KBN

Just in time for Victoria's winter

2012-01-18T13:56:00.000-08:00

Knit with Pear Tree Yarn, Supersoft 10 ply, Southwestern merino. Buttons are made locally by Jay. Originally meant to be complete for Ryan's birthday, then Christmas. Now for a snow day!

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Snow day, what are you working on!?

2012-01-18T08:09:00.000-08:00

Bacon, pancakes, kids movies and the final seaming of Ryan's overdue sweater!

What are you working on?

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Yarn bombing in Fairfield!

2012-01-11T21:44:00.000-08:00

Local Fairfield fibre artists welcomed us on our first day of opening at 1704 Lillian! A perfect way to bring in the new year in our new shop! We had an amazing move, so many people helped us every step along the way! We are truly blessed to be a part of such a beautiful community. Thank you.

A creative community as well! Including a "wonderful woman" who spearheaded the project, and "Grandmother's Legacy". Check out GL's blog to see and hear about the visit we had the night before we opened... a behind the scenes of yarnbombing!

Should this inspire anyone else to yarn bomb, we have a lovely "Cozy Ride" that is a bit worn out by the downtown streets of Victoria. Perhaps a stray granny-square might find its way to Fairfield, and we can perhaps liven "Cozy Ride" up again! I am sure we might be able to find a partial ball of yarn in the Scratch Patch, should you be so inclined!

If you have not been to see the new place, you should come, it is really awesome! We have string art shelves, old growth salvaged cedar shelves, Indian block print floors, and of course lots of new beautiful fibres and hand made goods. The store looks and feels a million times better than the old space, which was also really awesome. Awesome squared!

P.S.

Last month we had two give-aways! Kerri, you won the zemi, I sense a care package on its way to the Rhubarb Ranch! Cate and Jean, you each win a Tricsky notebook. I would love to know what you think of them! Thanks so much!!

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Wishing you a handmade holidays

2011-12-21T23:05:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it, it looks like I may complete 2 Christmas presents before Sunday! Last one on the way.

Have you made something by hand for someone awesome in your life? Share your handmades below, before Christmas Eve, and your name will go in to choose 1 of these 2 knitting project books.

They were sent to me in the mail yesterday and I thought I would share it with one of you to see what you think about it?! I love that is has knitting abbreviations in the back! Your pick stripped or grid style (adapted the shape of a knit stitch).

Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas and many more holidays to come.

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What is a zemi?!

2011-12-07T22:24:00.001-08:00

Zemi dolls are based on traditional Caribbean totems. Created by local Victoria artist Rev, each spiritual doll is made with care, and positive healing energy.

Describe the one you like the best either in our physical shop, or in our Etsy shop, in a post below

and you will be entered into a draw to win this Zemi! Draw date will be New Years Eve 2011.

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A handmade touch

2011-12-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

Creating a new space for our passion.

We have had the fortunate help of very kind souls who have been helping us with achieving the vision of a new home for the store. Lots of paint and friendships, we are making good progress.

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Lots of work ahead but the new store is coming along!

2011-11-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

Our new neighborhood has been extremely welcoming and we are looking forward to the New Year!

2011-11-14T21:37:00.001-08:00

We are moving!

2011-11-12T22:25:00.001-08:00

January 1st 2012 we will have a new home for Knotty! A lovely new space in Fairfield. It used to be the place where a lady used to sell collectibles for many years. When the windows are fogged with steam you can still see the outline of the "consignment" and "buy & sell."

As I clean the place, I can see little windows of past activities, an old newspaper stuck to the floor, the back room where the lady apparently lived for many years, the space where her sink was.
Stay tuned for future postings as we prepare to make this place our new store.

good good good, good fibrations

2011-08-12T23:10:00.000-07:00

This week has been a boon of Victoria media hype around Fibrations.

Fibrations (v): a community based celebration of fibre artists sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm through their craft. August 21, 2011. 835 Humboldt Ave., Victoria, BC.

The attention has been well deserved, considering the concept Fibrations did not exist prior to June 10th. In a period of two months a team of over 14 people have all come together and each play their part in the best planned fibre celebration that I have yet to experieince.As a result of such a strong common vision we have been fortunate to have the support of really great corporations and business in Victoria.

The most special thing about this event is that it really captures the community essence that is an integral part of the fibre arts community.Hope you can join us!

Kakishi and shibori

2011-07-27T22:23:00.000-07:00

Techniques from Japan. Cotton cloth resist dyed with fermented persimmons.

Turns into a beautiful cloth that separates my warp threads.

Symmetry without intention.

Darkens by sunlight rays and perhaps even a full moon.

Pigtail bathmat

2011-07-13T23:54:00.000-07:00

Woven on a 20 inch knitters loom with a hard beat. Warp is Henry's Attic pigtail yarn, 100% cotton, and weft, extra thick version of the pigtail yarn, beat hard. 19 inches wide, so 1 inch lost in take-up and 24 inches in length. Makes for a super soft bathmat! A warming house present to the kids for their bathroom!

Plying on a charka

2011-06-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

Oragnic cotton punis from India

I recently learned how to ply on my charka. Once I saw the video it made complete sense. The place where the spindles are stored also serve as a lazy kate!

Spinning on the traditional territory of the We Wai Kai Nation

2011-06-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a fellow class mate from spinning class that I took with Lexi Boger 3 years ago, last weekend spinning I learned to spin textured yarns on We Wai Kai Nation (Cape Mudge) with Jacey Boggs and a whole bunch of other wonderful and adventurous spinners.

It was the first time Jacey has shared her textured discoveries in Canada, and some people came from as far as Ontario, and the States! The rest of us were from various Island guilds, one quarter of the group was from our guild, the Victoria Handweavers and Spinners, and some us were also from our Odd Mondays Spinning group!

We spun side-ways at a forty five degree angle, twisted, rolled, poked, teased, and sandwiched our sliver or combed top and crazy batts into awesomely textured yarns.While at the same time learning about the technical aspects behind spinning. It's like sneaking in all the good vitamins and nutrients while making it fun and exciting!

Core spinning crazy batts

Aurelia's Top Knots in Soft Cocoons

We had our guild meeting tonight and showed off our creations!

It was much more fun than watching hockey tonight sadly. The score was announced during the game.

For show and tell, I brought in new textured yarns. I am trying to remember all I can draw from the pools of knowledge that we were immersed into this weekend.

Luckily I bought Jacey's DVD to fill in the gaps.


Día de los Muertos

Corriedale and silk noil: a perfect contradiction in feel and lustre

Hello Yarn Polworth Coils - May Club

Spinning them coil tighter has defined the cocoons

And now back to my Spinning on Cape Mudge Story: The bonuses were everything else that I discovered on the Island during our breaks.

