Jan 13, 2016

Winter Expedition

new year. new journey. setting off on an expedition.

expedition (n.) 1. an excursion, journey or voyage made for some specific purpose or exploration. 


This expedition is inspired by Sarah of Fibertrek's Shackleton CAL which invites you to join a community of fellow explorers and challenge yourself to go beyond known boundaries to 
pursue that epic knitting/crafting project that will test your resilience and skills. An expedition requiring perseverance, thinking through obstacles, flexibility to change with circumstances and the courage to follow your passion into the great unknown. 



After much pondering, I have mapped out an itinerary, gathered in supplies and set forth.
Combining my love of islands and the sea, my passion for the art of hand knitting, and my curiosity for learning about ancient craft and ancestral roots my new year's journey is taking me to the islands of my ancestors to study their traditional hand knits.  First stop, Fair Isle for an exploration of pattern and color, then on to the Orkney's for a study in the structure and texture of the Gansey, and finally to Aran to traverse the interlacing intricacies of cables.  At journey's end ~ three hand knit pullovers steeped in tradition and a wealth of new knowledge and confidence.

What is your epic hand crafting challenge?  Where will your journeys take you this year? What new skills will you be exploring?

You can join in the Shackleton CAL adventures HERE and follow Fibertrek's expedition HERE.

Happy New Year and Bon Voyage!



Dec 20, 2015

Kanagawa KAL

                 Clockwise : Sea Star. Crustacean. Rockweed. Atlantic. 

Holiday gift knitting all done?  Settling in for a long winter's rest and wondering what to cast on next? How about joining Emily, Sonya, and Beverly (loveaslug , knitsonyaPoMoGolightly on Ravelry) for their KANAGAWA Mitten KAL?  Limited edition Nash Island TIDE POOLs are available at clementine and on our web store! Each colorway contains six mini skeins (60 yds each of 6 colors), the perfect amount to make a pair of KANAGAWA mittens by Through The Loops and have enough left over to make this great TRIG hat by Mary Lou Egan




The Kanagawa KAL will begin in January, after the holiday rush, as life quiets down and winter settles in.  You can order your KAL Tide Pool yarn HERE or HERE.  The Kanagawa mitten pattern is available HERE.  And the TRIG hat pattern is available HERE. And don't forget to post pics of your finished KAL projects on the Nash Island and Starcroft Fiber Fans Ravelry group page HERE.  
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Nov 27, 2015

Starcroft LIVE

Starcroft's new web store is live! Check out our new logo designed by Holly McBride.  

On Our Story page we share with you the history of Nash Island Wool and the making of Nash Island Yarns. 



On our Shop page you can fill your cart with Nash Island TIDE yarn...


and Nash Island FELTING WOOL for your holiday knitting and felting projects. 


With the website up and running and the house building in it's finishing stages I am looking forward to getting back to the mill and working on the 2015 clip after the holidays. First up is a batch of Nash Island FOG. I'll let you know as soon as it's ready!