Thursday Evening!

As many of you are aware, this Thursday (December 13th) will be the last chance you'll have to see Springwater and take advantage of our remaining sale items until 2008! From 5 PM to 8 PM, we'll have cider and cookies to share with everyone that stops by, and we'll be increasing our discount to 50% for all shoppers - and members will still get an additional 10% off of that! We hope that you'll stop by and say "farewell" to the old...because over the next month we'll be sprucing up the school and shop areas, bringing in new merchandise for all our fiber artists, and planning our grand re-opening to occur in January (date TBA).

Please keep an eye on our website, and on your email, as well as here on the blog, for more information about our grand re-opening - and thank you all for the support and encouragement that you've given the board, staff, and teachers at Springwater!

Knitting Daily

Along with a new editor, Interweave Knits also has a new website: Knitting Daily. Here, you can find several posts each week devoted to knitting (and most recently, crocheting), as well as several of IK's patterns, made available for free to people who have registered with the website. Along with access to the websites trove of treasures, a registration will also give you an opportunity to sign up for their mailing list to get the posts sent directly to your inbox.

As well as introducing and breaking down patterns and techniques, the blog-style website has posted interviews with designers and a couple of project galleries that show how the sample garment fits on different body types with different amounts (both positive and negative) of ease. Very interesting.

Interweave has been making select patterns from all their disciplines available for free on their various websites. If you haven't visited their website, take a few minutes to browse around http://www.interweave.com and click around to their various disciplines. There are free projects guidelines in beading, needlwork, weaving, and spinning. All their knitting and crochet projects have been moved over to Knitting Daily.

Member Event - Back To School Night

Springwater is falling back into the school season with our September Associates Event - a Back To School Night!

Join us on Saturday, September 15th from 5-7 PM here at the shop. We'll be discussing an overview of the fall class schedule, showing how Springwater can provide schools & civic groups various demonstrations and other outreach opportunities, and we'll even teach you a few fiber "tricks" to share with young and old alike! There is no charge, and light refreshments will be provided.

We extend an extra special invitation to school teachers and homeschoolers, as well as our Associates. Please come out and join us for a fun and informative evening!

Saartje's Booties

One of the patterns I’ve seen floating around in several online spots lately is the Saartje’s Booties pattern, written by Saartje, who blogs from her home in the Netherlands. She has made the pattern available for free on her blog (side bar, in both English and Dutch).

I have be honest and admit up front that I am not a big fan of baby booties in general. I have never seen a pattern for a pair that I have felt compelled to make (before these). Babies don’t need shoes until they are walking, and when they do have booties or socks on, they are constantly falling off!

But when I first came across this pattern, I decided I had to make them. What a great little design with the crossed straps — these should stay put on a baby’s foot!

I made this little pair in an afternoon, using about 12 grams (for the small size) of leftover sock yarn and some little shell buttons I found in a drawer at home. The only thing I changed was how the button loops were created. Instead of making them from yarn ends (I’m always looking for ways to sew in fewer ends), I took the last stitch of the last knit strap row, slid it onto a crochet hook, chained 6, then slid the last chain loop back onto the needle to start the bind-off row.

These little booties are a great one-day project, would make a great gift for a new baby, and a wonderful way to use up some of those yarn scraps you are reluctant to get rid of, but don’t know what to do with.

Textiles of Klimt's Vienna at the TM

One of the best things about being a fiber artist living in the DC area is having access to the Textile Museum. One of the current shows at the museum showcases the textiles of Klimt’s Vienna. The show features the work of the many talented textiles designer at the Wiener Werkstatte at the beginning of the 20^th century. A printmakers dream, the samples range from the simple to the most of elaborate designs, making many strong statements about art through the 20^th century.

The Wiener Werkstatte was not only a design workshop but also an artistic hub for a new movement of art known as the Arts and Crafts Movement. The principle of which was to have beauty in everyday life with everyday objects, and the artists of Vienna were looking to shape the world with their work. The work in the exhibition has strong ties to the artistic past but also shows how the styles were a preview for what was to come throughout the 20^th century.

Hidden Treasure at the TM

The hands on room is hidden on the top floor of the museum but is worth the trek up the stairs. If you traveling with children this playroom can help bring the structure of many different textile techniques to life.

Are you Raveled Yet?

Ravelry.com is a new online knit and crochet community. The index page of the Ravelry website says “organize. Organize your projects, stash, needles and more”, “share. Show off your work. Share your ideas and techniques”, and “discover. Find new designs and yarns. Make friends. Try new things”. That pretty much sums it up, I think. I am currently on the wait list for an account, but I have seen the inside through someone else’s account, and let me just say, I’m excited. This is revolutionary for the online fiber community, and we’ve been waiting for something like this to come along, to organize us and bring us together.

Some of the features of Ravelry include: organizing your projects and your stash; seeing what other people are working on and what they are using their stash yarns for; joining groups with similar interests; finding new projects; seeing how the same project can look in different yarns, joining a community of interest; and making friends. One of the things that most excites me about becoming a user of Ravelry is the inspiration that I am sure will become a detriment to my bank account, but also seeing what others may be doing with some yarn that I have been hoarding in my stash, waiting for that elusive “perfect project”.

The website is still in its beta stages, so the users are currently limited, at least until the operators get their grown-up servers and networking hardware in place and tested out. A recent post on their news blog indicates that there are currently 8300 users and, as of August 19^th, their new hardware was shipping and they were anticipating being able to crank up the invites soon. Meanwhile, for those of us who are anxious to join, you can sign up for their waitlist and periodically check where you stand on the list while you salivate at the prospect of becoming a member.

Research at the TSA

Do you ever wonder how textile enthusiasts and professionals stay in the know? There is a wonderful organization that can keep you informed and educated on the current research, exhibitions, and symposia in the world of textiles. The Textile Society of America mission statement is:

The Textile Society of America, Inc. provides an international forum for the exchange and dissemination of information about textiles worldwide, from artistic, cultural, economic, historic, political, social, and technical perspectives.

To access all of the wonderful resources they provide visit their website at http://www.textilesociety.org/index.htm. Things to look for include the Events Page where you can find listings for events in the US and Canada; including exhibitions, workshops, symposia, study tours, and conferences. And, if you’re a textile researcher you may also want to take a look at the Resources Page with its international listings of websites for museums, conservation groups and other textile groups.

Hidden Treasures at the TSA

Become a member and receive numerous publications and meet professional in the field. They also hold a bi-annual symposium with some of the top researchers in the world of textiles speaking about their latest research.

Fall back to the basics...