Laying outside the most amazing Cultural Center I have ever seen.


The Place for Sharing Stories

A Tribal Journeys Canoe?

cedar stripping next to us

A perfect segue into passing on the news that there will be a celebration of National Aboriginal Day, on Sunday, June 19th, from 11a.m. to 5pm at Centennial Square. The event will feature over 30 First Nations artists including carvers, weavers, Cowichan knitters, musicians, story tellers, dancers, fashion designers, and traditional medicine healers. Performances by the Unity Drummers and Singer and the Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga'a Dancers ( I heard that there are over 100 dancers).

The festival is hosted by the Victoria Native Friendship Center in partnership with the Solstice Celebration Aboriginal Cultural Society and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centers. The City of Victoria and the Provincial Capital Commission are sponsors for the event.

PS. A big thank you to Audrey and Mimi for help making this spinning event possible, a very big thank you to the We Wai Kai Nation for allowing us to share knowledge on your land, and a thank you to all of the beautiful spinners that traveled afar to this event!

A wee bit of spinning

2011-06-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

I have been spinning some beautiful kid mohair as a single and have plied it with a single of bombyx silk and I am very happy with how silky it feels. My plan it to do another bobbins' worth before sticking it in a dye pot!

And here it is a bit closer up!

And I have also been spinning in prep for my second novelty spinning class. This one is with Jacey Boggs on Quadra Island! I hear there are a few spaces left if there are any last minute takers. I even have space in my car, heading up Friday after work. Our homework is to bring one bobbin of slightly over spun, uneven fresh single, here's mine

It is hand dyed merino and silk in a thick a thin.

New hours for June!

2011-06-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

For June we will be open Monday through Saturdays with the following hours:

Monday: 10am-5pm

Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 5:30pm.

and check out our latest newsletter here.

Felting on a large scale

2011-06-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I have really been into felting lately. Here is a before picture of a cape that I have felted. The final product you will have to come see at a upcoming art show in 2012....

It is double sided. This side has natural merino, bamboo, tencel and merino locks in the fleece.

Vicoris Fibrefest cancelled

2011-05-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

You may or may not have heard that the Victoria FibreFest is cancelled this year. This is due to various reasons on behalf of the organizer. There are many other wonderful fibre events happening this summer, however, including the 100 Mile Fleece and Fibre Fair this weekend, sadly I will not be able to go as we are in the process of moving homes.

Book bags and dresses

2011-04-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

This was made on a Victoria "winter" Sunday afternoon with my daughter Elizabeth. I gave her the material and she came up with the design and we sewed it together. This is her second sewing project that she has designed. Her first one was the dress she wore at our wedding.

Spinning on the west coast

2011-04-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

I went to one of the Island's on the west coast over Easter with a girlfriend and our daughters.

April Give-away!

2011-04-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

I love it when a plan comes together, especially when it wasn't so orchestrated but falls into place naurally. Our friend Raven recently sewed us these organic cotton project bags, and I had done some spinning a year ago, a trade for an art project. The trade was silk screening. Sooo eventually things all fell into place and thanks to Brenda, Raven and to Ryan, we have these gorgeous hand silk screened locally sewn organic cotton cloth bags for sale. To celebrate we are giving one away. Post a comment here for to put you name in the bag for the draw on April 26th. For a second entry simply post another comment in the Knotty By Nature Ravelry group under the thread "April Give-way."

Indigo pot

2011-04-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

After a winter of sitting my natural indigo pot is being re-awakened. I kept it warm with a fish tank heater over the winter, which seems to have worked. It looks the best it has ever looked. The true test will be some indigo dyeing, hopefully next Sunday. Stay tuned!

Little Red Riding Hood

2011-04-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

Another project started on the Saori loom. A pretty array of indigo blues and kakshibu in muga silk, cotolin, bamboo.... The fibres were dyed last summer with Jean in her beautiful backyard. I am thinking of making a bath robe. We watched the new Red Riding Hood movie and Red Riding Hoods robe inspired me. We shall see!

Get off my cloud!

2011-03-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

Designed by Kate Davies, and brought to my attention by my sister-in-law Shanti, I knit this sweater with a giant skein of fingering weight yarn hand dyed by Ryan. I ended up not putting the cloud on as I want to wear it at work. I also replaced the inside hem for the hood with some lace that I picked up at a thrift store. I really loved the finishing work on this sweater. The attention to detail is incredible and really makes it look professionally done.

Socks for my brother

2011-03-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

I knit these for my brother while sitting by his bedside at the Vancouver General Hospital. I did not try to make the pattern on each foot aligned but was happily surprised when I saw the photo of them.

The yarn is a new small line that we brought in. I thought they would be great for men. Subtle colors of brown, blue or green as a base. There was alot left over so I also knit a little sample, a coffee sleeve, and I still have some left! You will have to ask which one it is at the shop because I did not bring the label with me to Vancouver.

Overshot napkins

2011-02-19T23:20:00.000-08:00

These have been awhile coming (here is peek to the past when they were first on the loom), they are part of a study group led by Jean Betts. Each of us had our warp pattern and color for weft and we wove each others weft. At the end, we are exchanging them, so I will end up with an array of different patterned napkins, all in my color.

Not only were the warps different colors, one was handspsun, others were bamboo or cotolin. It was interesting to see how the pattern is not affected by the color, but also by the fibre, and the thickness of the thread.

The last one on the right is a teeny experiment using Noro Kirimeki that we carry. the colors slowly change from pink to purple. It was quite beautiful, we will have to try it again on another overshot pattern.

This pattern is from a gentleman who used to publish a weaving newsletter with his own patterns. I am quite in love with the pattern and plan to do it again with another project. I have spun local kid mohair and I am now spinning bombyx silk, that I will ply and then dye in two colors, "lavender" and "silverbirch."And then I will weave this pattern again, to eventually make a cape, a hand made take on Smoking Lily's "Cape of Good Hope."

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T18:53:00.000-08:00

Needle felted chocolate box stuffed with Bernard Callebaut chocolates. Yum! The valentine is made with hand dyed corriedale, angelina, and lace. The lace was a successful experiment to try incorporating fabrics into needle felting, a dry spin on nuno felting. It turned out really well!

Wet felting a hat

2011-02-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

The last weekend, Tierre taught her wet felt a hat class. Usually it is scheduled on a Sunday and I am off so I don't get to see the creations but this month it was on a Saturday. I have to to say it was awesome and I had to share a picture of one of the students hats! There are still a few pins in place which will be removed once the felt has dried.

