2021 Tour de Fleece

Here we go again! 

https://sports.nbcsports.com/2021/06/23/2021-tour-de-france-live-stream-schedule-dates-route-how-to-watch-and-more/

In case anyone was wondering what my "spin" looks like, here's an archive photo of me and my bestie-cat doing yarn things together, circa 2013-ish: 

Maia with yarn for Monmouth caps. She prefers if I just stop moving and let her sleep on me.

I looked up past notes, the other day, and discovered that I've been following the TdF (whichever way you read that acronym ;) ) since 2014! 

Pre-Tour Inventory: Work  

At work, my stash is currently all Jacob wool, after a Woolery quiz paired me with this fiber in a "What Sheep Are You?" kind of sales gimmick. I was so happy with the result, I bought a top of each of the 4 natural colors they had (white, grey, black, stripey grey/black), and I'm working through them. That's a good "production" spin, but not inspiring for a limited time challenge like TdF, so I dug through my at-work stash and found samplers - so now I'm starting with Norwegian Top.

Sampler fibers! I'll post the citation if/when I dig it up.

Pre-Tour Inventory: Home 

At home, my spindles are full with white Jacob and cat (both of mine are long-hairs: dark grey tuxedo, beige-Himalayan). I started clearing my spindles at an Adlersruhe demo, and got into plying with two of the sheep spindles, leaving half of a third. 

Over lunch, I dug in my hope chest for roving to work with. (They're all in there, after the Great Rearrange, a few years ago, in which all yarns moved to one side of the living room, and rovings to the other. <3) 

-- I initially thought about the Merino I blended from primary colors into a nice Mooneschadowe maroon. I've been waiting on that until I knew what that wanted to be, but it wouldn't hurt to spin it and maybe leave it as singles - I might-could even BLOCK it as singles! I haven't done that step before. 

But in the process of digging, I found the full Eider Top - I think that'll be where I start for home spinning. I bought this one at the same time as the Jacob, in 2019, to be another New Experience (separate from the sample above, which duplication was not intentional [and sources are different, so there'll still be some differences in the fiber itself]). 

1) Samplers

Fiber in its sampler baggie.

All fiber from the sampler baggie on a spindle.

Norwegian Top was hair-like for a bit, and then we got to be good enough friends. I don't know that I love this enough to make it my primary - but also, I still don't really have a primary. For all that I committed HARD to the Jacob, for a bit, I don't know that I'm going to setup recurring shipments, or anything. 

First eighth on a spindle, with the second started.

Welsh Mountain Top is spinning like an obsession - I have a hard time putting this down. 

2) Home Stash 

Eider Top is spinning like a dream - it just runs, and I go immediately into a Zen state. 

3) New Orders

So there I was, minding my own business on the Tour de Fleece FB group, and someone posted a spindle full of rainbow, and I had an "inappropriate lust" moment - the colors were sublime and the layout of the copp was artful. I searched for rainbow rovings first, and picked up two in breeds I don't think I've spun to date. And then I read the post, and the supplier had a FB group for his work. So, I'm in for two there, too! Updates as I have things in hand, which should start later tonight. 

Leicester Longwool Locks

Cotswald Locks

4) Finished Hanks

I hanked off my white Jacob - what I'd started plying at Adersruhe. I have it labeled for this year's TdF - I might add my chart here, as I get it more populated. 

Winter Solstice

These are all my notes on Winter Solstices, for perpetuity - until such a time as I have a standalone celebration that seems worthy of a longer write-up. So far, I'm Quite Comfortable keeping my own council on such things.

Observation of the Winter Solstice is a phenomenon dating back to Neolithic times. This is the longest night of the year, after which, the days start to slowly take back hours.

Celebrations often include gatherings with food and story telling. Medieval practice included relighting the hearth fires at sunrise.

Finnecanalia is observed around this time as well. (I've misplaced those notes.)

Links to other people's ideas for this occasion:

* Celebrating Winter Solstice by Selena Fox

LINK: https://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/celebrating-the-seasons/celebrating-winter-solstice

Winter Solstice, 2019

Going around and coming around. 

Last year's celebration was lovely and intense and social. I'm not up for that again this year. 


Projects 

• Wrist warmers - I have two pairs but I want a few more, plus they're GREAT for generic cold-weather presents
• Mom, Sarah, Tallest Kat, Bea - all still in the works, though they're all taking shape

Notes

This will be a "stress test" of the new kitten, Odo, in our lives. I haven't done anything like an all-nighter around him, yet - but I do know where he goes when he's DONE with any given party. This will probably be good for all of us. Charles may be home this time - not sure yet, but it's a weekend.  

