Leap Day
Here are more pictures from Friday. The first two show the
transformation of the laundry room into a lunch room.
Remember how Beth said that some embroiderers knit? Here’s Rosemary with her first stocking (for us). She’s already knit two pairs of gloves, one larger and one smaller (the smaller ones fit me perfectly). This is the leg of a stocking and represents 17 hours of knitting.
I think I mentioned how there was so much going on. Everywhere you looked, someone was busy working. Wendy was sitting at one end of the room. She was using the sunlight from the window to finish that pansy on the back of the jacket.
Behind Rosemary you can see Penny and Shaina working. They’re at the opposite end of the room from Wendy. Shaina’s working on entering the contact info for the last couple of dozen people who ordered embroidery or lace kits. Penny is mending some of the knitted items in preparation for the museum opening in just three weeks.
We’ve had an amazing response to the request for volunteer knitters. We’re now getting a couple finished items in the mail every week. We’re up to 13 pairs of stockings and 8 pairs of gloves. A few interpreters have come in to pick up their period clothing in preparation for opening, and have had the opportunity to choose a brand new pair of stockings and/or gloves to use for the season. It’s hard to explain just how happy a new pair of woolly stockings makes an interpreter, but there is a “happy stocking dance” that spontaneously happens when we take the lid off the stocking storage bin. Thank you to everyone who has been helping to make the happy stocking dance possible.
Tags: , knitting, pansy, Penny, Rosemary, Shaina, stockings, Wendy
March 4th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Well, now, you must immediately cease and desist all activities until I can make it out there. I demand it! You’re all making me much too jealous and envious and just plain giving me the Iwanna’s. *sigh*
I’m only joking, of course; but seriously now, all that luscious embroidering, using all those fabulous threads, plus the fabulous knitting and the fabulously set up lunch room… It is a crying shame I’m in Sweden and not there stitching away with you guys.
I’ve tried going back again to older posts, because I was looking for information on where you get your regular silk floss from, and also if/when/how one might go about getting a hold of your special order gilt twist floss in future. I didn’t find it though. Any chance you might write about that in an upcoming post?
March 6th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I just saw your note and can easily tell you that the regular silk is Soie Perlee made by Au ver a Soie, a French company. In the United States it’s distributed by Access Commodities and any large needlework shop should be able to get it. It looks like they also have a distributor for Sweden listed here on their website: http://www.auverasoie.com/html/gb/clients.htm
As for the Gilt Sylke Twist, I believe the plan is to make it available to the public sometime in the not hugely distant future. I hope so anyway, regardless of cost. I was one of the first stitchers to work with the first spools an I loved it from the first time I used it. I’ve used the Bisse (cream) a fair bit but I must admit that I love the Indigo Blewe (dark blue) best! The way the light shines on the darker colors is gorgeous. I’m sure there will be info here on the blog about that when it does become available.
Can you come visit from Sweden? There’s still plenty of stitching to do.
Even if you can’t, the practice kit will give you 4 colors of the Soie Perlee and some great instructions and a fun pattern to keep, and your practice pice would still be part of the exhibit collection and history of the piece.
Come on over everyone — the dollar is weak, Plymouth and the area are beautiful in the spring (which we hope will arrive soon) and the jacket is an experience not to be missed! Everyone is a friend as soon as you start stitching together.
Robbin