From loving hands

2011-02-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

I scooped these from the shop. The darker handwoven blanket somehow went un-noticed on consignment for a month at the shop before I noticed it. Washed from fleece in the grease, dyed, carded, spun and then woven and some fulling. Four of these blankets now keep 2 homes warm with the hands of love. After Martina's first four blankets sold, we found out she has more! The orange, log cabin style, heavily fulled is a dream to lay under in the cooler winter nights. The kids and the cat can also be found curled up in either blanket. These are blankets that I have not seen of such complexity and richness that can only be achieved by the hand of a human.

Thick and thin handspun

2011-02-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

I love spinning! Both fine yarns and the more quick, fun thick & thin yarns. I have found a little formula that I have found that works quite well for thick and thin. Divide your roving (approx. 4oz), with out tearing, in half, and then fold one half in half again, so you end up with a quarter of the roving. Tear the quarter section of the roving off.

Then spin the quarter section thinly, I use the fastest setting on my wheel. and then on a slower setting, I spin thick and thin with the 3/4 of roving. If you have not tried spinning thick and thin, you pinch the roving in a tick big and draft it until it goes quite thin, and then repeat this motion.

Once both of my singles are spun up, I ply them together on an even slower setting and voila, a gorgeous soft two ply thick and thin yarn. Perfect for a hat, or if you have up to 8 oz of fibre a scarf!

Online indigo resources

2011-01-26T22:15:00.000-08:00

Indigo dye, a natural dye that requires either natural fermentation or a chemical based environment to become active. There are several online resources that will do better justice than I can:

Link to online scanned copy of Shibori: the inventive art of Japanese shaped resist dyeing, starting at page 275
Link to Maiwa indigo data sheet
Link to a blog from a gentleman living in Japan who maintains natural indigo pots and often provides some insight to his technique
Link to my weaving instructor's blog who also does indigo and other natural dyeing

Enter the beautiful world of indigo, it is a fascinating place.

New beginnings

2011-01-13T23:12:00.000-08:00

This baby blanket was knit the group of ladies from the knitting group that meets at Koffi Koffi. It is for one of the knitters who recently had a beautiful little girl. Everyone knit a square so it was done in a relatively short period of time. The colors don't come across too well here, but trust me, it looks gorgeous.

Some of you may have heard that Koffi Koffi has changed to winter hours closing at 7 on Wednesdays. While this worked for some but not all, we have decided to change our location to a sweet new cafe on Oak Bay Ave, called the Savory Cafe. Alan will graciously stay open late for us, so we can go from 6-8pm on Wednesdays. Savory has a great cook, and of course Victoria being so small, her mom is a fibre artist that has taught at the shop!

Here is the blanket again being held up by Alan in his new cafe. We had a sneak peak the eve of his opening day and he let us taste his chili, cookies, teas and coffees, meanwhile celebrating the birth of Evelyn all on the same night.

Kirimeki and King woven together, a 2nd generation Noro creation

2011-01-10T23:50:00.000-08:00

Warp: 2balls of Noro 'Kirimeki' 40 ends per inch on 10 dent reed (4 ends per dent)

Weft: 1 ball of Noro 'King' woven with interlocking weft.

A new pattern for the new year

2010-12-31T16:10:00.000-08:00

I designed these fingerless mitts after keeping some of Ryan's hand dyed silk. The silk was so pretty and regal looking, it inspired me to design these fingerless mitts. They are ribbed so they will fit many people. The first fingerless mitt was designed in a day and the second one was knit the second day using the pattern to check for any mistakes in writing.

The pattern is named after a piece by pianist Ludovico Einaudi, whose music we have been playing at the shop for the last while. You can knit these up while listening to Primavera.

This pattern is available for purchase through Ravelry.

Seattle trip

2010-12-29T17:26:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share a few pics from our trip to Seattle, four days of fun, we went to a few wool shops (surprise!) and other fun things like the space needle, Pike St. market and Picasso! No pictures from Picasso though as no pictures were allowed. Beautiful work, he did an average about 1 painting a day throughout his carreer.

Nick Cave is coming to Seattle after Picasso

Not to be confused with the musician

Beautiful aboriginee art work as well

Incredible hair!

Ryan knitting his handspun on one of our ferry rides!

Have a happy New Year!

The secret to steeking and other adventures in needle felting

2010-12-24T10:52:00.000-08:00

One of the thigs I love about knitting, spinning, weaving, felting.... is that certain aspects of each craft can be carried over into each other and make life alot easier. My most recent expereince is needle felting and knitting. I finally had the courage to finish a chunky lace dress that I knit about a year ago. I needed some gumption to finish it because it turned out wider than expected and required sewing and cutting of the side seams to tailor it. I was also supposed to crochet the neck edge which I put off as I am not a confident crocheter. After a year, I forgot that I was "supposed" to crocet the neck edge and just picked up and knit a ribbed neck edge.

For the tailoring, I zigzag sewed the side seams and cut away the extra "fabric" and then proceeded to cut off the extra bulk, and was planning on hand stitching the ends, but they kind of all came undone up the sewed edge. My dress is 100% wool, so I thought why not just needle felt in all those pesky ends. It looks finished and is very secure.

Before

After

This technique can be applied to other uses as well. Our friend Katy knit this cute pear with Patagonia cotton and stuffed it with roving and lavender. She crocheted the leaf and then needle felted it onto the pear.

This is a sweet little gift she is giving to her Grandma for her stash to deter moths. Merry Christmas everyone!

The baby blanket that grows

2010-12-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

I was teaching someone with a young baby how to knit the herringbone stitch at the shop this week and she shared her story about this baby blanket with me. When her first child was born she knit the baby blanket arms width and body length of her daughter. The second year, she added on a bit extra to match her daughters growth, as seen in the second red. She will continue adding on to theblanket as her daughter grows and one day plans to give it to her daighter when she is a young adult.

She said they move a fair bit and has not been able to mark the door entrace as her daughter grows, so this is her way. I thought it was such a beautful story I had to share.

Monogramming with needle felting

2010-12-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

I had a request today for a quick personalizing of a Christmas stocking, and was very happy with the result!
It is a quick little way to personlize a gift.

Monday night spinning with Ryan

2010-11-29T23:45:00.000-08:00

Mohair, merino and Noro Kirameki wrapped into a fine single.

Enigma

2010-11-29T23:34:00.000-08:00

Hand dyed and spun silk, collaboration between Ryan and I.

The silk has been cut to create a silky soft fuzz and then plyed into a smooth shiny version of itself.

