I don't intend opening the debate on what is art as opposed to craft, but I do know artful craft when I see it.

 



Regular readers will know that a couple of weeks back I had a visit from Dorothy, a weaver, who had driven all the way up from southern Scotland to come and visit the Dye Shed (and to see a bit of Assynt, but mainly to see the Dye Shed) and we had a great time together.  We first met at Gardening Scotland a couple of years back when she was visiting the show with a friend, and was thrilled to find a yarn stand at the show.



Well Dorothy and I had both been waiting impatiently for the Còinneach 100% silk laceweight to come in so that I could dye it and we could put a little plan we had into progress.   As soon as it landed on my doorstep, I dyed up a storm, got it dry, and sent it off down to Dorothy.

 



And about 10 days later I received a parcel in the post, but not before a number of e-mails had gone back and forth between the two of us.  I am not a weaver, so I didn't really fully appreciate the issues which Dorothy would face with weaving with 100% silk, so the project has been a learning experience for both of us.  Dorothy isn't entirely happy with the end result, for reasons which I won't go into, and I respect that and admire her perfectionism, as I know when I'm knitting it is so obvious to me when something isn't quite how I want it.   And we have both accepted that this is Version One of the project.  But ....... I absolutely love it.



I love how two very different colours of silk yarn can be woven into something so sumptuous.  And it is impossible to get across in a photograph, but when you move the scarf it keeps changing colour.  Sometimes the blue is more dominant, sometimes the gold.  The two colours which Dorothy used were Almost Midnight and Warm Gold.

I look forward to seeing Version Two.  But I don't intend letting Version One out of my sight any time soon.

[caption id="attachment_5100" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Photo © Dorothy Stewart"][/caption]