The blog will be here some day
In between other responsibilities and tasks, I’m still working on the migration to WordPress. I’m expecting to take this site live next week. The blog will come along after I figure out how to copy over about six hundred image-filled posts in readable order. I have the tool. What I need is the time. . . … Read more
Lithuanian knitting: unusual and approachable continuing traditions
Years ago, when I edited Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot, I learned of Lithuanian textiles through weaving, by way of work by Antanas and Anastazija Tamošaitis and by Kati Meek and an awareness of the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture in Chicago (SS&D Summer 1986). Lithuania is one of three countries tucked into the curve at the … Read more
WordPress is not altogether simple
. . . which I’ve proven today by breaking it several times and deleting all of the architecture and verbal content I had developed so far. Yes, permanently. I’m working locally and there was an upgrade to MAMP which I installed without exporting the text items, which I learned were not stored in the same … Read more
“Sugar-coating the cruel world of wool!”
Late last year I received an e-mail message that I answered personally, but I haven’t had time for blogging in a while (as some may have noticed), so this inquiry and my response didn’t get shared. This morning on Twitter I was asked for information on cruelty in shearing, which led me to find my … Read more
A gem of a book: Felicity Ford’s KNITSONIK Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook
EDITED March 7, 2015 to add: Felicity Ford’s KNITSONIK Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook is now one of the wonderful books (including Kate Davies’ and Elizabeth Lovick’s and more) available in the U.S. from Meg Swansen’s Schoolhouse Press. I’ll link here to the “new books” page where you can currently find them. Thanks to M.C. for letting … Read more
Yarn (and fiber) interlude
I’ve gotten swept away in preparations for the two Shetland-wool-specific retreats that I’ll be facilitating in the San Juan Islands of Washington State during the first two weeks in November. There’s a lot to do: the fact that I enjoy the activities doesn’t shorten the hours required to complete all the related tasks. Fortunately I … Read more
Iceland 7 – Hveravellir, and Þingborg
For reasons why the blog posts are getting farther apart, check out my newsletter (of which there will be a new release soon, but this blog post comes first). Up over the top After learning more about winter housing of sheep, we got back into our mountain-ready bus and went up over the Icelandic Highlands. … Read more
Iceland 6 – Winter housing of sheep, one view
After Icelandic sheep are brought down from the mountains, those that will be wintered-over spend some time in pastures closer to the farms. Counts of Icelandic sheep are always given in terms of the winter flock, and thus do not include the lambs (that number would be almost three times as large, because many Icelandic … Read more
Iceland 5 – Ullarselið
After our visit to Ístex, we drove north to Hvanneyri and the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI), which combines strong research with a mission of teaching. Thanks to Google for the map.
Iceland 4 – Ístex
I’m taking our Icelandic adventures a bit out of order, in order to relate them logically to each other. This post concerns the trip to Iceland’s spinning mill, which was the first place our North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wools Conference bus stopped after we left Reykjavik together. The mill is only about fifteen minutes from … Read more