Book launch: “Working with Wool, a Coast Salish legacy and the Cowichan sweater”

2010-11-22T11:07:00.000-08:00

On December 5th, 7:00pm - 8:30pm, there will be a book launch: “Working with Wool, a Coast Salish legacy and the Cowichan sweater” at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Wear your cowichan sweater if have one! Author Sylvia Olsen.

A revisit with the knitters loom; a rigid heddle weaving infused with Saori

2010-11-21T22:38:00.000-08:00

I wove this piece with Ryan's hand-dyed "Treadsoft"

I have been weaving a lot lately with the knitters loom, as I find it is gentle on my body. After a long period of not weaving on it, I am re-discovering how fun it is to Saori weave with. My projects are finished within a couple of days yet have some intricacy to still reflect creative moments throughout my weaving.

Coast Salish woven leg warmers

2010-11-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

These lovely leg warmers were woven by Cara, Coast Salish style. The tiny bit of blue is spinning from the intro to drop spindling class that she took the other week with me. I could not resist snapping a shot while she was carding some local alpaca fibre. Great job Cara!

The journey of hand dyed Rambouillet

2010-11-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

Very soft like merino

woven on the knitters loom

Navajo plied in the warp, thick and thin 2 ply in the weft

Noro-King spotted at Koffi Koffi!

2010-11-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

This is the new Noro King knit up with a pattern from the latest Vogue magazine. They look really beautiful with texture and colors carried by contrasting flecks of more color progressing through the fingerless glove. The pattern is interesting in that the increase in width is achieved through changing the needle size instead of increasing. I can't take the credit for the pattern choice, or the knitting! They were knit up from Heidi at knitting night last night. She kindly let me share her work.

On a related side-note, it was the last night of 7-9 on Wednesdays, they are closing earlier for the winter. So if you are interested in dropping by Koffi Koffi to knit, come for 5-7. It might be nicer with the darker evenings.

Check out November's knotty knews

2010-11-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

Find out what's new at KBN, just a little peek, there are more things we forgot to add like silk project bags from Europe!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

Back to my origins in weaving

2010-10-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

About 6 years ago I started getting tendinitis from data entry at work, which in some respects has been a re-occurring curse, but at the same time contributed to what Ryan and I have achieved together. I could no longer knit, which was driving me crazy. Imagine no knitting. Stars were aligned and I was introduced to weaving on an Ashford knitters loom... my yellowbrick road into the world of fibre arts, it led me down the path to spinning, needle felting....KBN...

My injury is cyclical and has flared again, so no knitting, complex weaving, or fine spinning. But I can go back to my good old stand by of weaving on the knitters loom. Going through my handspun stash and weaving simple tabby weave.

This is single ply silk in the warp and handspun single ply cotton. I spun the silk on my Suzie Pro and the cotton on the my charka. I will be deom'ing spinning on the charka at the Cowichan Fleece and Fibre Fair this Saturday.

Habu is comnig to Knotty!

2010-09-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

The time is coming around the corner! Habu has over 100 kits so I am curious to see what treasures Takako brings with her from Habu. I have been knitting Habu for the last two years ever since I first stumbled upon it at Maiwa in Granville Island. I imagine after the trunk show on Monday that I will be knitting more Habu. The jackets have always intrigued me, but seemed like a lot of work without knowing how they would fit.

The patterns are schematics and Takako willo be offering 45 minute classes to learn how to read them. I find them easier to follow than a western style pattern.

The show will start around 12:30 pm and we will be staying open late so people can stop by after work.

Overshot weaving and coast salish weaving

2010-09-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

And we are off weaving, with a little help from our friends. Thank you Jean and Ryan! Definitely a journey in patience and persistence, and well worth the journey. Once weaving, it all comes together and is hard to believe that I am capapble of making such a pretty pattern.

And on another thread...Yesterday I was sitting in the Songhees Big House as part of the welcoming ceremony for the new Aboriginal Interns, a Provincial initiative that I have participated in the last 3 years. Each intern was wrapped in a blanket which had me off on a tangent imaging the days past when people in the big house would have been wrapped in a Cowichan woven blanket. Which led me back to my frequent thought about "dressing like you live here." Clothing yourself with materials that are in the nature surrounding us, for me, defines what traditional clothing is and recognizing that wool is my connection to the land. As is it for many of us, aboriginal or not.

Drip dry

2010-08-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

After a beautiful bike ride with kids....

Some local wool and mohair spun by Ryan and myself; a few dips in the indigo and soaking up the sun!

Pics from Richard Ashford's visit

2010-08-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely evening with Richard Ashford and Katie came to the shop. Richard gave a presentation on the history of Ashford and released the New Katie loom, an 8-shaft table loom, with a unique feature that allows for very easy access to tie-up!

Really great blog on how to make the cutest felt creatures

2010-07-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

I love blogs that share how to make stuff! Here is one that shows how to sew the cutest little animals, purses and dolls with wool felt.

Indigo dyeing

2010-07-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

This is my second attempt at natural indigo. The first time I used indigo, bran and madder but it didn't really take off, aside from the smell! I abandoned it and let things rest until a lady came in the shop and shared that she had success using dates. This combined with wrapping it in layers of woolen blankets in a rubber maid and a fish tank water heater resulted in my vat developing the sludgy oily top layer.

Dip one and dry...

Dip 2 and dry.....

Rinse and dry!

I am very happy with the results.

A big thank you to Jean who has introduced me to the fascinating world of indigo

and Hanna for sharing her use of dates!

Richard Ashford is coming to KBN this Friday!

2010-07-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

Come for a unique opportunity to meet Richard Ashford himself! "Since 1934, when Walter Ashford founded the company, Ashford Handicrafts has become the world leader in the manufacture of textile craft equipment. Today Walter's son Richard and his wife Elizabeth together with their loyal long serving staff have produced over 600,000 spinning wheels and weaving looms which are used around the world." For more on the history of Ashford, please visit their website.

Presentation by Richard Ashford

Friday July 30th, 6pm-9pm

1816 Government St.

Victoria, BC

Old bag made new with a vintage touch up

2010-07-20T21:39:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with my son Nathan, 11 years ago, I made a babiche bag. Traditionally they are made with partially tanned hide torn in strips and then woven. Similar idea to a mesh market bag.

My in-laws had a beautiful one hanging in their bed and breakfast, and being on maternity leave what better time to while away the hours then recreating a babiche bag. I had never seen one made, or come across any instructions, so I made my own version, tying millions of little knots to form the mesh. Looking today on the internet, I see that people have made them with a form and wove the mesh. Maybe they are made slightly different in the north.

