I purchased the book Medieval Garment Reconstruced: Norse Clothing Patterns by Franson, Nordtop-Madson, Norgard, & Ostergard as I am interested in messing around with historic patterns and recreating a secret life in Rohan.  In this vlog I review a little about Icelandic fleece and my experience separating the tog and thel for weaving prep.

I want to be sure to let you know I am not an expert. I simply researched the concepts in the book as well as the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook by Ekarius and Robson.  Then I attempted the techniques myself.  Wool is a dynamic resource subject to its environment, and creature what may work or not work for my Icelandic fleeces is completely subjective and one should be encouraged to experiment and explore a multitude resources to build a personal understanding and wisdom.

I’ll be back shortly with a recap of my trip to Norway and finished knitting in the mean time wherever your fiber treks may take you, may you return home safe and with lots of soulful stash. Thanks for tuning in!  Sarah

Happy 2020!  I hope this finds you well and in good spirits.  I have included of list details if you are interested in searching them out on the internet!  See below the video.  Thank you for tuning in.

Tiny Boats by Elizabeth Dougherty

Elsa Cormo Wool

Cashemere People Yarn from Portfiber

The Woolly Thistle

Tender Hearts by Tin Can Knits

Uist Wool

Treelight by Jennifer Steingass

Shayda Campbell: Water color and illustration tutorials

Midtnorsk Strikkefestival- P4chen on IG Tickets for the tea on March 1st from 2pm-5pm at the Baardshaug available Patricia’s blog- AFTERNOON TEA PARTY

Wool Scout Retreat: Millinocket Lake

DETAILS: October 22-25, 2020
Wool Scouts Retreat: Millinocket

Thursday-Sunday: 3 nights lodging in a choice of shared or private room. All meals included from our River Driver’s Restaurant: 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts and 2 lunches as well as assorted snacks. Goodie bags, door prizes, exclusive marketplace and did we mention the cool, crisp, autumn air…fire places, cozy chairs, and good company!

Registration Dates: OPEN NOW
1-800-766-7238

Open: NOW

Shared Room: $475.00 pp plus tax
Private Room: $575.00 pp plus tax
For large groups please contact us early to secure cabin or cabins.

Wool Scouts: Bradford Camps (brief video of camp)

DETAILS: Session I 8/9-8/13 Session II 8/13-8/17

Price: 1520.00

Registration Opens: February 1st

Contact: Fibertrek@gmail.com

Instructors: Nicole DuPuis of the Gentle Knitter Podcast, Sofia Kammeborne of the Kammebornia Podcast and Sarah Hunt.

Topics: Hand Stitching, Embroidery, Knitting, Basketry, Primitive Skills, Fly Fishing, Orienteering

Activities: Swimming, Boating, Hiking, Fishing

Happy New Year from snowy Maine, I hope this finds you well and in good spirits.  I am in the process of gearing to record a podcast before I head back to work from winter break. It has been a long luxurious two weeks which I have relished. And while there hasn’t been a vast amount of knitting, I have been stitiching and sewing as well as sketching and playing around with my oracle decks and journaling. I have also been taking stock of my projects for 2020.  I have, as you know, wool coming from Scotland from the 2019 clip for another round of Wool Wife yarn.

Because I have such a difficult time getting to the post office (as you know…) and negotiating payment methods the bulk of the yarn has been sold in person at my retreats.  I have inventory left however, and if you game and willing to go through the process with me on line I am making it available.  If you are interested please email me your color choice and number of skeins. I will manage all orders first come first serve. If you don’t hear from me it means I could not fill your order, know in advance I very much appreciate your interest and that more yarn is coming in 2020~ Please note that yarns are hand dyed with acid dyes by me and colors vary. If you click on the photos I believe they will enlarge for a better perspective!

Yarn Details:

2ply, 2 oz, 175 yards~ fingering/sport. Highlander Fleece

Spun by Aroostook Fiber Mill, Ashland, Maine.

Contact information: Fibertrek@gmail.com

Price: 22.00 (this does not include Maine Sales Tax)

Domestic Shipping $7.50.

Inventory:

White-Gannet 11 skeins

Brown-Glansa 10 skeins (I have included a extra picture to try and capture this brown. It is a purple peat color.

Pink-Belle   7 Skeins

Orange-Hamar 1 Skein

Wool Wife Yarn

This edition of the vlog is all about my recent sewing exploits.  You’ll note that I discussed a temporary moment of insanity when I mention spinning, weaving the cloth for sewing a medieval garment…ahem, well I may have relapsed.  I’ll be discussing a little bit more about the motivation for this plan in my forthcoming post about forays into Tablet Weaving! Be prepared for all things medieval! I feel like my “Crone Style” is really coming together.

