicker process than hand carding which would have been the other method used at that time):

It was great learning so much about the role fiber arts played in the early heritage of the residents of the region.  At the conclusion of our visit, I thought my immersion in fiber arts would end there – but there was more to be seen!

Anne of Green Gables House, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Though I was apparently one of about 5 people who did not read “Anne of Green Gables” as a child, I still found great folly touring the grounds and home that provided L.M. Montgomery with her inspiration for the stories.  Again, I found that fiber and needle arts were an evident part of the culture depicted in the home, and captured the spirit of those pursuits in photographs.  Here are a few:

 

The house and gardens were also stunning…

And as we were strolling the grounds, heading toward the barn from the house, what to my wondering eyes should appear but a woman seated, spinning and all her spinning gear!

The overall trip was so enjoyable, and I also was able to visit four yarn stores (a future blog post topic to watch for) and add to my stash by purchasing yarns produced locally in Nova Scotia, as well as in Maine.

Some say we attract to us the things we love, the things for which we are most passionate, and this trip could not be a truer testament of that philosophy.  The landscapes, people and places were what drew me to Canada.  The evidence of fiber arts throughout history and its survival today was just a tremendous amount of icing on an already delicious cake!

 

A surprise gift brings inspiration

22 May

I woke up last Thursday and, much like I do each morning, I made myself a cup of coffee and sat down with my iPad to review Facebook, Twitter and news of the day.  I saw that I had a new message in Facebook from Peter Brown, owner of Woodfield Ranch, a small alpaca farm in Eustis, Florida.  I visited Woodfield Ranch last year (read about my visit here) and was gifted with a large bag with an entire fleece from one alpaca at the conclusion of my visit.

The cryptic Facebook message piqued my curiosity:  ”Brian, Please give me a call. I have a gift for you that I know you are going to love. Peter”

I arranged to meet Peter earlier this afternoon and the gift he presented to me was two bags containing a full shearing’s worth from  one of their younger alpaca males, Newton.

Some may balk at my excitement, wondering what enjoyment I could get from two large bags full of alpaca fiber.  Indeed, as a spinner of yarn, I find great excitement in this rare gift!  As I put my hand into one of the bags and felt the amazing plush serenity of Newton’s fine coat, I not only relished this particular gift, but also had another epiphany at that moment.

In order to spin fiber that comes in its natural form like this, one has to either comb it or card it (and carding may be done by hand or by using a drum carder).  Upon realizing that I now have a total of three large bags of alpaca fleece, I knew that the next step in my yarn spinning journey is to get a drum carder so that I may properly prepare the fiber and spin it into a finished product.  Certainly the fiber’s beauty is evident:

But there is far too much fine alpaca fiber in my collection to simply sit in a bag – I now have the inspiration to get the proper tools needed to be able to spin this fiber (which, ultimately, will then open up opportunities for spinning other yarn from raw fibers directly from the farm).  Accomplishing this will realize one of the goals I set out to accomplish when my fiber arts journey began in 2008 – to see a project from fiber to finished object.  There is something endearing, nostalgic and inspiring about taking a raw fiber through its multiple preparations to get it ready for spinning, then spin it into a beautiful yarn, and ultimately knitting it into a beautiful finished object.  Much like the pioneers of another era did, taking something from nature that does not create harm or injury, and transforming it into a useful material with which to make something useful, something beautiful, is part of this experiment of mine, this knitting lifestyle.

Every day when I sit in my armchair, I see my spinning wheel – a beautiful Schacht Matchless wheel I bought last year.  I do continue to use it, but not with great frequency.  Receiving this wonderful gift of beautiful fiber has reinvigorated my interest and passion for spinning yarn.  I’m looking forward to sitting down at my wheel once again this week, and now I’m searching for the right drum carder that will help me take my spinning arts to a new level in the future.

Any creative act or process requires stimulation and inspiration – and knitting or spinning yarn are no exceptions.  A new yarn or pattern may give me the right amount of inspiration to begin a new knitting project.  And a beautiful, thoughtful gift of an alpaca fleece is more than enough inspiration to reacquaint me with my spinning wheel once again.

Craft as a connection to our past

25 Jul

My handspun yarn-in-progress, Merino/Tencel blend

I had an interesting dialogue with a friend this past week about our struggle with elements of today’s society, the impact of technology, the speed of life and our concern about the growing illiteracy of the nation’s populace.  Although I have thoroughly embraced social media and the online experience because, for me, it is a lot of fun and has opened up the doors to opportunity and friendships, our discussion made me think about some of the joys of knitting, spinning, or other acts of urban homesteading bring and why I pursue them.