My babiche bag served as great summer diaper bag, light and I could see where everything was! At some point it was forgotten and no longer used.With the heat this summer, my usual Kim bag wasn't working so I started using my babiche bag, faded and worn out with holes, looking rather tattered and overly loved. I decided to give it some extra love, a tea bath, vintage tatted lace and some awesome buttons from Rev, and voila...

Did you know...

2010-07-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

Did you know that there is only one place in the whole wide world that makes felt? According to the wool felt supplier, they ship world wide, China, Japan, Australia .... and of course Victoria, Canada!

We just received another beautiful shipment of colors, a variety of neutral and vibrant colors to expand the color palette! Delve in, here are some quick ideas!

Napkins warped

2010-07-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

We are on our way to making some napkins! We are part of a group project, 6 people, each weaving 6 napkins that we will exchange. The base is 16/2 unbleached cotton, but each napkin we receive from each other will be a different pattern and color.

At 30 ends per inch (epi) and 20 inches wide, this meant warping 660 threads. We decided to do twice as many napkins so our warp is twice as long as it should be. It went fairly quickly using the warping mill. This time I tried to be more meticulous,wrapping off the ends in bundles of 30's, which also made it quick to keep track of how far along the way I was. I am learning the more little things that I do upfront really helps down the road. (That is what I am hoping anyway!)

Next step, dressing the loom!

Finished! Mohair Kit 110

2010-07-11T22:01:00.000-07:00

I first found out about Habu when Ryan and I were on our first visit to Maiwa on Granville Island. A little package of a single cone of mohair to make up a whole sweater. I had to buy it and then of course investigate, who is Habu. Yarns like I have never seen before. Luckily we have been able to carry them and I have to confess that I have several Habu projects on the needles. My latest completion is the mohair sweater, it feels like a light dream when it is on and looks fabulous. I hope the summer evening have a chill to them so I can wear my sweater! At some point I will relinquish it and bring it into the store and share for a bit!

PS. The silk ribbon you see underneath is from a dress from local designer Morena, who has been hand dyeing silk from the shop and incorporating into her garments.

We'repart of the Green Collective

2010-07-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

For the last year we have been part of the Green Collective, for mre deatils about what this means, there is a great write up on this blog.

Mini weavette looms

2010-06-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

These cute little mini looms seem to be the rage lately despite the fact that they can only be found on ebay. Perhaps it is because some crafty people have been making their own. This link provides a great little tutorial on how to make your own.

Imported from India!

2010-06-15T15:08:00.000-07:00

This week we received two shipments from India, spun fibres of silks and beautiful cotton and.......charkas! These are the type of spinning wheels that Ghandi spun with. I have learned how to re-condition them so that will be an option for people, or people can buy them as is. They are magical to spin on, and I will be demo-ing at the fibre fest on Sunday at Saxe Point. If you are interested in learning hw to spin on one, be sure to talk to me about it and we can work something out!

As well, we have organic cotton poonies, wrapped in the local newsprint!
I am hopping off the computer now to spin a teeny bit before having to head out the door.

See you on Sunday!

5 minutes of fame!

2010-06-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

We had a visit from Sarah Petrescu, writer for Times Colonist, on Saturday morning. She interviewed us about this years fibre fest fashion show (sponsored by Gaia Colors this year). The link gives a great article on this years Fibre Fest, and some great pics that they took of some of the pieces that will be in the show this year.

Knotty Squares!

2010-06-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

Ryan has been on a sewing kick, making use of our handspun, saori woven pieces, along with various fabrics that we accumulated over the last year, to produce a series of Knotty Squares. If you like one, they are available at the shop.

They can be used for pinning/sewing onto your favorite hoodie or bag, patch your jeans, or incorporate into a extra unique quilted piece...

The potential is endless, let us know if you come up with
other fantastic ideas that you would like to share.

Which one is your favorite?

Many more on the way..... :)

Our monthly newsletter - full of news!

2010-06-04T16:58:00.001-07:00

June's Knotty Knews "hot off the press"!

Chipmunk-y

2010-05-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

Today I needle felted a little chipmunk!

so pretty

2010-05-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I went on some spinning adventures this weekend, and here are a few photos of some of what I did.

When I was on a trip in April, I found these beautiful curricula cocoons, that I incorporated into some left over hand dyed sik from the ravelympics. I have not been able to take this skein off the Hounds Design niddy noddy, it looks too good!

And then I moved onto some softer spinning...

100th post!

2010-05-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe I have managed to pull off 100 posts! I find blogging a state of mind that I have learn to develop, which as most things comes in waves. Spring is here and the sun and warmth has been spreading its energy into the store. We have been doing some spring cleaning and a small scale reno. Ryan and some good friends came in on Thursday night removed the change room, opening the store quite a bit. Our couch is now in a cozy little nook, and it was all done over night, in perfect time for our monthly social! Thanks to Joanna for bringing freshly picked strawberries to the social, they were little packages of yummy gold.

Another change, is out “Cozy ride” bike has taken a temporary residence at Hemp and Company on 1102 Government St.
This has motivated us to bring out the felted bike and for Ryan to wrap a bike in Noro Silk Garden lite, it is gorgeous! Look for them the next time you are in!

More weaving opps!

2010-04-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

While we can't pssoibly offer all the classes, there are some great oppoutunities to around Victoria to learn how to weave. Jean Betts (please email us for her contact info) offers up her studio for a beginers weaving class, and there are some guild members who also teach as well. They can be contacted through the Victoria Handweavers and Spinners Guild.

As well, the Metchosin International Summer School of Arts is offering a class taught by Jacquetta Nisbet. Jacquetta has recently moved to Victoria and is in the midst up setting up her studio! Jacquetta Nisbet arrived in the USA from Scotland with a Fine Art degree in one hand and a vigorous enthusiasm for the arts of primary cultures in the other. For over 50 years she has studied weaving techniques of Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, Hopi and Navajo, and the arts and philosophies of Asia. Now living in BC, she translates these influences into her own creative works and teaches workshops and seminars throughout the West. Her works are collected internationally and her two instructional videos/DVDs are classics of ethnic weaving. For more info about the course she is offering (no experience necessary!) please visit the MISSA website.

Women weaving in Chiapas, Mexico

2010-04-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

KBN was lucky enough to be asked to host a talk and weaving demo. Celia Santíz & Marla Gutierrez speaking on behalf of Indigenous Women's Fair Trade Weaving Cooperative Jolom Maya’etik and Women’s Organization K’inal Antzetik from Chiapas, Mexico. Celia (in the pictures) is the president of the collective and has been traveling around North America to find out what people are interested in. The sales have been declining the past while. It has been a full week since the event and it is amazing how my memory does not do well. I may be wrong, but I believe that they have been in establishment since 1996 and are made of 180 women. The work they sell through the collective adds to their household income and it is done primarily by women only.

