Victoria Knit-Out

Just a reminder that Victoria's Fibre Fest and Knit Out is THIS WEEKEND!

There's going to be fashion show, galleries, workshops, market, yarn crawl and Canada's knitting darling, Stephanie McPhee (aka. Yarn Harlot).

I'm waiting for my latest dyeing project to dry so I can card & spin it. Until then I've fallen back to the dark side. Yes, I've started knitting socks again.

It's for DH who has admittedly been very patiently waiting for me to knit him socks. Up until now, I've only made him a toque (I know, I'm a horrible knitting wife). I've been selfishly holding back on knitting him socks because I know the deep, dark secret of sock knitting. Once you knit someone socks they become addicted to handknit socks and constantly nag you for more. And they keep nagging you with little care of your other knitting projects. All sock knitters know this. They often don't warn novice sock knitters about this but sit back and smirk as novice sock knitters naively start knitting socks for their loved ones. They may even snicker a bit, knowing that their watching the beginning of a vicious cycle.

I had to move, twice, to get away from all my handknit sock addicted loved ones. Now I've started knitting socks for my ultimate love.

This will be a definite test of our marriage.

Jen

The First Evolution of Fire & Ice

It was only a matter of time that my Scandinavian Fire & Ice sweater was going to evolve from a simple Scandinavian pattern cardigan knitted in the round to something absurdly complicated.

Initially, the Fire and Ice them was to be represented by Fire and Ice inspired colourways. The patterning was to be a simple 8 row Scandinavian pattern. All of it knitting in the round with a yoke finish and minimal seaming. I was planning to steek open the front but that was about as complicated as it was going to get.

Now, I've changed my mind about the Ice colourway. I've opted for a more sky blue than teal base for my cool colours. Which means I've been dyeing even more fleece. Don't worry, I'm still madly in love with the first ice colours, just not for this project. There are a few other knitters that I've already put dibs on some of the yarn for their own projects. Here's some of the teal colourway that has already been promised a home:









I've also decided to scratch the whole simple repeated pattern idea and opt for a mix of colour stranding and cables based on traditional Viking knots. Though to keep my sanity (as little as I have left) I've decided to not carry the multiple colours throughout but the keep it quarantined in one area. Not quite sure which area.

(Fire 100 mile fleece)

I have a couple different ideas. I could do a grand viking knot cable up the back with a 2 colour smaller version of the same cable for a border along the front seams. Or I could do the big grand cable in the back with the 2 colours. There's also the thought of doing the whole darn body in 2 colour cabling. Of course, most of these ideas don't translate well to knitting in the round. I've considered learning how to knitting backwards but I have enough trouble knitting forward that the thought barely registers before getting the boot.



(A whole couch of my new ice 100 mile fleece)







Oh yeah, and I've been thinking about knitting up flames along the sleeves. Big fiery flames because I'm a knitting fool.
Here's some of the designs I've been working on.








Between dyeing, carding, spinning, designing, knitting up samples, I won't have time to pull out my hair or curse the fiber goddess for filling my little head with such grand schemes.

Jen

A spring flood of inspiration

I've been dyeing and spinning up a storm. Spring has already offered a flood of inspiration. This past long weekend we escaped into the North Cascade mountains. Though we didn't get much climbing done, we had ample opportunity to explore one of our favorite places in the world and to take explore. This world of alpine colours and texture offer an inspiring palette for the little manic dyer and spinner in me to play with.