Initially, I think my interest in knitting grew out of wanting to connect with childhood memories. My grandmother was an avid crocheter and knitter and though I did not seize the opportunity to learn these crafts from her before her passing, when I spend time knitting I feel a connection to her.

Spinning appeals to a different part of me, that colonial pioneer spirit that made what was needed from the earth and its creatures with little waste.  A spinning wheel and the act of spinning fiber into yarn conjures images of a time long ago before the industrial age where spinning was a necessary skill, not a luxury or craft elevated to art.

Although, as an urban dweller, I have not launched a full fledge personal farming initiative, I have baked my own bread, planted a small container herb garden, and would like to try my hand at canning and preserving.  These simple pursuits that take time and patience give me a feeling of connection to a slower, more comfortable past and creates a respite from the fast-paced race of today.

Though I am an early adopter of new technology, love social media and having a blog has given me the opportunity to publish my writing immediately and share my thoughts with people all over the world, I still enjoy those moments when I’m able to do things, well, the way we used to.

Craft as fuel for the soul

11 Jul

I’m typically an optimist, but this past week has been strange.  Odd dynamics have emerged in various quadrants of my life, and I kept a busy schedule despite it being only a 4-day work week. Sadly, I didn’t have much time to devote to fiber arts – and by the weekend, I felt the effects.  I was mentally exhausted, a bit cranky and lacked energy.

Then Saturday afternoon, once weekend errands were handled and a Chicken Divan casserole was prepped for dinner, I had a few hours on my hand and could think of nothing more than spinning and knitting.

I had some Blue Faced Leicester hand-painted roving in shades of mauve, jade and sunflower in progress on the wheel, so I finished a second bobbin of that, then plied them together.  I love how different the yarn looks when it is plied – the colors collide, working together to create a unique combination that could, most likely, never be repeated.

Sitting at my wheel, I felt comforted, the rhythmic practice that required little mental focus was relaxing, and gave me the opportunity to forget about the past, if even for a short while, and found comfort in the present moment.  After an hour or so of spinning and prepping the yarn for washing and drying, I felt awake again, emerging from the fog of being tired or working on things that provide little to no inspiration.

Once the yarn was hung to dry, I picked up the lace scarf I started last weekend.  Feather & Fan is a fairly simple 4-row pattern, consisting mostly of rows of knit or purl, with just one row with a few other tricks (e.g., knit two together and yarn overs).  It also knits up quickly, as the holes create space that expands the length of the scarf at a faster pace than it would typically if you were knitting or purling each row without purposeful openwork.

Again, as I sat in my chair, watching Tom Ford’s incredible film, “A Single Man,” and knitting a lace scarf, I had the same feelings of being energized, feeling productive, and being able to spend time being creative, thinking about my next project, my next handspun yarn.  Not only does working on my projects relax me in the moment, it inspires me to think about other projects, new ideas and things I want to add to my project list.

I spent more time today spinning, and found that even 30 minutes at the wheel brought me back to that comforting space.  My time with wheel or needles and yarn give me the opportunity to put everything in perspective, and often in that exercise I realize that the things I thought were originally big deals end up being of little importance in the big scheme of things.

Spending time enjoying one’s craft can provide fuel for the soul – it is a completely personal pursuit.  Even if you are knitting with friends, or scrapbooking with family, you are still working on your project.  The simple act of creating something can give each of us a great sense of accomplishment, clears our minds, and helps to inspire us to new levels of creativity moving forward.

I definitely enjoyed the time I spent this weekend pursuing my craft, continuing my love affair with yarn.  I hope you found time to do something that feeds your soul, too.

From Fiber to Finished Object

1 Jul

It’s one thing to tell someone when they ask, “Yes, I knit this myself.”

It’s entirely another to say upon prompting, “Yes, I knit this myself using yarn I spun by hand.”

And so it is that I am finally seeing one of my first spinning projects knit up into a finished object. Using hand-dyed merino in shades of purple, I spun this into a ball of about 92 yards. I’ve cast on an odd number of stitches (11 in this case), then used the following pattern:  k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

I have found a great sense of satisfaction in recalling the first day I pulled the beautiful roving out of its packaging, began examining the staple length and finding my natural rhythm as I fed loose fiber into my Schacht Matchless spinning wheel. I made a singles yarn with this, and then a second, then plied the two singles together. The combinations from one single to the other collided in a symphony of rouged shades and I was pleased. Then, to knit it up into a project took that sense of accomplishment even further, seeing how the color combination I forged merged with the pattern to create something truly unique and one-of-a-kind.

