boro bag and qivuit

I’m a bag lady – delighted with how the boro bag turned outbits and pieces from years of weaving and dyeing

it all started with stitching a sample from the Japanese Textile workshop

then I needed a second side

a removable strap and handles stitched in to hang down

so they are out-of-the-way until needed

and pockets – outside and inside

I had planned to make a leather bottom

but couldn’t find a large enough piece that I could hand stitch or afford

so on to plan “B”handwoven linen, stitched for strength

with book board (heavy card used for book covers) in the bottom for shape

now that I have all the “kinks” worked out of my pattern

I’ll make a smaller version for everyday use

no shortage of scraps to choose from!

in the spinning department – qiviut (musk ox hair)Heather gave me a bag of raw fibre a friend had collected in the north

in the center is a small pile that has had the guard hairs removed

I didn’t realize that it had so much crimp

have you ever wondered why the fibre or a small scarf cost so much?

it takes hours to hand pick

many of the guard hairs are 8 + inches (20.5 cm.) long

and there are zillions of them

a small sample, spun and washed

incredibly soft and lightthank you Heather, I’ll be picking this all summer, outside in the sunshine