Meg Hanson

Merino and Silk Hand Woven Scarf

I used my rigid heddle loom to weave a scarf using the silk/yak/wool yarn I hand spun last fall. I really wanted it to be a shawl or wrap, but the width of the loom limits the size to a maximum of 15″ wide. I had enough yarn to make it as wide as theContinue reading “Merino and Silk Hand Woven Scarf”

More 100% Cotton Towels

I made another set of 100% cotton towels. This time I used something called 8/4 cotton weaving yarn, which is thinner than the Peaches & Creme yarn I used for my first set of woven towels. It has a higher number of yarns per inch (think sheet thread counts). There are other cotton yarns calledContinue reading “More 100% Cotton Towels”

Frostline Kits

Does anyone remember Frostline Kits from the 1970’s and 1980’s? That was a company selling kits with fabric, 100% goose down filling, and accessories for sewing outdoor clothing and equipment, including down vests and jackets, backpacks and tents. Frostline Kits was started in 1966 in Colorado by a former employee of Gerry Mountaineering. At theContinue reading “Frostline Kits”

Minnesota Winter

Minnesota winters can be brutal, but they are not as bad as they used to be due to climate change. There are still stretches of severely cold weather, but not as many or for as long, and days with above freezing temperatures are more common. Being comfortable outside is not necessarily about the temperature. AContinue reading “Minnesota Winter”

Upcycle Dog Carrier Backpack

Last winter when we were snow birding in the southwest, we used my backpack to carry our small dog around while on day trips. This fall I decided to make Lyla a dedicated carrier using a thrift store denim skirt my daughter had abandoned. It looked like the right size and shape for the purpose.Continue reading “Upcycle Dog Carrier Backpack”

Cotton Dish Towels

In December I wove some 100% cotton dish towels on my 15″ loom. Everyone can use a new dish towel, so I thought they would make nice gifts. And I can always use more myself whether they turn out perfectly or not. I started researching patterns and yarns, finding many options. I learned that cottonContinue reading “Cotton Dish Towels”

Happy Holidays

I have written before about my mom’s extraordinary creative abilities. In today’s post, to celebrate Christmas and honor my mother, I am sharing photos of Christmas decorations and other things she made over the years. The yellow angel has been around for as long as I can remember. My mom must have made that inContinue reading “Happy Holidays”

Wool/Silk/Yak Yarn

A spinning project is a good activity for long pandemic days at home. I figured out how to download audio books on my phone using an app called OverDrive, so I hardly notice the time going by while listening and spinning. I had two ounces of a “braid” of 50% silk /50% yak roving thatContinue reading “Wool/Silk/Yak Yarn”

Vintage Buttons

I was preparing to post some store sample hats from my cousin’s yarn shop for sale on ETSY. Normally I go for simple and practical, without a lot of embellishment. But I felt that these hats needed something more to distinguish them from the many other hats for sale. I had the idea of addingContinue reading “Vintage Buttons”

Too Much Stuff

Throughout history most people have lived with few possessions, by necessity, economic limits, or cultural norms. Early nomadic groups moved regularly. Most people for thousands of years were, or are still, just surviving. After WWII in the United States there was an economic boom that resulted in many people owning homes and experiencing financial stabilityContinue reading “Too Much Stuff”