From wildflowers to the magnolia tree across the street, from lively meadows to breathtaking mountains, from fire to ice, they have all hijacked my imagination. Here's some photos of things that have inspired my first bout of dyeing and spinning mania:











































































































































Here is the wool I've dyed so far. All the wool is from local farms and include alpaca, Lincoln, Romeny and Hampshire sheeps wool. Most of it was washed, some of it in rovings and only the Lincoln was unwashed. I'm thrilled that I'm well on my way to producing 100 mile garments. An extra bonus is that I'll finally have yarn that suits my needs. Over the years I've lamented the lack of certain colours because they weren't in fashion or that the colourways changed too quickly leaving a choppy, variegated effect which is fine if that's what you want. However, I prefer a slower change of colours and a blending of one colour into the next.







































































































I have three projects in mind that I've dyeing and spinning for. One is a Scandinavian sweater. If I'm going to knit up another Scandiavian sweater, I might as well go old school for inspiration. I've decided to do a sweater inspired by the Norse origin myth where the beginning of life was fire and ice, with the existence of only two worlds: Muspelheim (fire) and Niflheim (ice). Seracs, glaciers and the mountains were an obvious inspiration for the ice colourway. I'm attempting to replicate the colouring of a wood fire for the fire yarn. The sun is another muse for the fire component. I'm still drawing up the pattern but in the meanwhile, there's plenty of wool that needs to be carded and spun.

My second project is a blossom sweater. A simply pullover with a petal-like assymetrical collar. More like a lily or magnolia petal. The colours will draw from all the wonderful blooms of springtime. The pattern has been going through a number of evolutions.

My third project is a forest/moss project. Perhaps a cape or a heavy shawl. This one is but murmurs of ideas in the back of my mind.

The time spend dyeing, carding and spinning the yarn offers an oppurtunity for me to meditate and deliberate over my projects. It's definitely given me space and time to let my ideas grow and evolve.

So many ideas and so little time. I'm going to change my initial goal of using local fleece for half of my projects. I can definitely turn to locally raised fibers for a majority of my knitting. I've even gotten a couple of folks interested in buying some yarn from me! So exciting!

Gotta get going. That wool isn't going to spin itself ;P


Jen

Nananimo's 100 Mile Diet Challenge

I'm a proud spinning momma!

Ta-dah! My first handspun yarn!

Ok. I know it’s a tad overtwisted and the ply is not consistent and it’s probably got a million other things wrong with it that will have be cringing when I look back at this moment but right now I’m thrilled that it doesn’t look like something the cat dragged in.

I picked up the roving at Duncan Fibre Swap last summer, back when I was just driving a drop spindle and the idea of owning a spinning wheel was but a wooly dream. Now that I have my Ashford, I’m spinning anything I can get my hands on.

I first practiced on a couple bundles of country roving to get my feet and hands coordinated and to simply get some mileage under my belt before got into the good stuff.

With my mountain of locally raised fleece and roving to play with, My goal is to spin and knit a 100 mile fiber for at least ½ of my pieces, if not more. With my own wheel, drum carder and guild filled with experts, I don’t think I’ll have any problems meeting that goal.

If you’re looking to get some locally raised fleece/roving/yarn head down to the Qualicum Fibre Sale this Saturday. 10am to 2pm at the Rotary House (corner of Beach and Fern) in Qualicum Beach.

In June is the Victoria Knitting Guild is hosting their Annual Fiber Fest & Knit Out. There’re workshops, fashion show, gala dinner and Stephanie McPhee (aka. The Yarn Harlot) will be making an appearance. Of course, there will be lots and lots of fibre and fibre paraphernalia on sale.

For those that are looking for already spun local yarn, Nanaimo's LYS, Mad About Ewe has brought in some gorgeous locally raised alpaca yarn and hand-dyed wool and silk from Indigo Moon Studio on Gabriola Island.

Gotta go, there's a mountain of Alpaca roving that's calling my name ;)

Enjoy!
Jen Lam

Nanaimo 100 Mile Diet Challenge

Upcoming Fiber Events

The Qualicum Weavers and Spinners Guild is having a Sale and tea on May 5 from 10am to 3pm. There will be spinning and weaving demos and lots of local fiber to be had. Free admission. It's being help at the Rotary House in Qualicum Beach at the corner of Beach and Fern.

In July, Salt Spring Island will be hosting the hugely popular Natural Fiber Festival. It's a grand multi-day affair with workshops, fashion shows, demos and competitions. For more info check out their website.

