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A new tapestry yarn! Made in the USA.

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A new tapestry yarn! Made in the USA.

GIST Yarn is a wonderful small company based in Boston. Started by the brilliant Sarah Resnick, it is a yarn and weaving company that values materials sourced in the United States. Sarah and her team are committed to supporting local agriculture, mills, and dye houses and their weaving yarns are gorgeous.

I have admired Sarah’s business for many years now and was thrilled when she asked me about a new project she was thinking about, a tapestry yarn made from US wool in a US mill.

If you’re a tapestry weaving, you know that there aren’t all that many yarns that come in a wide range of colors that include gradations. This holy grail of tapestry coloring, having light, medium, and dark versions of the same hue, only exists in a few yarn lines and none of them currently are made in the USA.

Preparing for a long walk in the woods

Preparing for a long walk in the woods

I’m getting ready for a long walk in the woods. Preparation for about 5 weeks living out of a backpack is a lot more complicated than perhaps it should be. Some people can throw their gear in the pack and pick up food along the way, but I have a health issue that means I absolutely have to have gluten free food. Because the trail towns on this particular trail are so small, this means I have to have my food arrive on the trail every 5-7 days. Often the USPS follows through on that. This year Emily is going to help me out in three spots as well which is lucky for me because it means I’ll get a shower and clean clothes as well!

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My travel weaving kit: Have loom, will travel

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My travel weaving kit: Have loom, will travel

I’ve done a few different posts over the years about my summer travel fiber kit. This year I’m taking it on a long backpacking trip so it has to be especially streamlined and lightweight. I’ll be hiking the Colorado Trail this summer for about 5 weeks. At least I hope so. You never know whether a long trail will actually happen end to end. So many things can take you off trail from injury to illness to weather. But I’m going to give it a try.

I’ve given myself a 6 ounce weight limit for this fiber kit with an additional few ounces for a drawing/journaling kit. So half a pound total for my entertainment on trail (plus I bring Kindle books on my phone which I need for camera and back-up navigation).*

I'm taking a break! The mountains are calling.

I'm taking a break! The mountains are calling.

Those of you who watched the last Change the Shed or saw my newsletter last week know that I’m taking a little time away from my office. The last several years of writing a book and producing two new online courses* have taken a lot of the zing out of me and I’m ready for a long hike.

One of my favorite activities is long distance backpacking. That just means backpacking but for a long time over hundreds of miles. Backpackers call it thru-hiking if you finish a long trail. I’m going to attempt that this year, but I’m not making any promises. I’ve had a few health challenges recently and I’m not going to force my body to do anything it isn’t ready for. But I’ve been training and am feeling strong and the miles are coming easier.

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Change the Shed: Handbasket cut-off!

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Change the Shed: Handbasket cut-off!

In this week’s episode of Change the Shed, I cut off the Handbasket tapestry. I am reasonably pleased with this tapestry in large part because it was so much fun to weave! I wove much of it on Change the Shed over the last 9 months. Those of you who follow that program have seen it grow, experienced the decisions I made moment to moment, and in the live event yesterday, heard me talk about the things I might do differently as well as what I liked about it.

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Jilly Edwards: Yellows and Pinks

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Jilly Edwards: Yellows and Pinks

Jilly Edwards is an artist working in woven tapestry from the UK. She currently maintains a studio in Bristol. I was able to interview her for my online course, Design Solutions for the Artist/Weaver, Season 2 this spring. Jilly is an inspiring artist who is keen to share her knowledge and work with the rest of the tapestry world. I spoke with her for several hours and as always when I write or talk to Jilly, I felt like I’d just had a heart to heart with the dearest of friends.