I'm teaching a beginner paper weaving class at Au Papier Japonais on February 2nd.  Today I wove some samples using the shop's wonderful hand-made washi (japanese paper).  Sadly the fine quality of the above brown kozo isn't captured in these photos, its a special washi made with the inner bark of mulberry. 

These particular samples use fairly thick strips of paper which is an option for students.  I'll be posting some finer woven samples closer to the day of class.

Here are some photo's from the lace knitting workshop at Unwind.  Student shawls are still in progress and it's been fun to see how different yarns are knitting up with the same pattern.  On the first day we began by knitting mini samples of the shawlette so the students were able to sample all the different techniques right off the bat, including seeing how the shawlette pattern progresses and takes shape.  Above is Kim's sample in mohair.  Isn't it cute?

On my last evening in Ulukhaktok Suzie and Julia took me to the old town where they all used to live before the community needed more space.  Every once and a while I'd turn my back to the wind to keep my face from freezing off.  But I stuck to the plan, braved the cold and we had a tea party in a blizzard.  The next morning they told me that they thought that maybe I was turning around in longing for my warm home.

This is us (less Cora and Diane) right before I left for my flight on the last day.  I'm wearing my atikaluk (a-tee-ka-look), a gift Mary made me, and the quiviuk hat the ladies made me on the knitting machine.  Some of the ladies in the picture are wearing the hats I made them for the awards ceremony we had had the day before.  Ada (far left) was the program coordinator.  She often picked me up in the mornings and took me to work on her snow mobile.  Even though it was only two blocks away,  I was very thankful, especially on cold windy mornings.  Sometimes it was as cold as -30, brrrrrr. 

This picture is of me wearing a polar bear head purse in an Inuvik art store, it has the actual bear nose partially still intact.  Can you believe it?  This is a rare find even in the Arctic.  Although I didn't see any polar bears while I was there, a grolar bear (polar grizzly hybrid) was killed the week before I arrived in Ulukhaktok.  It had been going through abandoned houses and destroying things, so it was definitely a threat to the community.  Read about it here and here.  Below is a pic of the taxidermied grolar bear in the Ulukhaktok Community Center.

When I instructed Mable to knit 110 rows she stood up, took a firm grasp on the knitting machine carriage and went at it.  Take note at how far away the machine ends up being from the table.

Sunday's Indigo workshop was so much fun!!

The best part about teaching indigo dyeing is the pure excitement of the students as they witness the magic of indigo for the first time when they pull their fabric out of the vat and see it change from green to blue before their eyes. 

Here are a few pictures from the day including one where a few of us sang to the vat; Indigo vats can be temperamental and ours was looking a bit dismal, so we thought the indigo gods would appreciate a song.  Fun times.

I'll add photos to this album as I receive them from students (thanks Kim and Franca for these ones).

It's already been three weeks since I left Ulukhaktok!  Now that I'm all settled into vacation mode and I've had a chance to think about what I just did, I'm really proud of myself and so thankful to the wonderful people who made this opportunity happen for me.  Also I'm missing my students badly!  I gained eleven grandmas and aunts in Ulu, and it's sad to realize that I won't be seeing them again any time soon.

Above are photos of some of the products on display at the open house.  I was constantly being impressed with their work ethic but was still blown away when I counted over over 50 hats on display.  

I still have a few Ulu moments that I'd like to share once I get my pictures off my camera.  Stay tuned.  Also, here is the website I made for the program where you can see photos and details of the full fifteen week program.

<3 Janna

If you've ever been interested in knitting lace and think you're ready to begin making holes on purpose this is the workshop for you.  Lace knitting can seem very scary for the knitter who has simply stuck to knit and purl stitches and avoids patterns at all cost.  If this sounds familiar, this workshop was designed for you.  Participants will learn basic lace knitting techniques and will work on a simple shawlette pattern with easy-to-remember repeats.

Sadly my brand new camera has died which means I cannot post any pictures of my sample shawlettes at this time, but the one above by cashsmith is similar (but larger).

Silk, cotton and linen yarns would all be lovely to use for the season and available at Unwind for purchase


Beginner Lace Knitting
two part class,  June 15 & 22
6pm - 9pm

Unwind Knit & Fibre Lounge
Gibsons, BC

Call for pricing:
604 886 1418

www.unwindknitandfibre.ca

Indigo dyeing is by far my favourite method of dyeing fibre.  When I lived in Vancouver I had a back yard (above) where, in the Spring and Summer seasons, I'd always have a large indigo vat (and invite friends over to join as you can see).  In the Fall and Winter I took over the laundry room; so needless to say I always had one around.   In Montreal our apartment does not allow for such luxuries, so I'm super excited that when I leave the Arctic in two weeks I will be visiting Gibsons for a month where I will have a yard to play/dye in.  YAY!

I'm also having a dye day in a yarn shop while I'm there!  So I'd like to invite any of you who are interested in learning about the magical process of indigo dyeing to join me at Unwind Knit & Fibre Lounge where I'm holding a one-day workshop on Sunday June19th.  Participants will leave the workshop with the knowledge AND materials/supplies to begin their own in-home indigo vat.  We will also be exploring the fascinating Japanese art of shibori which will achieve beautiful texture and design on your indigo-dyed cloth.

Intro to Indigo and Shibori
instructor Janna Maria Vallee
Sunday June 19th, 2011
9am-5:30pm

Unwind Knit & Fibre Lounge
1161 Sunshine Coast Hwy
Gibsons, BC

Call Unwind!
604 886 1418

www.unwindknitandfibre.ca

For their first weaving project most of the ladies wove belts.  Here in the arctic these belts are often used to keep a child inside ones parka by tying it around their waste.  I can't count the amount of times that I've been chatting with a woman and hear a squeak coming from behind them, not realizing that their child was in their parka the entire time.  It's the best way to keep their little one warm.

Below Mable wears her first handwoven belt.

The ladies had a blast learning how to machine knit and worked like machines themselves.  Soon I'll show you the PILE of products they have produced.  It's very impressive.  My portion of the program received a large donation of quiviut yarn which is made from the fleece of the local Muskox.  It is softest and warmest fleece in the world- actually!  all the brown products that you see in the pics are made with quiviut.

As you can see they have already begun creating designs, like muskox and roses, using both the electronic and punch card machines.  Pretty amazing!