This isn’t going to be about the Paris Climate Agreement, but I am so disappointed with #45’s decision to withdraw. While mostly disappointed in the message this makes about climate and our environment, I regret what has happened to our global standing, and how this likely to marginalize us in a way I have never experienced. I will continue to do what I can for our environment because I remember a Los Angeles brutalized by smog and the nasty creek and river beds, the sewage going into our bays and river, and I do not want to return to that. So I will continue to do my small part–reusing my plastic bags (mostly declining them), recycling & composting, walking, taking public transportation, being mindful of my vehicle usage, and being a consumer of what I need. I will support the small, mostly organic farmers who grow the produce I love, and to support my local economy as I can.
Paris and the Regency Period of Dress
This is also referred to as the Empire, Georgian, and Napoleanic period. It all started with Marie Antoinette in Paris, and the empire silhouette, rising toward the upheaval of the French Revolution. The waistline shifted to under the bust, and heavy gowns gave way to lightly layered fabrics with narrower skirts. But remember there wasn’t central heat, so those lighter gowns required jackets, sweaters, and shawls. Fireplaces were the main sources of heat, which meant that distance from that source could be chilly!
I remember being thrilled in 1984 when Amadeus was released. The costumes communicated the actual fit of garments at that time and the restrictions they placed on movement and comfort. Definitely pre-spandex, and sleeves and armholes were problematic. So think Jane Austen (England, not Paris). Beautiful things, but fit was decidedly different than what we want today.
Filament No. 3 Reviewed
This is what made me think about the Regency period. Jane Austen Knits began in 2012, and designers Anne Podlesak and Kathleen Dames were part of it, creating beautiful designs influenced by the period. Filament No. 3 shows some of the influences in fabric/stitch patterns, silhouettes, and details.
The color story is nautical, mostly blues and teals, with a bit of rope and moss, and an odd inclusion of red. The yarns are transitional or summer-appropriate. I am making a list of them below because we so often overlook good summer yarns, and I think we should check them out!
The collection is composed of three wraps, one scarf, a tank top, a skirt, a sock, and a cardigan. There are lovely ideas here and some laces I will definitely explore. A solid collection with one outlier.
- Newport Linen from Halcyon Yarn, light fingering weight, 100% linen, 56g / 300 yds [274m]
- Ultra Pima from Cascade,DK weight, 100% cotton, 100g / 220 yds [201m]
- Soft Linen from Classic Elite Yarns, DK weight, 35% linen, 35% wool, 30% alpaca, 50g / 137 yds [125m]
- Rhiannon from Wooly Wonka Fibers, sock fingering weight, 75% merino wool, 25% nylon, 100g / 465 yds [423m]
- Firefly from Classic Elite Yarns, sport weight, 75% viscose, 25% linen, 50g / 155 yds [142m]
- Lyonesse from Blacker Yarns, 4-ply fingering weight, 50% Falkland wool, 50% linen, 50g / 190 yds [174m]
- Filo from Lang, sport weight, 75% cotton, 25% nylon, 50g / 219 yds [200m]
- Sparrow from Quince & Co., fingering weight, 100% linen, 50g / 168 yds [154m]
As always, I encourage you to buy this. I further encourage you to explore these yarns!
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