In one area, the women work mostly with wool, raising their own sheep and working with the wool and dye with natural dyes that they harvest at certain times of the year. In other areas women predominately buy cotton and weave with it.
The patterns are taught at a young age and passed on from generation, Celia was weaving without any charts, going purely from her memory.
I found what looks like a good site on how to make your own back strap loom. Let me know if you try making one! I hope to make one this summer....

Back Strap weaving demo at KBN this Wednesday

2010-04-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

Celia Santíz & Marla Gutierrez speaking on behalf of Indigenous Women's Fair Trade Weaving Cooperative Jolom Maya’etik and Women’s Organization K’inal Antzetik from Chiapas, MX

5.30pm Wednesday April 14th
Knotty by Nature Fibre Arts
1816 Government St.

Celia Sántiz is the current president of Jolom Maya'etik, an independent, democratically run cooperative of 180 indigenous women. Marla Gutiérrez of K'inal Antzetik has a long history of working with social justice and women's movements throughout Chiapas. The work of Jolom Maya’etik and sister organization K’inal Antzetik fosters women’s economic autonomy while strengthening the capacity of indigenous peoples to maintain a stronghold on their land, language, culture and traditional livelihoods.

They will be speaking about indigenous peoples’ and women’s rights
in the context of globalization in Mexico.
The beautiful work of Jolom Maya’etik’s artisans will be available to purchase at the event.

Saori weaving and indigo

2010-03-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

We brought home a Saori loom this weekend and it has been such a treat. We used to have one at home but the kittens were little and I think they pretended it was a lovely harp with beautiful strings to play.... they are a year older now and so far the loom seems to have gone un-noticed.

The Saori loom has an endless warp and the threads are fairly widely spaced which shows off the yarn that you are weaving with (weft). It gives me a quick idea of what my indigo dyed cotolin looks like. I love the slight variations in color.

I am not sure yet, the future of the huge skein of it, but I have been going through SriThreads blog and in love with the images. Being a beginner at all this, I thought it might be fun to start with a zokin, heavily stitched cleaning pads stitched by children and used for cleaning.

Baby Surprise Jacket

For my girlfriend Yaz, she is due in about 4 weeks. I wanted to make her son something special. I used Ryan's hand dyed merino, spun it, navajo plied it and then knit it up. I love this pattern, there is only 1 inch of seaming otherwise it is all one piece, it just falls into place. It is quite small, so it may only keep her little babe warm for a few weeks. Maybe one day I will have to make him a teddy and then his teddy could wear the sweater.

When I was first pregnant, my mom knit like a fiend and made George beautiful sweaters. I had to keep them of course! Now they dress Elizabeth and George's stuffies and are still loved.

Indigo dyeing

2010-03-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

I spent Monday and Tuesday learning how to dye with indigo with our friend Jean! It is quite a process as indigo is not water soluble and it does not like oxygen. Indigo is a being unto itself and is definately not something to be learnt in a day.

Each type of wool took the indigo differently wich resulted in a range of beautiful blues.
We also did a bit of shibori dyeing which I will have share another day.

Knotty Knews in March

2010-03-05T07:16:00.001-08:00

Find ot what's coming this month in this months' Knotty Knews.... new pretty drop spindles.....

My first medal

2010-03-03T18:21:00.000-08:00

I posted a day late and expected that was that, but low a behold, a magic link appears in my ravelry account and I won a medal for my spinning! Amazing job Ravelry has done on keeping on top of all of the entries!

Replay of the glorious moment:
Let us congratulate and welcome to the podium the delightfully twisted spinners who have plied their way to glory! Spinning champions, please accept this Ravatar bouquet of fibery fluff from the Bobbin’ Bobicii.

Also, please accept this medal from the head of the International Ravelympic Committee, Adonis Dionysius Bobicus Maximus. Please rise and drink into the very fiber of your being the Ravelry International Anthem.

and the crowd spins to the left, and spins to the right, going absolutely batty!!! And what’s this???!!! They’re joining into a line and doing that new dance rage, The Drive Band Conga!!! What a sight!!!

Victoria's Hand-maidens

2010-03-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

Twice a year, Black Press puts on a women in business gala event. The event includes inspirational speeches, a Bay Fashion show and provides a great opportunity to network. This year, Knotty by Nature was invited to host an interactive fashion show (mingling in the crowd) during the reception. A chance to feature local designers, Floating Gold Iceberg, Sheed-o.com Fine Art and Design, Tierre Taylor, Muse Clothing Company, Jean Betts, KBN Knitwear presenting local business women with some fun and flare!

These are some behind the scenes pics!Tierre Taylor

Muse Clothing Co, Sheed-O.com Fine Art & Design

Floating Gold Iceberg

Ravelympics cont... and the spin-in

2010-03-01T18:27:00.000-08:00

Here it is, my picture does not do it justice. I spun lace weight singles of hand dyed silk, 118 grams and 1112 yards. This will be used one day for the weft in shibori woven scarf. I have now started spinning the warp threads, a little bit tighter to give them strength. I will have to try using sizing or warp the loom like a knitters loom to prevent the singles from twisting on themselves... but I guess I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Saturday was the annual Victoria Handweavers and Spinners Guild and as usual it was a fantastic event. A roomful of people all spinning away, happy because we all love to spin. Learning from each other and just getting to spend some time with each other! At least one new spinner from the event, was lent a wheel and some wool and away she spun. In total I believe there were over 60 people in attendance!

Spin-In tomorrow

2010-02-26T20:33:00.000-08:00

While all the spots are taken to join in the spin-in, people are welcome to come and check out the vendor area (10am - 4pm). There will be: Hummingbird Fibres from Nanaimo, Pagean Creations from Campbell River, and Knitopia from Whiterock and of course KBN (Ryan and I) will be there. An opportunity to see what other beautiful fibres some businesses from out of town carry. As well Ryan has been dyeing for the last two weeks (I have to remind him to go to bed!) so we will have a lot of beautiful fibres and we will be offering 10% off all fibres.

Come check it out if you can, it is a fun afternoon of spinning energy. We'll have an extra chair if you want to come spin with us in the vending area!

I almost forgot the link, that would be tease!

Elk Lake Baptist Church‎

Placement on map is approximate

(right across from Elk Lake on the Pat Bay Highway)

Gung Hay Fat Choy

2010-02-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

Today we were honored with the presence of the dragon. A real treat, as being a short person, I usually don't see much! I think this was the first time the dragon had ever encountered a knitted bicycle before, he tried biting it a few times before going for the traditional offering.