Day job reference

Ed-Curr all settled in to our new building. The only thing still new-feeling about this place is getting the kinks worked out of social gatherings. The gatherings themselves are increasingly social, multifacted, and engaging. 

Winter Solstice, 2018

This year is planned to be a little different - friends have floated the idea of having a wine-drunk movie night.

Projects 
Something I can carry to the Miller House without too much angst. Might pack a suitcase like I did for the Bar Night, after Search and Rescue.

*Scheepjes Ubuntu for Mom
*Scheepjes Ubuntu for Sarah
*Scheepjes Sophie for Bea
*Monmouth caps for Crown Tourney


Notes
I'm hyping this up more than they're expecting, or necessarily ready for. But dammit, it's one of my favorite traditions for myself.

Wines - Poinsettias and Mimosas?

After the fact, I can say: we spent more time with the Great British Baking Show in the background than much else. But we did watch The King's Speech and at least one other movie.

Day job reference
Ed-Curr second winter in the new building. DH's first winter in the Enid job.

Today, our newest Editor (Amy) told Holly and me about the Solstice observations at Mounds, OK. Maybe I'll do that next year - that's Just the Thing.
LINK: http://www.okhistory.org/calendar/event/winter-solstice/

Winter Solstice, 2017

Projects

Jimmy Bean Wool Craftvent Calendar, with the final product intended for the Hieber Family gift swap.

Completed the "house coat" using homespun yarn. Frogged it again pretty quickly after, but that's not the point. Its final form is the Expression Fiber Arts West King Shawl, completely out of gauge.

Background Company 

• Dawson's Creek
• Will and Grace
• (little bits of 90210 and Parks and Rec)

Notes

The Craftvent Calendar included a tea packet on one of the days I was working through. Perfect.

At some point, Brisaac stayed on our couch, and needed a ride to the City in the morning.  DH did the honors, while I stayed home with a snuggly cat.

The rest of my notes for this iteration are too personal or intense for this forum.

Day job reference
Ed-Curr first winter in the new building, having moved in over Gulf Wars in March. DH at GWS.

Winter Solstice, 2016

Day job reference 
Last winter for Ed-Curr in the FST building. New building was all but done, but not yet fully permitted. DH at GWS.

Winter Solstice, 2015

Day job reference
Ed-Curr at FST building. DH at the City.

Winter Solstice, 2014

I think this is the year I misread the calendar and observed a day late. 

Day job reference

Ed-Curr at FST building. DH at the City.

Winter Solstice, 2013

All through the Winter Solstice 2013 (when I watched vigil on the longest night), all through Christmas break and all the preceding for-Christmas knitting marathons - I've wanted to make slippers against my cold wood floors. Just finally got around to it yesterday, after spending a few hours reading other designers' patterns. 

I came up with Cold Afternoon Slippers, also on this blog [linked, eventually]. The pattern is overthought and not terribly elegant, but it spoke to me where I was at that time. 

I don't remember if this was my first observance. It was close to the first, if not officially it.

Day job reference
Ed-Curr at FST building. DH at FSB, I think-?

Project Focus: Monmouth Caps

Monmouth Caps, Elsa Style

elsa@hailmog.org

I like to remember why I get myself into rabbit holes, and this is an important one in my personal and SCA life. 

This was one of my all-time favorite projects, for a friend with a Norse persona. The hat itself is wool; the horns are cotton, stuffed with fiberfill - and removable. The white dots around the brim are counted to 6, to imply Baronial status in our Kingdom - recipient was a retired Territorial Baron of Northkeep. 

No Kidding, There I Was, watching my younger brother stumble in the front door around Fall, 2010, covered in concrete dust, wearing only two layers in the beginning chill of fall. And I said to myself, "Self, my little brother is going to get himself sick by working construction without proper head covering in the coming cold and rainy season." So, I got working on an answer to this problem. 

I needed a style that was acceptable to modern aesthetics (because, my family still isn't quite sure about my weird "nerd hobby"), plus respectable to a garbed community (because, my "nerd hobby" is important to me, and I want it to be warmed and fed). All to the Glory of MOG if I could foist upon my brother a case-in-point about how medieval things aren't necessarily weird, and can be quite functional and attractive in everyday life.

So, I made my brother a Monmouth cap.

Pile of "Libby Hats" for a friend's Elevation to the Order of the Pelican - she wanted them as largess for the friends who helped her set-up and run her vigil area, since the vigil/elevation were at an event in the middle of winter. 

Then, his coworkers, who were also my friends working outdoors in the gathering cold, wanted hats. And then more of our mutual friends also wanted hats. And then SOs and other family members also wanted hats. And then it was just the reasonable thing to do to make up a bunch of spare ones in Liondragon Guard colors just in case. I quit counting (but kept knitting) at 400. 

