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 […]
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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 […]
Margaret Macdonald: The Other Mackintosh of Glasgow Style (PieceWork, Summer 2022)
When you walk the streets of Glasgow, Scotland you’ll be struck how much the city loves the local architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. However, Mackintosh’s wife Margaret Macdonald was also a wonderful artist. I believe that she should be recognized for her contributions to the distinctive Glasgow Style. My latest article in PieceWork examines her influence […]
Conservation of Color (Spin Off, Spring 2022)
The new issue of Spin Off is available now which includes my latest article, Conservation of Color. My article clarifies the science behind color in textiles and how dyes attach to fibers. Have you noticed your lovingly handmade textiles fading? I also explain why dyes lose their vibrancy over time and how you can reduce […]
The Salt-Box Shoe and Deliberately Concealed Textiles (PieceWork, Spring 2022)
My latest article is now out in the Spring issue of PieceWork magazine! It focuses on the Salt-Box shoe, a small child’s boot that was found in the ruins of a house in Shelton, Connecticut. But how did the shoe survive the elements for almost one hundred years and why was it thought to bring […]
Dyeing Tips from a Textile Conservator (PLY, Fall 2021)
It’s finally autumn because the Fall issue of PLY came out today! Does your hand dyed fabric have splotches? Do you struggle to dye your yarn the same shade every time? Do you want to improve your consistency in the dye pot? Then read my latest article in PLY magazine! My article offers advice on […]
New Lanark: Robert Owen’s Great Social Experiment (PieceWork, Fall 2021)
Although it’s still summer, the Fall issue of Piecework is arriving! This issue follows stories of how textiles have acted as “Threads of Change.” My article follows the history of the New Lanark textile mill which eagle eyed readers may recognize in my banner photograph! I explain how the nineteenth century social reformer Robert Owen […]
5 Electric Long Draw Tips for Beginners (PLY, Summer 2021)
It’s that lovely time of the year when a new issue of PLY: The Magazine for Handspinners comes out! And guess who has an article in it! This latest issue of PLY is all about electric spinning wheels. As a person who did not had a lot of space or money to dedicate to spinning, […]
Conservation at Work: William Gray’s Purse (PieceWork, Summer 2021)
The new issue of PieceWork is out! When I saw that the topic was Safekeeping: Preserving Needlework Histories I knew that I had to submit an article on textile conservation. My article talks about the conservation of William Gray’s World War I purse. This was the last (and hardest) conservation project that I completed during […]