[ID: a handknit jumper. the front features a seal sitting on a rock in the sea, with fish falling into its open mouth. On the back is a bucket, throwing the fish up and over the shoulders to the seal. end ID]

"Sealed with a Fish", from Wild Animal Knits by Melinda Coss. Knit with John Arbon Devonia and Devon Naturals DK yarn.

I'm really interested in learning more about specifically north american indigenous textiles and textile production because so many resources discussing textile production and textile history completely disregard north america, but I have no idea where to even begin. I'll go haunt my college library and the city's central library at some point soon, but i'm wondering if anyone knows any interesting resources on native textiles, especially those written by native people, off the top of their heads?

Salish Blankets: Robes of Protection and Transformation, Symbols of Wealth; by Leslie H. Tepper, Janice George, Willard Joseph

The Teachings of Mutton; by Alison Ariss, Andrea Fritz, Chepximiya Siyam Chief Dr. Janice George, Danielle Morsette, Debra Qwasen Sparrow, Eliot White-Hill Kwulasultun, Jared Qwustenuxun Williams, Kerrie Charnley, Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa, Michael Pavel, saꬷamitća Susan Pavel, Senaqwila Wyss, Snumithia’ Violet Elliott, Tuwuxwul’t-hw Tyrone Elliott, Xweliqwiya Rena Point Bolton

^ embroidered a net onto the front pocket of these overalls

I bought a sashiko kit at the fiber arts festival and just completed it! Top is the "front", bottom two images are the back before and after washing off the preprinted pattern/instructions.

Sashiko is beautiful as an art form and very useful as a method of mending clothing but what really fascinated me is the stitching technique you use on work like this, where both pieces of fabric are thin and flexible.

i use paintbox yarns cotton aran + a 3.25mm hook

front

i pretty much just follow this free pattern from raffamusadesigns (the goat btw) !!!! follow rounds 1-3 for the apple part (none of the squaring is necessary) as well as the part for stem and leaf! she has a very helpful video too! dont forget to sew the little seeds, i personally feel they're easier to sew on before assembly

back

just a half sphere! here are the instructions:

round 1 - single crochet 6 in magic circle

round 2 - single crochet inc x 6 (12)

round 3 - [single crochet, inc] x 6 (18)

round 4 - [inc, single crochet 2] x 6 (24)

round 5 - [single crochet, inc] x 12 (36)

rounds 6-9 - single crochet 36

fasten off and leave a long yarn tail for sewing to the apple front

feet

chain 6. [double crochet, half double crochet] in the 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch in the rest of the chains

assembly

Every year, California’s largest sheep and fiber festival, Lambtown, takes place in Dixon, CA. On the second day of Lambtown, teams of eight compete in a “sheep to shawl” competition, where the teams must start the day with un-spun wool and end the day with a 72” woven shawl. Teams may “warp” a loom ahead of time (where you thread the loom with its foundation of parallel threads), but on the day of competition they must spin their wool into yarn and weave it into a complete shawl.

This year competition was stiff, and very very close, and the winning team finished their shawl with two and a half minutes to spare.

I frequently hear about “needing to keep “politics” out of fiber arts, but art is inherently political.

These were beautiful, masterfully spun, woven, and finished shawls and that in itself is worthy of note.

But watching this team of eight would fight for hours, and pour their love for their community into their art was deeply moving and I am still reveling in the opportunity to have seen this win.

I don’t have kids

I don’t spend money on nicotine

I don’t gamble my money away on sports

I’m not reliant on a chat bot for all my life functions

This is attempt 5 and 6 to get the shape right

I also need to show you my partner's genius idea of adding brown spots as measurement marks!

Gallus’ tags: