NEW AND UPDATED
Elegant Yarns Kaleidoscope
100% Wool
174 yds
4.5 sts = 1"
US 6-8
Great yarn for felting.
I am knitting the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf on a US 7.
Here is the pattern.
We are loving this yarn. One of the colorways is already sold out.
If you have a Ravelry account, go here to see what else others have done with this yarn.
Punta Lava
For those of you who want to be able to machine wash and dry their items, this is the yarn. It feels soft and if you didn't know better, you would think it was 100% wool.
Uruguana natural spun
Solid and Space dyed
30%
wool/70%
acrylic
230 yrs./hank
US 8
4 st=1"
Machine wash and dry; low heat and gentle dryer.
Solid and Space dyed
Hand Painted
Northern Worsted
We have new colors in the worsted, some of them are tweeds! I have to admit that I love tweedy yarn.
Marble Chunky
Stocked up on more of this wonderful yarn, but some colors are still on back order.
Hiya Hiya Project Bags
Cute bags to carry your WIP. Or even to use as a purse.
Ja Ja Ja Purses
And we could not resist adding purses from Ja Ja Ja. Each one is unique - made from new, reclaimed, and recycled materials. I am definitely in the carry all mode this season.
Interweave Knits Weekend
Great issue. Lots of projects for everyone.
Made in Brooklyn
Jared Flood's pattern book is here. Sweaters, hats, shawls, mittens, and a vest. Once again, Jared is amazing.
Baskets
We have over 60 baskets, with various styles and colors. They are woven, out of elephant grass, in Ghana by a women's cooperative. Each basket is a one of a kind.
Following is information I took from this site:
RAW MATERIALS USED
THE STRAW
The
straw is the main raw material used. It is obtained from a tropical
grass locally known as elephant grass, with "veta vera" grass being the
technical name. The grass grows along the banks of rivers, streams and
swampy areas. The straw is not simply cut from the grass. The grass
grows, matures and tussles just like wheat. The straw then tussles with
a broom-like flower at the top, maturing by growing longer and bigger.
The straw is then harvested by holding a stem with the left hand and
the husk that encloses the straw with the right hand and pulling it
down, leaving the husks on the grass for further tussles. The flower at
the top of the straw is cut off near a nib using the forefinger and the
thumb. This is done to every single piece of straw. The straw is
harvested wet, then sun-dried, and becomes ready to go through the
weaving process. However, some baskets can be woven with the wet straw,
but these do not have the quality that is associated with the baskets
woven with the dried straw.
THE WEAVING PROCESS
SPLITTING
The
straw is first split into two halves by biting every single piece in
the middle at one end with the teeth to open it into two. The first
half is held by the teeth and other half is pulled down with one hand.
About half an inch to the end of the straw, the process is ended. This
is to make the next step easier. This process is done to every single
piece of straw that is to be used in the weaving process.
TWISTING
The
split straw is wrapped together in a wet sack to keep it wet and
prevent it from breaking during the twisting process. The split piece
of straw is then twisted by rolling the two halves together.
Traditionally, this is done on the weaver's thigh. However, today, a
piece of bathroom sandal is tied against the thigh for the rolling
process.
UNTWISTING
The
two pieces of twisted straw are separated into two individual pieces.
This process depends on the type of basket the weaver intends to weave.
Untwisted straw is used for weaving double weave baskets and the
twisted straw is used for single weave baskets. The round baskets are
mostly done in double weave.
SELECTION OF STRAW
Different
lengths and thickness are best used for different parts of the basket.
The weaver carefully selects the appropriate straw for the different
parts of the basket. The ability of the weaver to select the most
appropriate straw goes a long way towards the outcome of a good basket.
DYEING
Different
methods are used in preparing the straw for dyeing. Some wrap small
amounts of twisted or untwisted straw into rings whiles others tie
together large bundles. A pot of water is brought to boil and the dye
is added. The straw is then submersed into the solution and pressed
down by the weight of big stones. The straw is boiled for between 15 to
20 minutes. For bright coloured baskets, the straw is first dyed
yellow, allowed to dry and then dyed again with the preferred colour.
However, baskets which do not need colour (natural colour baskets), the
straw is not boiled.
STARTING THE BASE
The
actual weaving process starts with the base of the basket. Several
pieces of twisted straw are used in the first line-up, brought together
by another straw, which looks like and octopus or spider with several
legs. The leg-like strings form the the vertical ribs of the basket.
The weaving is done by passing the horizontally placed straw in and
out, around the ribs. For double weave baskets, there are two
horizontal straws which go through the same pattern. Double weave
baskets are much stronger and consume more straw than single weave
baskets.
THE RIM
Once the
body of the basket is completed, the rim is added. First, the legs are
tied into a knot at the top of the basket. Next, the remaining pieces
of the ribs are laid flat around the rim. If the remaining pieces are
too long, they are trimmed to size. A piece of straw is used to
systematically tie the ribs down into a uniform ring around the mouth
of the basket. The rims are usually in the natural colour of the straw.
However, there are other forms of baskets where the rim is woven flat.
THE HANDLE
There are several styles of handles. For round baskets, the usual
handle is two-legged at both ends across the mouth of the basket, and
fusing into one in the middle, serving as the hand-grip. For oval shape
baskets, the handles are two, placed on opposite lengths of the basket.
TRIMMING
Trimming
involves the cutting off the remaining ends of the straw on the body of
the basket (both in and outside of the basket). If this process is not
carefully done, the basket will be rough when the fingers are run over
the body. Double weave baskets are easier to trim than single weave
ones, hence they are nicer, stronger, more flexible and smooth.
LEATHER HAND-GRIP
Weavers
do not add leather to the handles of the basket. It is the option of
the buyer to put leather hand-grips to reinforce the handle to make it
last longer, or as a form of decoration. The leather is obtained from
the hide of animals from the slaughter houses. The animals are not
killed just for their hide. The hide is sold out to other artisans who
put it to various uses.
It takes approximately three days to complete a standard Bolga basket.
