The Touchwood Project

My first experiment with dyeing and spinning has given me another opportunity to understand what it is to have enough. It’s thrown down the challenge: how do you enjoy life just as it is?

It starts with a tapestry.

The Coming Storm tapestry

My first handspun project

As I mentioned previously, I wanted to knit a tapestry based on a photograph I took of our view. It was my first time working with dyes, carding wool, and spinning. I whittled and sanded the knitting needles from birchwood Malcolm collected for me down in the Cairngorms (wood being too rare here to gather).

I wasn’t sure if I’d actually finish it, it took so much time. But I was determined and today at last it’s done.

I decided to hang it next to our kitchen window, which is almost exactly the same view as I took in the photo. It makes me smile to see the colours and texture, and it’ll do me good to have something pretty to look at while I work on the computer.

Hanging next to the real view

Success is having enough

After a brief daydream about someday selling this kind of thing, I decided to stick with doing it for my own pleasure and for gifts. I’m happier that way.

Success in this case isn’t selling it, but enjoying my tapestry and feeling I completed a challenging project, especially as a beginner. I have to remind myself that it’s okay to be a novice, to be okay with making mistakes or having something come out not perfect.

The inspiration

At first I resented not being able to sell it — I’m not sure it’s good enough and more importantly, I loathe the idea of marketing it, even on a website — since that meant I wouldn’t have the money to keep doing my hobby. I’d have to stop spinning and dyeing.

This is one of those testing moments you have when you’ve decided to stick to a budget. You look for ways around it, and if you’re me, you throw a little tantrum when you can’t find one and you know you’re going to have to give it up, at least for a while.

But as the storm settled, I got to thinking again about the concept of having “enough”, of appreciating what’s there instead of always longing for more. Even simple things like a new craft offers me that chance to practice.

Because really, I’ve made so much yarn and related stuff for this I’ve got more than enough. To acquire more wool is unnecessary, and soon I’d have bags and bags of stuff I don’t use. More bags, that is, since I already have other bags of yarn and fabric for my crafty-ness.

And perhaps by having a limited supply I will be able to appreciate more deeply what I’ve created.

Perhaps with scarcity, I can forgive the imperfections and appreciate what I’ve got instead of tossing it aside to make more until it’s perfect.

You know, I think I might have talked myself round on this one. I’ve just looked over to my little tapestry with fondness, rather than a critical eye. How about that.

Offering spinning courses one day

The other lesson to come out of this is that I think spinning and perhaps dyeing are good projects for Touchwood in the longer term. My city slicker friend Steph was here a couple of weeks ago and she eagerly gave spinning a go. It seemed to be fun and relaxing even in just a short space of time. So I’d like to see us offer these courses at our eco lodge one day.

Final Coming Storm project: crazy pillow

I’ve still got more yarn:

"Sky" and "Grass" yarns handspun

It’s another good Power Off activity, so I think I’ll knit up a pillow I’ve long been meaning to do with the last of the yarn:

I'll try this in Sky on one side, Grass on the other.

As Clark W. Griswold said, “I did it.” Time for tea.

Tags: crafts, happiness

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