This is Oktobre. They are the face of the company. as well as the wind beneath our sails. Additionally, they help morale.

This is Oktobre. They are the face of the company. as well as the wind beneath our sails. Additionally, they help morale.

T'was a dark and mildy drizzly midday, when from the heavens Oktobre came to us. They spawned a dream. A dream that took to loom. A dream that brought textiles, unlike any others, to the good people of the midwest.

Oktobre, sheep of dreams, blessed the earth and from it grew the House of Spools. Oktobre then called for mighty champions of the fleece.

Barbara was the first. The first to heed Oktobre's call, and follow their threads to the House of Spools. Knighted as the Lead Fleece Finder, she paves the way with her intricate designs and fleece findery. 

Yet, the fleece still called, mighty and strong. Stronger than one alone could corrale. So, Barbara enlisted Andrean and her Child of Many Names to join her in the House of Spools.

Thus, Andrean became the Yarn Wrangler and the Child of Many Names became the Warp Whisper and, together, the three became the Sheep Shifters.

They answered the call.

They heed Oktobre.

They shift spools to woven story, fleece to freedom.

Stay-at-home: My stash was made for this!

Barbara Daiker
Hounds tooth in yellow and teal made from Cotlin

Hounds tooth in yellow and teal made from Cotlin

Honestly, I’m an extrovert, and I miss connecting with friends and family in person. However, if you looked at my stash of yarn and projects, you might think otherwise. So, it has worked out to have the materials and no expectations of other diversions, to work on design and production. Last year, the Urban Growler had an early summer event that would have been perfect if I had enough inventory. If they can host it this year, I’ll be ready. One of the new items is organic and regular (40%/60%) cotton towels. The yarn is textured, giving a thicker and softer finish. Wonderfully absorbent and so very touchable. I’m also making lots of Cotlin towels in checks, hounds tooth (one of my favorites), and various twill. The linen in the fiber gives added strength, and they get softer over time. From a weaving perspective, the linen creates small lint balls that grab the yarn and keep them from separating in the weaving process. It is worth the fight. My epic project for this year is a hand-spun and woven jacket. I’ve settled on a cabled ply yarn in colors called Mallard (sweet, right?). I will add some white as contrast and possibly purple undertones to soften the green. It may take a year to complete all the steps, or not if we have to stay-at-home longer than expected.

How to do better

How to do better
Another show 2019

Another show 2019
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