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Review: “A Knitter’s Guide to Color with Laura Bryant”

13 Jun

“You don’t get WOW by doing the expected!”
- Laura Bryant

After returning home from a long weekend in the country, I was thrilled to discover my copy of Interweave’s DVD “A Knitter’s Guide to Color with Laura Bryant” waiting on my doorstep!  I’ve seen Laura appear on various segments of Knitting Daily TV, and have also personally knit with PRISM Yarns, those fantastic yarns made of luxurious fibers in the most brilliant and unexpected colorways I’ve ever seen.  So, having the opportunity to have my own private “workshop” with Laura herself was an exciting prospect.

This DVD transformed the way I look at color.

Laura takes the viewer on a journey of discovery, demonstrating the basics of sorting colors by visual weight, warm and cool, to create what she calls “a river of color.”  She then shows a technique for using said river to find colors (many of them, unexpected combinations) that will work together.

One entire chapter shows Laura sorting a mixed menagerie of fibers in myriad colors, solids and variegated, metallics to merino.  Watching the transformation of this mixed pile into a river of color, a magnificent palette, is fascinating – and then, when she shows how to actually use that sorting process to find unexpected combinations is really something to witness.

Mathematic metaphors, patterns occurring in nature bring items to life.

Laura discusses the Fibonacci number sequence, a way of using numerical formulas to create attractive patterns in multiple colors that are pleasing to the eye.  I am typically math-averse; however, her easy-to-follow explanation of the mathematic principle and its application to knitting is so clear, I wanted to knit something up right away using the concept.

Her style is warm and casual, she speaks to you as if you were chatting over a grande nonfat caramel macchiato at the local Starbucks.  Every concept she shares is supported by tangible samples, whether shaded color cards, or fully or partially knit samples demonstrating differences in color choices and how those impact the overall look and impact of an item.

Use color to tell a story.

Another unique element of how Laura presents the concept of color is through the elements of “the color story” and “the pattern story.”  She shows knitted samples that demonstrate what a color story is versus a pattern story, but goes further by showing how to tell one over the other, and the role that color changes play in those two scenarios.

This DVD not only has fundamental concepts of using color, it features a number of great, and fairly easy looking projects, that facilitate the experimentation with color Ms. Bryant has equipped the viewer to pursue.  The DVD, when placed into a computer, also contains a downloadable pdf of a beautiful shawl pattern (which she showcases in the DVD as well).

I thought I knew how to pick colors.

I thought I had a good gauge on color, but in the first 5 minutes of watching this video I quickly realized I sort to my favorites, which are often safe, and not particularly a WOW.  When Laura Bryant shared her primary axiom, “You don’t get WOW by doing the expected!” I realized that I didn’t know that much about color mixing and matching after all.

I’ve learned, by watching this program, that I have a huge opportunity to get more adventurous with my color choices, and by understanding the concepts clearly and wonderfully demonstrated in this video, I am excited to make new and different color choices when making yarn purchases, designing my knitting projects, or fashioning my own handspun yarn in the future.

For more information:

About Laura Bryant and PRISM Yarn

View a preview of the DVD

Order your copy of “A Knitter’s Guide to Color with Laura Bryant”

Knitting with Possum?

19 Mar

One measure of a true friend is the ability to give a gift that is so tailored to one’s interests, it was almost as if the gift was made just for you.  I received such a gift from two such friends this past week and I must share exactly what that gift is here.

My friends, Jim and Paul, spent three weeks in New Zealand this past February and, knowing of my fondness for fiber, they (and Jim in particular) nearly risked life and limb (I, too, would jump out into the street if I saw a sign marked “Yarn” in the near horizon) to bring something back for me.  For the last month or two, Jim had alluded to the fact they brought a sheep back with them.  Part of me hoped it was true.  Part of me didn’t, as I could only imagine the chagrin of my suburban neighbors at the morning bleets of a wooly creature.