First of all, happy birthday to our staff members Joe and Marena!

Many of you have already received your Fall edition of the Springwater Fiber Workshop's newsletter in the mail; if you haven't yet, or you're not on our mailing list, you can take a look at the schedule on our website. As always, we have a wonderful class schedule for the fall. Coming up in the middle of September are a wide variety of times and days for our Basic Weaving, Projects & Advanced Weaving, and Introduction to Four Shaft Weaving classes. We also have Denise Vauthier offering her Silk Painting & Surface Design class on September 15 & 16, Margaret Fisher offering Sensational Slip Stitches on September 16, and an exploration of SAORI weaving (which you can read more about in this article written by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, or click here to visit the website of Saori Worcester in Massachusettes).

Finally, plan to stop by the shop on Saturday or Sunday, September 8 & 9, as Springwater will be having an extra-special Back To School sale! We'll have our studio space filled with selected yarns, fibers, accessories, equipment, and books / patterns marked at least 40% off of retail; some are donated, some are remainders, and some special items will be directly from our stock! We're also using this sale as an opportunity to collect items for N Street Village to use in their outreach and assistance to homeless and low-income women in Washington, DC; next week we'll post a list of requested items and give you more information on this wonderful organization.

In the meantime, enjoy your last "summer" week, and stop by for a visit soon!

On the Road

This week, I am on vacation. I will hopefully be happily knitting away on a pair of socks or other small, tote-able project on the beach.

It seems only fitting that my topic be On the Road: What do you bring/do/buy fiber-wise when you travel?

Here’s what I tend to do and bring:

• I scout out nearby local yarn and fiber shops. And if I haven’t planned ahead, I do a search on my cell phone.
• I bring a couple of projects to keep me entertained and for different types of situations:
• A good plane or car project — something relatively mundane and/or small – I make tons of mistakes when I ride in the car, so it can’t be lace or anything too complicated, something stockinette or garter stitch is ideal, but I will also do small projects like socks or baby hats.
• A project that requires my attention and focus, usually a project I have been wanting to work on, but haven’t had the time or focus to make much progress. Wishful thinking.
• Something I can work on while doing other things (could be same as the first project).
• A back-up project. Again, wishful thinking.
• I plan for far more than I can actually accomplish.

And here’s what I tend to buy:

• Something special I can’t get at home or something unique to that shop or area. Is there is a yarn spun from local sheep by a local spinner and/or hand-dyed by local dyers? (I also use a similar thought process for MD Sheep and Wool – I limit myself to purchasing things I can’t get easily otherwise.)
• Sock yarn. I always know how much I need to make a pair of socks, so it is a safe and fun buy. Also, usually a low-investment purchase that doesn’t take up a lot of room in the suitcase (unless I buy 20 skeins of sock yarn...).
• Patterns. I’ve learned that when you see a pattern you think you might like to make one day, buy it. You never know if you’ll find it again. Also, again, low financial investment (because remember, I am using all my money to finance my vacation) and low spacial commitment in the suitcase.
• Buttons. I’m always looking for cute buttons. See above for why buttons also make a good travel purchase.
• Anything supply I end up desperately needing for a project that has been traveling with me.

So, here’s to happy traveling!

19th Cenury France at the NGoA

A trip to the National Gallery of Art can be overwhelming to even the most frequent visitor. Somehow, I always find myself in my favorite galleries time and time again. Most often I make my way to the 19^th Century French Galleries (galleries #80 - #93), where the works of Degas, Monet, Pissaro, and Cassat reside in perfect harmony.

For the textile lover these can be some of the most mesmerizing works of art to study the decadent and the simple. Artists of the period were masters at capturing the details of lace, embroidery, upholstery, and pattern popular in both clothing and interiors. While almost every work found here could be inspiring, we will look at two of the best. I hope you will either see these in person or at least visit the Museum website to enjoy the importance of textiles in these works. Go to http://www.nga.gov/collection/index.shtm for more information.

In gallery #90 you will find several works from Auguste Renoir including “Odalisque.” This Algerian inspired image of a woman reclining is a textile lovers dream. The model is wearing traditional Muslim clothing for women of the period, the bright colors clashing with each other and the opulent room in which she resides. Color, texture, and pattern fight to gain your attention in the overwhelming scene of pure luxury.

To see the more simple side of textiles stop in to visit gallery #88 and the master of simple elegance in everyday life, Edgar Degas. In his painting “Woman Ironing,” a simple task of the maid becomes a scene of beauty. Instantly one is drawn into the distinction between the messy clothes of the maid verses the crisp clothes on which she works. The clothes that hang around her cut the light and assume an ethereal quality. Meanwhile a small stack of crisp and freshly ironed shirts show the reality of the work the woman is doing.

Hidden Treasure at the NGoA

The bookstore!

DP WIP Tubes are here!

This just in the shop: Nancy's Knit Knacks, an outstanding source of creative accessories for fiber artist of all breeds, has just come out with their Double Point Work In Progress Tubes! Priced at $9.50 for a set of two (perfect for those of you that work two socks or sleeves simultaneously), these tubes telescope from 5" to 10", and with an internal diameter of 5/8", they will hold your small and medium size DPN's firmly, allowing your project to hang outside of the tube yet protecting the needles from breakage and your stitches from stitches slipping off!

We're also expecting our shipment of the new Cat Bordhi book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, to arrive in the next week. The reviews of this book have been exceptional; my own knitter friends who have read it say that it's sure to become an important technique and reference book, and that it changes the way you'll think about knitting socks forever! Cat is one of the few designers around that challenges preconcieved notions about knitting; her Moebius cast on (found in her Treasury of Magical Knitting) was a truly new way of creating multidimensional items. You can read more about her at her website, www.catbordhi.com, and you can search on YouTube for videos of her demonstrating some of her techniques.

Finally, our new class schedule is at the printer and will be available on our website soon, but in the meantime, I couldn't wait to tell you about Margaret Fisher's class "Sensational Slip Stitches", on Sunday September 16 from 9am to 4pm. Margaret is a very popular knitting teacher, having taught all over the country for guilds, shops, and at large events such as Stitches, Maryland Sheep and Wool, and TNNA's biannual conventions. This is a great opportunity to learn various slip stitch knitting techniques, both two-color and multi-color, and inject some creativity and color into your work. Associate tuition for this class is only $100 (non-associates pay only $110), and it's sure to fill up fast, so call in or stop by the shop to sign up soon!

