Poppies and Anzac Celebrations

A year ago, a member of Thames Creative Fibres suggested that the group and the community make knitted, crocheted and felt poppies for display in the town on Anzac Day. One year later Maureen's determination and passion have resulted in a beautiful blanket. It was used in a ceremony on April 18 to unveil the 25lbr field gun  -a symbol of remembrance outside the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre. The gun has been completely refurbished by local Thames businesses.

Several wreaths were also made with some being displayed in local businesses. Another wreath was included in the Classic Car parade. In addition crosses covered in poppies and wreaths will be carried in the Anzac Day Parade. Poppies have also gone to Gallipoli, London and Canada, At the breakfast after the Dawn Parade, arangements of poppies will be on the tables.
After Anzac Day the blanket and crosses will have permanent home in the foyer of the Civic Centre.

Got there - 2nd woven scarf

I'm happy with this scarf. It is great to wear as it's long enough to arrange in different ways. The alpaca makes if super soft  and the edges are satisfyingly even (enough for me).

Close up of fleece locks.

The thick and thin yarn forms interesting waves in the centre of the image below.

All the yarns except one were handspun and dyed, not necessarily in that order by yours truely.

Back to weaving

J had thought my weaving days were several decades in the past but all that changed when I saw a friend weaving on an Ashford's knitters loom. Like spinning, weaving has become more creative in the last 5 years or so. I have not quite reached the no rules approach - I still like even selvedges - but my weaving has become more playful. Nearly all the yarns I used were my own handspun. Here is a wine coloured single pulled up to make little loops.

 These are some of the handspun yarns I used in the weft - merino, merino boucle, merino and alpaca thick and thin which I had lightly fulled, thick singles also fulled, grey plyed yarn and many more. The mauve mohair is a commercial yarn. I'd also dyed most of the yarns.

 This part includes spaces, inlaid art yarn, more fine singles and thick and thin.

The finished scarf. I'm not totally happy with it 'cause the mohair section is wider than the rest.

Bunny angora, silk and merino skein

This skein was a gift for the best knitter I know who had a baby some months ago. I carded the fibres together and then painted the spun yarn with dye.

Lacey felt curtain

I've made another curtain for the bathroom. It's a great way to use up of lengths of handspun. Singles are especially good for keeping the piece together. Our shower curtain is patterned with large green and turquoise leaves so I added some leaf shapes to the felt.