Banish the Grey
Jonathan & Denise >
It’s the two or three weeks that straddle Christmas and New Year when there is, here, the greatest probability – compared to the remainder of the winter months – of severe storms. And by that I mean wind strength Severe Storm – or even Hurricane Force. There could even be more than one.
But this year, whilst at times it has certainly been windy – too windy to do anything much outdoors, it’s mostly just been grey. As in grey skies, grey seas, grey rocks … even grey sheep! (That’s the white sheep like the Scottish Blackface – thank our black Hebrideans still look black.)
So, not so much because we’re trapped indoors, but rather that there’s little enthusiasm to be found for the great outdoors (the rare fine morning or afternoon only serving to prove the rule). It is, then, at this time of year that we are most productive in our craftwork. Thinking about it now, as we put this post together – perhaps that’s because thinking creatively with colours – applying our knowledge and skill to colours – provides a therapy that helps to banish the grey.
D > Today I’ve mostly worked on weaving some lambswool scarves, using a technique for combining two colours which adds another dimension to the weaving. Two yarns of complementary colours are threaded together through each heddle, and likewise at each weft. The random variability in the relative position of the two yarns gives the finished work a subtle ‘heathered’ appearance.
This evening I finished reading a book by Kate Humble (a well-known British TV presenter) on the joy of walking, which was on the whole an interesting and pleasant read, reinforcing what J and I have long known, that at walking speed we see more, and think better, though that doesn’t always result in a sense of joy, as Kate Humble would have us believe. I do also find it rather annoying that she seems to contradict herself somewhat, as much of the book is given over to her becoming more and more accustomed to running – as a form of exercise in the great outdoors, presumably resulting in her walking less. I’ve put that book on J’s pile of books to read, but he’d better get on with it, as I’ve already listed the book on ebay!
J > This morning I was working on the croft in Eriskay : There’s still a lot to do before the new fencing is fully complete. After lunch I helped my neighbour with the technical details of installing a fire hydrant for the new tourist hostel he is building on his croft – which is adjacent to the walled garden. (The hostel will complete the development of the site, which also includes the Kilbride Cafe and Kilbride Campsite.) But, as the light began to fade – grey giving way to black, I was at last free to continue spinning for the first two skeins of a new yarn I’ve designed, combining a naturally grey Shetland, which serves as a base colour over which four colours or pre-dyed merino are added, according to a predetermined plan that should result in a random but reasonably consistent variability. Yesterday I completed one bobbin (about 80g of single strand), and as this post is being finalized, I’ve completed the second bobbin. Tomorrow I will ply them together – to make a 2-plied DK yarn. As for tonight … [looks at the clock] … it seems I’ve run out of time for a read this evening. Kate Humble will have to wait until tomorrow!
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Thanks for following my blog, sustainablechoices.net. I just sent a link to a friend in Barcelona who is an avid knitter and may be interested in purchasing your beautiful yarns!
J&D > Thank you!
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Beautiful! where can I get the pattern for your hats? Love them!
D > To get the pattern you’ll need a drill, a length of plastic pipe, a little tap for the end of it, and a bucket. Then you’ll need a bit of equipment (not yet invented – thank heavens) that can analyse the mush that drains out of my head and turn it into knitting patterns. ;~) No, as yet – and despite making these hats for about 15 years – I’ve not got round to writing it down. All I do is write out on a scrap of paper the various groups of rows – so that I have something to tick through as the work progresses. (That scrap does twice – I tick again, with a different colour pen, or backwards!)
Wonderful lol! Pattern aside how made stitches do you cast on and how do you decrease over the rows? From that info I shall be able to mimic you at least. Oh I have the drill and plastic pipe but perhaps all I need is a few days sitting at your knee and observing?????
Loving these combinations!
J > Thank you! For most people, colours have associations, and combinations of colours provoke complex responses.
Reminds me of stormy skies, heathery slopes and the sun breaking through into a wintery sunrise. Gorgeous ☺️
J >You’ll have your fill of those, in time! We might be moaning about the succession of grey days, just now, but that’s only because we actually prefer the weather when it is actually doing something ; and doing wild is definitely more enjoyable than doing nothing!
Beautiful, beautiful work!
Love your colors! I agree that this is the time of year for lots of it. Your handspun is especially cheery!
J > The result of plying the two ‘singles’ together has not been quite as I expected. I’m a bit disappointed but D says its lovely. See blog post to follow.
Sometimes so many colors can get toned down or a little muddy when plied. I usually ply a wild single with a monotone natural color, or black!
D > Ooh, a ‘wild’ single – that’s a good word for it! That’s a technique (and a word!) I’ll have to try myself. Thank you!