What my friends did bring back was truly exotic and something I had not ever heard of before.  Yarn, soft as cashmere, made from the New Zealand Possum!  Purchased at Wild & Wooly Yarns in Auckland, the possum yarn, in a beautiful colorway merging burgundy with purple and olive green, was something so exciting and so unexpected — and of course, it comes with its own interesting story.

Apparently, after a botched fur trade deal in the late 19th Century found some businessmen releasing hundreds of New Zealand possums into the wild, the population grew exponentially.  So much so that today, New Zealand is home to 3.5 million people, 50 million sheep, and 90 million possums.  As a result, the government spends NZ$50 million culling this animal to keep the population in check.  Instead of incinerating the carcasses, they are now used for pelts and fiber for textiles.  The New Zealand possum is also responsible for approximately 70 percent of all New Zealand’s extinctions – they appear to be a hungry bunch.

The fibers that make up a Possum’s fur are hollow, similar only to the Polar Bear.  The possum fibers are too short to make yarn on their own, but are successfully blended with merino wool and silk that act as carriers for the possum fiber.  The finished product made with possum yarn is extremely soft, has a tendency to feel cool in warm weather, warm in cold weather, and will dry quickly if it gets wet.

The important decision I will someday make then is: What do I make with one skein of possum yarn?  (Suggestions from readers are welcomed!)

In addition to the possum yarn, my friends also brought back a ball of handspun Perendale wool, in its natural color with some lanolin remaining.  This yarn reminds me of wool I purchased a couple of years ago in Nova Scotia and with which I knitted a sampler scarf:

With a smaller yardage, however, I would like to knit something lacy that would look nice as table decor, or some other smaller home furnishing.  Regardless, the natural scent and wonderful handspun texture of the Perendale wool is comforting and inspiring.

According to the American Sheep Industry Association, the Perendale, a long wool breed, originated in New Zealand by crossing the Border Cheviot and Romney breeds.  They are bred to produce light, lofty long-stapled, medium wool fleeces.

And, as if the possum and perendale yarns weren’t ample demonstration of my friends’ sentiments and thoughts of me while on holiday, they sealed the deal with an awesome t-shirt featuring a sheep’s face in Warholian quadrants of color!

These gifts of fiber not only spoke to my heart and appeal to my love affair with yarn in significant ways, they are also the impetus for inspiration.  Some wonder about our yarn addictions, our inability to deny ourselves “stash.”  Just as clay appeals to the sculptor, paints ignite the painter’s imagination, so does yarn inspire the knitter!  The texture, the yarn’s potential performance, and it’s colorways are all factors that give me many ideas, put me on the search for the perfect pattern that will bring a particular yarn to life in exciting ways.

Some may scoff at my addiction for yarn, but as the medium for my art, yarn – whether my own handspun or exotic imports such as that I received this week – all fuel my creativity and inspire me to keep making beautiful things.

Yarn store visits in the Pacific Northwest

30 Sep


I always get excited when I have the opportunity to travel.  I enjoy taking in local historical and cultural sites, trying new restaurants, and certainly, as you could imagine, I love visiting Local Yarn Stores in the cities I visit.  My recent expedition to Seattle and then into Alaska’s inside passage was no different and I was given both planned and happenstance chances to visit two yarn stores while I was away.

So Much Yarn – Seattle, WA

This was my planned yarn stop on the trip.  Located on the 2nd floor of an unsuspecting office building, flanked by physical therapist and dentist offices, So Much Yarn is a very nice space.  The service is friendly, offers insight and creative suggestions (which I appreciated) and has a nice mixture of show pieces, a classroom area in the center of the shop, and certainly, plenty of lovely yarns.

There were a variety of colors and fibers to choose from and I settled on 4 skeins (2 different colorways) of Trabajos del Peru by Plymouth.  Upon purchasing, the store clerk (a guy!) and I chatted about Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s one row scarf and I purchased the yarn with the intent of using it with this pattern.  Only a few blocks from Pike Place Market, So Much Yarn is a great place to stop for the much needed skein or find a place to learn and commune with other fiber artists.

