Do you like to do wool work? Or Maybe you would like to learn how
to do wool work. Here is your chance to participate in this
free monthly block program. On the 2nd Friday of each month, until the end of the year you can download the pattern.
Please note you have 30 days to "click & print" out each pattern before the next month's block is released! After that 30 days, it will only be available to purchase as a pattern/kit. Be sure to check back often and print off your patterns!!!! Buttermilk Basin also has kits & threads available! Enjoy the world of wool stitching!
Here is the first pattern--and you're off to a good start!
I don't usually subscribe to these magazines, but I have a couple
of subscriptions so I can send the paper version to my 96 yr. old
mother, who doesn't have much entertainment but
watching television and reading magazines.
I thumbed through the issues and this one peeked my interest--
what? someone is bringing indigo back to farmers. As a person who
worked as Education Curator on an Louisiana indigo plantation, this
article came to life for me.
Indigo is different from all other natural dyes (apart from shellfish purple)in that it needs no mordant (a substance used to set dyes on fabrics); it is insoluble and is deposited on the fibers as microscopic particles without needing to form a chemical bond with them. The chemical properties of indigo dye remained baffling well into the 19th century. It was so mysterious and challenging to work with that, in many cultures, folklore arose around the dyeing process. In Bhutan, pregnant women were not allowed near the vat in case the unborn baby stole the blues, and women in Morocco believed the only way to deal with a particularly challenging vat was to start telling outrageous lies. All this trouble was worth the final result. Once dyed, indigo is so colorfast that it can last for centuries or even millennia.
The process from turning the leaf form into this powdery blue magical dye was laborious.
Slaves spent their time walking through the blue sludge every day turning their hands, feet and
every body part that touched the plant, blue. Even today when you work with indigo,
you will come away with blue hands. It is always like a magic act when you
use indigo vat to dye--
But, this is the only natural dye that will give you BLUE!
Here we have an industrious company bringing farmers together for
this venture.
They even sell their dyes to independent dyers like me.
You like that pair of jeans you wear, then you can thank
Are you feeling blue? Down in the dumps? Stuck in a funk?
Could this be your Blue Monday?
The holidays are over, New Year’s resolutions have been broken, and you can’t seem to shake your cold. Tired and overwhelmed, or just downright depressed? You're not alone. Blue Monday — typically the third Monday of the new year — is called the most depressing day on the calendar.
Started as part of a publicity campaign by Sky Travel, this notable date was first published in a press release by psychologist Dr. Cliff Arnall, who at the time worked at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, part of Cardiff University in Wales. Arnall devised a literal mathematical formula to arrive at the Blue Monday theory. It factors in weather, debt and time since Christmas, timing of New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels, and the urgent feeling that you need to take action. It also reflects that Monday is regarded as the worst day of the week with many dreading the prospect of returning to work.
But the third Monday in January may be redeemed in some eyes. The Guardian calls Arnall's mathematical formula "arguably hokey." As The Guardian reports, "This dubious bit of math was used to give academic weight to a press release put out by Sky Travel to encourage people to cheer themselves up with a holiday."
How to combat the blues on Blue Monday? Arnall advises via the Daily Mail: people can "use the day as a springboard for a higher quality life. For example keeping Christmas spending to a strict budget next year will make you less depressed in the last week of January."
Conversely, the happiest day of the year falls around midsummer. On the upside? There are some Blue Monday enthusiasts who believe it actually falls on the Monday of the last full week in January — which would mean we'd celebrate it next week. So now you have time to prepare.
Each month in 2017 you'll get a pieced or applique pattern for a Civil War reproduction sampler inspired by several patriotic quilts from the time.
Barbara Brackman has been reading the diary of Caroline Cowles Richards who worked on many quilts in Canandaigua, New York, in the 1850s and '60s. She wrote about them in her diary, which also gives us insight into life for fortunate girls in the mid-19th century.
We'll go to upstate New York for our time travel in a Yankee Diary. Sarah and Carrie begin the War in parallel fashion, a little bit spoiled, a little bit self-absorbed. Both matured under very different circumstances.
the last Wednesday of January,
which is January 25, 2017---to see the first block.
Bobbin Boy's website has such insight into the world of spinning. Maybe, you are a new spinner and just got a wheel for a gift or maybe you are experienced and need some assistance with your wheel's problems. This is where you venture for any spinning information. Check it out!
