Hello Reader,

What's Happening?

This week has been full of looking back at some of the treasures of the past. No, I'm not talking about the photos of old hairstyles and clothing choices we confidently made a few decades ago. (We all have them, right?) Thankfully, I'm talking about some things that have endured the passage of time a little more successfully, and I'm actually excited to share!

Old Class

About 16 years ago, I had the privilege of teaching a class that I called Beast to Blanket to a group of home schooled middle schoolers. It was an enrichment art class that was designed to introduce the students to the steps that were necessary to take wool from a sheep and turn it into something that could be worn or used. As a child, I was always fascinated by the Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street bits that showed the processes of how things were made or how things worked, and this class was a chance for me to do the same for these students about a subject matter that I love.

New Material!

Part of that class was learning about the process of dyeing wool. I used Kool Aid and vinegar in a simple science experiment style lesson to teach the kids how dyeing is done, and they absolutely loved it. I shared the experience with some online friends who encouraged me to write it down and share it, so I did. This week I turned that old blog post into a more formal how-to guide, PDF'd it, and got it put on the new website. It was fun remembering the original class and how much joy the kids got in creating their own skeins of yarn.

I'm gearing up to teach the Beast to Blanket class again this Spring for the same organization, and I'm really looking forward to it! Before long, the curriculum as a whole will be offered on the website as well. Who'd have guessed that would happen 16 years ago?

What am I learning?

I was doing a little research for the Beast to Blanket class and fell through an internet rabbit hole to a video about nalbinding. Nalbinding is a precursor to both knitting and crocheting and is sometimes considered Viking pre-knitting. Here's a good starting point to learn more about it. It's done with a single needle similar to a tapestry needle, and just like knitting and crocheting, the idea is to get new loops through old loops to make fabric.

These sandal socks are the earliest existing garments made of nalbinding and are from 300-500 AD Egypt.

Yes, I checked to see if you can still buy nalbinding needles. Yes, you can. Yes, I plan to. More to come!

What am I Knitting?

The baby blanket is coming along, and I even have pictures to share!

The middle picture is the best representation of the color, while the others are lightened a bit to show detail. The picture on the far right shows why it's good to have backups of all sizes of needles.

This is the third of this style of baby blanket I've made for this particular branch of the family tree, and I love doing it. The first was a pastel pink one in a feather-and-fan pattern that was reminiscent of my own baby blanket, and the second was a bright blue that was made in a loose cable pattern and has already been mended in multiple places as its owner is two and a half boys rolled into one and takes his blankie on many of his adventures.

I've been using the same Knit Picks Stroll sock yarn* for all of them, and it's been holding up very well. I don't count the repair needs against the yarn. The kid is tough on his stuff and that blanket gets a lot of love!

It's hard to believe that the little ones I made the previous blankies for are so grown already. I feel like it was just yesterday when I was working on them. It still makes me smile to think about patterning the first one after my own favorite blankie.

What's Up With Mr. Darcy the Sheep?

Mr. Darcy and Pals have had an eventful week. They've solved a long-running mystery, experienced a dramatic shift in the neighborhood, and pondered the meaning of their sheepy existence.

You don't want to miss the latest letter from our adorable friend. If you'd like to catch up with Mr. Darcy the Sheep's correspondence, you can start at the first letter.

What Else?

I've kind of been geeking out about this map I stumbled across on Pinterest the other day. Have you seen it?

It was drawn by a Martin Vargic, who was 17 at the time, and was featured in a 2015 Vox article by Margarita Noriega. I love seeing how he's organized everything and seeing old friends scattered among the continents.

Apparently, you can still buy the book* in which this and more of his maps are printed. I'm just kind of in awe of his brain!

I just started reading The Evening and the Morning* by Ken Follett, the beginning of a series I've had recommended multiple times. I haven't found the series on the map yet.

What are you working on today?

Happy knitting!

Kiersten J

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Find this and more of my knitting journal entries at KierstenJ.com.