Last year I attended the Woolly Good Gathering and had a wonderful time finding new vendors, chatting with fellow crafters, and demonstrating with the Edinburgh Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers. For 2025, I’ll be back, but not just as a guest! I’ll be giving a talk about my work, entitled “Protecting Your Textile Treasures […]
Author: Isabella Rossi
Mechanical Properties: Choosing the Perfect Fiber (Farm & Fiber Knits)
A new article for a new year! My latest article “Mechanical Properties: Choosing the Perfect Fiber” was just published on the Farm & Fiber Knits’ website. It discusses how the mechanical properties of fibers change how yarns react and how to choose appropriate yarns for your knitting projects. I explain how the properties of tenacity, […]
Roamin’ in the Gloamin’: Conservation of Harry Lauder Costumes
One of the latest conservation projects in the studio was the treatment of two jackets owned by Harry Lauder. Read on to learn about the history of the objects, their condition issues and how the costumes were preserved for future display. Who was Harry Lauder? Harry Lauder was an early 20th century music hall performer. […]
Book Review: A New Guide For Costume Mounting
I’ve been preparing to teach an upcoming workshop on costume mounting, and looking for approachable resources to recommend to people with limited experience. Conveniently, Janet Wood’s book Creating the Perfect Form: How to Interpret and Display Historic Dress was just published on 27 June 2024 by Bloomsbury. Summary This new book starts at the very […]
Dyeing with Elderberry: A Light Fastness Test
Anyone who has ever picked elderberries before will know that they stain your hands a beautiful purple colour. But could this common berry be used for dyeing yarn, and would that colour stand the test of time? After a foraging foray in October 2023, I decided to reserve some elderberries for a dyeing experiment. Traditional […]
Tartan Reflections and Repetitions (PieceWork, Summer 2024)
I’ve just published a new magazine article in the Summer 2024 edition of PieceWork magazine. “Tartan Reflections and Repetitions” covers the history of one of Scotland’s most iconic textiles. I delve into how the fabric is defined, its history as a symbol with many meanings, and how it’s worn from the traditional fhéilidh-mór to the […]
When to Seek Out a Textile Conservator
What is a textile conservator and when do you need to contact one? Textile conservation is the caring for and repairing of textile objects. These objects can be everyday garments or important historical flags. They can be a tapestry that is hundreds of years old or a quilt stitched a few decades ago. They can […]
Moth Myths: Protecting Your Textile Treasures (PieceWork, Summer 2023)
Have you ever opened your yarn stash to see a moth fly out or noticed that your favorite sweater has small bites taken out of it? Read my latest article in PieceWork Summer 2023 to learn more about preventing moths. The internet and old wives’ tales are rife with advice on how to prevent a […]
Dyeing with Lady’s Bedstraw (Spin Off, Spring 2023)
Learn about dyeing with Lady’s Bedstraw in the Spring 2023 issue of Spin Off! My article explains the history of the plant in Scotland, how to ethically forage for it, and how to produce lovely shades of coral and yellow. If you would like to find out more you can purchase a copy of Spin […]
How To Transform A Raw Fleece Into Clean Wool
I recently attended the Connecticut Sheep, Wool, and Fiber Fest. I went thinking I would only buy washed and prepped wool, but walked away with a six pounds (2.7 kg) Corriedale/Cormo/Romney cross raw fleece. A raw fleece is any fleece that has not been washed or otherwise prepared for crafting. Raw fleeces have only been […]