I’ve heard it said that being a spinner who knits is a path for the ultimate control obsessed. Not only do you have the power to create the yarn you want in the exact size, color and texture you want, you also have the ability to then turn around and knit it up into a finished object using a pattern that you find or that you design yourself.

There is something incredibly satisfying about seeing the project from fiber to finished object.

Perhaps this is indicative of my level of control and focused attention on the creative process in my own fiber arts journey.

Whether or not this highlights nuances of my personality, spinning my own yarn and then knitting it up into a beautiful finished object is, I would venture to say, something that would make even Martha proud.

“I knit this myself using yarn I personally spun by hand,” I say, “and it’s a good thing.”

Finding renewed focus

13 Jun

It’s an unfortunate reality that when you don’t make the time to pursue one or more of your personal passions, it can be perceived as you are no longer passionate about that particular craft or pursuit.  Another unfortunate reality is that the myriad of requests, engagements, and daily responsibilities can easily find a way to creep in and consume ever-increasing amounts of one’s time.  And these requests have an uncanny stealth manner of taking over your life little by little until one day, you wake up and realize you haven’t blogged in a week, you haven’t knitted in about the same amount of time.  Then, you wonder, what has this world come to?

I have to admit that I have allowed the demands of work and play to take me slightly off course.  Not off course in the sense that my passion dwindled for my artistic pursuits, but veered off course in terms of staying committed to my knitting and spinning and blogging – three things I absolutely enjoy – and giving other things permission to overrule my personal passions.  It took a relaxing weekend in the woods (a pursuit we call “GLAM-ping,” as “camping” doesn’t accurately describe how we spend time amidst a wooded backdrop) for me to take time to disconnect, re-calibrate, course correct and realize that it’s time for me to reclaim my own power to pursue my passions.

While away, I had a moment of inspiration and outlined a memoir/personal essays book that has generated a great deal of excitement and interest for me as I think about expanding that outline into a full-length manuscript.

While away, I thought about the serenity and joy that knitting and spinning give to me, and the satisfaction I get by seeing surprised smiles and receiving appreciative embraces when I give my knitted finished objects to others.

While away, I explored the impact of what happens to me, my demeanor, my spirit, when I lose my sense of balance and don’t make sure I spend time working hard, playing hard and managing multiple priorities that, to me, include time for knitting and spinning.

While away, I acknowledged the great love I have for writing and recalled how starting BrianKnits.com was a personal response to the lack of creative writing outlets in my life.  I realized this weekend that I miss writing (when only a week or so had transpired since my last post), so I knew I needed to revitalize and recommit to writing with greater frequency.  I owe that to myself…and I owe it to my wonderful readers who keep visiting BrianKnits.com.

So, after time away to disconnect, analyze and re-energize, I have decided to make some personal public commitments to make sure I continue to make time for the people and the things that I love:

I blog at least three times per week.

Being a creative type, I need structure and deadlines to deliver effectively.  My personal writing pursuits are no different.  By knowing that I must offer at least three perspectives in a given week will give me a measurable goal to work toward.

I knit a finished object at least once per month.

I am not currently engaged in what one may consider major knitting projects.  Shawls, scarves, hats, socks tend to be my fare of choice and it is reasonable to suggest that one of these items could be hand knitted in a given month.

I produce at least 1 new skein of yarn per week.

I know I can produce more than 1 skein of yarn per week; however, I want to set a minimum threshold and then give myself the space to grow into a more aggressive production schedule.  It is an art that I would like to evolve into a business someday and the practice and learning I am experiencing now is setting the stage for that goal of the future.

I share all of this to (1) acknowledge the truth that life does, in fact, happen and can keep us from pursuing our passions if we let it and (2) it is a healthy practice to set time aside to renew, reflect and re-focus, develop a plan to make sure you are able to do the things that are required of you as well as to do the things you love (and know those pursuits may not necessarily be mutually exclusive).

Here’s to a life lived with passion!

Craft as meditation

2 Jun

I have to admit that sometimes I allow the dynamics of life to spark a lot of extra thoughts – thoughts including “should be doing” and “could be doing” and peppered with a bit of self-doubt.  Turning 40 has put me in a perpetually reflective space, all for good, though lately, the thoughts have become more critical and tainted with judgment.

Last night these thoughts culminated to the point that by 8:45 p.m. I wanted to do nothing else but just go to bed.  The day had been enough for me and I could take in no more new data, have no additional thoughts, synthesize no new information.  I was done.