A Year in Socks

Not just another knit-along, the Rockin’ Sock Club hosted by Blue Moon Fiber Arts is an annual sock club. Every other month for a calendar year, participants receive a kit. The kits typically contain a special-for-the-club hand-dyed skein of BMFA’s famous (did anyone else see that line at MD Sheep and Wool? Crazy) sock yarn, along with an exclusive new sock pattern and dyer’s notes. The yarn and the pattern are available only to club members until the end of the year.

With each shipment, there is also the element of surprise. Participants don’t know what is coming in terms of yarn weight (will it be their lightweight? Mediumweight?), even fiber content (the second 2007 shipment was a new yarn, “Silkie” – 81% superwash merino and 19% tussah silk), or pattern (will it be lace? Will there be cables? Will it be top-down or toe-up?). Each shipment is a chance to potentially learn a new technique involved with sock knitting and try out a color you may not have picked out if left to your own devices.

Also in full utilization of the technology resources that surround us on a daily basis, the ladies at Blue Moon have a message board/blog set up for all the participants. They can communicate with participants about shipments, contests and answer questions; and the participants can also ask and answer questions, arrange local meet-ups and post status updates or modifications and finished photos of their kit socks.

If you are a die-hard sock knitter, or even just a regular sock knitter, and would like to participate in 2008, check back with the Blue Moon website closer to the close of 2007.

Prayer Rugs at the NERS

If you don’t have time to make it to a museum, and are in need of a textile fix, the Internet if full of many amazing on line exhibitions of artwork. We will certainly explore these as time goes on. This week I stumbled into The New England Rug Society. Currently showcase on on-line exhibition of Islamic Prayer Rugs & Related Textiles.

Harvard University Scholar Jeff Spur provides commentary on the importance and history of these religious textiles. His exploration into the symbolic meaning behind the iconography is enlightening and brings a wonderful clarification.

With twenty-six examples of rugs to explore a full range to stylistic possibilities are represented. Take advantage of the close up images to get an understanding of the structure or flip through the pages to see an amazing range of patterns and colors.

To visit the New England rug society exhibition go to http://www.ne-rugsociety.org/gallery/prayer-rugs-fall-2002/ners-prayer-rug-intro.htm

Copyright is Confusing

I was thinking of writing a piece on “tips and tricks” to share with you. One of the “tips and tricks” I use for nearly every project that I was going to share is to make a “working photocopy” of your pattern. I know it seems like a no-brainer, but I run into a lot of people who haven't thought of doing this to save their books from the wear and tear they are subjected to in project bags, not to mention giving you a handy place to jot down notes.

But I was having a dilemma. I couldn’t just put that tip out there and not include a note on copyright as it pertains to both personal uses and Springwater uses. So, here are the bones of copyright laws as they pertain to your own fiber endeavors and at Springwater:

Copyright law is a serious consideration for Springwater. Unfortunately, it is easy to violate (as we have seen with the music industry), but violations are still illegal and could carry hefty fines. As a non-profit organization concerned with community and educating people about all the joys of fiber arts, we also need to be sure we are not doing so at another’s expense.

Whether a pattern specifically has a big, bold copyright notice on it or not, it likely has a copyright owned by either the author or the publisher. Patterns, I think we would all agree, are undoubtedly artistic and intellectual works. The government copyright website (http://www.copyright.gov/) defines copyright as:

Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of ‘original works of authorship,’ including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works. . . . It is illegal for anyone to violate any of the rights provided by the copyright law to the owner of copyright.

~ Quoted from http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wci

Things we MAY do include:

• We MAY make a copy of a pattern we have already purchased for our own personal use. For example, I usually make a copy of a pattern that I am working on so that I may make notes, highlight the size I am working on, or make alterations to the pattern for myself.
• We MAY print out a copy of a free pattern on the internet for our own personal use. For example, patterns on http://www.knitty.com are available to print out for person use, but are not available to sell or distribute.
• We MAY tell customers where they may obtain a free pattern on the internet.
• We MAY make a copy of a pattern that we have sold the last copy of. This copy should not to be sold, but used only as a reminder of what we need to re-order.
• We MAY write a pattern and copyright it ourselves. If you do create and wish to copyright a pattern yourself, the correct notation would be: © 2006 Jane Doe or Copyright 2006 Jane Doe. Under the current laws, technically you do not need to register your piece nor put a copyright notice on it in order to secure copyright protection, but it certainly helps to avoid any confusion.

Things we MAY NOT do include:

• We MAY NOT make copies of free internet patterns to distribute to our customers. These patterns are under copyright protection by the author or publisher and may not be distributed by a store (even if we don’t charge for them) without express permission for the copyright holder. We can, however, tell a customer where to go to make their own copy for personal use.
• We MAY NOT make a photocopy of a pattern from a book we have not purchased, nor allow our customers to do so.
• We MAY NOT sell a photocopy of a pattern.
• We MAY NOT sell something we have made from a pattern that is copyrighted by someone other than ourselves.
• We MAY NOT make a slight adjustment (i.e. change the color of the yarn) to a pattern and call it altered sufficiently as to no longer be protected under copyright law. This is covered under the “derivative works” section and would also require permission from the copyright holder to distribute.
• Unless you are certain it is in the public domain, it is always safe to assume that if you did not write it, draw it, photograph it, compose it, etc., someone else did, and therefore, someone else holds the copyright, and we need to obtain permission (by asking or purchasing) to distribute it.

For more information about copyright, visit: http://www.copyright.gov/.

Reinventing Tradition at the DOI

Throughout the summer the Department of the Interior Museum Gallery is featuring contemporary fashion by Native American designers. The exhibit features the work of 15 designers ranging from the 1950s thru the present. Their inspired uses of weaving, felting, beading, appliqué, silk screening, quilting, and tapestry weaving can get you thinking in a new way about the fiber arts.

Using elements of the past, the featured designers are imposing their traditional techniques and patterns on modern clothing. By combining the elements of the past with the norms of the modern culture a perfect melding of two can be seen playing with and against each other. Must see articles include the Twin Peaks poncho (2007), and its silk-screened animal motifs from the tribes of the north west coast.

Directly across the hall from this small exhibit are traditional Native American garments making a wonderful transition in time.

Hidden Treasure’s at the DOI

The gallery itself is the most important treasure here. The permanent collection features the many aspect of the Department of the Interior and the many ways in which they have shaped the United States. Galleries are filled with historic Native American garments, geological samples, archeological artifacts, and mapping tools.

Pant...pant....pant.......

Wow…it’s already August! The dog days of summer have arrived, and it’s just too darn hot.

We have treats for you, though!

