Glastonbury

It was at last Summer's TNNA, (the National Needle Arts Association Trade Show), that I first saw Tilli Tomas' Sari Silk yarn.  It was the mix of colours that drew me towards it before I picked up a skein then loved how it felt in my hand; heavy, dry and slightly rough.

We are so used to touching yarns, feeling their individual qualities and I usually go for yarns that are so soft, I want to bury my face into their fibres.  The Sari Silk had a different effect on me. Although, the yarn was a thing of beauty in skein form, I knew that if I took it home, got to know it a little better, that I could make it even more beautiful.

The Sari Silk, as you might expect, is made from recycled saris. Strips of colourful, sometimes embroidered silks are cut and sewn together to form a skein of yarn that is as individual as you and me. When handling the skein, I thought about the women who may have worn the saris that were now joined together in one yarn.

Where had these women lived?

 Were the saris worn as part of an everyday outfit or were they for best?

Maybe some of the saris were once wedding dresses?

As the yarn felt quite heavy and textural, I decided against making a garment out of it. I also decided that the colours would stand out better if mixed with a solid yarn of neutral colour. I chose Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton, a yarn I have used many times before and a personal favourite - I know it well. I also decided to design the piece in crochet, instead of my usual friend, knitting.

The mix of yarns; colourful, recycled silk and soft as a bunny rabbit, organic cotton, where to be striped in basic crochet stitches to become a wrap which can double up as a small rug.

How perfect to take along to an outdoor, Summer music festival!  You can sit on your rug and soak up the sunshine during the day, then when things start to cool down a bit, you have the warmth of your rug to wrap around your shoulders whilst looking fabulous! 

When the festival is over, you have the memories of the music and the dancing in a colourful wrap/lap blanket to brighten up your home.  My Glastonbury has become a very useful and beautiful piece that I will use and treasure for years to come!

- Heather

Want to win the pattern? Tell us, in a comment below, what color choices you would pick for Glastonbury and we will select a random comment for the winner.

Comments

[Ashley P]

This looks like such a fun knit! I love that its crochet. I would use lagoon and a neutral. It's perfect spring/summer colors!