





Linen gathers light, holds it and gives it back.
Though the growing season is short in Sweden and Finland, the light is long, and nearly continuous, under summer's midnight sun. I think flax grown in the short summer, long on light makes the fibers long, and the yarn lustrous. I love to weave with this linen.
In the pictures I look at of the oldest houses in Sweden and Finland, I see transparent light filtering handspun, handwoven linen panels, hung at the windows, and from the center ridge beams of the house to the outside wall. The effect is a tented ceiling of soft, light reflecting linen. In their long, dark winters, handwoven blankets and rugs of wool provided necessary warmth on beds and floors, and warm clothing.
But I think linen's effect was more important. I think it uplifted spirits, by amplifying what little light came in, giving back the summer sun it absorbed, and a reason to survive. Because they did survive, I am here weaving in Avalanche.
Robins sang cheerily early this morning in the spruce tree, but a blizzard is coming again tonight!
1 comment:
Is this for part of your pieced linen blankets? So gorgeous! It looks soft and comfortable.
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