Rushin’ Tailor’s QuiltAlaska – Skagway, AK

Although primarily a quilting store with beautiful fabrics and patterns, Rushin’ Tailor’s also had a small but eclectic section of incredible yarns, many of them produced in Alaska.  I ended up purchasing some hand-dyed New Zealand wool from Anchorage in two different colorways that were vivid, bold, and will, I’m sure, make striking projects as well.  I had a nice chat with the store clerk and she asked me if I was with the Knitting Cruise that was in town.  I replied, “No, although I have been knitting on my cruise, I’m not on a knitting cruise!”  I thought it was interesting, though not surprising, that a ship could be filled with knitters (or at least a portion of the ship).  Much like my trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, last year, I was glad that I was able to find fibers that were locally produced and I could contribute, in some form, to the local economy.

What impressed me in both stores, as well as in Seattle and throughout Alaska, was the general state of kindness residents live in.  The pace is slower and, particularly in Alaska, the lifestyle is a hearty one to be sure, but the people are warm and generous and willing to help.

Whether you find yourself in Seattle or Skagway, you are sure to find friendly people and fantastic fibers!

Deadlines & Distractions

3 Sep

With less than two weeks until my partner and I depart for 3 days in Seattle before boarding a ship to cruise the inland passage of Alaska for a week, I have some serious knitting deadlines.

To commemorate this voyage, I am knitting scarves for each of us to wear as it is expected to be chilly (by Floridian standards) as we move northward from Washington state.

Challenge #1: Sebastian Sampler Scarf in Lion Brand Yarn’s Wool-Ease (Pines Print) for Richard.

This is a great scarf for a beginning knitter to really practice (and see the visible results that come from) knitting and purling, juxtaposing the two stitches together.  With four stitch patterns separated by rows of garter stitch, the Sebastian sampler scarf, a free pattern at LionBrand.com, also has enough complexity to keep it interesting for a more experienced Fiberista.  I enjoyed working this pattern – and, am pleased to report that Challenge #1 has been completed (I just have to block it, which I will do this weekend).

Challenge #2: Something with 5 skeins of Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton (3 in khaki, 2 in walnut) for me to sport on the Tundra.

I started with some experimentation using basic garter stitch, and a couple of more textured patterns but nothing was singing to me.  Then I opened a wonderful book, “Last-Minute Knitted Gifts” by Joelle Hoverson, the owner of my favorite yarn store in New York City, Purl.  The Purl Scarf pattern gave me the idea of knitting using two strands of yarn together (I had seen this done in videos and magazines, but hadn’t gone down this road with my own fiber arts).  I also loved the chunky, flexible fabric that comes from a k1/p1 ribbing.  Because Nature’s Choice is a chunky yarn, I reduced the number of stitches to make a moderately thick scarf (while not being potentially suffocating).  I love how the yarns are creating a unique pattern and this yarn is also incredibly soft (I actually can’t wait to knit other things with it, too – it comes in a number of lovely colors!).

I am about half-way done, though I have woven in the Cast-On end and added fringe to one end…Here’s where I’m at today (and hope to finish this weekend):

Because it’s a chunky yarn and I’m using a size 13 needle (the pattern suggests 15), it is a pretty quick knit, so finishing this weekend should not be a problem.

Distractions and detours

In the past month, I have also had my share of distractions which have required me to work on these much closer to the deadline than I would typically prefer.  A special project at work took a great deal of extra work for a little over 3 weeks.  I had a couple of birthdays pop up in the month as well, so did a couple of crochet projects as well to make sure I could deliver those in time.  My most recent is one I’m proud of – crocheted using sc/dc/dc in sc below, this pattern creates a shell-style pattern with straight edges and it lays flat.  Here’s my friend, Sandi, sporting her birthday gift made from a silk/cotton/wool blend by Noro of Japan:

I am also planning my packing for the trip (and trying not to over-pack as I typically do) and am also trying to find time to work on my writing portfolio (as I’m going to be applying for Graduate School in the months ahead, seeking my Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing).