Ravelympics

2010-02-12T21:56:00.000-08:00

I taught a drop spindle class this evening and one of the participants was telling us about Ravelympics. It intrigued me, and since I was starting a new spinning project and there is a group for just spinning, I figured what the hey, my first time joining on on-line crafting event. The idea to challenge yourself. There are 8949 members at the current moment, so 8949 people all challenging themselves over the next two weeks, so laundry may not get done, the dishes may pile up, across the world! Hopefully family members will be supportive of the ravelympics crafters/athletes and hopefully the ravelympics will not be the cause of as many protests as the real one!

Who to join? We donated a small prize to the Bitchy Bee Ravelympics group and I have managed to go twice in the last 2 years, so I joined up with them. I figured they may appreciate having a spinner on their team.

Here is my personal challenge, spinning singles of hand dyed (by myself) bombyx silk roving into a laceweight yarn. Lots and lots of it.

Cedar weaving with Sosan Blaney

2010-02-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I had a fantastic opportunity to learn how to weave cedar hats and funnily enough it was hosted by a woman who was visiting Ryan and his old roommates a few years ago, and sporting a cedar hat at the time. From about that point on, I have wanted to make one and always hoped that at some point maybe KBN could offer such a class, maybe one day!

I hope to get out and harvest some cedar bark with friends and family this spring, as both Elizabeth and George are excited about the hats!

Hats at various stages!

Thank you Sosan for sharing what you have learned!

February Newsletter

2010-02-03T18:35:00.001-08:00

It's out, the February newsletter! I am still managing to get things done here at the shop despite having my full-time government job! I have been doing alot of spinning, on my drop spindle, using the navajo ply on the fly and really loving it. I think my wheel is bit jealous!

We have made some new orders, more Knitpicks, more wool!, and dyeing a couple of nights every week! Someone the other day commented on how it is like summer in the store, with all of the color! That comment has really stuck with me.

Anyhow here is the newsletter, I am heading off to Wednesday night knitting!

Running on love

2010-01-29T15:19:00.000-08:00

Local artist, Dale Roberts, is...

"Running on Love"
An open mail call for Valentines with poems

in conjunction with "Lyrics for the Human Race."
featuring Victoria's Poet Laureate Linda Rogers
a public event at the Victoria City Hall

Deadline: Postings must be in my mailbox by 12th February 2010
Works will be selected as part of a public reading and on display for the public in downtown Victoria, BC, CANADA

Mail to: Studio J - 1324 Broad Street
Victoria, BC, CANADA V8W 2A9

Documentation to All
Blog: http://runningonlovemailart.blogspot.com

New Years Resolution

2010-01-06T21:02:00.001-08:00

(Image borrowed from here)

So I have been thinking about what I would like to achieve this year, aside from the usual health goals! Oh yeah, develop stronger ankles! I have been thinking lots about the "olden" days when people would sit around in the evening and hand-sew, embroider, knit, spin weave, and maybe listen to the radio, whilst making beautiful things.

George and I went to the museum this week and it is full of textiles, made from first nations and early settlers. That type of thing we just isn't very common place. There are definitely people out there, people who mostly wear clothes they have made etc... With the store and all it is seems like such a perfect time to start making as much as I can for the home and to wear. One day, maybe my laundry won't pile up as high, because most of my items might be made by myself and valued more, just like I value one of my handknit sweaters more than the very last sweater that I ever bought (before I started knitting!). Ambitious goal, and maybe more of a lifetime goal than to achieve in one year! But a goal that makes me feel all warm and happy inside!

January 2010

2010-01-04T15:47:00.000-08:00

It's out! The January newsletter, hope you all have a great year!

A wooly Christmas!

2009-12-29T19:40:00.000-08:00

We may have had a little break from the store, but we have still been immersing ourselves in wool! I finished my cashmere lace shawl, and the 17th century undershirt, and Ryan has been knitting a cowl with some cabled Escape DK. Very Pretty!

Today we drove to Toronto to the Diamond Warehouse and walked through aisles and aisles of wool. The Malabrigo had just arrived so we had first pick at some beautiful colors in the Merino worsted, and filled the "funk mobile" quite quickly.

The warehouse looks pretty unassuming from the outside!

While we were "shopping," the kids were back at the farm getting a classic tractor ride!

A sunset from today.

Socks!

2009-12-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

It is Ryan's birthday today and I knit him a pair of socks from Gaia Colors! I did them toe-up and split the skein in half at first so I could knit until I run out of yarn. One sock had a tail of about 1 inch and I carefully wove it in! I have a teeny ball left which I will save in a cute little hand made box of bits and pieces of yarn in case in a few years I need to mend them!

The latest Selvedge came in and I feel like it is a present for me on his birthday. Every issue is so inspiring, the latest has an interesting article on the wave of people who are going back to the crafts, the time care, love and attention that is put into each piece. I have also been thinking about hand-written letters and how they too are such special things now that I tend to send out an quick email! I still have notes and letters from friends when we still did such things. They are fun to treasure and once and awhile go back to....

Back to the present....This Friday is our monthly social, from 6-9pm. I think a couple of people are bringing some goodies and we will be serving some tea! Get in a bit of knitting those Christmas presents and socialize!

Cables and Decembers' Knotty Knews

2009-12-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

Ryan has been experimenting with cabling, which is essentially plying two already plied yarns together to produce some beautiful and well balanced yarns. For more about cabling, please visit this months newsletter.

2010 Year of.....

2009-11-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

This year has been Year of Natural Fibres, so what happens after this year is done? I think we should declare it Year of Celebrating Your Accomplishments! Each project we do has a story to it, by the simple fact of other things that may be going on at the same time of our lives. Little place markers between the big mile stones. These little markers, hand made items, have a story to them and it is quite a unique forum, the digital world, that can now record and share with others, and create even more energy that goes into each piece, whether it be your very first scarf, dropped, crossed and "who knows what happened there" stitches, or a shawl with 300 stitches in a lace weight mohair that was not frog-able! Our forum on Ravelry is place you are invited to share and these pms.

Just in case...

2009-11-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

you are ever stuck needing to make a fire without matches, here is a quick video my son made demonstrating how to use a flint and steel. If you feel inspired to leave him a comment, that would be fantastic!

Hand towels and blogging

2009-11-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

I have been struggling with the purpose of blogging and lately have realised the purpose for me to blog is about celebrating the fibre arts and celebrating our accomplishments!

