Seeing Stars (and Stripes, and Checks)

I'm creating a new class!  It's called "Stars and Stripes", and in it, you will design your own Norwegian Fana Sweater.

Named for the district of Bergen, Norway where they originated, Fana sweaters are recognized the world over for their iconic Nordic style:

A Commercially-made Fana by Dale of Norway

Evolving into fashion (and the stripe-and-check version we recognize today) sometime in the 19th century, Fana sweaters are associated with special traditions in Norway, that we'll discuss in class.  Teaser: Ever wonder where the curse of the Boyfriend Sweater originated?

Norwegian schoolchildren sporting their Fana; practically a uniform.

In addition to their fascinating lore, the real appeal of the Fana is their endless capacity for variation and customization.  The style of 8-point stars chosen, their placement on the body, the colors of yarn employed, and even the garment's silhouette are endlessly changeable; fantastically inspirational.

Notice how the star border location enhances his square shoulders?

In this class, students will choose from a "menu" of design choices, such as different star styles and placements, garment shapes, and design details.  Then I'll help you plug your chosen elements into a formula to create your very own personal Fana pattern.

Impossibly adorable baby Fana made by the incomparable Maria. 

This class is so new I haven't even made my own Fana yet!  But it's coming soon to a venue near you:  First to the Sandpoint Fiberarts Guild in September, then to Vogue Knitting Live in October, and who knows where after that!  Keep an eye on my Teaching and Events tab for more information.  Watch this space for the details of my personal Fana adventure, as I create the class sample for you.

Want to play with stars and stripes at your very own venue?  Round up some knitting friends and drop me a line!  This and any of my other class selections are yours for the asking.

Isn't Knitting Grand?

My Summer, So Far (part 6)

On the last weekend of June, I got to teach at Black Sheep Gathering, in Eugene, Or.

Here is a bonny participant, getting a new hairstyle.  She was somewhat vocal about the process.  And by vocal, I mean she sounded maa-aaaaaaad.

One of my students thought the top of her kilt hose made a better tiara.  I think I might agree.

And a Jenkins "Finch" spindle fluttered into my hands in the marketplace.  This one is a mere 12g of Burmese blackwood and maple.  It's for making cobwebs.  Or just holding in the palm of your hand.

All of which catches me up with you to the last of June, and the end of my Hand-in-a-cast Blog Hiatus.  

Oh, and someplace (?) in there, I made a new website, which required me to manually copy and paste over 800 blog posts and about 2000 photos.  With my hand in a cast.  Which is why, if you used to be a subscriber to my blog updates, you might now mysteriously not.  My precious subscriber list fell off the truck during the move.  Never fear: you can re-subscribe via the swell new button at the upper right of this page - please do!

Ever drag the last box into a new house and promise yourself you'll never move again?  That if you ever leave this place, it'll be feet first? That's how I feel about the new website.  I hope you like it, because we're staying put for a while.

I'm careening toward the deadline for my 5th book.  I'm planning a trip to Victoria BC where I will learn more about kilt tailoring, and I'm inventing a new class about slippers. 

So what have YOU been up to, Gentle Readers? Update us in the comments, won't you?

My Summer, So Far (part 5)

Three days after the shooting at Lindsay's school, I hit the road (air?) again.  For those keeping score, that's:

• A broken finger and my hand in a cast
• Massive sunburn from the Parking Lot
• Intense angst at leaving my family so soon after trauma
• My third teaching trip in as many weeks
• A book in progress, whose deadline I was ignoring every time I left home

Was I feeling my absolute, emotional and physical best?  Perhaps no.

Did the fiber artists of Moscow, ID extend the warmest welcome I've ever heard of?  

Heck Yeah:

The historic Kenworthy, where they let me speechify

Never, in my wildest imagination, would I have thought of having my name in lights on a real live movie marquee.  

Maybe it went to my head a little, but after the initial nervousness of giving the speech was behind me, I really did feel like a rockstar.  I had so much fun with the knitters in class, and made so many new friends.  They have no idea how badly I needed to be with them that weekend (neither did I, until I got there).

Thank you so much, to Shelley Stone of the Yarn Underground, and all my fellow Palouse Fiber Arts Festival teachers and students.  I am so delighted to be a part of your community.  

All the Fiber Fest teachers

Visit Shelley HERE, and tell her I sent you!