sutton075

Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning. -Diane Ackerman                                                                                  —Diane Ackerman   Playing with fiber is definitely my happy spot, add good friends and sheep and I am truly content.   Maryland Sheep and Wool 2018 is a bright memory.  My purchases focused on yarn to dye for tapestry weaving based on some recent "play." Above is a bundle of various white and undyed yarns in my stash.  I pulled strands of linen, wool, silk, mohair, cotton and synthetics.  I wanted to dye the bundle and see how the different fibers and textures would take the dye. I weighed the bundle, washed it in synthrapol and mordanted it in a solution of 20% wog (weight of goods) of alum and 6% wog cream of tart...

Mary Redmustache Kealy's wel loved tools. Thanks to all for the wonderful input regarding the line between admiration and appropriation.  My dear daughter sent me a link to  this article  which was most helpful.  The Navajo language is beautiful and mysterious but it is not my language and I won't name any work using it. Hubs and I went back to visit the  The Gregg Museum of Art and Design  so I could show him a Navajo loom in real life. Mary schooling Preston on her loom. Mary's rug in progress Preston's plan is to build me a traditional Navajo loom.  Mary showed her batten to him so he can make one. The title of this post is the Navajo word for husband.  Dear hubs is my greatest enabler, maybe facilitator is a better word.  He created a dye spot for me in the garage. It is awesome. I did some dyeing this weekend and how great to have a dedicated dye spot. Horsetail, madder and the mystery fungus from Carolina Beach.  I placed this pict...

The name of this blog is based upon a traditional Navajo weaving song.  I was drawn to Navajo weaving initally by the beauty and high degree of weaving skill embodied in the work.  Very quickly however I became fascinated by the culture and cosmology of the people and the central role weaving played. I began to build my library of Navajo weaving books and reading everything I could get my hands on.  A trip to the southwest with my daughter in 2016 fed the passion. I was visiting the places I had been reading about.  The landscapes and vistas were stunning. The Hubbell Trading Post was just as I pictured it. Fast forward to this week.  The  The Gregg Museum of Art and Design  had a demonstration of Navajo weaving and basket making. The exhibit was small and informal which gave me the opportunity to watch and speak to the weaver,  Mary Redmustache Kealy. Crystal Rug, a modified Two Grey Hills pattern 1955 - 1970. Handspun yarns Wide Ruins Weaving...

they rise in a stiff sweetness, in the pure peace of giving one's gold away. ~Mary Oliver The scientific name for goldenrod is Solidago which means "to make whole."  This weekend involved experimentation with dyeing wool with freshly gathered goldenrod. Norsk Fjord Fiber  vevgarn Frid is imported from Hiilesvag Ullvarefabrikk, a fifth generation spinnery on the west coast of Norway.  This is my favorite yarn for tapestry.  It comes in multiple natural shades of natural grey and white, which made for fun dyeing possibilities.  Dear hubs was alarmed when I explained my plan to gather goldenrod along the highway.  He decided adult supervision was required. 3.25 pounds of goldenrod. After washing all the yarn in Synthrapol, I mordanted it.  Some in alum (4 tbsp in 4 gallons of water) and some in iron (2 tbsp in 4 gallons).   After mordanting and rinsing the yarn the goldenrod was placed in a large enamel pot and covered with water.  The pot was b...

In an effort to not feel left out by skipping the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival a few of us got together for fiber pursuits. First up, was some rust dyeing.  We wrapped some rusty bits in silk scarf blanks and then simmered the scarves in a pot of yellow onion skins overnight. I tried a new to me technique using steel wool.  I got the idea from  here .  Whenever I dye anything I start by washing it in Synthrapol.  With rust dyeing there is no need to pre-mordant. The materials needed are basic, gloves, an empty wine bottle, a package of steel wool, some string or rubber bands, white vinegar and water. 1.  Wear gloves, the steel wool can cause small cuts on your hands.  I might have learned this the hard way. 2.  Unfold the steel wool into long strips and wrap around the wine bottle. 3.  Take the wet scarf and wrap it in a spiral up to the neck of the wine bottle. 4.  Secure with rubber bands or string.  I used an old rusty strip ...