Thoughts from Down in the Country

From our perspective, way back in the outdoor area where we set up our blue tent, attendance was down; those who did brave the high cost of getting there were just-browsing-thank-you. The trip was worthwhile for us and many left new proud owners of a Rakestraw spinner or plying paddle, but there were some totally unexpected high spots.

First, (and this will wander a bit) the next time you’re in a book store, and you’re drawn to a book, pick it up, and flip through its pages, stop to think a moment about (and perhaps pay a little respect to) the person who designed the cover that attracted your attention, who designed the way the pages look, who produced a book you felt comfortable with and wanted to own. On Sunday, we had the pleasure of meeting a very talented artist (who has probably never designed a book, but stay tuned) named Carol Lew who produces the most marvelous Old World Animal Portraits; they’ll most likely get a giggle from way down deep when you see them. Take a look at http://kentlew.com/carol/.

Now, for the real surprise. Her husband, Kent. He’s a book designer; but even more, he has designed an absolutely marvelous typeface called Whitman which I will license immediately for a next book we do—probably our upcoming book of short stories entitled The Black Whole. Although Kent and I beebled away for perhaps a half hour, he never told me of his world of books, and I never told him I was a trade typesetter and book designer beginning way back in the early 70s. Browse around http://kentlew.com/ to see what I’m talking about, particularly the 3 book designs sampled there.

And, as if meeting Carol and Kent weren’t enough, we also had a long and gentle chat with Barbara Sheehy who invited us to Spain to work with the local crafts folk to use the Rakestraw Spinner (see the project’s Web site).

Jackie and I are both in recovery mode, but it was a fine aFAIR.

This is the Goddess Knits Shawl KAL, done in some wonderful wool, handknit, and blocked on our own wooden Lace Blocker. I have changed the design somewhat, but I believe it came out very well. I have removed it from sale. Even though the design has been changed, it is still basically a design by Renee.

The Lace Blocker does a wonderful job! Check it out onsite

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As many of you know, we are republishing “Complete Guide to Modern Knitting and Crocheting,” by Alice Carroll. This popular book, originally published in 1942, deserves new readership and an up-to-date appearance.

Syllables Press, the publisher of this new edition, is searching for a unique design for the book’s cover. The publisher is looking for a theme which is fresh and modern, while at the same time suggestive of the roots of its content.

The new edition will have a trim size of 8.268 x 11.693. The cover will be in full color; the book will be soft cover, perfect bound. This larger size is intended to make the book more easily read and more enjoyable for knitters and crocheters.

So, we’re having a contest! We’re looking for the best design to be used on the cover. The winner will be profiled in the book’s “About the Cover,” and will receive a gorgeous rosewood Rakestraw Spinner and rosewood Plying Paddle (the Spinner’s Kit) from Down In the Country Fibers.

Material submitted should be illustrative (i.e., no text) and at a minimum of 300 DPI. It should be full 24-bit color. Initially, we prefer PDF’s, and the design that best snags our sweater will be developed in concert with the publisher and the illustrator. If you come up with a dynamite design and can’t figure out how to convert it to a PDF, send it along as a JPG, and we’ll work with you.

Deadline for final entries will be March 15 (beware the Ides of March!). However, we would be more than happy to work with you as you develop your concept.

Send entries or questions to Jackie@DownInTheCountry.com

Here’s the original cover, MUCH in need of updating!!!

Have fun with the contest, and GOOD LUCK!!!

After many months of putting it down and picking it up again, I’ve finally finished the Swan Lake Stole from the MS3 knit along. I’m delighted with how it turned out! I made it with handspun cashmere yarn and beaded it with seed pearls and crystals. It’s gossamer, it’s gorgeous, and it fits through a ring, just like the Orenburg lace shawls! That tickled me.

I have two brides coming into my family life. One will receive it, but only if she really wants it. Here’s some pictures. The beads are very hard to see:

This is the wing of the swan. The stole is quite long.

A portion of the opposite end of the stole.

In this photo, there is more detail. You might be able to see some of the crystal beads in the lace.

I’m pleased with it, my very first finished lace!

I sent out a newsletter in which the pictures were broken. …duh… and at the same time, forgot to add the URL for the site. …double duh…

But here’s the main points: From today (October 29) until the day after daylight savings time around here ends (November 5) there is a 10% off discount on the Rakestraw Spinner, the Plying Paddle, and the Student Triloom. We also have a pre-order special on the Complete Guide to Modern Knitting and Crocheting, which will be published for the Christmas season. Order now to save!