Happy treadling!
Here we are--Friday, 13th of the month!! How superstitious are you?
If you are worried about what's in store this time, then you're not alone. Psychologists have even come up with a word for how you're feeling – paraskavedekatriaphobia, or fear of Friday the 13th.
One option is to stay tucked up in bed all day to avoid any potential Friday the 13th bad luck that may come your way, or alternatively, you could ignore the superstitious chatter and embrace it. The number 13 has been considered unlucky for many years, even before Christ. The number 12 is historically considered the number of completeness, while its older cousin, 13, has been seen as an outlier.
There are 12 months of the year, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 hours of the clock, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 Descendants of Muhammad Imams, among many incidences of the pattern historically.
In many Western countries tall buildings are missing the 13th floor. In China the fourth floor and in some cases all floors with the number four are left out of Chinese buildings.
Houses often do not have a number 13, and many hotels, including the Carlton in London, miss out a thirteenth floor.
It is considered very unlucky for thirteen people to dine together, and the first to rise will reach serious misfortune – a superstition upheld by US President Roosevelt. He also refused to travel on Friday the 13th.In Somerset, it is said that whoever turns a bed on a Friday turns ships at sea. In Cumbria, babies born on a Friday were laid on the family Bible.In some areas, calling a doctor for the first time on a Friday is a certain omen of death. Cutting hair and nails on a Friday is a certain path to misfortune, and many couples will refrain from marrying on a Friday.
Dr Caroline Watt of the University of Edinburgh says that it is the belief in the Friday 13th superstition that could, in fact, prove the greatest risk to the average person: “If people believe in the superstition of Friday the 13th then they believe they are in greater danger on that day.
"As a result they may be more anxious and distracted and this could lead to accidents. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
“It is like telling someone they are cursed. If they believe they are then they will worry, their blood pressure will go up and they put themselves at risk.”
To us weavers, we think that the spider is the first true weaver of fabric.
A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web, or cobweb (from the archaic word coppe, meaning "spider") is a device created by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets, generally meant to catch its prey. Spider webs for humans Uses of spider webs Helpful spiders
Okay, so I'm just a little late settling into this challenge, but this project can begin any week of the year.....................do you love to take photos but don't always have the perfect subject?
ROC day is sometimes called “St. Distaff’s Day”. Of course, there is no such
saint! It is celebrated on January 7th, the “first free day after Twelve-Eve Christmas”,
which was a holiday of transition from Christmas revelries to the
round of everyday work. It is also called “Rock” day, as the distaff was
sometimes referred to as a rock.
Traditionally, in old England, women did not spin during the twelve days of
Christmas. ROC day or St. Distaff’s day, was their day to get back to work,
and they certainly made the most of it! They were not without troubles
during this time, because it was tradition that the plowmen thought it sport to
set fire to the flax and tow.
The women kept buckets of water always ready to
put out the fires. It was a game of sorts, with many young men being
“drenched” to the bones! Also the spinners went back
to work a day ahead of the weavers, so that they could
have plenty of yarn for the weavers. It was their
special day.
THE SPINSTER
In olden times, the fleece which was brought home in
the summer was spun into clothing by the female part
of each family during the winter.
It was a well known
axiom that NO young woman was fit to be a wife until
she had spun for herself a set of body, table, and bed
linens. Hence the maiden was termed a spinner or
spinster, and the married woman was referred to as a wife or as “one who has
been a spinner” even though she carried on these traditions. Interestingly
enough, is the term wife, which comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “wif”
which is from the verb “wyfan” or “wefan” which means “to weave”!
Epiphany is also when some Churches remember when Jesus was Baptised, when he was about 30, and started to teach people about God. Epiphany means 'revelation' and both the visit of the Wise Men and his Baptism are important times when Jesus was 'revealed' to be very important.
Some Churches celebrate use Epiphany to celebrate and remember both the visit of the Wise Men and Jesus's Baptism!
Epiphany is mainly celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. It's a big and important festival in Spain, where it's also known as 'The festival of the three Magic Kings' - 'Fiesta de Los tres Reyes Mages', and is when Spanish and some other Catholic children receive their presents - as they are delivered by the Three Kings!
