League of NH Craftsmen Fair at M. Sunapee Resort

I just got back from doing two days of spinning demonstrations at the fair. Thanks to the NH Council on the Arts, I had a beautifully situated tent for demonstrations and an xcllent space to display various spinning tools and fibers. My demo tent was very busy with many visitors who had a lot of good questions about the process. The League does a very good job of providing demos and activities that give visitors a bariety of things to see and do in addition to shopping. Thre will be other fiber art related demonstrations throughout the week. The fair continues through Sunday, August 14. It is located on the grounds of the Mt. Sunapee Resort, in NH., exit 9, Newbury, off highway 89.

Fibonacci, fractals and Fibershed

When I see an image like this I always wonder if  the manmade article was copied from or inspired by its natural counterpart or are we just hardwired and so interconnected to the natural world that this iteration would be inevitable in any case. The stones that pave the way to the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland are marked with interconnecting spirals, much like Celtic knot patterns, only these were made by nature when the rocks were formed. Plants and sea shells exhibit Fibonacci sequences that are apparant in many artists's compositions. Once I have taught my students about fractals, those repeating patterns that change size but not shape and look the same at any scale, they see them in everything, because that is where they are. I also teach my students to keep a nature journal to help them develop observation skills. Again, they start to notice things thay hadn't seen before and how many things share that structure or pattern. This image was posted by Fibershed, a slow fashion, slow textile, grass roots organization devoted to keeping clothing a local product, from farm to finished product. This image was published in Selvedge Magazine, taken by Ian Lawson for an article on Harris Tweed.

In previous posts I have talked about choosing tools that are right for the fleece you want to work with. On a recent trip to Iceland I was able to pick up two traditional, Icelandic spindles. They are top whorl, with the large whorls placed very close to the hook and have long, cone shaped shafts. Even the smaller, all light wood one, is very robust compared to all my other spindles. It actually weighs more than an Ashford spindle I have, which is pretty chunky compared to a Forester or Ledbetter spindle. Icelandic sheep's wool is dual coated, but the two coats are usually carded together. The resulting batt or roving has a long staple length, without a lot of crimp. I had brought a small medieval style spindle with me in the trip. When I tried the small spindle I had brought, it was very frustrating, it would come to a halt very quickly. Same fleece did very well with either of the larger Icelandic spindles. Design is driven by what your resources are and the environmental conditions in which you work.

Iceland

2016 NH Sheep and Wool Festival

This year's festival was again held at Deerfield Fairgrounds, Deerfield, NH. Saturday the weather was warm and wonderful, Sunday it was cloudy, chilly, and breezy. I always think of this festival as one for spinners and knitters. There are many wonderful raw fleeces and rovings to choose from and tools aplenty to work the wool.

I did a one hour lecture / workshop each day. Initially I was asked to do a lecture on spinning primitive breed sheep's wool. In planning it, it was immediately apparent to me that this was not only about the history of these sheep, but about the colors, textures and charcteristics of each breed's fleece. I morphed it into a hands-on experience so that those who attended had an opportunity to feel and spin some of these beautiful fibers.

It was well attended and received with enthusiasm. I requested more time for the workshop if I do it next year. People had wonderful and thoughtful questions. When speaking to an experienced, knowledgeable, and enthusiatic group it quickly became a conversation / discussion rather than a lecture. I hope the participants enjoyed it as much as I did.

NH Sheep and Wool Festival

I will be conducting an interactive workshop, at the festival, on spinning primitive breed sheep's wool. We will explore the characteristics of these breeds' wools and what tools are appropriate to get the best results. Participants will have the opportunity to try different fleeces and types of spindles. Workshops will be held on Saturday at 2:00 and Sunday at 1:00.

Spinning with a Medieval Tool

On a recent trip to France, I picked up a soapstone whorl in a fossil shop. I have purchased fossils  from this dealer many times in the past and have found him knowledgeable and trustworthy. My husband spotted some whorls in a display case and low and behold, they were labeled accurately, not as beads. 

This one meets all the requirements for what it is supposed to be; soapstone, decorated with a carved band parallel to the edge, plano-convex, hole is beveled, the rim has a small groove so that it can be used as a top or bottom whorl. It measures18mm high, 30 mm in diameter, and with an 8mm diameter  hole. It fits nicely on several of my spindle sticks. Originally it would have been secured with some linen thread and beeswax, I'm using a small, clear hair elastic. It could be pushed on the stick hard enough to keep it from slipping, but that would probably scratch the spindle stick. 

I have been spinning Shetland on it. It is very well balanced and given its small size and relatively heavy weight (26 gms), it spins fast and for a long time. It is such a pleasure to use something that was used by another woman almost a thousand years ago and for the same purpose.