This hat style is a treasure: simple, clean lines; looks acceptable (cozy, even) in modern company; has street-cred for medieval-recreation company; warm-but-not-overheaty in brisk temperatures; easy care; not itchy. 

Citations - aka Historical Street-Cred: 

This stylish cap follows a fashion phenomenon mentioned by Shakespeare (Henry V, Act IV, Scene 7) among others. Identifying features include a hemmed brim, a loop at the back, and a button on the top, and was often felted. I omit the button (simplicity) and felting (materials), but (mostly) maintain the silhouette (right shaping, wrong thickness). 

Jennifer L. Carlson. "A Short History of the Monmouth Cap."
Mistress Talana's site was the first I looked up, because I have seen her work "in the wild." I learned how to create these caps from her descriptions and photographs. Her historical analysis includes a discussion with a living history researcher at Colonial Williamsburg. 

Caleb Johnson's Mayflower History. "Things the Pilgrims Brought on the Mayflower."  
The provisions list cited by Mayflower historians is my favorite document to reference when I talk about these hats: this cap style was so "in" that it was referenced by name, recommended for settlers coming to the New World.

Getting Started

Yarn: 

• Medieval: Coarse-spun wool, around "bulky" weight. Manufactured in the Monmouth region of Leistershire (I think that's right-ish). [will add citation next time I fall down that rabbit hole] 
• Talana style: LionBrand, Wool-Ease Thick and Quick

• Elsa style: LionBrand, Hometown USA, Super Bulky Acrylic Yarn; wash cold, air dry. 

Colors:

• Medieval: brown or red, monochromatic.
• Talana style: monochromatic; whatever she had on hand, or tailored to the person/occasion

• Elsa style: dual-chromatic; whatever I have on hand, or tailored to the person/occasion 
• MC = Main Color - Crown
• CC = Contrast Color - Inside brim and hanging loop

Needles: 

• Medieval: Probably double pointed needles (DPNs) of metal wire.

• Elsa style:  Size 11 (circulars with 16” cable are nice). For kids hats, I use exactly this pattern but on size US 10.5 DPNs. 

Pick-up Tool 

• Medieval: I imagine this was handled with another needle, but haven't seen anything definitive.
• Elsa style: I like a crochet hook for this (sized around G-J, doubles as finishing tool). 

Finishing Tool 

• Medieval: no idea. Finishing work is hidden, and when complete, unremarkable. 
• Elsa style: Same crochet hook as above, large enough to snag most of the strand to secure it to the WS fabric. 

Elsa Hat Directions:

• In CC, leave a tail about the length of your arm – fingers to shoulder. This will be the hanging loop. You might want to finger-crochet the tail to make the length more manageable while you’re working around it.
• Cast on 48 sts. 

• PM and join in round. Knit 5 rounds, weaving the tail between rows. 
• Purl 1 row.  The tail should hang out the RS. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail to join the next color. 
• Join the MC, and knit 5 rounds, maintaining the tail on the RS.

• Free up the tail. Pull it snugly along the CC brim rows, and finger-crochet the length evenly - it should be long enough to wrap around two fingers in a closed loop. Leave about 2 inches of tail after securing the chain. Pull the tail through the fabric (at the purl seam is a nice place) and secure it on the WS. (I usually tie it and also weave it into the purl bumps for security overkill.)

Take a deep breath – this is the tricky part: 

In less alarmist terms: this is a three-needle join.

• Use the crochet hook (hook end leading) to pick up 6-8 stitches of the cast-on row. Hold the crochet hook and left needle parallel, WS together. (The purl row should make this look natural.)

• K2tog across, using one stitch off the crochet hook and one stitch from the needles. Keep working until all stitches of the cast-on row are secured – this will seal up the hemmed brim. (The last one or two k2togs will probably be a little wonky - mine still are, and I don't have a clever answer for that.)

It's all smooth sailing from here!

• Knit even for 18 rows.

Shaping: 

• (K4, k2tog) to end of row

• Knit 2 rows

• (K3, k2tog) to end of row

• Knit 1 row

• (K2, k2tog) to end of row

• Knit 1 row

• (K1, k2tog) to end of row

• (k2tog) to end of row - 8 sts

Cut yarn and thread the tail through the live sts. Pull snug and dress on WS.

Enjoy!

Pelican-style Monmouth Cap. I started making this style for that same aforementioned friend on the occasion of her Elevation to Pelican, which coincided by the same-order Elevation of another friend - the timing simply spoke to me.