Back in September I went to the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival. I’d wanted to go for the last few years, but had always done a show the same weekend. This year I decided not to do that show. (Not because I wanted to go to the Fiber Festival. I decided that show was no longer the best venue for me.)
It was a lot of fun and I’m glad I went. The Festival is really targeted to spinners and knitters, not weavers, but I couldn’t resist buying stuff anyway, even though I couldn’t weave with it. Before I got there I’d been thinking that I was not likely to see many coned yarns or other weaving supplies, so I had developed another plan. I’d sold three of my braided scarves at the Clothesline Festival, and only had 2 left, so wanted to make some more. I was hoping I’d find some cool stuff to braid with, and I wasn’t disappointed.
On the way home from the Fiber Festival I stopped at the Alfred Knitting Studio, knowing that they often have some really cool stuff at deep discounts on the front porch. Again, I wasn’t disappointed, and got things that would coordinate with the Fiber Festival purchases. The next day I stopped at Joann’s and picked up some bulky acrylics. Although I almost never work with acrylic yarn, I had made an exception for my last braids, and was willing to do so again. By mixing acrylics in the braids I’m able to make them at a really reasonable cost, and the people who want them don’t seem to care – they’re buying them for the look & the price, not the fiber content.
When I had a few minutes in between making all the jewelry, I made six more braids. I’m happy with all of them. I also had fun giving them names. Usually my weaving is named based on the color yarn and weave pattern, so that if I need to recreate it I can. The braids? Each one is different and I won’t pretend I can recreate it, so I name them things I like.
I called the first one Dappled Forest.
This one is Early Snow in the Hills.
Here’s Storm Clouds.
And Fit For A Queen. (My least favorite name. I couldn’t come up with anything better.)
Now for Snow in Autumn.
And finally, Fall Hillside.
I finished making all the jewelry on Monday, so decided that I had time to weave one more shawl. I have very few large pieces left, and have already had two customers tell me they’re interested in my shawls, so I figured people would want them at the show, too. I chose one of the lovely Tammy’s hand painted rayon chenille yarns and went to town. The warp is made from her variegated colorway she calls North Shore with a broad stripe of rather vivid green (she calls it Forest, but I don’t think so) along one side. The weft is her solid Eggplant.
Your turn: how are you spending this gorgeous long weekend? (Notice I assume it’s both beautiful weather where you are and that you have a three-day weekend. Sorry if neither of those is true for you.
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