This hat is knit in the round, offered in two pattern ways with long histories. One is the sunwheel and the other is a ladder. The sun wheel is one of the oldest symbols from this part of the world. An alternate version shows the ivy vine, a symbol of fidelity, along with the ladder … Read more
In ancient times, wool workers were the custodians of life, with a power beyond even Zeus. Indeed, Eileithyia, the goddess of midwifery from Minoan times, and who helped bring children from the darkness to light was called, in Greek verse, “the clever spinner.” The Greek goddess, Clotho stands, in carvings, with her two sisters in a pure, … Read more
This baby blanket carries with it the intention to safeguard a new life. The purple border that marks the beginning of the work symbolized protection in ancient Rome and, when knit with love, might just do the same today. The textured stitch in the body of the blanket is meant to echo the woven fabric … Read more
The star of this chapter is a hat that has figured in the fashion and history of human head coverings for thousands of years. Originating in Asia Minor as early as five hundred years before the common era, this red felt hat went from being the symbol of outsider status to being a potent symbol … Read more
The original Phrygian hat was of soft red wool, probably felted without being knitted first. This version is knitted and then felted. It can be dressed up in myriad ways; the variations are endless. Please note: This pattern has not been fully test knit. Yarn Cascade 220 100% Peruvian Highland Wool Color Red 9404 Needles … Read more
The story of seasonal moving of flocks can be told all over the world, from the steppes of Asia to the lavender fields of Provence. The movement of sheep makes the news in the modern era, as from time to time, when sheep are herded through the streets of modern European cities such as Barcelona … Read more
There are many versions of the story of Melusine, and indeed, over time an entire academic community has grown around the story and its history. The most famous version is by Frenchman Jean D’Arras, written around 1392-94[1] as one of a series of “spinning tales,” to be told to ladies to amuse them while at their spinning. In most versions … Read more
A weaving culture that cannot be left out of any atlas of the wool roads is that of the Dine’é of the Southwestern United States. Called the Navajo, the Dine’é followed the seasons to different lands, and found that the Churra or Churro sheep, which were brought by the Spaniards provided a means for a good life. The … Read more
This is a story is about a time when sexism was the saving grace of the sacred sheep of the Tzotzil. A development scheme of the 1970s introduced an “improved” breed of sheep to the Chiapas Mexico region, hoping to improve the economy. Development workers made presentations on this great new breed to the men … Read more
I owe an enormous and long-standing debt of gratitude to a number of women about whom I intended to write years ago. Each went out of her way to serve as guide and storyteller based on my presentation of myself as a documentarian who would build on the gifts they freely gave. I owe them for extending … Read more