Knitting in Scotland May 2018

Scotland- May 30, 2018

As we traveled the Irish Sea toward Scotland we attended great classes. JC Briar is a wonderful, creative and super smart instructor.   We had classes in reading lace patterns,  cables, Brioche and shawl design.   So many things to think about and skills to learn or improve.   If you ever get the opportunity to take one (or more) of her classes, I would highly recommend it..she is brilliant in so many ways.   I know she does Stitches Events https://www.knittinguniverse.com/stitches/ and teaches at Black Sheep in Oregon.

In Scotland - North and South Lanarkshire

The New Lanark Mill

http://www.newlanark.org/visitorcentre/

New Lanark quickly became known under the enlightened management of social pioneer, Robert Owen. He provided decent homes, fair wages, free health care, a new education system for villagers and the first workplace nursery school in the world! Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Lanark has been beautifully restored as a living community,

Edinburgh next-til next time..

It truly is all about the finishing

Although most people love the knitting and don't care for the time and attention it takes to FINISH (as in block and weave), this final step can make all the difference in the world.  

Think of it as how a garment looks when pressed or not pressed.

Blocking the Date Night Wrap www.ExpressionFiberArts.com

After the piece was blocked my daughter asked if I could make the wrap longer.   She 5'8" , so yes of course.   I purchased 3 additional skeins of the Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino DK and added approximately 7 more rows.   Lovely pattern, delicious yarn

As a back-up, if the temperature really dropped-- GGH  Husky -wool
High Fructose Shawl  by Tunney Wool Company

 She wore both!!!!! yeah

From Fleece to Wool I Hope!!

So now to spin.  A friend has Dorset sheep with lovely coats.  She asked if I'd like the wool and since I had the time (who I'm I kidding) thought it would be a fun thing to do.  Wash, comb, card and spin some wool... Well at least some of the washing is complete... the wonder of the Internet, enabling me to watch a video teaching me how to cleanse the fleece while I was washing it.  Mind you I have done this before on a teeny tiny scale.  When in college my Primitive Weaving course began with the professor handing each of us a handful of unwashed fleece..from which we were expected to create a finished product, all using primitive tools.. even had to make our own spindles and loom.  Loved the project back then, but I can see that this is going to be a lot to do...why now that I look at this beautiful white wool  ...I'm realizing I'm going to have a TON of yarn!!!