| August Top of the Month Club 2016
It is summer and it is HOT! During the middle of the day, the heat is almost unbearable. In the north corner of my studio, the thermometer reads 90 degrees which doesnt include, of course, the dripping humidity. I have several fans to help me stay cool while I am working; during days like these, they only blow hot air. I work hard to stay balanced, but sometimes I get dazed by the heat. When that happens, I try to cool myself off with the colors.
I get the fiber ready to dye and I stand at the table, ready to work. It is so hot, things start to seem unreal and I can feel myself slipping into a dream-like state. To cool down, I make myself think of the Mediterranean Sea and I reach for a bottle of turquoise. My cool blue thoughts barely make a ripple in the heat; I watch my other hand pick up a bottle of smoldering red. Oh NO! Not that! Refusing to be steamrollered, I force myself to think of the Atlantic Ocean and counter with a blue-green. Undeterred, my other hand stealthily pulls a dark magenta. I am becoming delirious; this color sequence is starting to spin out of control. I desperately grab a different shade of blue, only to find myself matched with a hot pink. Back and forth I go, in a feverish tango, until I finally surrender to Red Hot & Blue, our August Top of the Month Club!
Our wool this month is Falkland! The Falkland Islands are home to a sheep breed which is a combination of Polwarth, Corriedale, and Merino sheep. These sheep are adapted to their unique climate and they are raised with sustainable methods. This Falkland wool measures 26 microns and it is open and easy to spin. You will find this wool next-to-the-skin soft; it will spin into a plump, resilient yarn with plenty of bounce
Our wool/silk blend this month is Polwarth/Tussah Silk, 85/15. Easier to spin than merino, Polwarth has a bouncy feel and a matte glow which gleams with the addition of tussah silk.
We have two accompanying tonals this month, Viola and Chinaberry. They are shown below, dyed on Falkland.
Stay cool and Happy Spinning Everyone! Happy Spinning! | |