Below are included some photos of me in my makes as well as a few links to resources mentioned. I’ve also included some pictures of other embroidery embellishments I have worked on over the summer.

Ivey Abitz

Medieval Garments Reconstructed: Norse Clothing Patterns 

Morgon Donner

Silk on linen. Thread is Gutterman 100% silk. I used a single strand.  Fill stitch: Chain     Motif:self design moon phases.  This is on the neckline of the first woven underdress I hacked from Sonya Philips Dress #2

I also have been embroidering quite a bit on the sleeves of items.  These threads are all linen. The top motif is stitched in Londonderry Thread 50/3. I’ll be discussing threads in more depth soon.

Styling and photo aesthetic will hopefully get better in the future but here I am in North woods mode. The first picture is the Shieldmaiden Tunic over the woven Guardian dress. 

The Guardian underdress. This is the neckline which includes the moon phase embroidery.

Me fooling around pretending to be Arwen…

The original vision for the wedding ensemble

Blimey! I have been kinda of a jerk about posting here…huh?  Well, I figured out my password.  Ai! I hate managing passwords.  So let’s start with a quick summer recap of my trip to Orkney followed by my most current podcast, Episode 74: Bear Medicine.  Episode 70-73 are featured on my Youtube Channel.  Are you well and in good spirits?  I hope so.  Thank you for tuning in and spending some time with me.  happy trails!

The Shackleton Yarn is available! For a full description and instructions for ordering please visit my website at http://fiber-trek.squarespace.com

Pictured below in the Abide by Kirsten Kapur, the yarn lends itself to a variety of accessories and garments.  It exemplifies it’s wild, island heritage with durability and tensile strength but does not compromise on elegance

Flat Island is located off the coast of Maine and is home to a small flock of island sheep. Their heritage includes a healthy dose of Romney and Coopworth leading to a long stapled, lustrous wool. This flock also contains an amazing assortment of diverse grey, brown, and charcoal, fleeces. Highlighted below is the 2016 trip to shear.

Well, I am getting my act together…ahem- at least in theory.  I can’t believe I am always so late to posting the latest episode here.  But I was prompted when I came to the blog to post about the Shackleton Yarn!  Yes, the Shackleton Yarn is available.  See the next post for details.  Also, I am completely healed and that will make sense after you watch.  As always, I hope this finds you well and in good spirits and thank you for tuning in!

There are just a few places in this world that feel like home to me, aside from my actual home.  Through some confluence of landscape and people the place just feels right, like a knowing or a belonging…that all is well right here and you’re that person who supposed to be there, perhaps even been there before in some uncanny way.  That is Munsungun Lake for me.  I stepped off the plane on to the dock at Bradford Camps and instantly I knew it to be home. I belonged. And Holy Cats! the food…that sealed the deal.  But I am not the only one who experienced this immediate understanding of home and place. In 2017 I coordinated my first Wool Scouts Retreat to share something really special with other like-minded makers.  And know…we are off and running for 2018.

I can’t explain what happens at Bradford Camps. It has nothing to do with knitting or yarn.  It’s not about techniques or teachers although all of that adds to the experience.  I can’t put in to words how it feels to fly in and arrive at the dock, to have ice that is cut from the lake in January…eat bread made in a wood cookstove, no…I’m not going to try.  You’ll know exactly what I am talking about if wild places, and old times resonate with you.

This shameless post is pretty much to entice you to come to the Wool Scouts 2018 retreat. The video below is just a quick glimpse into our time in 2017.  You can find more information about dates, price and registration at http://fiber-trek.squarespace.com

Hope to see you there.

Well, apart from technical difficulty I managed to get 90% of the content in to the episode. There was ALOT of re-recording here’s hoping it looks a bit polished there in the end.

Thank you for tuning in and taking a little time with me and the program.  Happy Solstice!

Wool Scout Retreat

Norrland by Sara Burch

Barn Swallow Farm, Topsham, Maine – Gotland yarn, pelts and fleece

Branches and Buds by Carrie Bostick Hogue

Maine Yarn and Fiber Supply – Bold Coast Retreat 

Mother of Purl Yarn Shop- Willow’s Wool

PortFiber – Tajik Cashgora Yarn 

Astrantia Mitts- Wenche Roald

Madderroot

Wild Lily Artisan Fibers- Pace & Presence

Underwing Mitts by Erica Huesser

Mindful Folk – Finn/Mohair Yarn

Edinburgh Yarn Festival

Well, it will be a twofer, I am terrible about posting on all my platforms, sigh…but ho hum…such is life. I have aspirations of being here more often, perhaps not just posting the podcast link but ACTUALLY doing some writing! What? I know, I know..believe it when I see it.  In the meantime, in case you missed my last episode here it is.  I am editing 69 post haste after this.  Are you well? In good spirits?  I hope so.  Keep in touch, Fondly Sarah