Our August sale runs from the 15^th through the 30^th, and for that time we’ll be offering 10% off of ALL special ordered equipment from Schacht Spindle Company! For those of you that are regular Springwater visitors, you know that we don’t offer discounts on large equipment – this is our one exception. It’s on everything that Schacht makes, from table looms to floor looms to their incredibly popular Wolf series looms to their Matchless and Reeves Saxony spinning wheels. You can even take advantage of the sale if you’re not close to us, as for a small additional fee we will be happy to have your purchase shipped directly to your home. Just call us for current pricing or stop by the shop and get more information!

I also JUST stopped by our master dyer’s house yesterday to pick up a brand spankin’ new batch of lace and fingering weight yarns for your summer enjoyment. These are stunningly variegated yarns (see the photo above!); we’ve got a wonderful mix of both multi-color and tone-on-tone yarns, which will work up into beautiful lace and other small-gauge yarn projects. She also sent us a few skeins of fantastic hand-dyed ribbon for those of you that love working with tape and ribbon yarns. Our experience has been that these sell very quickly, so I’d recommend stopping by soon to peruse the new yarns!

Our newsletter and new class schedule is coming out very soon...be on the lookout on our website in the next week, or check your mailbox for your copy in a few weeks. I've seen the class list, and there are dozens upon dozens of great classes for every fiber interest and skill level! I can't wait for you to see what we've got in store for you this fall!

Finally, if you have a LiveJournal account, you can read our blog entries on your friends list there! Simply go to our syndication page while logged in to your account, and click “add this journal to your friends list”, and each time we update you’ll be able to read it there.

Mystery Stole 3 – An Adventure in Lace

What’s got over 6500 members around the world, is free to join, and has everyone knitting lace? Why, it’s Mystery Stole 3, of course!

Melanie, knit designer and hostess of the PinkLemonTwist blog, is in her third year of hosting her lace stole knit along, and this year, it is bigger than ever. With the word out and a few well-known knitters and bloggers signed up, membership in this group exploded in the last week of sign-ups in the end of June.

I figured I’d better see what the fuss was about.

The idea is simple, yet so clever. Melanie has labored and created a pattern for a knitted lace stole. The pattern and theme are kept secret, but she gives hints at the outset to help each knitter make decisions about what yarn (and in this year’s case, also optional beads) to use. Each week over the summer, she gives out one “clue” (so far, each week’s clue has been 50 rows of lace knitting) to knit in consecutive order. At the end of the cumulative weeks, everyone will have a knitted lace stole (and will know what the pattern and theme is!).

Melanie has also set up and is moderating a Yahoo! Group as a way of communicating to over 6500 knitters around the world, distributing the clues, and enabling discussion amongst the knitters who wish to participate. As is continuing to be an prominent feature of the over-all knitting community (in her latest book, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot’s Guide to the Land of Knitting, the Yarn Harlot, who is also a member of MS3, gives a humorous glance into what characterizes this thing called a "knitting community"), the members of this KAL are eager and quick to assist anyone with questions or difficulties.

So, you may be wondering how my Mystery Stole 3 is coming along... I’m consistently a week behind on the clues, but am enjoying knitting every row. While it helps to have a bit of lace knitting knowledge under your belt to participate, there seem to be a lot of new lace knitters in the group – this would be to be a great way to find your lace groove if you have been daunted by trying a large lace project on your own. Just remember one word (ok, two, really): Life Line.

And if you’ve missed out on the fun this summer, plans are already underway for Mystery Stole 4 to take place late next summer.

And so to Bed

The Daughters of the American Revolution Museum is one of those truly magical places for fans of the textile arts. Located steps away from the White House, the museum is one of the best places in the DC area to see an amazing representations of textile history in the US.

Their current exhibition “And So To Bed” is once again taking advantage of their amazing collection. The exhibit features innovations and stylistic changes in the American bedroom from 1750s to the 1920s. Bedroom scenes are complete with the wonderful melding of textiles and furniture. And, examples of bedclothes are seen throughout the exhibit.

The show represents uses of embroidery, weaving, knitting, printed textiles, quilting, cording, and stamped designs. One of the most amazing pieces in the show is a bedspread from the 1750’s made with indigo resist printed cotton. The historic piece is perfectly complimented by reproduction bed hangings. Other not to be missed pieces are a woman bed jacket from the 1860’s made of paisley fabric, and two representations of men’s banyan (men’s bed jacket). And of course, not to be over looked, a hand knitted pair of men’s slippers worn by Thomas Jefferson.

For more information on this exhibit visit the DAR Museum's Exhibit Page.

Hidden Treasure’s at the DAR

If you’ve never ventured into the DAR museum then you have been missing one of D.C.’s greatest secrets. The majority of the museum is filled with 32 period rooms. Each room is sponsored by a different state and represents a piece of the states history. For textile lovers, these are small havens of the grandeur that textiles have played in the America home. My personal favorite is the recently renovated Illinois room, featuring a bedroom filled top to bottom with textiles.

Friday Class & Shop News

It is with great sadness that we say farewell to Springwater staff member, Eric Burnstein. Eric is entering the Peace Corps and will be working in Moldova for the next few years. He leaves a spinning-wheel sized hole in our hearts, and we will miss him dearly!

In class news, the following classes are coming up soon and still have room in them!

• Triaxial Weaving on August 4
• Knitting Camp for ages 9-12 from August 6-August 10 in the afternoons
• Introduction to Kumihimo Braiding on August 7
• Temari Balls on August 11

Please call the shop at 703-549-3634 if you want more information, or check out the newsletter link on our homepage!

Finally, we’ve just gotten a fresh shipment of needles, notions, and Eucalan in the shop! We also have restocked our Pick Up Sticks felted flower kits, and we just got our shipment of the new Autumn 2007 Tahki – Stacy Charles pattern books – so come by and take a look at the new designs and treat yourself to something special!

Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Done Right

Knitting can be infectious. We know that. Take a look at all the various sock clubs, knit-alongs (aka KALs), and trends in what people are knitting. Someone knits something cute, blogs about it, and all of a sudden, you’ve got a whole host of people knitting that object and sharing their progress and problems in this huge online knitting community.

One of the things I have seen around the blogosphere a lot lately, and been infected with myself, is Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket (BJS). Just Google “Baby Surprise Jacket” and you’ll see how many of us are hooked on this ingenious design. You can find her guidelines in both The Opinionated Knitter and Knitting Workshop for this amorphous blob of garter stitch that seems to magically, with only a few well-placed folds, become a handsome little baby cardigan.

I first saw some pictures of it just a few weeks ago, after I had finished the 36 mitered squares for my mitered square baby blanket—I have to admit, I was initially drawn to the BJS because of the use of miters. Immediately, I set to drawing it out and puzzling out how it was constructed. After a little online research, including visiting a site devoted to knitting Elizabeth Zimmerman patterns, http://zimmermaniacs.blogspot.com/, and the BSJ page of KnitWiki, http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/Baby_Surprise_Jacket, I had it sketched out and was committed to making one myself.

I chose a variegated yarn for my own BJS: something purple and turquoise, favorite colors of the mom-to-be for whom I was knitting. It only uses 300–400 yards, so it is easy to find something in a reasonable price range that will work beautifully. Stash yarns would work wonderfully, too, since you can easily make a striped BJS. The knitting is pretty straightforward (all garter stitch), so you have plenty if opportunity to be creative and play with color and texture.

EZ’s directions, while feeling a little like I was blindly being led down a path whose end I was a little unsure of, were clear and concise. You just cast on and go, decreasing where she tells you, increasing where she tells you. It was a little like turning a sock heel for the first time – just follow the directions, and even though they may not make sense at the time, it works out. Your cast-on row becomes the back neck and sleeves, and after a series of well-placed decreases, increases, buttonholes and bind-offs, just sew up the seams on the tops of the sleeves and you are done! I also added a simple row of single crochet around the neck edge to give it a more “finished” look, and cute fishy buttons.

Once I noodled out how I thought it would work on paper as well as the actual knitting up of my own little cardi following her directives, I still continue to be in complete wonderment of how she figured it out in the first place. Genius. I’m already planning my next one for some unsuspecting, unborn baby.


For more inspiration and see who else has knit one of this little surprises up in a flash, check out these popular blogs:

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2005/04/06/whats_wrong_with_my_arse.html
http://www.glampyre.com/2007/07/10/mercurys-on-the-move/
http://www.helloyarn.com/wp/?cat=35
http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/06/baby-surprise-jacket.html

King of Fashion at the MET

If you are able to get to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art before August 8th, make sure to spend some time seeing the Costume Institute’s special exhibition, “Poiret: King of Fashion.” Otherwise, don’t miss the on-line exhibit at http://www.metmuseum.org/special/index.asp?HomePageLink=special_l

The genius of Paul Poiret (1879–1944) comes in many forms, and this exhibition has captured them all. He is credited as being the first designer to free women from the corset only to force them into the hobble skirt. Working in the early twentieth century, Poiret’s successful fashion house set the beginning mark of the modern age in women’s fashion. His collaborations with artists such as, Raoul Dufy and Georges Lepape, helped him to make his mark in the world of fashion and allowed himself and future generations to move into the concept of fashion as art.

As usual, the MET has done an amazing job at showcasing the work of this pivotal designer. In recent years, they have gone the extra step with their costume exhibitions and this show was no exception, as the clothes are seen in their natural habitats. Scenes are created to mimic the famous illustrations found in La Gazette du bon ton, the Parisian magazine that showcased the work of Poiret. The best part of the exhibit, though, is the computer-animated videos that illustrate the exact construction from fabric to finished garment of selected pieces.

Hidden Treasure’s at the MET

The next time you make it to the MET look for the hidden textile treasures in the Byzantine gallery. Underneath the main stairwell of the museum is a strange little gallery of Early Byzantine artifacts from Egypt. These treasures include the most intricate tapestry woven textiles in the museum. You can get close enough to see every thread in these realistic images that most often were used as amulets on adults tunics. To get an on-line sneak of these check out:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/05/afe/hod_90.5.848.htm.

farewell

This is it. My final post. I, your mystery blogger, will unveil myself here and now. Who am I? You know I knit. You know I spin. You know I have done some dying and some weaving. I work in the shop. If you were sneaky, you might have deduced that I am a guy.

I think that might have spoiled it.

Yes, it is I, Eric Burnstein, your Saturday clerk.

As many of you know, I will soon be leaving the DC area, and in doing so, finish my time at Springwater. It is a sad adieu; I have greatly enjoyed my time behind the counter, helping you with your yarn selections and knitting mistakes. But now I leave the blog in capable hands, and Saturdays with whoever is willing to work on the weekends ;-)

I hope you have enjoyed my posts. Our new writers will start later this week, and I would like to extend my welcome to this cyberspace, and wish them luck in their new postings.

-Kryptoknit, i.e. Eric

Love in Bloom

source: http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/548219/14468975/217027365.jpg

Knitting expert Jane Elliot's Love in Bloom pillows are complex, beautiful ways to show your expertise as a knitter. And now, you can get the individual instruction to succeed at this challanging project. On July 21 and 22nd, Ms. Elliot will be giving a workshop in Annandale, VA at the Packard Center (4022 Hummer Road). This is your opportunity to see this knitting star and author of Not Just Plane Jane Knits in action...and get some of the action for yourself as well!

The workshop costs $45 for the two days, payable that day. Reservations should be made with Vita at 703-493-8748 or at miniknits@netzero.net.

Tea time. What does this mean? In July we celebrate our independence from the Isle of Tea.

Long gone are the days of duping earl gray into the Boston Bay. Nowadays, though, we don't get most of our steeped leaves from Albion, but there is another product we seem to crave from those parliamentarian cheddar eaters: Yarn.

This year, for the moth of July, Springwater is celebrating sticking it to the Brits by discounting all of our British yarns by 20%. This means all Rowan, Colinette, and Jaeger Yarns, and Selvedge Magazine are 20% off.

Take that Sir Elton John!

Alternative Fibers, 3rd installment

So far in our discussion of alternative fibers, we have discussed plants. Hemp, Corn and Bamboo are all vegan in nature. But what about us animal-users? Is there anything new out there for us? Of course! Another product by Southwest Trading Company, TOFUtsies contains the exciting fiber CHITIN. No, its not tofu. I know tofu is vegan. Chitin its actually produced from shrimp and crab shells. Yes, now you can wear seafood (and note: this is not the same as see-food as some of you familiar with small children may know.)

Source: http://extravayarnza.typepad.com/extravayarnza/images/img_8716.jpg

Chitin makes an ideal fiber for sock yarn, for several reasons: one is its soft, strong feel. Besides this, though, it is naturally antibacterial. It will help your feet to not itch, stink, and generally be feet. This product comes in some splendid patterned colors as well, just perfect for some summer socks. And to top it all, it is a pleasure to touch and knit.

