Sitting in the harmony place

Without much thought, I picked up this book at one of the many used book stores that dot Seattle. Weaver of Worlds by David Jongeward



I am enjoying it immensely. It's changed my attitude to my own work with fiber. After coming back to fiber after more than a few years away, I found myself frantically trying to learn more, make more things and collect more fiber, information and links to resources. The internet is a curse and a boon. It provides so much information, supplies and a supportive community where information is shared so freely. But I find myself trying to keep up with everything. I want everything. I want to know everything. I want to take advantage of everything available and of course I want to make everything.
The book has among other things brought me back to being with the work. The author's wife was introduced to weaving by the Navajo and the book recounts her journey through the craft of weaving. It is a path of technical skill but it is also a path of self knowledge and unfolding. The Navajo concept of the beauty way and "sitting in the harmony place" really have reminded me of the magic of the process.
I can't call myself an artist like the weaver in the book nor can I say that my spinning and dyeing is a path of self discovery. I can say that it feeds something within me and that I continue to see the process as magical. I am grateful for the reminder that this is my starting point and I would always like to keep that feeling with me.
The work of the weaver, Carolyn Jongeward is also a journey of self discovery and integration. It really is her evolution as an artist, personality and spiritual being.Though published in 1990, the book recounts the time period of the seventies. For those of you that feel overburdened with accounts of Jungian dream analysis and appropriation of Native American culture, it may be a little bit of a rough ride for you. Nevertheless, I found a sincerity and openness in the narration that allowed me to reawaken to the wider dimensions of craftsmanship.



Meanwhile, I've been spinning up the llama roving for the past 3 or 4 days. I opted for a 2 ply because I pulled out my lace scarves and shawls and decided I loved them. I wanted something I would wear. A consistent 2 ply works best for lace and this yarn is not really that uniform but I knitted up a sample in a simple lace pattern and I knew it would be okay. No sense going to great length with a complicated lace design but a simple one will be worth the effort...or so I think at this point.










I still have no idea what I'll be weaving now that I have the use of this loom a little longer.
I pulled out only a fraction of the odds and ends suitable for weaving that I've picked up at thrift stores.







A lot of brown......I know. My plan would be to overdye.





These are the most likely to be used.

Rayon/Linen blend.







Wool.

Back!

Finally back after a long break from posting an entry.
I have been spinning quite a bit.
I spun up the 2.3 ounces of Pygora straight from the box with no carding and made a 2 ply fingering weight yarn but only managed to get 150 yards. Should I try to buy some more from the same goat?











I've been spinning up yarn on my Ashford and plying them on my Babe. I've been doing alot of 3 ply and I love them..such a fat, round yarn! I'm enchanted.
Here's some merino:











I've also been spinning up some Brown Sheep mills scraps I bought from Carol Lee at sheepshedstudio.com . I had 2 pounds and gave a little bit away to new spinners because it seems a easy fiber to spin. I've been working on spinning that up into a 3ply but it really just looks so ordinary that I'm not too enthused.
















I'm also spinning up some beautiful, so very soft llama that I bought from the Bellwether last year. It's from a llama named Fanfare. The yarn is definitely going to have some texture. I haven't decide whether to do a 2 ply or a 3.








Sadly, my plan to schedule my knitting so I could finish up the lace stole fell flat on its face the first day. I made myself knit and ended up ripping out 20 rows to fix my mistkes! I am now accepting the fact that this is a long project and that it's okay for me to start a sweater but not okay to start a large lace project until I finish the stole. Lace scarves are permissable though.
Which reminds me.... I filled up my frequent buyer card at Weaving Works and got 20 dollars store credit. Yay! I bought Traditional Lace Shawls. This is a great book.











I also made up a little hat from some Lambswool/Angora yarn for the Dulaan Project. I found the yarn at Goodwill and thought it would make a warm hat.










My weaving class has ended. My towels are off the loom and ready for the wash after I weave in the ends I forgot to do while weaving. As you can see, the cat jumped in for a pose.



I'm convinced that animals (though especially cats) just love things you make with your hands. My cat would just cuddle up to the loom and purr. If I drape anything handspun, handwoven or handknitted over her, she becomes extremely content. I think the animals just love our chi.
When I first saw Cat Bordhi book, I thought knitting and felting a cat bed was alot of work for nothing very special. Now, I've revised my opinion and plan on eventually making one. At least I hope to.......I'm not really getting much knitting done.




Although my class has ended, My teacher is allowing me to keep the rented loom for a couple of months. I want to complete at least one project. I have quite a bit of weaving yarn around here. I've been picking it up at thrift stores. Dye might figure into the project as well. I have no experience in planning and executing a project so this will be a blind venture....I'm looking forward to it.