The leaves in these parts are beginning to turn. Nights are colder, daylight hours are shorter, the furnace runs more often, the garden is waning, and more of my making takes place indoors.
Like so many do, I look upon September as a "second New Year" month -- when school starts up again (not that I've been part of that recently!) And it's my Birthday Month. Those of you who paused to read my short Birthday Reflections post will have noticed I was really feeling my age. It's been a tough year -- replete with health challenges (resolved now, thank heavens!), the death of two friends in swift succession, and the falling apart of several items, costing varied amounts to repair or replace: a slow cooker, a microwave, the kitchen taps, my automatic garage door opener, my back-up sewing machine and most recently, the hard drive on my laptop which, the repair fellow told me, was so worn out (after 3 1/2 years of use) that he couldn't even extract the files in the usual fashion, and it would cost -- at minimum -- $1,800 to do it with special equipment. (I opted NOT to do that, and simply have the machine repaired, with a new battery added to the mix to give it extra oomf!)
What's a body to do?
Give her head a shake, that's what!
And that's precisely what I've been doing for the last couple of weeks: Serious Soul-Searching. Counting My Blessings. And Creating Beauty Every Day with my blessedly still able and arthritis free hands.
Let's begin with the knitting, shall we?
It's decidedly "Sweatah Weathah" but I'm not working on any of those -- for myself, that is. That's because it's also Knitting for Holiday Gifts (Christmas, in my case). The first of these began to be knit in the spring, because it's the "Presto Vesto" for my daughter, a Christmas-Birthday gift because she was born 3 weeks after Xmas, so sometimes that's the way the gifts are given 'round here.
This Vesto pattern is anything but "Presto"! I last mentioned it and posted a photo of it in June. Since then, I've completed the back, with the shoulder and neck shaping, and cast on the right-side front. The ribbing is done and the complex cable pattern started -- to the point where I've now split for the inset pocket.
Knitter's Note: I've been knitting for about 64 years -- and this is the first time I've ever created an inset pocket in a garment!! It took me about an hour of reading and re-reading the instructions in the pattern, of Google searching the technique and of trying to visualize the darned thing -- but once I began, stepping out in trust that the pattern really did make sense, well, now! Off to the races! I've got another 2 dozen or so rows of pattern to knit before I join the parts back together, but here's what it looked like as of yesterday, when I put it down:
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| Ta DA! |
Yes, I'm pleased as punch with it!
The second Xmas gift is a newer cast on for a friend. It's a relatively mindless garter-stitch shawlette/scarf that's asymmetrical. The pattern caught my attention when Karen of the Recreational Knitting YouTube podcast showed the one she was working on. "Just the ticket!", thought I, and I had just the right yarn in my stash with which to make it, too!
I mentioned this project -- the "Back Bay Boomerang" -- in my end-of-August post, and while I've made great progress on it since then -- whittling the ball of yarn to almost 1/2 its size but alas, I've no new photo of it! Next time, perhaps.
I also began to knit a series of "Christmas Cowls" for my son and his family, using the "Simple Gift Cowl" pattern designed by Amy Curletto of Alligator Knits (free pattern on Ravelry). The pattern calls for worsted-weight yarn, but I used a DK-weight and simply made a larger size. Started on September 9 -- and finished (not blocked) on September 13!
The colour name is "Green-white" but it comes across -- even in person -- as so dark a green that it's almost black. It'll be just right for one of the two fellows in the household!
My carry-around knitting is, as usual, socks -- and I'm almost finished the 2nd of the pair of Long-Legged, Long-Footed socks for the dear gal who lost the first ones I made her in a housefire. I've finally turned the heel and am past the gusset, moving down the foot! Not a holiday gift, so I'm working on them a bit each day to get 'em done before month-end!
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| Pattern: Simple Ribbed Socks A free pattern from Angela Law on Ravelry Yarn: elann.com 'Sock-it-to-Me' Harlequin From stash - Colour #80 - "Blue Stonewash" |
My daughter assures me that the recipient will like them -- the colours go with her jeans!
Now, then...on to a bit of spinning. I failed miserably at the Ravelry "Tour de Fleece" this year -- it was just too darned hot to spin (or knit or do pretty much anything hands-on with wool!) BUT when the weather moderated a bit in August, I managed to get more spinning done (I love to do it outside), and so managed to turn the marl I showed you in my last post while it was still on the bobbins -- into a skein.
My online spinning compatriots at Two Ewes Fiber Adventures (on Ravelry) suggested I turn the 85 grams of fingering-like yarn into mittens -- and I think that's exactly what I'll do!
Meanwhile, I've begun spinning singles from a hand-dyed merino batt I bought at the Rose City Fibre Festival (Camrose, Alberta) in 2023. It's a bit challenging, given the softness of it (compared to Falklands roving and alpaca/wool blend), so it'll be a learning experience for the next while. Stay tuned!
