Knitting, Fiber Art, and Lofty Thoughts
“Easter Greetings” from Stitchcraft, April 1962! According to “editress” Patience Horne, “everyone is getting that “out-of-doors” feeling”. I and my …
April 1962: Overview
If you are not following The Stitchcraft Sixties, I highly recommend it. Tres drole.
I think one of the major downfalls of modern culture is a lack of a sabbath. I don’t mean anything religious by that, but more the need for people to have a day of rest. In a culture where business operates 24/7 and communication is instantaneous there are no days of rest.
My goal today was to take a sabbath. I wasn’t going to do anything productive today: no sewing or knitting, no cooking or cleaning, and no work. I have been lying on the couch reading all day!
I enjoyed my first virtual knit night last night. I am looking forward to the next one on Sunday, April 6th!
Yesterday I binge-watched Vicar of Dibley and organized my craft corner. I have too many projects “on” and I’m determined to make a dent this summer both in projects and supplies.
Here’s my favorite bit from Vicar of Dibley. Enjoy! 🙃
My Mom reads my blog and she asked me if I would knit her a gray cardigan. Of course I said yes! I’m going to knit a swatch out of this gray Woolfolk Far to see if she likes the fabric and if it is soft enough. (It’s pretty darn soft!)
I found this cardigan, Franka, which I would love to knit. Look at all that stockinette!
What do you think, Mom? Do you like it? You can tell me next time I talk to you on the phone. I’ll mail you a swatch and print out some pics, too.
With all the things going on in the world, I thought it was a good time to redeem my Fairlight Fibers gift card that Bob got for me for Christmas.
My main goal was to get the J&S yarn for the original Peerie Flooers hat colorway (center). I also splurged on some yak (left), tussah silk, and nettle blends (right) because I was curious. She has some great free patterns on her website too!
But right now I’m stitching on my Shetland Tweed Throw because no thinking is required.
I haven’t made very many so that’s probably not saying much. Or maybe that means it is saying a lot! I stacked it up on top of my head so you could see it. I didn’t use my Katrinkles tools. I used my hand. Old school. OG pompom.
I’m thinking about writing up these patterns, just for fun. I love this color!
Happy Sunday, Blogville! I hope you are all healthy and happy and enjoying your time at home. Are you knitting a lot? I haven’t had much time or energy for knitting, but I did finish my saffron cowl.
I love the look on Henry’s face in the second image.
I can’t say it was a very satisfying knit, but it was simple and it’s warm and comforting to wear. I’m ready to start an equally simple, warm, and comforting hat to match. Mmm… stockinette.
It was a rough week for me, as I’m sure it has been challenging for many. At work, we made the decision to close our stores temporarily. It was the right decision but a stressful one to make. We have remote projects that need to be done, so staff will have work and be paid. We also gave everyone an additional two weeks PTO should they need it.
Quarantine is not a big deal for me as I’m an introvert and work from home all the time anyway.
I did a little sketching today and it served to remind me why I don’t often sketch. I don’t enjoy it and I’m always disappointed with the results. I am trying to reframe my drawing as a process to work out design problems, as I learned at Vogue Knitting. I can apply that to any medium.
Kate Davies is having a design contest for Milarrochy Tweed. This time it is neckware. I would love to submit something, even if it’s just an exercise to design something, make it, and submit it without further expectation. The theme is “My Place”. I thought I could make a cowl version of my Birds of Blendon Hat.
Henry moves into his own place this week with a friend. That leaves Hans at home, and he is with his Dad half the time. They are leaving the nest! They all have birthdays in March but it was pretty low key this year. We did go to Bakersfield for tacos and margs on Harald’s birthday (my oldest.)
Mexican Coke for Hans.
What are you knitting? And what are you watching? We are watching Devs on Hulu — really good — and I started Valhalla Murders on Netflix. I love me some moody Scandi crime dramas. It was a diversion tactic to keep me from watching Shetland a third time.
I don’t know about you, friends, but I feel stretched to my limits. I am no longer capable of further complexity in my life. I made a silly mistake on my Farmhouse Cardigan and had to rip it out. I began some Wide Legged Pants only to be confounded by taping the pattern pieces together. It is important during these troubled times to recognize your limits, be gentle with yourself, and reach for what comforts you.
I decided patterns are a no go right now (although I wouldn’t turn down an oatmeal raisin cookie) and cast on a simple cowl. This is Knitpicks Swish Bulky in Saffron from my stash. It was a FibreShare gift. Sweet simple hygge bliss. I will make a hat to match! (And call him George and hug him and pet him…)
Why do we have a large hunk of quartz in our house? I think it was here when we moved in. Maybe it was meant to be a doorstop? It has migrated to the living room.
If you’ve watched a lot of Time Team, as I have, you will remember they find early medieval church altars made from quartz. Was this because it was believed to hold special properties? Was it because it was readily available and shiny? Did it raise the spiritual energy of the congregation? Do you believe quartz holds special metaphysical properties? I think I do believe it, as do many people of different cultural backgrounds. So what is the significance of this chunk of quartz in our house? Is it clearing out bad vibes?
Ooommmmm. I know you probably can’t tell what I’m doing, but it’s a face plant on quartz. There are definitely some weird things afoot at my house, and not just yours truly needing a mental clearing.
What’s bending our forks? Poltergeist?Misdirected quartz vibrations? Teenagers eating ice cream? (Or… aliens?)
I stopped by my LYS to show my support in these times of economic uncertainty. (It had nothing to do with me needing yarn therapy I assure you.) I did my patriotic duty and picked up the knitting game I’ve wanted since Christmas, plus yarn to match for good measure. It’s such a happy blue. Maybe another simple cowl and hat is in my future. At least there is some certainty to be found in knitting.
I made a shirt today. I wanted a high (but not tight) neckline, 3/4 sleeves, short length (to go with high waisted pants) and a loose comfortable fit. And I wanted to get in on the floral trend. I modified the Ace pattern.
I found this knit fabric on sale, presumably because it is an autumn floral. I love the more subdued colors, but it is still a lot of color for me.
I tried to get a good shot without asking for photography help. This was the best I could do. It’s a little blurry, but you get the idea.
This Forbidden Fibers Gluttony Sport in Earl Grey came to me in a FibreShare package. There’s just enough for the main color in Arachne.
The Knitted Wit Victory Fingering in Carnelian came to me at my LYS’s holiday gift exchange. It says fingering, but if it is, it is very close to sport. I knit a swatch and the two yarns look identical in weight.
I hit gauge and I have my Arachne yarn! And I can save my Oa yarn for my Oa! When does the knitalong start?