In Spain on Epiphany morning you might go to the local bakers and buy a special cake/pastry called a 'Roscón' (meaning a ring shaped roll). They are normally filled with cream or chocolate and is decorated with a paper crown. These are normally a figure of a king (if you find that you can wear the crown) and a dried bean (if you find that you're meant to pay for the cake!). In Catalonia it's known as a Tortell or Gâteau des Rois and is stuffed with marzipan.
In France you might eat a 'Galette des Rois', a type of flat almond cake. It has a toy crown cooked inside it and is decorated on top with a gold paper crown.
There are similar traditions in Mexico where Epiphany is known as 'El Dia de los Reyes' (the day of The Three Kings). It's traditional to eat a special cake called 'Rosca de Reyes' (Three Kings Cake). A figure of Baby Jesus is hidden inside the cake. Whoever has the baby Jesus in their piece of cake is the 'Godparent' of Jesus for that year.
In Italy, some children also get their presents on Epiphany. But they believe that an old lady called 'Befana' brings them. Children put stockings up by the fireplace for Befana to fill.
In Austria, at Epiphany, some people write a special sign in chalk over their front door. It's a reminder of the Wise Men that visited the baby Jesus. It's made from the year split in two with initials of the names that are sometimes given to 'the three wise men', Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, in the middle. So 2014 would be: 20*C*M*B*14. The sign is meant to protect the house for the coming year. Some parts of Germany also have the tradition of marking over doors. The 'Four Hills' Ski Jumping Tournament also finishes on 6th January in Bischofshofen, Austria.
In Ireland, Epiphany is also called 'Nollaig na mBean' or Women's Christmas. Traditionally the women get the day off and men do the housework and cooking! It is becoming more popular and many Irish women now get together on the Sunday nearest Epiphany and have tea and cakes!
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (which celebrates Christmas on 7th January), twelve days after Christmas, on 19th January, the three day celebration of Ethiopians Timkat starts. This celebrates Jesus's baptism.
Epiphany Eve (also known as Twelfth Night) marks the end of the traditional Christmas celebrations and is the time when you were meant to take Christmas decorations down - although some people leave them up until Candlemas.
Black Fashion Designers is an exhibition that examines the impact of African American and African designers on the fashion industry. It will be on display in the Fashion & Textile History Gallery at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City from December 6, 2016 through May 13, 2017.
Black fashion designers began to gain recognition during the late 1940s, even while still segregated within the fashion industry. A section of the exhibition devoted to black designers breaking into the industry features work by New York-based Zelda Wynn Valdes and Ann Lowe, who created custom-made gowns for society women and celebrities. They represent the transition from nineteenth-century dressmaking traditions that encompassed countless, unnamed black dressmakers, to the modern conception of a fashion designer. Designers such as Arthur McGee, Wesley Tann, and Jon Weston worked for New York manufacturers before establishing their own businesses. For example, Weston, an FIT alumnus, started his ready-to-wear company in the mid-1960s, stating, “I’d gone as far as I could go on Seventh Avenue; it wasn’t growing with me.”
It's the new year--a time to begin those new UFOs! Yes, I know, when I begin a project, I'm just sure that it will not end up in my UFO pile for another year. This Year it will be different--I say to myself! I resolve---oh, I hate that word! But, I PLAN to take at least one UFO out of the box to finish--yes, I said FINISH! before I begin another UFO! It's a definite challenge to just reach in the box and pull out an unfinished object--don't look! Just reach in and do it! Okay, so it's not one you REALLY want to do now--but, it needs to be finished sometime!. I know there is a 'game' you can play with yourself, especially on knitting UFO's--place the project with needed yarns in a plain paper bag; staple it shut! and pile into a box! Gee whiz--so many--but, the next time you want something to knit--reach into the box and pull out one of these bags! You can't look in the bag--it's stapled, right?? It's not so easy with quilting UFOs--okay, here we go--first up--to finish one of those Christmas hangings I didn't do before Christmas 2016--so close to being finished, of course.
This is one of those Christmas panels that has been 'aging' forever! Luckily, I did copy off some instructions--thank goodness!
Okay, it will be ready for Christmas 2017!
Finished!! just need to cut the binding and select a backing and off to the
![The Adoration of the Magi by Giotto [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adoration_assisi.jpg){kind=link}