Moving from fibre to fabric...Quilting! In my end-of-August post, I showed the start of the assembly of the Celtic Knot Quilt blocks. Since that post, I've put all five of the blocks of one colour-combo and all four of the blocks of a second colour-combo together. Here they are, stacked side-by-side on my design surface:
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| Left: "A" Blocks Right: "B" Blocks |
Yes, I know they look alike, but look closely. There is a subtle difference in the fabrics! Now you know why I have to tread carefully here and pay close attention to assembly and layout! There are currently 9 blocks made -- but to arrive at the desired size for this particular quilt, I need to create 7 more: 3 "A" Blocks (bringing the total to 8) and 4 "B" blocks (bringing the total to 8). This will happen over the course of the winter, so by spring, the top will be assembled, with borders, and be ready for quilting so it can be bound and delivered to the designated recipients a year from now for their Special Occasion.
Indeed, 2025 will be a Significant Year in my corner of the world. It marks 50 years since I was married (and 19 of those as a widow). Two other couples -- now with only 1 surviving partner -- will accompany me in that. Fond memories, yes, but no sparkly celebrations there!
But it marks 55 years since my younger sister graduated from our high school, and my son will turn 40 (he's the youngest of my two kids!). So I've decided to make him a quilt, as it's been a long time.
For this one, my stash is calling -- and my choice is batiks. I have a selection of dark blue and dark blue-green ones that have yet to be used. At the Central Alberta Quilt Show last spring I bought several metres -- about eight on a 'skinny bolt' from a shop whose owner was retiring. And I dug out this book: Batik Beauties: 18 Stunning Quilts by Laurie Shifrin, which I bought eons ago.
I've chosen a star pattern -- not the one on the cover! -- with the lighter fabric (from the skinny bolt) as the background. Here's what I've cut for the block units so far:
Aside from the 'special' quilts I'm constructing, I continue to make scrappy quilts to give away. One of them comes from the 'bonus triangles' created when I was doing one of Bonnie Hunter's mysteries (don't ask me which one). I've managed to turn those into HSTs (Half-Square-Triangles), and from there into small-ish (5" finished) four-patches, thus -- as shown on the right-hand side of this photo:
On the left-hand side there's another trio of blocks -- part of the scrappy collection I'm gathering for another "Easy Breezy" (Leader-and-ender Challenge) quilt from Bonnie. I have almost 50 of these made, but they're tiny (4" finished) so have a good 80 or more to go before I can turn them into something. The centre 4-patches are all made up, and clipped in batches of 10, but the remaining 'borders' for each block have to be cut and attached!
Yep. I'm just stacking 'em up -- both of these types of units. Eventually, they'll become tops for comforting someone. A local fella and his partner are expecting their first baby -- a girl -- close to Christmas this year. I don't know her, but his mother died a couple of years ago and his dad is never mentioned -- neither are his siblings (if any). So that pink pinwheel quilt might be just right thing for a baby gift (with a pair of hand-knit baby socks attached!)
Meanwhile, the "A Quilting Life" 2024 Block of the Month continues to test my piecing skills! As you might recall, Gentle Readers, I'm aiming to make two of the smaller (8" finished) blocks per month, using my Thimbleberry fabric stash from years ago. I gotta confess, a bit fiddly though they are, as the pieces get *very* tiny, I really enjoy making these up. Here are my September blocks:
I ran out of greens so I'm making blocks with more blues and browns/golds. So be it! Scrappy all the way!
Now...what about hooked art?
In my end-of-August post I showed you the beginnings of my work in the online class form Deanne Fitzpatrick entitled, "Simple Shading". My purpose in taking that class was to explore the technique of shading with yarn and fabric strips insead of with cotton fabric. Also, I'm more of a landscape artist (or I was, before Covid had me trying to make order out of chaos) -- so I'd not really done anything in the way of still life work. This project encompassed both techniques...and while it was a challenge, I learned a lot (including that I'm not fond of creating still life work!) -- and made, in the end, a pretty and comfy small pillow, and learned about shading with hooked fibre. Here it is, finished but not fully finished:
And now, fully finished, on the bench in my Outdoor Studio -- including a close-up shot:
Yes, that cute l'il thing is all of 9" x 12" and now lives on a chair in my living room!
This week I finally set up a new piece -- this time, an original design -- on my standing frame. It's 6" square and will likely be mounted on stretched canvas. If I'm accepted, it'll go into the annual Under $100 Art Market in Lacombe, Alberta at the end of November. It's a landscape, tentatively entitled "Turning", and here's my tiny start:
I hope to create 3 pieces that size. Anything not sold at that show will go to Curiosity Art & Framing in Red Deer, with high hopes to be sold there!
The Under $100 Art Market is not only an opportunity for the community to see and purchase all kinds of art and fine craft for less than $100 a piece, but also a fundraiser for the organizers -- the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre (aka LPAC). In an area where sports -- especially HOCKEY -- are paramount, the Arts (visual and performing) have struggled to maintain a foothold in the minds of the populace. I'm happy to play my part to keep the Arts alive in these parts!!
