In today’s episode, it’s time to catch up on the knitted projects. Plus, an essay by British writer and Druid, Nimue Brown. Shownotes: News & Noteworthy: -contest draw (yarn or spinning fibre) winner - Jennifer, Naamah13. For “On and Off the Needles”: “Off” Projects only today: Irish Coffee, by Thea Colman Yarn: Madelinetosh Chunky, 100% SW merino, aran weight, colourway “Rambler”. Telemark Pullover, by Erika Flory Yarn: Gaia’s Colours, Pales Twisty DK, colourway “Azur-Ava”. Rae scarf, by Jane Richmond Yarn: Purple Label MCN fingering by Tanis Fiber Arts, in the “Autumn Sun” colourway (September 2011 sock club yarn). Diagonal Lace socks, by Wendy Johnson Yarn: Skinny Bugga, 80/10/10 true fingering, by Sanguine Gryphon, in muted rainbow colourway “Frog-legged Leaf Beetle”. Sedum cardigan, by Jane Richmond Yarn: Bernat Roving (single-ply bulky, 80% acrylic/20% wool) in “putty” colourway. A Test knit unnamed cardigan by Carol Feller, to be released next year. Made the one-year size Yarn: Berocco Vintage Chunky in a pale bright green. Ameliorate fingerless mitts, by Hunter Hammersen Yarn: Gaia’s Colours Fibre Arts, Silkie Sock in the colourway “Lolita”. Hacky Sack Hoodie, by Stef Pulford from the Son of Stitch n’ Bitch book Yarn: Cascade Eco Wool, deep charcoal gray, 100% wool. Color Affection, by Vera Valimaki Yarn: Fiberphile yarns, MCN luxe sock, 375yards/343metres, in “Stardust” and “Honey Amber”, and Earthly Hues Seedlings sock yarn (MCN), 375yards/343metres) in “Sunshine”. Song - Sora, “Heartwood” The Pagan Corner: Nimue Brown’s essay - “Ancestors of Yarn” "I’m not sure when humans started spinning wool from fleece, but it goes back a long way into our history as a species, I assume to our first settling as farmers rather than being nomadic hunter gatherers. Yarn has played a significant part of life since then, as clothing and bedding, decoration, comfort, and art form. It’s also traditionally a very female activity, in the western world, although I believe in South America knitting is one of those hard core macho things that men get together to do. Which goes to show that like most gender things it actually has more to do with culture than physicality. Our female ancestors then, for most of human history, were involved with yarn. A woman might be buried with her distaff even. Spinning, weaving, making and mending are traditional women’s work. The methods we have, from the spindle and spinning wheels to knitting and crochet also connect us to the people who invented, developed and perfected them. Like so many of our ancestors, the yarn innovators are largely unknown, and there were probably a great many of them. Every woman who passes down this skill to a girl, is part of a huge web of weaving tradition. I learned knitting from my mother, crotchet from the mother of a boyfriend, spinning from several friends, although I’m not very good at it! I learned naalbinding (which might not be how you spell it!) to make traditional Viking socks, which take forever but are stunningly substantial. The wool work doesn’t come alone though. Alongside it come the tales of other knitters and crafters, family myths and anecdotes. While the hands are busy, the mind has plenty of room to wander. I find wool work incredibly soothing. If I’m rattled, my mind in chaos and my body weary, then to sit down with wool is one of the best therapies. The rhythm of it is innately soothing. Watching small pieces of creativity form between my fingers is affirming, settling. The stories and inspiration of other wool workers are very much with me, and I feel part of something much bigger than I am. There’s a power in weaving, knitting, spinning – the power to take the raw materials of nature and fashion them into something essential for life in a cold climate. Wool for our ancestors must have contributed to survival, a vital part of culture that made human
