Lost and Found Fibers 
by Trish Limbaugh
"Caring for heels and souls"

We all have moments in our lives that don’t require a photograph or a note to remember - sharing my socks is one of them.

​Lost and Found Fibers, as a non-profit corporation, has as its primary purpose
the creation of functional, fiber based items
for community members
who may be experiencing emotional or personal distress.   


I am focussing a lot of my time on spinning and dyeing to use while I create.....
not just socks - I am building a body of work - more images to come!
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  1. Still Here!
  2.  I am cranking and giving, but it is more spontaneous and one-on-one.  If you know of someone in need,
  3. drop me a note.








Almost done!


It doesn't matter what season it is because wool socks can be worn year round.  Wool breathes in the summer wicking away moisture and warm
in the winter.  The perfect fiber for socks! These socks are almost ready to be donated.  After each sock is cranked, the toe is hand stitched and then the socks are washed and packaged.  I crank multiple socks and then separate them to sew the toes.  




​ I have neglected my website but not my socks, scarves and exploration.  Covid changed everyones life and I felt that handing out the socks one-to-one was a better way to stay connected to my creativity and the people I create for - sometimes it was for selfish reasons - to feel less isolated.  
                      

Summer is here so there are more dye pots and finished socks soon.  I am doing a lot of dying and spinning - pictures soon, to use for what I donate
​and the tapestries that I am working on!




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​Every sock, once cranked, has an open  toe that has to be hand sewn. While this is time consuming, I feel a connection to the socks and the people that will receive them.

Spring also means fibers get dyed! I love watching the colors come to life as the fibers take on the dye  and as they hang out to dry.


Starting a new year with the donation to the Winter Giveaway for the Culver City Middle and High School           
                           - 63 pairs!


Heading out to Garden Sweet (gardensweet.com) to gather flowers to use in solar dyeing for my next batch of socks.  With all that is happening in the world, creating the socks to benefit others continues to ground me.  Using natural dyes helps me to connect with what is right in the world.


I ended up collecting a variety of red and orange flowers (and even a few yellow).  They are boiling on the stove now to release the color.  After that, the wool and flower water will sit in the sun for the next week so the color can be transferred to the fiber!








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Time to happily take a detour to support the Culver City Middle and High School. The school is sponsoring a winter clothing give-away, so all of the socks I had made in the previous months  and ones that I am making now will be going to support that effort. 
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These socks were just cranked.  I connect each sock with the orange yarn which is removed as I hand-stitch the toes.
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These socks have been finished by hand stitching the toes and then washing to remove any sizing that comes in the wool.  All socks are made from new wool fibers that keep feet warm in the winter, cool in the summer and don't hold smells!  As you can see, I like color!



When I started creating socks, it became quickly apparent that when I had a positive attitude, the socks were beautiful in design and in touch, but when I was "down" or angry they fought back .  The socks not only looked "off" but they weren't comfortable when worn.  When socks and scarves are gifted, only the "confident" ones are given out as that energy transfers to the new owners.

But, socks won't change the world.  

When someone is in distress, meeting basic physical needs is critical, but emotional support matters as well.  The goal of Lost and Found Fibers is to not only help with the basic need for warm and dry feet but to also send the message that the recipient matters.

It is natural for individuals to not notice things after they have seen them enough. Everyone knows what a sock is and does, but I want to challenge that by eliminating their function and identity, to create a body of work that focuses on line, shape, space, form, texture, color, and pattern. I want to draw in the observer to touch and wonder not only about the items, but their future use.  

After being displayed, the artwork will be disassembled, washed and
gifted to shelters, schools and veterans outreach programs.  

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       This batch of scarves and socks 
     were made for the Virginia DAR 
     Comte de Grasse Chapter to
​     distribute to Veterans.  Winter 
     will be here before you know it
     and these are made of wool and 
     bamboo - soft and warm!  

    
                                                                                       
                                      Remember the white socks from earlier.....


Even though there aren't pictures worth sharing, I have been busy cranking and building a "beta" version of a new sock machine cabinet. I need better organization!  Every pair of socks cranked influences small changes in the cabinet, so it is a worthwhile but time-consuming project.

Other EXCITING news - I will be using a new yarn this fall....it is unique combination (with the help of Zeilinger Wool Company) of camel, wool, silk and nylon (for strength and durability).  It is a luscious tan that will look beautiful without dye, but will also produce some muted earthy tones!  

The first order of business is to develop a relationship with the yarn....
then the experimenting begins! 
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         These socks are going to get a lot more      
         exciting in the next few weeks!

         I never decide in advance how they will
         look.  If they are for someone in particular,
         I work with their favorite colors and
         shapes.  If they are being made to donate,
         I select colors that make me and hopefully
​         the recipient feel strong and proud.

         (I use colored threads to indicate size.  The
          threads do not change color when the socks
          are dyed.)  

​I am feeling honored and proud to be a part of the West Los Angeles College and Culver City Communities. 


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It is my honor to send
these socks to Virginia to the
Comte de Grasse Chapter of the DAR
to support Veterans.
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I am proud to supply socks and to partner with CCUSD - Culver Closet and School and
Family SupportTeams to support the Winter Wear Giveaway at the Culver City High School.  
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​         Not just socks!
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            These socks are heading to Virginia.

                THANK YOU! to Yorktown, VA,
               DAR, Comte de Grasse Chapter, 
         (Daughters of the American Revolution)
                for delivering them to Veterans. 

      More socks will be on their way next month!


​Follow the process along  as I prepare the new fibers for the next year in socks.


It is hard to believe that summer is coming to an end.  After 2 weeks with family, I am back to work!  The next batch of socks will be going to local disabled veterans.  The event for the Culver City Middle and High School students was a success!  I am excited to say that we will continue this partnership.

2018...in the beginning
These socks are ready.....all 85 pairs of them for the
​Culver City Middle and High School students!
Next time your feet are cold, consider donating a pair to someone less fortunate. Socks can be made and donated to the charity of your choice.....I want to partner with you and the organizations that matter to you.
REACH OUT TO ME to get started!