DISCLAIMER: The writer of this blog does not condone the rubbing of sea creatures on one’s feet for medicinal purposes. The Chitin in TOFUtsies works just fine thank you

Alternative Fibers, 2nd Installment

Its everywhere. Its on your table, its in your soft drinks, its in your fuel, and now you can wear it. It is corn. Yes, corn. Southwest Trading Company’s A-MAIZEing yarn now brings you this new fiber to drape over your shoulders, and drape it does! This ribbon-esque yarn falls loosely and coolly, making it perfect for a summer tank or a light wrap.



But how? What part of the corn, you might ask, is in this product? Well, its not the husks, as many might believe, nor is it the stringy bits between the husks and the ear. Corn fiber is made from a mash of the corn starch which is then pulled into long strands which are then blended, plied, or organized however the manufacturer sees fit. The resulting product has a surprising amount of body and strength, while maintaining a lightweight feel.

The next time you stop by Springwater, come check out this new product, and support your national corn growers ;-) You too will be A-MAIZE-d.

Fiber Camp! Knitting Camp!

Say you're 7,8,9,10,11 or 12 years old. Say you want something to do for a week or two in the summer. Say you're a parent looking for something to occupy a kid for a week or two in the summer. You're crafty? You like doing things with your hands? How about Fiber Camp?

We are offering two different camps this summer. Knitting camp, for ages 9-12 will meet in the afternoons (12:30-3:00) and focus on teaching basic knitting techniques. Each camper will knit a sock puppet during the week-long session. Fiber camp, for ages 7-11, will meet in the morning, and give the campers exposure to a variety of fiber arts, from weaving to knitting to spinning and dying.

Both camps are offered in week-long sessions. The first session is June 25-29, the second is July 30-August 3, and the last is August 6-10. They both cost $155 per session, with a materials fee of $15 for knitting camp, or $10 for fiber camp.

The picture above is Samantha Lee, a twice veteran of the camp, with a skein of her own hand-dyed yarn!

For details on registration and times, please consult the listings here:

http://springwaterfiber.org/html/kid.html

Stitch 'n Pitch

So you like sports. And you like knitting. There are more of you out there than you know. There are hockey players who knit in the time-out box. There are rowers who make sweaters. And now, there is Stitch ‘n Pitch. For everyone who thought sharp, pointy sticks and flying baseballs were a GREAT combination, this is your event! For everyone who thought baseball was deathly boring except for a few seconds of excitement every 30-40 minutes, this will give you something to do while you wait.

Along with other organizations, Springwater will be selling tickets to this year’s Stitch ‘n Pitch, which is to be May 14, at RFK stadium. Put on by the National Needle Arts Association, this event will cost $10 per ticket, and that will get you admission plus the kinds of goodies you expect from a day at the ballpark.

Come on down, eat a hot dog, knit a shawl and catch a fly ball. Great fun will be had by all.

The Alternative Fiber Series, Part 1: Hemp

Yes, hemp. No, not like that.

More like this:

Source: http://www.ingenkonst.se/images/hemp_bls.jpg

As summer approaches, we tend to start to think cottons. Lighter weight and cooler than wool, it is clearly the year-round knitter’s fiber of choice. But why should we limit ourselves? Hemp provides many of the same perks as cotton, and often beats it at its own game.

Argument 1: hemp is softer than cotton. Don’t be fooled. You may not feel it right off the bat, as it takes a while for this fiber to loosen, but anyone who has worn this stuff for more than a day will tell you it simply feels amazing.

Argument 2: hemp is stronger than cotton. Actually, it is one of the strongest plant fibers anywhere. You would be hard pressed to accidentally break or fray this stuff.

Argument 3: It is better for the environment. Okay, so this is a bit hippie-dippie, but cotton growing is a large enterprise that takes up a lot of land and resources. Hemp, on the other hand, is produced in smaller quantities, and grows like, well, weeds.

Argument 4: The stuff we carry at Springwater (shown above) is luscious, Elsabeth Lavold yarn. Her products in general are of high and consistent quality.

If you’re not convinced, come try it for yourself. See what you think. And I promise, it is totally legal.

double your discount!

The April special at Springwater is double the normal 10% discount on items purchased by Springwater members. This means for this month, all members get 20% off all their supply purchases!

This would be a great time to become a member, as the cost would pay for itself in no time at all. For $45, you become a member (and supporter!) of Springwater and its academic, community and artistic programs, and in doing so, gain the benifits of discounted classes, the discount on supplies and member's only events and functions.

As a non-profit, Springwater depends on support from its community to stay effective and open. Please consider membership for this reason, and for your own benifit.

stay kool this summer

Its coming. The weather is getting warmer. The grass is getting greener. The cherry blossoms are coming out.

And it is time, as you well know, for that wonderful pseudo-beverage, Kool-aid. This year, instead of drinking this freakishly sweet liquid, why not do something healthier and use it to dye fiber?

Source: http://www.knitty.com/issuefall02/images/koolaid1.jpg

I am not going to explain the process of how to use kool-aid to dye fiber. There are plenty of good articles on that. (see Knitty: http://www.knitty.com/issuefall02/FEATdyedwool.html for an exellent one) I will highlight, though, that Kool-aid is an exellent way to begin an exploration of fiber dying in a food-safe and non-toxic manner (as much as we can call kool-aid nontoxic!)

What I want to highlight here, though, is some factors you can keep in mind that will give you new directions for creativity and design.

The first thing I would like to talk aobut is _when_ you dye your fiber. You can do this at any point from raw wool (I would recommend making sure it is well-washed first) to the final garnment or product. At each point you will be able to control different aspects of the final presentation. For example, dying raw fiber will give you great opportunities to blend, ply, and variegate your color choices during your spinning. Once spun, you can more easly control chunks of color and repitions. In the final garnment, you can pour your dye in partiuclar patterns to create swirls, lines or spots.

Another thing to keep in mind with Kool-aid is the control you have over your colors. This may take a significant amount of experimentation, but the colors are infinately blenable, so go wild with combinations. Moreover, you can actually control intensity through the amount of kool-aid you use. (NOTE: the intensity is based on the ratio of kool-aid to fiber, NOT the amount of water used.)

A third, and for today final, use of kool-aid is for overdying. Got some yarn you don't like? Want to dull out that eye-stinging yellow? Drop your yarn in a pot, and see what you can do! It is a good idea to consult your color wheel before adding anything to preexisting dyes, as certain colors will combine better than others. A great introduction to this can be found in the Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook. (See: http://www.interweave.com/knit/books/twisted.asp)

So go out and have fun! Don't hesitate to incorporating dying into your fiberwork. After all, Spring is about trying new things.

Sushi…in a wallet!

Source: http://www.luxuryweb.com/assets/images/sushi.jpg

I love wasabi. I love fish eggs. I love raw eel. And I love to knit. What is there in the world that could combine all of these desires?