My latest accomplishment was a bit of a journey, that required deduction, persistence and faith in myself that I could make it work. A blend of cotton and linen (cotolin) plainly woven with a border of indigo moon silk overshot pattern(Overshot is a type of weave structure that was passes over two or more warp threads). The design is a "A Thousand Flowers" by Marguerite P. Davidson, which is an ingenious design that allows one to have over twenty different weaving patterns. Which is perfect, as I did a warp long enough to weave about a dozen tea towels.

This picture is of the reverse side.

November News

2009-11-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

Follow the link to our most recent newsletter!

Juxtapose Scarf

2009-11-02T09:39:00.001-08:00

Fibre Archeology is being explored by HomeFree, exploring the history of hand made items and the tools used to make them. We have a small section in the shop dedicated to this topic, it is quite fascinating when one is not only able to "rescue" a hand made item but to also find out its history and the opportunity for it's story to continue.

In this similar vein, I like to provide a little history to the newly born patterns that I have been developing over the short while. The newest pattern being a scarf that was inspired by a Habu mohair sweater (KIT 110). This sweater was my first introduction me to the beautiful and fascinating world of Habu, while Ryan and I were on a fibre reconnaissance trip to Vancouver.

I loved the ultra fine mohair paired with a heavy and textured tsumugi silk, and while I loved it and have not finished the sweater yet, I wanted to capture the essence of it, and the idea of the scarf was born.

These pictures were generously provided by artist Brenda Peteys who knit up the pattern before I got around to publishing it which worked beautifully as her two scarves are beautiful examples. I used the Habu Silk and Mohair while Brenda used Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

Another free pattern that I would like to share :) I hope you enjoy it.

Great site for spinning information

2009-10-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

These days as long as one can research and think critically, I think we are pretty lucky to have the internet. It is full of so much fantastic information. For example I just came across this great website with videos and information from how to make a drop spindle, info on different types of fibres and spinning techniques for the wheel and troubleshooting. Very useful for any interested in learning to spin or wanting to learn more about spinning.

Weaving Round Robin

2009-10-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, Ryan and I particpated in a weaving round robin hosted by Jean Betts. Jean is an award winning weaver with a beautiful ittle studio in Oak Bay. She has been teaching us how to weave. Here are some little samples of what I did:

This piece is from Handwoven May-June 2005, it ia an Atwater/Bronson lace with bamboo in the warp and weft.

This is an example of Monks belt, with a mercerized cotton warp, and I believe I used Jean's handspun for the weft.

This one is my favorite, and I would like to do something substansial with this pattern that Jean designed on her weaving program. It is a over shot pattern, with a silk warp and more of Jean's handspun for the weft.It was a really great expereince and has expanded my knowledge of some more weave structures. Since then we have also done a day of dyeing and I will post some pics from that in the near future!

KBN fined...

2009-10-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Monthly Social this Friday

2009-09-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the month again :) Our monthly social is this Friday evening, from 6pm-9pm, everyone welcome, whether or not you have a project on the go! Would love to see you here :)

I figured I would share with you the original version of our store sign. It is from a CIBA reveiew. The CIBA Review was published monthly. It columns were devoted to a varied succession of articles on the history of dyeing, printing, tanning, weaving, etc., and the numerous supplementary crafts connected with the refinement of textile products. A very interesting resource. It is no longer in print, but several people have spent time scanning and digitizing it, so digital copies can be found on line.

Our sign is a depiction from Dutch theologist who published everything that he could find in the Bible with regard to textiles. The image shows a reconstruction of a loom with all of the raw materials: gold threadm flax and wool, as well as the dyes, scarlet, red and purple. Tyre was the origin of red and purple dyes.

I only took latin for one semester in high school, so I am not able to translate the text! Can anyone else?!

The Mad Trapper Touque

2009-09-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is our first KBN pattern that we are offering to people! Enjoy!

The Mad Trapper toque

Knit in the round, this hat seems very large but will fit most people. The pattern was developed from a commission piece to reproduce a hat that a customer brought in. The hat reminded me of the story about the Mad Trapper who was buried in Aklavik, the home town of my father.

Gauge: 6.25 stitches per 1 inch

Yarn: 105 grams, 400 yards

Needle Size: 3.0mm circular or dpn

Head Circumference: 20 inches (22 inches, 24 inches)

Cast on 126 (138, 150) stitches, and join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Part 1: *K 1, P l*, repeat to the end, continue until the piece measures 3.25 inches from the bottom (126 (138, 150) stitches).

Part 2: Knit in the round until the pieces measures 6.5 inche

s from the bottom (126 (138, 150) stitches).

Part 3: Pm, knit 4 rounds, and on the beginning of the fifth row, psso, knit to the last 2 stitches before the place marker and k2tog (124 (136, 148) stitches). Repeat the 5 rows until you have decreased to the hat measures 11.5 inches from the bottom.

Part 4: Pm, knit 1 round, and on the beginning of the 2nd ro

w, K 1, psso, knit to the last 3 stitches, k2tog, K 1. Repeat the 2 rows until the piece measures 13.75 inches.

Part 5: Pm, knit 1 round, and on the beginning of the 2nd

row, K1, slip 1 stitch, k2tog, pass the slip stitch over the knit 2 together stitch. Knit to the last 4 stitches, k3tog, K1. Repeat the 2 rows until 8 stitches remaining.

Part 6: Distribute 4 stitches each onto two needles, so they

lay flat with the hat and use a third needle to do a three needle bind off.

Part 7: Pompom – with thick cardstock paper, draw a circle with approximately 3.5 inch diameter. Draw a smaller circle with a 2.5 inch diameter inside the larger cir

cle and cut out the large circle and then cut out the smaller circle, repeat to make a second circle. Holding the two circles together, wrap the remaining yarn you have around the

doughnut shape. The more yarn you wrap the thicker the pom-pom.

Once you have finished wrapping the yarn, part the yarn at the edge to cut the yarn in between the two doughnuts. Then take a scarp piece of yarn (12 inches in length) and tie it between the two pieces of paper to secure the pop-pom yarn. Use the tail of the secure yarn to attach the pom-pom to the hat. Weave in all of the loose ends and enjoy your new hat!

Rib Cast-on method

2009-09-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

Today a lady came in from Australia and shared with the Tesday afternoon crochet/knit drop-in group how to do a cast on rib. Very easy and elasticy! Seeing as the interent has pretty much everything on it, I was able to find a you tube video that shows exactly how to do this.

September Newsletter - revised with links

2009-09-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

Hey,
it's like a whole bunch of blogs in one shot :). Presenting our September newsletter ! In it is a super quick little survey to find out how you guys think we are doing. Your feedback helps us!

I had some feedback that our links weren't working in the pdf version, so I have fixed it :)