Thursday is almost over, but I wanted to give a quick update on progress on the Fiesta Friendship Shawl (based on a Cultured Purl pattern). First, I have to explain that even Thursday almost slipped by because Stephanie and I decided to join Rowen (Rav) at her studio at Willow Springs and spin for a few hours. We all joked that we should be at the river beating the heat, but that it is even harder to carve out some spinning time!
Here, you can see only a portion of the room, filled with looms owned by Rowen and another weaver... and Rowen with her daughter Maisie.
She is spinning on a SpinOlution Bee, a really cool fold-up wheel produced here in California. It actually sets up in less than a minute, while also folding into a case to fit under an airplane seat! I honestly think one of these might be in my future, particularly when I heard how happy she is with the double treadling.
My lovely little Traveller is in the foreground, though it isn't as portable... I am spinning some blue-faced leicester that Stephanie dyed, and thrilled to finally be getting to it.
Now, for an update on the Friendship Shawl... which has seen the lion's share of my attention this week...
since we last met to discuss her, I have added a second large diamond, in deep maroon, from some sock yarn that is several decades old and came from Lois, a fellow quilt guild member who used to KNIT those lovely two-piece skirt and sweater combos for her wardrobe in the late 1940s.
I had just finished the small diamond composed of browns and russets (from Sallee) in the bottom right of the photo, then added the bright blues with greens to it's right, from Elizabeth. The light pink above the browns was contributed by Monica, one of my fellow Yarnistas at Fibers. To the right of the large red diamond, in what constitutes the top row in this photo is a lovely earth tone/purple combo from Gale, the WIP diamond, in pink, white and brown tweed comes from Ally B, with the hot and pale pink one next to it contributed by Cookie, who also provided the lime green, pink and blue yarn to its left... which covers what was added in the past week! I am also grateful to Arisha, who sent me this link, to the Heathen Housewife... she made a large blankie for her family by employing the same begging strategy, as well as getting some famous knit bloggers to spread the word, and it took her 20 months. It's well worth taking a look, but I am now thankful I opted for a shawl!
