Snapshots from Slater Mill

Knitting Weekend at Slater Mill is always a favorite, and this time around was no exception.  We had a wonderful turnout in spite of a healthy dose of winter weather, and it was lovely to spend time with such enthusiastic, passionate knitters.

I'm fascinated with the mechanical operations of old mills.  Here's what caught my attention this weekend.

Today we're in the grips of an arctic blast.

It's a good excuse to curl up with my knitting and another cup of coffee.

Snapshots from Slater Mill

My head is in a fog after a busy weekend in Rhode Island.  Knitting Weekend is always a blast, and the venue at Slater Mill is one of a kind.  There's something cozy about being tucked away in the dead of winter with a bunch of knitters at a restored fiber mill.

I'm always intrigued with the mechanical operation of the mill - the water, the gears, the pulleys.  Round moving parts are always fascinating, and I'm feeling inspired to have a sit-down with my spinning wheel.  Here's a glimpse.  

Thanks to everyone who came out.  It was a delightful weekend.

Snapshots from Slater Mill

What an exhilarating weekend!  I was at Slater Mill and watched from the sidelines as people around the world marched.  Through the wonders of technology my fellow vendors and I shared stories and pictures as they came in from friends and family.  It was definitely a powerful moment in history.

Speaking of history, Slater Mill is an important part of New England textile history.  I can't say enough good things about this place.  If you're in the area, be sure to put it on your list for a field trip.

The Knitting Weekend Marketplace is held right in the museum with booths positioned among the machines and exhibits.  Here's a glimpse of my weekend in the museum.

Thanks to everyone who came out.  It was a good opportunity to share ideas and inspiration.  It was a colorful weekend all around.

Snapshots from Slater Mill

I had a wonderfully hectic time at Knitting Weekend . . . the kind of crazy chaos that leaves me feeling inspired and thoroughly exhausted.

While I recover, here's a glimpse into this very special event.

A sock knitting machine from 1957.

A 1930 replica of a Crompton spinning mule.

There's a story here.  This very talented knitter snagged this
Jamieson & Smith yarn for less than $10 at a yard sale.  She set the yarn aside for a special project, and when she finally decided to use it, she designed her own pattern.  

She was inspired by Elizabeth Zimmermann's ideas on shawl construction and came up with this gorgeous shawl.  It was six months in the making, and she took careful notes.  Maybe one day she'll write up the pattern.

Mid-Winter Fiber Party

Winter fiber events are extra special.  First of all, there aren't as many to choose from.  Combine interesting knitting classes with a fiber market.  Add a charming, unique, picturesque setting.  Throw in a healthy dose of cabin fever.  You have all the ingredients for a party. That's what we had this past weekend in Rhode Island - a fiber party.

Knitting Weekend at Slater Mill.

This bell was used to summon the mill workers.  It still works, and this weekend it was used to signal the opening of the market.

Where there's a mill, there's water.

The market was held in the museum part of Slater Mill, and the vendors configured booths around huge pieces of machinery.

A circular knitting machine.  The mechanics of this old machine are fascinating.  I overheard a couple women discuss the possibility of fitting this piece in a living room.  I'm not sure there would be room for anything else.

The Mill Girls by Donna Berger.

This art exhibit is made from cardboard, styrofoam, yarn and acrylic paint.

It celebrates the young girls who worked in the mills.  Mill work required long, grueling days, but it gave the girls a chance at economic and social independence. 

The market included a diverse mix of vendors.

In The Loop brought a selection of soap from The Apothecary at Hobbit Hollow.

Kelly from Romney Ridge Farm was on hand with yarn produced and dyed in Maine.

Chrystee from Play at Life Fiber Arts dressed this mannequin.  I love the combination - Askews Me and Garter Path Shawl.  Friends from Ball and Skein, Green Mountain Spinnery, Katrinkles and more were also on hand.

Discussions with knitting designers and vendors, catching up on the latest with customers . . . Knitting Weekend was all this and so much more.  My head is spinning with ideas and inspiration - food for thought in the days and weeks to come.

Museum Notes

I'm back from another delightful weekend at Slater Mill in Rhode Island.  Every winter they sponsor a Knitting Weekend complete with classes, a market and a bake sale.  Some people come to just hang out and spin or knit.  They're a very social group.

The market is held in the museum part of the mill, and the vendors are scattered among the mill equipment on display.  

No matter how many times I've been to the museum, I always find something new.

These two pieces fit together and are part of a larger piece of equipment.

I'm fascinated with the mechanics and the tooling of it all.  Textile mills are such an important part of New England history.  Slater Mill is a great resource to tell that story.

Of course when you're vending in a museum, the display comes in handy for modeling your wares.

The organizers of this event always pull together a nice mix of vendors.

This past weekend was no exception.

Part of the fun of this event is chatting with different people.  I met a couple women who opted out of Vogue Knitting Live this year and were on a little fiber retreat of their own.  There was a student from the cowl class who shared some of her own design ideas.  And there was a steady parade of beautiful handknit garments.

By the time I sat down last night, it was late.  I should have gone to bed, but I was still buzzing from the weekend activities.

And so I settled in with a little knitting of my own.