Third Week, Post I (Discussion of week 2)

Last week was a bit hectic and I was unable to finish my weekly post so I will be doing two posts this week to cover what I did/read last week and what I am doing this week.

I've been reading quite a bit about the history of textiles and it is amazing how early on we understood the physics behind twisting a fiber (albeit intuitively). Tendons, grasses, innards - all of these things were used to create strong fibers with which to fasten things together. Following this came simple ways of weaving things and then, finally, the creation of looms to make fabric with.

Very few fabrics survive due to the delicacy of the fibers used, so how did they piece together that fiber was being twisted and woven? Most often it is the imprint of a woven fiber onto clay that reveals what techniques people were using. Other ways of determining how people created woven products is through paintings and other artwork that depicts daily activities. There are also the few remnants of cloth and clothing that have survived thousands of years in very specific conditions that have allowed us to see actual examples of the cloth and its uses. The history behind spinning and weaving is extremely interesting and, until recently, was very much a family activity.

Another book I read through this week (week 2) was Lexi Boeger's book on spinning designer yarns, I've attempted one or two designs and plan to continue playing with slubs, granny stacks, coils, and adding objects to my spinning. One of the ways I can see some of these yarns being used is definitely in making hats - beyond that I am unsure because the yarn is what needs to be displayed more than a person's proficiency in croceting or knitting. Also, a few designs seem too busy for things like gloves or even a scarf. My enjoyment in designer yarns definitely comes from the challenge of creating them more than anything else and I am extremely excited that I get to do that in the next few weeks.