new book!

A couple of weeks ago, I met Joanne Seiff, who is the author of a really wonderful-sounding, not-yet-published book, Fiber Gathering. It's coming out next March. It's all about fiber festivals in the US, including the MD Sheep and Wool Festival, Rhinebeck, the Black Sheep Gathering and more.The book will have projects, patterns, and loads of photos from ten fiber festivals. Does she have the best job in the world or what?

I'm hoping to have her here for a workshop and book signing around March of next year. Details to come!

She's got another book project in the works but it's too soon to say much about, except that it's about sustainability issues in the yarn/fiber/knitting world.

That's something that's been on my mind for a while, as I'm an active participant in the distribution chain, being a yarn shop owner. I want to be aware about everything I stock: is it environmentally benign or harmful? How far did this yarn have to travel to get to my customer's hands? How many harmful chemicals, toxic dyes, or exploited workers were involved in its production? What is the true cost of this product? (the photo below is from the Briggs and Little mill in New Brunswick, Canada, producers of reasonably earth-friendly yarns).



I've handled many a "fun" yarn in my day, without thinking about bigger issues, but the fair trade and sustainability are words that are driving my inventory choices more and more. I don't have answers, but I think it's essential to be aware of these issues.

—on soapbox—opinion alert— acrylic yarn is just plain bad for the environment. It's not just that it comes from oil, but that it lasts forever. I'm really concerned about the stuff we're throwing into our children's future, in the name of crafting—off soapbox—

It's great to see that the major yarn companies are starting to respond to environmental issues. Organic and low impact crafting materials should be available to everyone.

Check out Joanne's website here. Here she is with Harry.