Making it work

I think the best thing about knitting and crochet is that they are mobile crafts, and a few 1-hour knitting sessions can really yield a fair amount of progress on a project.  Life always offers us much to do, service to fulfill and discoveries from which to learn – but for a fiber artist, we have an internal clock that, I think, helps us gauge how much time we have to knit something on deadline, and it is our creativity that finds unique solutions to generate something beautiful in a shorter period of time (or, with a number of late nights and numb butt cheeks).

The funny thing is that as I work on my scarf for Alaska, I am already pondering my next knitting projects, things to take me into the fall and winter seasons, gifts for the holidays.  Being a fiber artist means we are never short on materials, patterns and ideas and, no matter what, amidst the distractions, we deliver beautiful, handcrafted items time after time.

Stereotypes, Part Deux: Overheard in a yarn store

12 Aug

You may have seen my recent post on my concern about how knitting and craft media help foster gender stereotypes in the way they portray and appeal to women in their content.  There isn’t a lot of gender neutral content, or even articles targeted to men, in knitting magazines (that I have observed).  So, with gender stereotypes top of mind, I overheard something in a yarn store recently that now calls me to my soapbox once again.

The yarn store or its locale is not important here, but what matters is the impact and the lesson to be learned.

The scene begins with a woman, her daughter (in 20s) and, apparently, her daughter’s boyfriend, who appeared fairly modern in appearance, to the extent that he was even sporting a kilt.  (I was impressed!)

Store clerk emerges and calls out to the entering group:  ”Ladies, needlework and thread in the front, yarn in the back.  For the boys, we have chairs to sit in and candy.”

And scene.

I would like to take a moment to dissect my observations from this exchange.

First, it is an assumption that only the ladies are interested in embroidery or yarncrafting.

Using terms like, “boys” also infantilizes someone, so not only was this exchange assuming that the man in the group was not interested in yarn or thread, it was also a bit demeaning.

I tried to put myself in this situation, and wondered how it would make me feel to be told something like this walking into a store.  I recall a visit to another yarn store in my travels that is part yarn store, part antique store.  When entering, the store owner suggested, “Antiques are in the back,” to which I kindly replied, “Oh, I’m here for yarn!”

This more recent observation however would have struck me very differently if it had been directed toward me.  Also, as another male in the shop, I felt a bit awkward, as if the yarn was not there for my enjoyment should I so desire.

You might be wondering, “So what do you expect, Brian?”

Keeping in mind that I am an idealist, I would love for people to think about what they say before they say it, consider the impact their words may have, as well as the implications they may be projecting onto the situation or circumstances.

I would also say that making assumptions about peoples’ interests is also not a wise path to follow.  In so doing, you might end up limiting yourself (or, in this case, potential sales).

Every customer that walks through the door, whether male or female, may have a genuine interest in any or all items sold in your store.  Stay open to the possibilities and avoid language that may keep you from closing a sale.

Your next question may be: “Well, Brian, since you have such a strong opinion on the topic, what did you say to help the situation?  How were you part of the solution?”

This, my dear readers, is when I must eat some humble pie, for I was in conversation with another shopper and failed to respond.  Of course, after the fact, I thought of a number of other things that I could’ve said, or should’ve said.  Things like:

  • “Boys like yarn, too!”
  • “Sewing or yarncrafting is fun for everyone!”

Or, I could have taken a more direct approach and said, “Don’t assume boys aren’t interested in yarn or thread.”

But, I froze.  I did none of those things.  And, it is from the space of seeking redemption that I write about it here, with the hope that yarn store owners and shoppers alike can remind one another that although the majority of their market, right now, is women, there are still men out there who love yarn and who will spend dearly for it.

And who knows?  Someday perhaps the tide will turn and knitting will be the new golf.  A nice set of ebony needles will be the new Harley.  Watching fiber feeding onto a bobbin becomes the new Super Bowl.  Like I said before.  I am an idealist.

