After all the changes of the last few months, I finally had a quiet moment to start catching up on podcasts this weekend. This recent series of interviews with Dr. Lily Marsh on the Yarns at Yin Hoo podcast about Elizabeth Zimmerman and her influence on knitting is a fascinating mix of (relatively) recent knitting history, social history, and a glimpse at how historians work and draw conclusions. I’ve only managed to listen to the first episode in the multipart series (episode 268) but I’m hooked.
Western Mass Fiber Shed pop-up shop, the pillows I long for, and a brief Germany update
Perusing my Instagram feed this morning I came across two posts that immediately made me wish I was home. Re-posting them here for the folks who may not be on Instagram.
First, Western Mass Fibershed is having a pop up
In case the image isn’t loading correctly, the pop-up is at Swanson's Fabrics on Saturday April 17 from 11-2. On offer, locally produced wool fabrics in three fabrics and two-ply knitting yarns, all produced, spun, and woven locally. Contact email for questions, WesternMassFibershed@gmail.com
The Western Mass Fibershed had a table at Boston Farm & Fiber Festival last year (ah the before time) complete with samples of some of their woven goods (including a pair of very stylish fabric covered heeled oxfords!) and I have been longing to get my hands on some ever since.
Also on my Instagram feed, pillows from Full Circle Wool.
My neck, weirdly crunched from sleeping on IKEA pillows, longs for one of these.
Someday.
In Germany news, we have moved into our new long term apartment. We now live on the 4rth floor of a five story apartment block built in 1982. The attic is a “drying room” where everyone hangs their clotheslines. There are also communal clothesline in a small green space in front of the building. I hung our first batch of laundry yesterday. It was not a very neatly hung collection of tea towels and bath towels, and I was expecting a stern talking to for hanging out such messy washing from one of the older ladies. I think I did get scolded by a stern older lady the other day for accidentally biking back from the grocery store without my bike helmet. It’s that sort of place.
And just across the river, there are sheep! I am trying to work up the courage (and the German) to leave a note for the farmer inquiring about fleece, or the fiber community here.
Fiber Trek
I have always been a fairly solitary person, and a fairly solitary knitter, so one of my favorite things about this whole “starting a yarn business” adventure is discovering the wider community of knitters, and the myriad of ways they engage with their craft. Sarah Hunt, in addition to starting and hosting a yarn retreat (at which I will be vending and perhaps even teaching this fall) is filming a travel show about the larger fiber community, showcasing every aspect of fiber production and use, from farmers to owners of small spinning mills to designers and knitters. At the moment she is focusing on the fiber scene in Maine, though I suspect as her project grows she will branch out to other states (though the Maine fiber scene is large and varied, so it may take a while). Check out her buzzreal here, and her blog here. I am very much looking forward to getting back to the land of fast internet so that I can catch up on her latest posts!