In the interests of adding to my "hooking" yarn supply, I happily went to the Prairie Fibre Festival in Lacombe on September 14*. And I wasn't disappointed! I came home with a variety of yarn and fibre suitable for my hooked-art pieces.
First, this trio of yarns from Brine Dyeworks of Calgary, Alberta -- 100% Finn wool, all light worsted weight:
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| Left to right: "Canopy"; Rym"; and "Galactica" All are classed as "DK/worsted" |
Next, a skein of single-ply "super bulky" hand-dyed yarn from That Yarn Habit of Grande Prairie, Alberta, in the colour "Thunder Cloud":
Third, a skein of Peruvian Highland Wool, aran weight and hand-dyed, from All Wound Up Kntting (Facebook link) of Castor, Alberta.
Finally, some curly locks for texture: Cotswold locks from Saskatchewan in the "Oprah" (!) colour-way (i.e. natural) from Imagine Yarn of Biggar, SK:
Such a quantity of fibre goodness with which to create new landscapes and skyscapes!
*NOTE: Since earlier this year, Olds College permanently cancelled it's famous, decades-old "Fibre Week", the Alberta fibre community has been stepping up! To that end, the Prairie Fibre Festival last weekend hosted MORE vendors and MORE classes than ever before -- AND have booked in for TWO events in 2025:
- June 14, 2025 -- in Olds -- put that in your pipe and smoke it, Olds College!; and
- September 13, 2025 -- in Lacombe, Alberta.
Get on the e-mail list for news and updates, eh?
Of course, being a woolly wool fan, I couldn't pass up a chance to buy a bit of Black Welsh Mountain fingering being sold by Melanie Rudy, the gal from whom I and friends Anne and Sha took the 'Shetland Lace Knitting' workshop on the Saturday afternoon of the Festival. I got it to go into a Shetland Hap...some day in the not-too-distant future. Soooo beautiful!
I should note that the day was made rich not only by the finding of glorious yarn I can use, or by taking an interesting class, but also by the friends I had with me for part of the day: Barbara from Calgary, Mary and Sha from south of Calgary, and Anne from Gull Lake. I/we shared the joy with Shauna from Westaskiwin, Erin from near Blackfalds, and Gail and Sharon from Lacombe. I missed Lori (she showed up later when I was in class) but no matter. It was all good.
Last but not least, what about stitching? Well...it's Sampler September!
In my late-August post, I mentioned my plans, and as this month slides by, trying to hustle me along with it, I've pretty much stuck to those plans.
I began the month working on Jeanette Douglas' reproduction of Ann Perrin 1841. I worked on it for the better part of the first week, and ended that time with two pattern pages completed - working top left to right:
I then moved on to my "birthday sampler" (begun last year) from Hands Across the Sea designs: "Memories of the Past". Here's where I left it on September 18th -- again, with two pages finished, but this time on the left side only:
And as of yesterday (the 19th) I've resumed work on Emeline Hotchkiss 1846, making progress here too. I've moved from the first page (top left) to the second (bottom left) and have started my very first 'berry bowl' motif!
Last but not least (and yet to be worked on this month) is the wee new start I made on 56-count -- "Frances Lawson 1848" from Sampler & Antique Needlework: a Year in Stitches, published in 1994 and given me by a friend. Here's what the start looks like at the moment -- just a bit of the border from the top left corner:
I'm loving each and every one of these pieces -- for their history, their back story, their connections to my Quebec home, their colours, their expressed sentiments. Sometimes we work pieces for only one of these reasons; sometimes, for more than one; sometimes for all of them.
And for reasons we don't fully understand, the work brings us comfort and peace.
Like any of us who are makers -- working 'hand-over-hand' as Deanne Fitzpatrick says -- knitters, spinners and weavers form community as do quilters, rug-hookers, and stitchers. Many of us overlap our interests and so belong to more than one of these. We take our passion for making, and our art, and use it for comfort, for teaching, for sharing and giving -- for developing harmony and the meditative peace that comes from these humble skills. We create beauty every time we sit down at the loom or the wheel; every time we pick up needles or hooks; every time we stir a dye pot or share a pattern or gather around a frame or a table.
How are you creating beauty, community, harmony and peace every day in your tiny space in the world? Never forget that every time you pick up a hook, a needle, a pin, some yarn, or fabric, some fibre or floss; every time you click a camera's shutter; every time you fashion clay or turn wood on a lathe; every time you put a pen or pencil or oil pastel or chalk or paint to paper or canvas; every time you warp a loom or move a shuttle or spin on a wheel or spindle -- every time you make with your heart, mind, hands and soul, you are making your tiny corner of the world a better place.
On that note, I'll leave you for the moment, Gentle Readers, with my usual link to Nna-Marie's Off the Wall Friday, and with wishes and blssings for good days ahead.
A bientot!
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