Now there is an answer, and it’s the FELTED SUSHI WALLET. Yes. Felted. Yes. Wallet. Yes. Sushi. Pick Up Sticks Company has made an amazing little kit to satisfy the raw fish-heads in us all. Two different color palate options means you can carry your cash in style, and when you want a tasty snack? Well, I wouldn’t recommend eating this sushi. But it might hold the money you need to buy your own real sushi.


Check it out: it even comes in an amazing sushi take-out style container, and for its price, you might just have to get a few.


p.s. Check out the zipper. It looks like a soy sauce packet.

Dale of Norway

Source: http://www.knitwitts.com/category_images/stork_skein_350.jpg

Tried and tested, this yarn is great for those kids in your life. It washes. And washes. And washes. Yet it is quite a nice variety of colors, and the softness can’t be beat. On top of all those great reasons to use Dale yarns, they are 20% off this month at Springwater. So knit for the babies in your life. Don’t have any babies? Make some! Then knit for them. That’s what they’re there for anyway.

Did someone say “Fiber Market?”

Springwater is about to step into a new era by hosting its first market of finished fiber products. Come by Sunday, March 11 to sample the wears of various associate members. (PSST: Associate members! This means you should bring in items to sell!)


The theme for the event will be women’s accessories, in celebration of National Women’s Month. There will, however, be a plethora of other items for sale, depending on what is submitted. (This is up to YOU associate members!)


The event will culminate in a prize for Best in Show (after, of course, the swimsuit competition and having your coats luster and grooming judged) for one outstanding contributor.


Submissions by associates will be accepted the previous day, Saturday March 10, from 10-4:30. Proceeds will go to the artists, with a 10% donation at purchase to Springwater. This is an excellent way to support your local fiber artists.

red is the word

You may love valentine's day. You may hate valentine's day. It really doesn't matter. In either case, our montly sale for February recognizes this most smoopy of holidays with a sale on items in the store that are RED! Just think of all the amazing RED stuff you can make for cheap, like this RED iPod cozy:
Source: http://mishami.image.pbase.com/u27/caveteen/large/16473334.DSCN2003.jpg

Or these fantastic RED knit shorts:
Source: http://s7ondemand1.scene7.com/is/image/Gymboree/140009987?$240x305$

You have to look out, though. The items on sale are those with the heart-shaped stickers. See how many you can find. So come by, buy RED, and cheer up your winter with a little color, for V-day, or just for you.

Arctic Breeze

Source: http://www.rachelbeth.net/portfolio/images/sweater2.jpg

Winter finally hit the Mid-Atlantic. It is chilly. Wrist-warmers and lacy scarves no longer cut it. So what do you do?

You knit for warmth.

So what does this mean? Most commonly-conceived of knitting projects are made to keep us warm. While those of us in the know realize that your needles can produce a cool, airy summer tank top, most of the world immediately turns to hats, scarves, mittens and bulky sweaters. And for a moment, so shall we.

There are many ways to warm up your knitting. Lets look at a few of them now, shall we?

1. Choice of fiber. With some exceptions, animal fibers will be warmer than plant or synthetic. Take a look at the source animal for your fiber. Where does it come from? What is the climate. Sheep come from cool, damp climates. Alpaca, however, come from high in the mountains. Their fiber is warmer by weight. Qiviut, an increadibly warm fiber by weight comes from the arctic, definitely a good bet for thermal retention as long as you can swing the tab!

2. Gauge. Yes, it comes up again. This seems kind of obvious, but the tigher your gauge, the denser your fabric. This does not always mean the warmer, though. Sometimes loser gauges can mean there is more space for air to trap, creating an insulating layer. But it won't block the wind as well as bulky yarn on size 4s!

3. Stitch patterns. Stockinette is one layer of knit. Stick in a cable, and it wraps the stockinette around itself, creating pockets for air to become trapped, and just more general layers between you and the world. Ribbing is the same to a lesser degree. But think of some of the color knitting techniques. Fair isle (or any stranded knitting) has whole extra strands of yarn behind each stitch! Double knitting creates a whole second layer of fabric! These techniques do more than just keep your warm, ladies and germs. Those northern knitters knew what they were doing. If you want to know how to stay warm, ask a Norwegian.

4. Last, but certainly not least, think about what you are covering. The head is the most important part to insulate, as it is where we lose most of our body heat. Secondly, the neck, as it is near our cores. The items we use on these areas are essential to our overall comfort, and we should not skimp on warm, dense material. Gloves and socks, while nice, come in second, as long as our toes and figers won't freeze off!

So now you know. Everyone go out right now, buy some alpaca and create some nice, dense hats and scarves. You know you want it.

-Cryptoknit

Foodball Yarn!

This Sunday is a national celebration of competition known as the Superbowl. It is the biggest day in professional football, and the biggest day in yarn shopping, at least at Springwater.

The store will open at 7 AM on February 4 when sale items will be 60% off. At 8 they go to 50%, and at 9 they become 40% and stay there. What items, you ask? Why, anything any fiber artist could ever want! There will be a wide variety of yarns for knitting and weaving, rovings, and even equipment like a knitting machine! Certain of our regular stock will also be on sale. Here are some pictures for teasers:

review: Cascade Ecowool

Cascade ecowool is a unique product. Simple in form and style, it offers an alternative to the variety of designer options available to the modern knitter. Made from100% Peruvian wool, this yarn is not dyed, nor is it processed. It is simply a cleaned, spun, two-ply. For what it is, though, this yarn comes in an astounding array of natural colors— everything from a deep chocolate to off-white— and knits with a drape and evenness that is to be envied by much of its fancier competition. For a no-frills unprocessed wool, it is also surprisingly soft and comfortable on the skin.

Source: http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-eco.asp

Probably the best part about ecowool, though, is the value. Each skein of this product holds over 400 yards of yarn, bulky weight. This makes it ideal for large projects, such as loose sweaters and blankets. And if you don’t like the colors? Well, just pull out your kool-aid packets.
Source: http://www.helloyarn.com/ecowool.jpg

A different approach to fiber

A stormy Sunday afternoon. A fairly quiet afternoon at the yarn shop. A heated competition. Two artists go head to head with one goal: make bags out of a single square of fiber. One felts, the other chooses fabric. One goes for simple shapes: squares, diamonds. The other makes an item ever-popular in women’s wear from evening wear to a business engagement: a pig purse.

The two artists are Randy Scheessele and Sylvia Saborio, both of whom use their own styles and techniques to create variations on this single item. Each purse must be made out of a single square of fabric.