I woke up this morning and did some reading on my Kindle that reminded me of basic Buddhist principles which I have read and re-read ever since first discovering them at the age of 19.  My suffering came down to the fact that I had lost focus on the present moment.

It sounds a bit cliche, but is fundamentally true: my thoughts questioning yesterday serve no purpose.  All of that is over and done with and will never be repeated again.  My thoughts of tomorrow only divert my attention from this point in time, the present moment.  It dawned on me: I had been creating my own suffering.

Tonight after work, I came home and started spinning a new bobbin of beautiful Merino wool and as I drafted the fiber and allowed the twist to enter into it with a rhythmic beauty, I realized this not only was an act of creation, but a meditation practice. My attention and energy was fully focused on the present moment – on what was taking place in my hands and on my spinning wheel.

As I allowed the rhythm to take over, I started to pay more attention to my fleeting thoughts and as thoughts similar to those I had unearthed yesterday emerged, I would acknowledge them, let them pass, and focus again on my spinning, the rhythm, the fiber transforming into yarn.  This is meditation.

It was also in that moment I realized that our craft serves many purposes.  Whether it is knitting, spinning, crocheting or weaving – or whatever craft you might enjoy – there can be a sense of purpose, a sense of accomplishment, meditation and even healing discovered in the act of creating something in a pattern, a process, a rhythm.

I have discovered and enjoyed many of these benefits from my knitting and spinning pursuits…and I hope that you also may discover the many wonders awaiting you in whatever your passion and craft may be!

A Little Knit Music

27 May

Music is a big part of my life.  It has been for as long as I can remember.  At the risk of sounding, well, seasoned, I can say that back when I was a kid, we didn’t have The Google or other electronic diversions (we barely had Pong and Chopper Command!).  So, being an only child, I would spend a fair amount of time reading, writing and listening to music.

The other day I was thinking about the role music plays in my journey as a fiber artist.

For knitting, if the pattern is simple, I can listen to more complicated content like Broadway showtunes by Sondheim (may I recommend the recent Broadway Cast recording of “A Little Night Music” featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury?).  Depending on the mood of the day, I can take things a bit more on the mellow side such as the heartfelt yearning of Ray LaMontagne or Eddie Vedder’s soundtrack to the film “Into the Wild”.

If the pattern is more complex, I err on the side of instrumental – if you’re a Sirius-XM Subscriber, I veer towards Watercolors or Spa.  When knitting complicated projects, I find the music needs to be much more of a background feature, so the foreground can focus on my pattern in hand.

For spinning, it’s a different story.  In the past week since I’ve started spinning on my new Schacht Matchless spinning wheel, I’ve found Bluegrass to be my musical poison.  Part nostalgic (Bluegrass reminds me of time spent with my grandparents during childhood summers), part theming, and part motivation, hearing fast-paced mandolins and banjos creates a pace that is helpful when treadling and feeding fiber to the twist and onto the bobbin.

Bluegrass music also, for me, heightens the feeling of being a folk artist – as I see fiber arts and spinning, particularly, as a folk art, an art with a long-standing tradition.  The wheels may look different today than they did one or two hundred years ago, but the action is still the same, and the results?  It’s still yarn!

Whether I’m knitting or spinning, music can transform my disposition, can speed up or slow down my actions, and inspire me as I continue to learn, experiment and discover the immeasurable possibilities!

What do you listen to when knitting or sitting at your spinning wheel?  I’d love your suggestions on new music to enjoy while working on my art!

A “Matchless” Arrival

20 May

Tuesday saw me take a giant leap deeper into the exciting and fascinating world of Fiber Arts!  I recently wrote about the inspiration for spinning I found at Picasso’s Moon Scrumptious Yarn in Sarasota, Florida, and I have really been wanting a spinning wheel since that fateful visit!  I’m excited and pleased to report that I am now the proud owner of a new Schacht Matchless spinning wheel.  (I have to give props to Nancy at The Woolery for the great customer service and insight!)

First, I must say it was VERY easy to assemble.  Honestly, it arrives in a fair state of assembly already.  Then, I found a video on YouTube of a woman demonstrating how to assemble a Schacht Matchless wheel, so I simply followed those instructions and had my wheel up and running in under 30 minutes.

After getting my beautiful wheel assembled, I pulled out some turquoise corridale fiber to experiment and learn with.  I just started in (while watching Maggie Casey and Eunny Jang’s video, “Start Spinning”), filled a couple of bobbins with spun yarn and came to a few realizations:

Spinning is like patting your head and rubbing your belly.

