Three of My Best Wool Blankets

Today I delivered three wool blankets, all generously sized, fringed, soft, and ready for years and years of use. They cover a range of natural shades of wool from the Wenger Sheep Farm north of Williams Lake, BC. I know the Wengers from years of fleece sales and spinning tales, but they no longer have sheep and so their last fleeces were really special to me.

These three blankets have a warp of Shetland wool threaded in a series of diamonds in what I call smooth and rough twill. Each blanket is woven with a variety of the five shades I spun - from white through light grey, two browns and a dark brown.

This is where I stood back and thought - "Wow, I love these blankets!"

Three wool blankets with handspun weft from the Wenger Sheep Farm

Wenger Blanket #16

Wenger Blanket #17

Wenger Blanket #18

"The towels are here!"

I mailed six towels earlier this month ...

Georgian Bay Towel

Shades of green with narrow stripes of Tuscan gold (left) and mauve (right)

Different twill weaves in soft shades of greens and blues

... and received this in reply:

The towels are here! And they are gorgeous! How lovely to have seen them (or their near neighbour) on your loom!! Thank you Jane. I look forward to seeing you again.

Yup, that's a big reason I do this! :-)))

Update: Here's what the buyer shared with me in late December:

I gave away all but one of your beautiful towels, 2 in Vancouver, one to California and another to Halifax, and one to PEI and I have received enthusiastic thanks from all corners!  What a treat to be able to share your wonderful work.

Cariboo Handwoven Travel Shawl = Very Stylish Blanket Scarf

My first set of travel shawls was a bigger hit than I ever imagined and four sold quickly from my studio. The fifth one was displayed in the local Artwalk in September for the silent auction and sold there, and the sixth was the first item to go at the UNBC Artisans of the North craft fair last month.

Somehow I am actually in fashion for once. Travel shawls are really just the very current, fashionable and practical blanket scarves which are in vogue now. Just Google "blanket scarf how to wear" and there are many ideas on how to fold a square into a triangle and go from there, or tie a rectangle as a big scarf or even wear as a loose jacket with a belt. All styles look great.

I was particularly inspired when this big cotton blanket left my studio in September:

It's fringed, has a complex pattern of herringbone and small diamonds, and I wove it with burgundy, dark purple and navy. The new (young) owner wrapped it around her neck in a very stylish and inspiring way. Fringing cotton blankets is a bit trickier than wool ones because the cotton is slippery and it's a more taxing task for the hands and wrists. But a fringed cotton blanket makes a great blanket scarf and I want to make more in other fibres, like silk and bamboo.

As for my latest travel shawls, here are the last four, all woven in waves of undulating twill, with only three available now ... let me know if you're interested in any.  They each measure approximately 150 cm x 80 cm (60"x 32") and are fringed.

Travel Shawl #7 | 100% wool | Sold

Travel Shawl #8 | 100% wool | Sold

Travel Shawl #10 | 100% wool with approx. 50% handspun | Sold

Travel Shawl #11 | 100% wool | Sold

Update: All travel shawls have now sold, the last two going at the Station House Gallery's Christmas market. That's a total of twelve travel shawls woven and sold this year! Thank to all buyers, and may the lucky recipients enjoy their travel shawl for many years. Thanks again to all involved.

"Thank you for all you do to make the world more beautiful."

I received this utterly amazing compliment just a few minutes ago. I am so touched, so inspired, and so grateful that the new owner of a travel shawl wrote me with her especially kind words.

I didn't even get a photo of it! They sell too quickly!

Thank you so much.