Attack of the Granny Square

2 Aug

I started my fiber arts journey as a knitter.  I dallied in crochet momentarily a year or so ago, as I hearkened back to my childhood visits with grandparents and Grandma teaching me how to make really long chains.  I didn’t take it much beyond that.  Then, earlier this year, I learned how to spin my own yarn, but there was still this voice that had just enough crochet ability to be dangerous that wanted to learn one of the most basic of crochet projects – the Granny Square.

One night while folding laundry I popped in a crochet DVD that a friend gave me and found step-by-step instructions on how to crochet a simple granny square.  Laundry folded, I grabbed a hook and yarn and I got half way through one square and ripped it out. Then, I got all the way through. Granny Square #1 complete.

Somehow, though, over the past week and a half or so, I have become consumed by crochet and thoroughly engrossed by the Granny Square.

First, I made a bunch in Lion Brand Jiffy in Denim Spray. First there were a couple for practice, and then I crocheted 2 and 1/2 skeins into Granny Squares.  Last night I watched some videos on YouTube to learn how to whipstitch squares together and, voila – a crocheted Granny Square scarf was mine by bedtime!

The edges aren’t perfect. The tension varied a bit from square to square. But, much like when I completed my first knitted scarf that could be considered a “double wide,” I had a great sense of satisfaction. I learned a new skill. I practiced it. I finished something.

Now, I know there are some hardcore knitters out there who wouldn’t touch a crochet hook if their lives depended on it. There are also some crocheters out there who wouldn’t dare take their grip off their shiny hooks for anything.

To all that I say: Knowing various skills gives me more flexibility as an artist. I can have more techniques in my wheel house to draw from when making something and gives me infinitely more possibilities when it comes to deciding what to do with the yarn I buy or spin myself.

Now, simultaneously, before I took the time to weave in ends and whipstitch the scarf together last night, I also unearthed 15+ skeins of Lion Brand’s Vanna’s Choice in 3 different beautiful earth tone shades and began working those up in, you guessed it, Granny Squares! I had originally purchased the yarn with the intent of knitting an afghan (and even mentioned making an afghan in my list of 40 things I wanted to this year, the year I turned 40). I had a few false starts in knitting the squares and I just wasn’t feeling the project.

Then, I pulled some of the yarn out last week and tested it with the Granny Square pattern and I was very pleased with how it was knitting up. Then I tried the second color, and then the third. As I put the squares together, the brown, green and sienna all began blending nicely together, and the stack began to grow and grow.

With all of the squares I’ve made in the past week or so, I can now do one in about 20 minutes without looking at the pattern. This from someone who wasn’t really crocheting much at all even a couple of weeks ago.

I don’t share this to brag (and those who know me, hopefully know that I’m not the type to do that). I share this with the intent to inspire others.

It IS possible, with a bit of perseverance and practice, to learn a new skill or technique.

It is also perfectly okay to cross over into another element of the fiber arts and spend some time experimenting there.

Am I turning my back on knitting? Absolutely not – it’s my first fiber love! But what I appreciate now is that I can go from knitting something to hand spinning some yarn to crocheting a project with a completely different look from my knitting projects.  It gives me versatility and really ignites my creativity!

When you find yourself getting a bit bored, watch some videos online to learn a new technique.  Don’t be afraid to take on a more complex pattern and project in your technique of choice. Step out even further and learn a new technique - jump the line from knitting to crochet and see where it takes you (or vice versa). You may fall back to your first love, too, but it never hurts to try, and your adventure could only end up bringing you immeasurable joy and inspiration to take your fiber arts projects in exciting directions and to new heights!

Finding inspiration in uncharted territory

31 May

I recently finished a project that had, for some time, seemed to drag on and on.  It was a scarf (and remind me why am I knitting a ribbed scarf in Florida in May?) and it has taken me a bit longer than usual to complete.  Now, during that time, it’s been a busy Spring season and I also saw the arrival of my spinning wheel, which was a complete diversion from my knitting for a good week or so.  But today, I realized there was more to it, more to why I was, well, getting bored with my project.