Ok, then I put in two patterns from the book:

Helmet (Great idea for teens!)

2 oz. Knitting worsted
1 pair single point needles, #5
1 #2 crochet hook

Cast on 126 sts. Start pattern.

Row 1 – *Slip 1, K1, repeat from * across row.
Row 2 - Purl

Work even for 2 1 / 2 inches, ending on purl row. Bind off first 15 sts., work across next 26 sts. in pattern to correspond with pervious work, keeping the slip 1, knit 1 ribs uniform,. Slip sts. off on to a double pointed needle, and slip elastic band over ends of needle to hold sts. (Or point protectors.) Bind off center 44 sts. Work across next 26 sts. same as first group and laeave on needle. Bind off remaining 15 sts., breaking yarn about 18 ins. from last bound-off stitch. (Use this end for sewing up back seam of helmet.) Tie in yarn on purl side of work in first st. on #5 needle.

EAR FLAPS. Purl across the 26 sts., turn, work back in pattern of row 1 *P2, P2 tog., Purl to within last 4 sts., P2 tog., P2, turn, work in slip 1, K1, pattern, knitting first 2 and last 2 stitches. Repeat from * until 12 sts. on needle.

Next row–K2 tog. across row.

Next row–Slip 1, K 2 tog., pass the slip st. over, K 2 tog., pass stitch over, etc., across to end of row, bind off and break yarn. Work second flap in same way.

Sew up back seam of helmet. Then work 1 row single crochet around lower edge, shaping this edge with crocheting. Mark center front of upper edge of helmet with yarn. Single crochet 7 sts. across center front of helmet, having center of 7 sts. come at yarn marker. Single crochet on 7 sts. back and forth until band measures 9 inches. Break yarn, leaving end long enough to sew to center of back and sew in place. Mark center of band. Single Crochet 13 sts. across side edge of band, having seventh stitch come at yarn marker. Single crochet back across 13 sts. Decrease 1 stitch on beginning and end of every row until 7 stitches remain. Work even on 7 stitches until band measures same as center to helmet edge. Break yarn and sew. Work second side directly over center of ear flap to correspond.

VISOR HAT (for those who asked for Crochet patterns!)

Materials:

4 oz. Boucle Yarn
1 #2 Steel Crochet Hook
! / 4 Yard Buckram

Size:
22 inch head size

CROWN: Ch. 3, Join in ring. Work 6 S.C. in ring. Inc. in every st. on next round. Continue to inc. 6 sts. in round, or sufficiently to keep work perfectly flat until 12 ins. in diameter. Fasten off.

VISOR: Work in same manner as crown until 6 ins. in diameter. Fasten off.

BUTTON: Work in same manner as crown until 1 inch in diameter. Dec. 1 st. in each st. Insert button and fasten off.

FINISHING: Make 6 pleats about 1 inch each for front of hat, thus allowing 22 inches or size desired for head size in circumference of hat when finished. For visor, cuat a piece of buckram in oval piece 10 inches long by 3 1 / 2 inches at center or widest part. Stretch visor piece over this and stitch open side. Sew in head band. Sew button on top of hat.

I’m still recovering, exactly one week later. I have never been so busy, met so many wonderful people, or had so much fun in many, many years, and I can’t wait for next year!

The big blue tent was very busy, to say the least. In the first few hours, the Louet Spinning Wheel I had brought with us found a new home. Then ALL of the canvas bags we had were gone, and ALL of the sheepy sweatshirts vanished as well. By Sunday, we were taking down addresses in order to mail a pouch or a bag to someone who had purchased a spinner or a student loom. (If I missed you, please drop me a note and I’ll get it right out!)

We were so very busy, we didn’t have time to wander, and I’m sad to say we have only a few pictures.

That worn and weary spinner is me. I think that was late on Sunday afternoon. The weather couldn’t have been better!

Two wonderful ladies, both named Barbara, came to visit early on Saturday and again on Sunday. Barbara One bought her Spinner at Finger Lakes, and came to demonstrate at Rhinebeck. She directed many people into the tent for their own Spinners, and showed how well yarn can be spun, with such ease.

My triloom shawl showed folks what can be done on the simple triloom (I will NEVER try to weave a full anything in all boucle again!) and I was able to give a few demonstrations on the student loom. Soon, we will have a video on site with weaving instruction, as per the request from Rosemary Felle.

We didn’t get much chance to wander, but here is a picture of some of the crowd (I swear, there were MILLIONS! ) and some jugglers. They were down the hill from our tent, and we could hear the excitement. Too bad we couldn’t see them.

