Safe to say that trying to put the plane journey to good use by crocheting snowflakes was not a success (and this was the best of them!)I found the thin crochet thread hard to work with, and it was really difficult to see what I was doing. I’m going to try again with knitting wool and a thicker hook, but probably not for a while as I’ve lots of other projects ongoing.

But while in  Washington, although I decided against going to the Textiles Museum because I was told it’s mainly photos and not so good since it moved location, I did come across nice examples of textiles work both historic and modern.

19th-century quilt in the National Museum of American History

Amazing beadwork on a vest made by a member (or members?) of the Cree peoples in Canada, c. 1920 (National Museum of the American Indian). Just one example of many.

Carpets designed by Erbil Tezcan and hand-made in Afghanistan using traditional techniques and natural dyes: close-up of  one and a distance shot + 3 close-ups of another. He is one of the artists helped by the British NGO, the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, founded at the request of the Prince of Wales and the President of Afghanistan (http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/current/turquoisemountain/default.asp) and whose work is on display at the Sackler Gallery. I loved the colours and detail, and that they are made by hand by craftspeople. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/current/turquoisemountain/bio-tezcan.asp

Patchwork colours inspiration at Dumbarton Oaks!