Even with the most beautiful yarn, a one or two row pattern is not challenging nor will it entertain you for hundreds and hundreds of knitted rows.

It should be common Knitters’ sense, but I think one of the problems I encountered in this project was that it was just the same thing every row.  Knit the knits.  Purl the purls.  Blah blah blah.  Now, don’t get me wrong, the finished product is beautiful and I’m very pleased with the end result.  But the process, that was a different story.

As I realized the source of my disdain with the project, I also had another knitterly epiphany – I’ve reached the point where I need to add more techniques to my repertoire.  Now, I’m not suggesting overloading oneself with 25 or 30 row patterns of complicated yarn overs and cables.  No, but adding a few things – such as increases – and trying them out for size.

On Ravelry, I found a free pattern by Stephen West entitled, “Boneyard Shawl,” and was immediately captivated.  As I read the pattern I began to get a bit anxious, seeing abbreviations I didn’t understand (let alone knowing how to perform the stitches they represented).  After perusing the details, I found that the 2 new elements were increases, M1L (make 1 to the left) and M1R (make 1 to the right).

And, just as I did when I first taught myself how to knit nearly 2 years ago – I went to YouTube and found demonstration videos for those two stitches.  After a few rows of practice, I was increasing to the left and right with the best of them and the shawl is now officially in progress!  I am finding myself energized, intrigued by the yarn (Rowan Scottish tweed DK in “Lobster”) and as I proceed from row to row, it’s looking just like the pattern photograph – which is a good sign!

The bottom line is that when you find yourself getting bored with projects, it could be a sign to venture off into uncharted territory.  Here are a few ways to do that:

  1. Find patterns with an elevated degree of difficulty from where you are currently performing.
  2. Take time (using books or online resources or Knitterly friends or teachers) to learn new techniques and then find projects in which you can immediately apply your new learning.
  3. Change your yarn selections.  You may find you’ve grown comfortable with specific types of yarn and now you could be tired of seeing the same thing over and over again.  Switch it up, go for something with different colors or textures for visual interest to the project (and for the Knitter).

There’s a right time to take your craft, whatever that may be, to new levels – and you’ll know when that is.  Watch for boredom.  Watch for struggle.  Watch for procrastination.  Then, ask yourself why you’re avoiding the project and the answer will be right there for you.

Happy Knitting (& Spinning)!

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!

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?

A pilgrimage to Purl

3 May

I have reached the point in my life where I am making quarterly trips to New York City.  My partner and I love the city and all that it has to offer.  It is our place to escape, to experience food, art and culture, and certainly, theater.  This past weekend, we made our spring trip there and I was excited to work into the agenda a trip to my favorite yarn store in all of NYC – Purl.

I’ve written about Purl here at BrianKnits.com before, but this visit was unique because the week before, they moved into a beautiful new location at 459 Broome Street.

Formerly on Sullivan Street, Purl has moved into the heart of SoHo and have merged their yarn store and fabric store into one big beautiful space that I would call, “Heaven on Earth.”

The yarn selection is notably expanded from what they offered in their previous location.  They also carry everything from standard fare to more exotic, handspun art yarn, koigu and more.  There is space to browse and many wonderful staff members who are helpful and knowledgeable.

I was also pleased to see they had a small selection of roving for spinning.  I got into an engaging conversation with Laura, one of the staff members at Purl, and we exchanged stories of farm visits – hers to a sheep farm, mine to walk amongst the alpacas.

With a selection of beautiful wooden needles and notions, amidst a panoramic landscape of beautiful fibers in myriad hues and styles, it was easy for me to get caught up in the moment. I did walk out with three skeins of Manos del Uruguay and I didn’t make my traveling companions wait longer than 30 minutes (and there was a Starbucks one block north, so they were able to occupy their time with the sacred bean).

Before each trip I take to New York City, I always look forward to visiting Purl.  Now, in their new location on Broome Street, Purl will continue to provide me with an elevated spiritual experience each time I find myself in the neighborhood…and for any fan of beautiful, luxury fibers, I’m confident it will do the same for you!

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