We did see the gentleman riding on the backs of two horses, because he rode around our tent a few times.

Hoooo…what if the horses decided to go in different directions?

One wonder in particular showed me exactly WHY we do this, and filled me with warmth. Last year at Rhinebeck, we were the guests of Janet Lynn of The Wheel Thing (http://www.the-wheel-thing.com). At that time, a very nice elderly lady in a wheelchair purchased a Rakestraw Spinner from us, along with some fiber. She learned quickly. They, over the year, she had a stroke.

This lady is marvelous. She is full of determination and a love of life, and will NOT let the stroke hold her down! She came from Massachusetts to Rhinebeck to find us, just to buy another Spinner. Her friend wheeled her all over the grounds until they located us in the Big Blue Tent, and she was so very happy to find us!

We met many friends from the lists, got to see several of the KAL shawls and stoles, and, at times, had an audience six deep outside and inside the tent. I’m still recovering…

I just read about the plastic bags in a big, floating stew out in the
middle of the ocean, blocking and killing fish and other sea
life…our shopping bags, spread out and never going away. The ocean
currents bring them to this area, where they produce a sort of plastic
Sargasso sea. Here’s an idea for us:

Do you have a million of these shopping bags lying around? (And I DO
mean a million because no matter how many you squirrel away for this
project, you will still have to sneak over to your neighbor’s and
steal some more.)

1). First you will need to prepare the bags into a crochet-able ball of “yarn”.
Lay bag flat. Smooth out wrinkles.
2). Cut off both the bottom and the top like in photo.
3). Next fold bag in half. In half. In half.

Always from side to side. Never top to bottom!

4). Cut into 1 1/2 inch segments.

This creates these plastic ring strips. You will be joining these
strips to create your ball of plastic “yarn”.

Here’s how….. overlap one ring atop another. Draw other end (right)
of top ring underneath the ring below and through the middle. Tighten
gently without breaking. Tadaaaa! Now go do it a million times until
you think you have enough to make your tote, (but you won’t. And
you’ll need to make more and more of these things).

5). Attempt to wind into some sort of manageable ball, (although it
won’t be pretty and it won’t be perfect).

Let’s start the tote, already!

(Don’t bother joining rows together. This is all just one continuous
spiral. It’s just easier.)

Using a size P hook, ch 3.

Row 1 - In third ch from hook, ch 1 six times. Slip stitch into your
first ch for a total of (6) forming a ring.

Row 2 - 2 sc in each ch (12)

Row 3 - *one sc in next ch, two sc in next ch*, repeat from * all the
way around, (18).

Row 4 - *one sc in next two chs, two in next ch*, repeat from * all
the way around, (24)

Row 5 - *one sc in next three chs, two in next ch*, repeat from *
around, (30).

Row 6 - *one sc in next four chs, two in next ch*, repeat from *
around, (36).

Row 7 - *one sc in next five chs, two in next ch*, repeat from *
around, (42).

Row 8 - *one sc in next six chs, two in next ch*, repeat from *
around, (48).

Row 9 - *one sc in next seven chs, two in next ch*, repeat from *
around, (54).

Row 10 - * one sc in next eight chs, two in next ch*, repeat from *
around, (60).

Row 11 - sc around in front loops only. (60).

Row 12-25 - sc around (60).

Now we begin the formation of the strap.

Chain 50. Slip stitch into the 30th ch on opposite side of the bag.
You now have a long chain connecting one side of bag to the other.
Continue sc around side of bag until you return to the beginning of
your newly formed strap.

Keep sc up one side of the strap and down to bag again. You will do
this five times. Fasten off.

Join on other side of strap and crochet along bag, up this side of the
strap, and back down to this side of bag. Again, you will do this five
times. At the corners where the strap and bag meet, I did a decreasing
stitch.

For the closure loop, I sc to middle of bag, ch 8, skipped a ch,
joined chain to next ch on bag. Continue sc to the strap. Slip stitch
into strap. Turn. sc back to center loop you just created, ch into
each ch in loop around to bag again, continue to strap. Fasten off.

To even the other side of bag without the closure loop, just sc two
more rows from strap to strap and back again.

So, now you should have a loop with which to close the bag, (looping
it over something on other side of bag). I made a sort of three
petalled flower and attached it to the other side in order to have
something to slip the loop over and close the bag securely.

I hope these instructions were not too confusing. You can always
e-mail me with questions. Now, get out there and recycle!!!!

(I know you’re thinking of raiding the boxes in the Walmart lobby
where people bring in their bags to be recycled, aren’t you?)

