In case you have not noticed, we are in the middle of a cold snap. Apart from the fact that the shop is very chilly inside, I am delighted. It looks lovely and it is good for those seeds which need a bit of cold to get going. As I mentioned before, I enjoy this time of year just for the planning that I get to do because it is too cold to do anything other than hunker down beside the fire. I am busy thinking about my vegetables for the year because I will need to sow the tomatoes and peppers in the next couple of weeks apart from anything else. We have committed to a week’s sailing in the Hebrides in June, which I think I am looking forward to, largely because I have already declared my unwillingness to run around hoicking up sails and anchors, but instead have stated a preference to act as the ship’s cook which seems to have been accepted by the skipper in charge of the event. Actually, I have already started fantasising about jumping ship and checking out tweed manufacturers while I am there – there is a business in Mull I have always wanted to visit…
I mentioned last week that Mandy and I have started planning for our first Retreat in April. As it happens we have had a couple of cancellations this week, so there are three spaces available. Furthermore, we are offering the opportunity for you to attend for one day only if you would prefer for half the price – we suggest the first day because that is when Jenn from Fibreworkshop will be coming to talk to us, in addition to the colour work knitalong that Mandy is organising. You can find further details here, and book here if you are interested. The last date for booking is 31 January as I and the venue will need to have a precise idea of numbers by then.
Moving away from future plans, however, and back towards thinking about the cold, I thought I would remind everyone about the amazing properties of wool for keeping you warm. As I write this, I am this wearing 3 layers of woollen jumpers, thermal woollen socks and a woollen shawl and the only part of me that is suffering in the current 9 degrees of cold in the shop are my hands, which I am keeping warm by typing this blog. I am constantly amazed by how layering up in the cold is actually effective – I recall in the dim recesses of my mind that we learned in Physics that it is the air trapped between the layers that helps with insulation. Of course, this is how wool works too. A wool fibre is made up of two main types of cells, each of which has a slightly different chemical composition. In finer micron wools these cells are arranged in two distinct halve but in coarser wool the arrangement is less distinct. It is this difference in cell types, placed side by side (that is fine and coarse together) that creates the natural crimp in wool. This is because the two cell types expand at different rates when they absorb moisture, causing the fibre to bend. The crimp in wool fibres makes it soft and springy to the touch. It also adds bulk and traps a large volume of air between the fibres, giving it good insulation properties. This is why Merino and Shetland wool, for example, which both have a lot of crimp, are so warm. If you are wondering what crimp looks like you can see it in the photo below which is of Merino wool. This is why, in my opinion, the best underwear is made of Merino wool and the best warm sweaters are in Shetland wool.
In any event, I am grateful for the warm jumpers I knitted last year which have very much come into their own these last few days, not to mention the Dustland Shawl the size of which I resented slightly while I was knitting it, but which is a perfect wrap for this weather knitted as it is in cosy Colour Lab DK from West Yorkshire Spinners. It has been interesting to see how many people have been driven in here this week by the cold, looking for chunkies and super chunkies, or alpaca or mohair combinations to combat the cold. As always, I have very much enjoyed seeking out patterns and putting together colour combinations for them. Without a doubt, I am very lucky to be able to spend my days in this enjoyable way.
It is likely that the cold will lessen in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, wrap up warm and enjoy the time to knit without having to worry about other tasks that can only be done in warmer weather.