May 13th, 2008
Saturday, Gabe and I drove down to Headquarters Farm in Hunterdon County, N.J. (yes, it is that pretty) to watch the tail-end of a sheep shearing session by Margaret of the Howell Living History Farm, who shears in the old way–without power clippers. She was kind enough to shear a 13th sheep so I could watch–and then purchase–a magnificent Romney fleece. (If you want your own, email Roger Byrom, owner of Headquarters Farm at rbyrom@addison.com.)
The whole thing is going to cost me a fortune. I haven’t spun in eons (though I used to do demos at Millbrook Village–we all start somewhere) and could really use a new wheel.
Knitting in the press
Spied these recently:
The Yarn Harlot in Publishers Weekly…
and a knit group for low-vision knitters in the Cape Cod newspaper.
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May 12th, 2008
You still have time to weigh in on the 2009 YMN Smart Business Conference survey. We’re looking for input on content, location (San Francisco, Atlanta or somewhere in-between) and other feedback so we can plan next year’s conference.
The survey takes all of about two minutes and should be up until the end of the week. Have at it. Thanks!
Posted in YMN Conferences | 2 Comments »
May 9th, 2008
“Knit and Crochet Today,” the PBS series produced by Candi Jensen and underwritten by Coats and Clark, has been nominated for an Emmy!!
You read that right - an Emmy! The nomination is in the Informational/Instructional category. The winner will be revealed at an award ceremony in Detroit on June 7.
For those of you unfamiliar, the first season of “Knit and Crochet Today” is airing now, with Kassie DePaiva as host. Brett Bara of Soho Publishing’s Crochet Today magazine has a segment on every episode, and Carla Scott (executive editor of VK) makes a few appearances. The show was well-received by the PBS community and it was picked up in a majority of markets. It is available in 70 percent of US homes.
The show just finished taping two more seasons (26 new episodes total) with a few changes. Brett Bara is now the host (!), and there’s a team of experts who reappear on every episode to demonstrate our projects. They are knitters Kristin Nicholas and Maggie Pace, and crocheters Robyn Chachula and Drew Emborsky. In every episode we feature an interview with a fiber big-wig, including many familiar names like Mari Lynn Patrick, Kaffe Fassett, James Coviello, Susan Levine, Debbie Macomber, Erika Knight and Debbie Stoller.
We’re thrilled that we get to see really good fiber on the red carpet at last!
Posted in Kudos Corner | 2 Comments »
May 2nd, 2008
The Sexy Knitter’s Club, a long-standing knit-a-long group, just released its top 20 nominations for its Spring KAL. Many of these projects require beyond-beginner skills, perfect for short-term, warm-weather classes. Some of the patterns are free, like Jaden and Talia from Knitty.com; others are for sale and available via download.
You’ll find that the term sexy is broadly interpreted. These are pretty, body-conscious designs (a few actually are quite prim) that offer skill builders such as lace edgings, waist shaping, stitch patterns and more.
You might find these designs so alluring, you’ll be tempted to cast on yourself.
For tips on using Knitty’s free patterns without violating copyrights, check out Knitty’s instructions here.
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April 22nd, 2008
A commemorative volume featuring aboriginal and non-aboriginal Aussie toppers from the famous Alice Springs Beanie Festival
We’re trying to be more diligent about maintaining the online YMN calendar. To check out the calendar via the YMN homepage, click “Yarn Events” and off you’ll go.
In logging these various “yarn events,” we were struck not only by the sheer number of wool and fiber festivals but also by remarkable diversity of locale. I found myself fantasizing about taking an entire summer to tour various wool fests. Imagine starting at Maryland Sheep and Wool in West Friendship, MD in early May, heading up the coast to hit the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival on Mother’s Day weekend then on to the Maine Fiber Frolic and the Estes Park Wool Market in June with a swing down under to the Alice Springs Beanie Festival.
And that only takes us partially through June.
Though many of us will be stuck in our offices this summer or working away in our shops, fiber festivals are a wonderful reminder that much of our yarn comes from fiber animals and their hardworking shepherds, and that the garments we make from that yarn are, in the words of the brilliant designer Erika Knight when discussing Rowan’s organic Purelife range, “slow clothes,” items we treasure and wear and pass down.
Happy Earth Day, everyone. I can rest easy that my fantasy peregrinations carry a much lighter carbon burden than if I really had the time and money to indulge them.
(Oh, dear, but then there’s Woolfest in Cockermouth, England. Sigh.)
Posted in Vacation | No Comments »