These two artists show us infinite possibilities from a single source, and incorporation of various art forms, including origami, felting, and sewing into manipulation of fibers. So when thinking of your next project, don’t just look at a pattern, but think about it, and figure out how you can modify that hat, sweater, bag, sock or purse to be a unique piece of art.

Vote for your favorite purse by responding to this post!

color

At Springwater, it is an inevitable question that comes up with each customer: what to do about color. It is an essential element to every piece of fiber design, and a beast that must be tackled by even the most beginner knitter, crocheter, weaver, felter or spinner.

At times, I dread the color question. When someone wants help with their baby blanket, I struggle to be of help, for not only am I unfamiliar with the baby situation having never had one and no friends so far who have, but I am also not a fan of blue-for-boys pink-for-girls, or pastels in general for that matter.

I have learned a great deal about color from my time working with fiber. And one thing that I have noticed, which I would like to pass on to you my dear readers, is that the best way to figure out what matches and what doesn’t is to look outside of yourself, and also outside of your craft. As a knitter, the best color lessons I have ever received were from learning to weave and spin. This is because these crafts force you to think of color differently.

In Spinning you work with pure color. Whether your initial product is an undyed fleece or a colorful piece of roving, all that you have in front of you, as Sylvia DeMar has repeated to me on several occasions, is potential. While spinning you focus on the color, and meditate on it, watching how it moves into its spun form, and how it pairs with what is around it. Spinners must understand if only intuitively how certain colors interact with each other to lighten or darken the overall affect of their yarns.

Weaving, on the other hand, moves the color to another level. Unlike knitting, shape is less of an issue on a loom, since (with some exceptions) your product is going to be a rectangle. So you think about color. You think about not only color changes, though, but how colors will mix, as you combine your warp and weft, you have to be cognizant of contrast or else your design will get lost. Plaid is an excellent way to work on this. As the various strips overlap, you see how the colors play with each other, and compliment or contrast their tones and values.

Knitters: for you color is something that more likely than not is going to be worn. Sure, you are concerned with contrast and value, but your primary interest in how it will look on you or whomever you are knitting for. I know, not all knit products are worn, but this is the primary use of the craft. You get, though, what works with your body, or on a body, walking down the street, or on your feet.

Each craft has something to learn from the others here. Knitters: pick up a spindle (you should do this anyway—every knitter should at least know how to spin!) Weavers: learn to purl, and Spinners: warp yourself a scarf. You never know what might you might learn from it!

January is a Card

For the month of January, that middle-month, that inter-holiday no-fun winter take-down-the-Christmas-tree but its still cold out month, we though we’d get ready for the next holiday coming up, and provide an evening for the design and construction of valentine’s day cards. We invite our members and their families to come by the shop on January 17 from 7-9, to get crafty and learn new techniques to brighten those depths of the winter with bits of joy for those around you. For the kids we will be demonstrating many techniques including band weaving, spinning and felting, so remember to bring the family!

Spectrum

As many of you know, as part of our quest to provide high quality unique products, Springwater provides a series of house-dyed yarns and rovings under the title of Spectrum. This line includes chunky bouclees, wool mohair blends, wool silk blends and wool tencil blends, as well as domestic merino roving.

The designs for these beautiful blends are made by our dyemaster, Sue Wroton. Her style trademarks the Spectrum brands with wonderful variegation. But Sue needs your help! Over several days in January and February, she will be holding dye days, during which she will be leading groups of volunteers in the dying process. At no cost, you can sign up for these events and have a hand in creating Spectrum and learn about dying and color. The upcoming dye days are Sunday, January 21, Monday, January 22, Saturday, March 17, and Saturday, April 7. These are all-day events, and they do fill up, so if you want to dye, be sure to sign up!

January Sale!

For the month of January, all Manos of Uruguay and Vittadine yarns in the store are 20% off. Please check here for our monthly promotions!

around the world with yarn

The year turns as the ball drops, and the old becomes the new. We welcome 2007, and as we hang our new calendars displaying pictures of yarn, sheep, alpacas or spinning wheels, we must also be reminded of the new slew of courses at Springwater!

Winter term brings an international flavor Springwater, with classes by visiting artists from all over the globe. Chapuchi Ahiagble will be demonstrating and lecturing on kente strip weaving, which is associated worldwide with his native Ghana. Deb McLintock will be lecturing on her recent trip through the fiber workshops of Thailand and Cambodia. In another workshop, she will focus on the female fiber artisans and the techniques they have developed in making this unique form of textiles. Beth Brown Reinsel’s workshop will look at how Estonian knitting has integrated and changed along with the culture of this rapidly modernizing Baltic country. In Sweedish Twined Knitting, Beth will show us how the Sweedes use two strands to created particularly warm socks.

Returning for another year, Alexander Gallardo Pinco will be with us for another weekend, demonstrating and teaching his craft of Preuvian weaving. In a series of lectures and workshops, he will be illuminating the process of natural dying and backstrap weaving that creates textiles of incredible beauty and variety.

So no matter whether you’re looking to weave, dye or knit, we have your armchair textile travels covered. But remember! Classes fill up, so if anything looks good, sign up now.

A drop spindle is something quite personal. More than needles, more than hooks, for some even more than a loom, the quality of a spindle is measured against the individual user. Of course, it must have good balance and not inclined to fall apart, but these are simply the basics. Two seemingly identical spindles will feel worlds different in a spinner’s hands. When you buy a spindle, you hold it, you cradle it, you try it out. Why would you settle for something less than ideal?

Clearly, this is a unique product. One of the oldest tools in human existence, no textile was made without the use of a drop spindle through most of human history. In ancient Greek and Roman cosmologies, a spindle created the substance of time itself. So why would you buy a spindle that was not special in its own right?

In the spirit of these amazing devices, Springwater now carries two local artists’ handmade spindles. Each crafted with unique care and beauty, they are the ideal addition to the old spinner’s collection, or a great introduction to the new fluffers among us. Jayme Stahl of Fairfax makes a chunky spindle that is ideal for the beginner, but also useful for the veteran who wants a slower whirl. Mack Ferrebee of Falls Church uses exotic woods and ornate designs to create more lightweight, fast whirls for the sportier spinners among us. We are quite lucky to have access to these artists in our area!

We also have a selection of Ashford student and lightweight spindles, so there is something for everyone’s budget. Spindle spinning is a wonderful way to take your first steps into creating your own yarns.

An extra tag: if you want to become a spinner, Sylvia DeMar is offering her course in Drop Spindle on January 15.