Icelandic Textile Center

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Weaving a black sand beach and a visit to the Gilhagi mini mill

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Weaving a black sand beach and a visit to the Gilhagi mini mill

I am still at my Icelandic Textile Center residency in Blonduos. I’ve had a lot of fun researching and working with Icelandic fleece. Please see THIS earlier post for more details about Icelandic fleece and my project.

Spinning Icelandic fleece

After the sod house tapestry and the woven sample I showed in that post, I kept spinning and finished another small tapestry. The more I spun, the more I could recognize what I needed in the yarn and I’ve gotten closer to singles that I like. When starting out, I was putting very little twist in the single because that is what you’re “supposed” to do when spinning singles that are to stay singles. But for tapestry, I didn’t like it. It was far too bumpy and uneven and more twist allows me to smooth it out to make a more even single.

The first tapestry weaving at my Icelandic Textile Center residency

The first tapestry weaving at my Icelandic Textile Center residency

When applying for this residency, I designed a project working with Icelandic fleece. I wasn’t even sure I would be get my hands on any raw fleece, but I managed to find a source through the friend of a friend and have been playing with the little bits I have. I am looking at how Icelandic works for tapestry yarn and getting a lot of spinning practice in in the process.

I had to work with the fleece I was able to get. A little bit of it is outstanding, lots of it is spinnable but not great, and some of it is not going to make the tapestry cut though I have been considering trying to spin it for knitting.

My tapestry yarn woven test includes these sources. All but the fleece I purchased either at the Handknitters Association of Iceland in Reykjavik or in grocery stores in the rural north. The Plotulopi came from the Kidka Wool Factory Shop in Hvammstangi.

  • raw fleece

  • Einband: a lace-weight singles yarn made by Istex that is quite nice for tapestry

  • Plotulopi: the traditional unspun roving sold in plates

  • Lettlopi: mostly I’m making a pair of traditional mittens from this, but it actually weaves quite well also. Worsted weight.

Ice, snow, and northern lights

Ice, snow, and northern lights

The nature. On the plane on the way to Iceland (if you fly Iceland Air which I recommend), there are lots of fun videos about this country. Many of them are about how to enjoy and protect THE nature. I love that they use an article to set apart the monumental importance of the landscape and living things here.

One of the most important things for me when I go on an artist residency is that it be somewhere where I can spend a lot of time outside. My work is inspired most often by my experiences in the outdoors. The north of Iceland was a perfect spot for me to spend time away from daily distractions gathering ideas for new work.

Here are some images of what I’ve seen so far (minus the yarn).