Here's my latest fiber creation:

For a more detailed account and more photos, check out my personal blog.

After finishing this piece, my brain is a tad fried. I've got a no-brain WIP and some experimenting to do. I'll keep you posting.

Cheers!

Jen Lam

Nanaimo's 100 Mile Diet Challenge

Somewhere there is a pack of naked baby alpacas...

...because I have a mountain of baby alpaca wool in my living room!

I’m still recovering from this Saturday’s Nanaimo Fibre Swap and Sale. Despite a mix-up with the newspaper listing and some very wet and dreary weather, the fiber event was a huge success. I was there early to help set-up and I swear the place was packed with eager fiber shoppers a good half an hour before the actual start time. It was steady for most of the 4 hour event! From equipment to books to fleece to yarn to finished textiles, there was something for everyone.

Hello to everyone that stopped by the 100 Mile Diet & Fiber table. It was a wonderful morning and afternoon and I got to meet folks from all the Vancouver Island.

As expected, there was a plethora of local fiber producers selling their lovely wares. I made a pact with myself that I would only buy local fleece. Considering that there were some absurdly good deals on yarn at some of the tables, I’m amazed at my own willpower;)

I have a grand old plan to see a 100 Mile Fiber project through from carding to spinning to knitting on my own buy the end of this spring. I couldn’t have asked for more at this fair. There were vendors from all over the Vancouver Island and Gulf Island region. There was an incredible range of local fibers and considering how affordable the raw material was compared to buying it at the store, I couldn’t resist. Despite the big pile of treasures that I managed to acquire, my wallet actually was still quite healthy and full afterwards (thanks goodness!).

Even before the starting bell is rung...


















Local alpaca...so soft...sigh




















I got 14oz of unwashed Lincoln fleece for a buck!!!





















Washed Romney - a big old box for $5!!!





















4 lbs Hampshire washed for $10.










I figure once I manage to card and spin this batch, I'll be a decent spinner. Knock on wood.

I also picked up a drum carder for $25!! Considering that even used drum carders can usually cost a couple hundred dollars, I was practically doing cartwheels down the aisle. At the end of the day, one of the vendors gave me a pair of used hard carders. I will try not to brag too much of my good luck for it may taunt the knitting gods to smite me with carpal tunnel syndrome or to curse my stitch markers to move about when I’m not looking. I’ll just go into my corner and do a little happy dance.















I was very much tempted to pick up a loom for a song and dance. Until I manage to figure out how to fold space or at least get one of those Narnia wardrobes, I'm going to have to hold off on it. I don't have any room for it considering that any spare space is now being taken by a growing stash of fleece which barely fits beside my overstuffed stash of yarn.

I’m not the only one that got a great deal in equipment A friend of mine also picked up a swift for $15 and bobbin winder for even less. These fiber fairs are a great place to pick up equipment for the novice. I also love the idea of reusing and passing on equipment so it doesn’t end up in the landfill.

I got to wear my Arachne capelet that day. I would get a photo of me in it but there’s never anyone to take photos of me when I’m wearing my stuff. Why is that?

Anyways, I love it. It’s made with local alpaca (chocolate brown and teal). The gold is wild silk dyed by Gabriola weaving goddess, Trish Moon. I adore alpaca. I was stroking my capelet all day long. A few others joined in the tactile pleasure too ;)

The all-over design is my own. The patterns I used was classic paired falling leave for the bottom teal border. The chocolate lace was intended to look like the leaves of wolfbane/aconite, the plant that Athena used to turn Arachne into a spider. They are variations upon Barbara Walker's smocked lace.

The Arachne spider is also Barbara Walkers'. (Hey, you might as well borrow from the jedi). It the Spider pattern in Charted Knitting Designs. I just used 2 yarns to make the pattern 'pop' and made some minor changes to make it fit better in the overall design. It’s a nice project for someone who’s looking for a bit of twist stitch fun!

BTW, Trish Moon’s naturally dyed yarns are now available at Nanaimo’s favorite LYS, Mad About Ewe. They also brought in some gorgeous local alpaca yarn from Qualicum Beach.

I look forward to hearing about the your locally grown creations and seeing those photos! Send them to Fiberfest@hotmail.com

Jen

Welcome!

Welcome to the 100 Mile Fiber Fest blog.

Inspired by the 100 Mile Diet, I’ve been looking for other local products to utilize to help support the local community & economy and to help the environment by cutting down on transport miles and about a gzillion other reasons. Becoming more of a 100 mile knitter was a no-brainer. I’m blessed to live in thriving local fiber and texile community that is surrounded by alpaca and sheep farms. There are also many local yarn producers that make a mélange of hand-dyed yarn, many of which are also naturally dyed. I also have access to stinging nettle and cedar bark and other plant materials for fiber. I’ve even seen folks use dried bull kelp to make baskets.

I’ve done a few pieces in the past utilizing local fibers but now I’m making a more conscious effort to use local fibers more consistently. I get most of my local alpaca and sheeps wool from fiber swaps, fairs and from the farms themselves.

The 100 Mile Fiber Fest blog is dedicated to showcasing the wonderful creations folks are making with fibers grown or raised within a 100 miles of where they live. It’s open to any sort of creative vehicle including spinning, weaving, knitting, crocheting, felting, basketry and whatever else you can make with naturally grown fibers. Just send an email with an account of your wonderful 100 mile fiber creation, some info like where you are from, what sort of fibers you used, where you got your fiber and any tips and techniques you’d like to share. Photos in JPEG form can also be sent within the body of the email (no attachments please) and please keep them to a reasonable size. You can send in your 100 Mile Fiber account to Fiberfest@hotmail.com

You can also join me on my own 100 mile fiber journey as I explore the landscape of fiber that is available on Vancouver Island.

My most recent 100 Mile Fiber knitting creation was inspired by a visit with Ovid’s Metamorphoses this past weekend. I had come across one of my favorite myths, the showdown between Athena and Arachne. I know that most interpreters paint Arachne as a boastful, brash young woman who needed to be brought down a notch for bragging that she was a better weaver than Athena. In my eyes, however, Arachne is a proud, strong minded and self-confident young woman who worked hard at becoming the best weaver she could be, though she could have benefited from a bit of humility. She did not shirk from her talents or play the modest maiden like women back then (and even to this day) were told to do. She dared to challenge the goddess Athena to a weaving contest and she beat the disguised Athena fair and square. Unfortunately, Athena was a sore loser. When Arachne realized that she had disrespected the goddess, her shame led to her suicide.

I was inspired to make an Arachne lace capelet. In the myth, Athena sprinkles the juices of aconite, or Wolfbane onto the Arachne to loosen her suicide’s loose and turn her into a spider. Wolfbane shows up often in mythology and folklore as having special powers, often deadly powers. So I tried figured I’d use leaves and florals as the background pattern for the capelet. I tried to recreate the leave of the Wolfbane in lace but I won’t know if it works until I block it. I’m using locally raised alpaca yarn that I purchased at a fiber fair and some at a farmers market last year. I’m also going to knit up Arachne in gold handspun wild silk yarn that I purchased from Trish Moon at Indigo Moon Studio on Gabriola Island. I’m using a modified version of Barbara Walker’s Arachne pattern for that.

So far I have this much done:

I’m hoping it will be done so I can wear it for the Nanaimo Fiber Swap and Sale, which is being hosted by my Weavers and Spinners guild. The Fiber Swap is being held on Saturday, March 24th from 10am to 2pm at St. Paul’s Church Hall at 100 Chapel Street in downtown Nanaimo. There will be a wide variety of local fiber, fleece, yarn and equipment. The guild is also selling baked goodies and lunch there.

Along with being one of the hostesses for this event, I’m also going to be running the 100 Mile Diet & Fiber table. Pop by and say ‘Hello’.

Send in your emails of your 100 Mile Fiber creations.

Have a great day!

Queen of Rust