Last Tuesday, I had a great time speaking to a group of Knitting Off Broadway knitters at the Scotty's Brewhouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was good food, good conversation, beautiful works-in-progress, and a fun time during dessert when I presented on my two projects in the current Knitting Traditions magazine.
The Knitting Off Broadway gang at Scotty's Brewhouse, May 2015
Despite backing up as much as I could and standing on a stool, this was the best shot I could get. Hannah is wearing the Jeanne Baret cap I made, and, actually, made a cute model for the sweater and hat combo. Here is Hannah wearing both. The hat is reversible and here she is wearing the other side facing out:
I was able to share some of my research and talk through the life and times of adventurers Jeanne Baret, first (known) woman to circumnavigate the globe, and Prince Roland Bonaparte and his photographic expedition to the Sámi peoples in the late 1800s. Both these knitted pieces are inspired by their exploration.
This week is the last week of school for my three kiddos. The last hurrah for them AND me. This week, I cram in all the work I hope to accomplish for the next two and a half months. This week's plans, this includes charting and writing five patterns for an Interweave ebook, and submitting several more submissions to print and web magazines. I better get cracking!
When I resurface, I'll be teaching at the Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan, Michigan August 14 & 15. Come join me for my Skolt Sámi Motifs class, Irish Crochet Motifs or Kautokeino Sámi mittens!
The last two weeks have been heavenly, and largely found me out in the garden. Chris and I finally landscaped the yard last fall with bushes and trees, and this spring I have been adding lots of perennials: shasta daisies, valerian, brown-eyed susans, and sedum. The list goes on.
singles in Sweet Georgia
I also have had a bit of a spinning kick. A couple weeks ago I finished a lovely three ply of some Blue-faced Leicester. Then, I dove in my roving stash and nabbed up 100g of a Sweet Georgia brand 75% bfl / 25% tussah silk. I spun and I spun and I spun. Overall, I was pleased with the singles I am able to produce. I filled two spools half way and then double plied a very pleasing light fingering weight yarn. If I calculated correctly, I have 512 yards of this. Now, I have to find the perfect shawlette pattern.
finished, washed yarn. Unfortunately, the color bled quite a bit!
I have been working on a pair of Sámi mittens for the Nov/Dec edition of PieceWork. I am almost done, and they are lovely! Other self-publications have gotten bogged down at the various stages. Maybe I can finish those up before the kids are home for summer.
The following was in my email box this morning. It is so much fun to see my work emailed back to me!
Of the following pictures, I designed the fisherman sweater (on the cover) and the red, white and blue liberty cap. Both are easy projects, but fulfilling to knit and wear. I encourage you to follow the links, check out the issue and order it today!
Travel from the South Pole to the North Pole with Knitting Traditions Spring 2015View in browser »
Welcome to the Amazing Adventures edition of Knitting Traditions! It's all about explorers and adventurers--some were attempting to reach the North or the South Pole, others to circumnavigate the globe. Not all of them were men.
Join Angharad Thomas as she examines the exploits of a number of famous explorers, including Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton. You will learn about explorer Josephine Peary who traveled with her husband, Robert Peary, to the Arctic in 1891. Travel back in time with Jackie Ronne who became the first American woman to reach Antarctica, with knitting needles and yarn in tow.
And then there is the simply incredible Jeanne Baret. This brave woman circumnavigated the globe during a sixteen-month journey. Many other compelling stories and twenty-one stand-out projects-socks, sweaters, mittens and gloves, hats and balaclava, a scarf, and a shawl-await you.