I found spinning requires attention in three key points at once – the treadles, the bobbin and where the spinning action is taking place.  It is taking some getting used to but I’m working on it.

I think I like Scotch tension better than Double Drive.

I am starting to see a trend with putting too much twist into my yarn (which, I think, means that the tension needs to be turned up so the yarn feeds onto the bobbin quicker).  I just have to remember to give the yarn to the wheel once the right amount of twist has been worked in.

Stop more frequently to check twist in spun yarn.

I need to remember to take frequent breaks to let the yarn wind back on itself to see if I’m putting the right amount of twist in.  It took me a while to realize that I had way too much twist in yarn that had already been pulled onto the bobbin.

When you start pedaling, make sure the wheel is turning in the correct direction for what you are doing.

At various points in my practice, I would start treadling only to notice the wheel and bobbin spinning in the wrong direction (which created tangled messes on the flyer and bobbin).

Don’t rush the process.

I think, at times, I would feel I need to spin quickly because the wheel was turning (forgetting I could simply slow or stop my treadling, get the yarn and fiber under control, then start treadling again) to make even yarn.

I must admit my first two bobbins ended up in the garbage as a tangled mess.  Then, I put things in perspective, taking the process a bit slower, allowing me to spin a bobbin of chunky turquoise corridale wool and another bobbin of chunky chocolate colored corridale – and then, I plied them together!

The end result errs more on the side of art yarn, but I was able to work through the complete process and I gained a bit of confidence and am excited to continue my daily practice to refine my technique.  I still need to wash and set the twist, but I think for a first attempt, I didn’t do too bad.

I learn by doing and am giving myself permission this time around (unlike my first foray into knitting) to make mistakes.  I’m sure the learning experience I’ve had over the past couple of days are not new or groundbreaking; these insights, however, are my first lessons as I begin this exciting next step in my journey as a Fiber Artist.

For you handspinners out there, what have you found to be important points of awareness for beginning spinners?

Spin-ti-ci-pation!

14 May

After a chance visit to Picasso’s Moon Scrumptious Yarn in Sarasota, Florida a few months ago, I discovered the world of spinning and of art yarn.  Since then, I’ve been researching for and saving for a spinning wheel of my own.  Yesterday, I finally took the plunge and placed my order.  A beautiful Schacht Matchless wheel was shipped from The Woolery in Kentucky to me today and should arrive early next week!

Now I am experiencing that phenomenon known as “Spin-ti-ci-pation” – the anticipation that comes from waiting for the arrival of spinning equipment and supplies to one’s home!  To fill the void I’m feeling, wanting to sit at my new wheel, treadle and feed the twist into the fiber, I am watching spinning DVDs and reading spinning books, trying to gather as much “book knowledge” about spinning so that when the wheel arrives, I’ll be ready!

What this has all made me think about is: WHY?  Why have I plunged into the world of spinning and how did I get here?  What am I most excited about the prospect of spinning yarn?  Here are a few thoughts on those subjects…

Why do I want to spin my own yarn?

Because I can!  Seriously, I love the idea of seeing a knitting project from fiber to finished object, to be able to tell someone, “Not only did I knit you this scarf, I handspun the yarn myself!”  I also feel a connection to the past, to traditional craftsmanship, and to what I consider a folk art in its true sense.  I also feel like spinning my own yarn gives me TOTAL control over the yarn and what the project will look like.

What am I most excited about the prospect of spinning yarn?

I am looking forward to experimenting with color and texture – there’s a new direction in spinning that focuses on art yarn, unique colors and elements that are spun into the yarn that add a one-of-a-kind appearance to whatever is knit with it.

I am excited about having more tools and skills at my disposal as I continue to build my competency and mastery as a Fiber Artist.  Using a spindle is fun and works for some, and I have used one and was successful in making yarn with it – but I’m really excited about having a wheel not only to give me more options, but to make the process a bit easier and a lot quicker as well.

I’m also excited about the potential to develop a skill from which I could personally profit.  In addition to spinning yarn for me, I also look forward to the opportunity to spin yarn for sale to others.  One of my goals this year is to open an Etsy store featuring my knitted items, but now that I will be spinning yarn, I’ll also be able to offer my handspun yarn for the most discerning of fiber artists!

I know my site is called “Brian Knits!” and trust me, the knitting projects continue, the classes are scheduled and that is still a wonderful love and passion of mine – my spinning pursuits (of which I will also be documenting here) will simply add new dimension, texture and interest to an already exciting path of fiber artistry and fun!

Won’t you join me on this journey?  Am I the only one who feels like this?

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