The British Museum recently announced they have developed new techniques to discover how ancient Egyptians used dyes on a child's sock. Their non-invasive techniques have established which dyes were used: madder, woad and weld. Also how people of this period used double and sequential dyeing and weaving, and twisting fibres, to make a myriad of colours. Read more in The Guardian here: www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/oct/04/imaging-tool-unravels-secrets-of-childs-sock-from-ancient-egypt I always try to visit the Exhibitions at the Knitting and Stitching Show and usually find something, which draws my attention. This year it was a series of ‘drawings’ of old ladies. On closer examination, I realized that they were of one lady, the mother of the artist, Jenni Dutton, and that they were stitched not drawn at all. Each portrait in the series was a reproduction of a photo of her mother, starting when she was a girl. The earlier ones were in black and white but those of the older version were in colour. Each stitch was about one cm in length and looked like a fine pencil line. I took a close-up photo to show the quality of the technique. I can’t remember when I first heard about Shetland Wool Week but each year when I saw reports on various media, it became more and more enticing. It also seemed fraught with difficulties because you need to book your flights and accommodation months before the programme is made available, just before bookings open in May. What if none of the workshops, talks or tours appeal? As it happened, I was encouraged to go for it by Frankie, a friend from Cambridge guild who had worked out the logistics for me and her daughter, Katie. I spent hours researching the tutors, the venues and the bus/ferry services and then had a frantic time online trying to get my chosen workshops before they sold out. I was lucky and got into most of them which resulted in a wonderful 8 days, busy with workshops and talks. The weather was far better than I expected and, although it did rain, I missed most of the showers whilst in classes but enjoyed the magnificent rainbows when I stepped outside! |
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