Silk is not new. It has been around for centuries and is loved for its softness, lightness and warmth. The current trend in silk is mawata or silk hankies or silk caps. Yes…three words that are used interchangeably to refer to a pile of thinly layered silk cocoons that have not been spun. Mawata is a word that comes from the Japanese and means “to spread around”. Silk mawata are cultivated silk cocoons that have been degummed and stretched over frames to dry. If the frame is a square, the resulting pile of stretched silk cocoons is called a silk hanky. If the frame is bell-shaped, the pile of silk is called a silk cap. Different shape, but same process and fiber.
Stephanie featured mawata in her blog and showed how the dyed silk hankies turned into lovely, soft and bumpy silk mittens. A new trend began and we decided to jump on the bandwagon! Our summer class schedule offers two sessions of Knitting with Mawata taught by Gretchen Funk. This two-session class will show you how to start with mawata, create a knittable strand of fiber, and end up with a gorgeous hat or cowl.
The first class is on June 9 and 16, and the second class will be held August 4 and 11. We have sourced lovely silk caps from a local dyer in three colorways available to class participants to purchase. One of the silk caps is currently on display in the shop. Warning: if you touch it, you’ll be hooked! Call 651-222-5793 or stop by the shop to register for a class.