(from
http://www.geocities.com/quibblerscribbler/Recycled_plastic_bag.html)

Jackie

http://www.downinthecountry.com
Art and the home of the Rakestraw Spindle

We returned from the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival at Hemlock, NY, Sunday night, and I’m just beginning to feel human again. WHOA! What an amazing weekend!

We started off with Saturday, a blustery day of icy cold wind and rain, We kept putting things out, and bringing them back in. Did I mention we were in a big blue tent? At one point, the tent tried to go home on its own.

But we slogged on, and Sunday was MUCH better, a really perfect day.

There is a lovely lady seated beside the tent who had purchased a Rakestraw Spinner earlier and was determined to learn to spin. By the end of the day, she had spun up most of her roving, producing some lovely pumpkin-colored lace weight yarn.

We saw many of our fiber friends! Folks from the lists stopped by to say “HI!” and we wandered off a few times to see people we know, like the Bosworths. Our visit on Friday night to Red Lobster with them was wonderful!

You mustn’t miss visiting the Journey Wheel booth! There, you will find the best drop spindles, charkhas, weaving shuttles, and the famous Journey Wheel.

Dave’s HitchHiker Wheels are one of a kind designs, and his restored antiques are a joy. If it’s broken or missing a part, bring it to Dave…he can fix it!

The Goldings…what can be said about perfection? The spindles, spinning wheels, spinning chair…any and all sold by Tom Golding is beyond beautiful.

A quick visit to the big barn showed me what I “COULD” buy. Drool…

This young woman is playing her fiddle within a few feet of our tent. She traveled all over the Festival, playing old-fashioned fiddle music with a little sign that asked for donations to pay for her new spinning wheel. I hope she made it by the end of the day! She was more than fun, a talented girl with a zing in her playing.

So….I was good, didn’t spend any money because I was too busy at the Down In The Country tent, but I ate some VERY good yum! The food is always great at these festivals. And met lots of fascinating people. I gave lessons on the Babe Pinkie and on the Rakestraw Spinner, plus a demo on the student triloom, and have some ideas for things to do at the NY State Sheep and Wool, better know as Rhinebeck. See you all then!

I didn’t write this. I wish I did, but I don’t know who dunnit. VERY funny, and painfully true.

A recent study indicated, that Yarn and thread gives off certain
Pheromones that actually hypnotize women and cause them to purchase
unreasonable amounts.

When stored in large quantities, in enclosed spaces, the Pheromones, (in
the yarn,) cause memory loss and induce the nesting syndrome, (similar to
the one squirrels have, before the onset of winter, i.e. the storing of
food,) therefore, perpetuating their species and not having a population
loss due to their kind being cut into pieces and mixed with others.

Sound tests have also revealed, that these yarns, emit a very high-
pitched sound, heard only by a select few, a breed of women known as
“loomers.” When played backwards on an LP, the sounds are heard as
chants, buy me, loom me, and wind me into a ball “.

In order to overcome the so called “feeding frenzy effect,” that these
yarns cause, one must wear a face mask when entering a storage facility
and use ear plugs, to avoid being pulled into their grip.

(One must laugh, however, at the sight of customers in a yarn store, with
WW2 army gas masks and headphones!). Studies have also indicated, that
aliens have inhabited the earth, helping to spread the effects, that
these yarns have on the human population. They are called “YARN STORE
CLERKS”.

It’s also been experienced, that these same Pheromones, cause a
pathological need, to hide these yarn purchases, when taken home (or at
least blend them into the existing stash.) When asked by a significant
other if the yarn is new, the reply is, “I’ve had it for
awhile.”

Author Unknown

We’ve added a new member to our Down In The Country catalog, and I’m having loads of fun with her! We now have the Babe Pinkie for sale. One sits under my desk here, and purrs along when I stop working to take a breather. SOoooo easy to get to her and spin! I have most of a ball of merino spun up already, and it’s spun lace weight. This little lady (I think her name is Frances. I think that’s what she told me…) will be here for a long time, while we tell others about her and sell her sisters.

The books is coming along, slow but sure. We’re hoping to have it ready by Christmas, so if you’re thinking of adding anything to it, please let me know ASAP. My head is spinning right now with no time to breathe, so if I don’t answer you right away, I’m not ignoring you, I’m doing. Doing, and doing, and doing…. YIKES! I’ll be happy when October is over and I can take a breather. No, wait! Then it’s time for Christmas doings.

Ah, well. Never be bored!

Jackie