Sunday, February 15, 2009

winding ways

Photobucket

In my garden, stacked in a pile, cut wisteria vines provide an interesting still life. As they wait to be disposed of, the vines wind around themselves and form interesting lines. They twist and turn and repeat their pattern as they grow. They provide the inspiration for a project.

Photobucket

This is the third project that I have completed from the blanket of Cria Violette. Violette is an Alpaca that lives at Finca Alta Vista farm in Pleasant Mount, PA. This scarf will be offered for sale via the Paco Fino online store (still under construction). I met with owner Alan C. last week when I delivered the scarf. I had a chance to see how the website is coming together. I was very impressed.

The yarn for this project was entirely hand processed. Combed (2 tine) and dizzed, and spun on the Ashford Traditional wheel, to a fingering weight of approx 14wpi.

Photobucket

Knit with size 10 circulars, I followed the winding trail lace knit stitch pattern to a length of 72 inches and width of approx 8 inches from point to point. The pattern was staggered in random places to break up the consistency of the lines (nature being perfect in its imperfection) The scarf weighs approx 2.75 ounces and used a little over 244 yards of the handspun yarn.

Photobucket

It will be interesting to see how many projects will be completed out of Violette's first shearing..I have just a small amount of fiber left to spin, so possibly one or two more projects to go.

13 comments:

Manise said...

My mother had a wisteria vine when I was a child. As soon as I saw the photo you posted I knew exactly what that was. The base of the vine looked like that- thick and twisted. I love the scarf pattern and the handspun that you used for it. Very pretty and I bet nice and warm despite it's airy lightness.

Valerie said...

The scarf is beautiful! Makes me think I need to get to spinning some of the alpaca in my stash.

The wisteria vines made me think of Penland. Outside the dining hall is an "installation" of such vines wound around the center support pole of the porch roof, and extending out through the ceiling of that roof. Very natural and artistic.

Thanks for sharing.

Gingerbreadshouse7 said...

I love the scarf with the twisted pattern...but the thought of Wisteria vines drives me nuts!...I
thought I wanted a Wisteria tree, thinking it wouldn't act like a vine..well, it did and for the last two years I've been trying to get it out of the yard, the underneath growth comes from nowhere...they tell me it takes three years to get rid of it...one more to go...Ginny

Sharon said...

beautiful!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Ilove the way you intertwined the wisteria with your knitting. The vines are so interesting and your scarf is beautiful.

Judy said...

It is beautiful. I wanted wisteria so bad and finally realized there was some growing over near Grams house. I was able to transplant a piece now I am just waiting on it to decide to bloom.

Cary ~ My Wool Mitten at Serenity Farms said...

Lovely!

I have been thoroughly enjoying your blog!!! I wandered here from Ravelry and am so glad that I did! Thank you for sharing your creativity ;D

Jody said...

Lovely scarf...such a pretty colour and I look forward to seeing what you will create with the rest of the cria fleece.

sarah said...

The random changes in the pattern is *such* a nice touch. I love it.

Cathy said...

Nice scarf! It's been fun watching your adventures in cria land.

DebbieB said...

I love the way your scarf echoes the natural twists in the vines.

thecrazysheeplady said...

Plied vines :-) And the scarf is beautiful!

Anonymous said...

It's wonderful that you are spinning and knitting for the alpaca farm! Best wishes for a very successful venture.

The scarf has a very pleasing lace design.

Blog Widget by LinkWithin