Stitch Rabbit

Seasons.

 

The ever-changing kitchen table, often loaded with books and glasses, glitter and yarn, clay and colored pencils. Sometimes seating one, or four, or friends. Only a few years in our home, the stories that have been told around it, the laughter, the looks that have been shared across it. It's the centerpiece to our daily life, the meeting place, the conversation starter, the meal-sharer. It's just a table, some strips of wood and some legs, but it was made with love for our family to sit around and grow around as the seasons pass us by.

 

fall.

 

winter.

 

spring.

Knit On.

 

I've made some mistakes in my knitting. I've knit when I should have purled, ignored swatches, dropped stitches, and elaborated on pattern instructions - much to my woe a few rows further.

This sweater has not been exempt. I'm not an advanced knitter. I am only a few sweaters further than over-dressing my family in the numerous scarves and hats that are stuffed in baskets by our back door. And this sweater is one that needs my full attention. Not something I can do as often as I'd like to believe. So I've made some mistakes. I've cursed them, recounted stitches and unknitted a few rows at a time. Still, I pursue. Partly because I adore the yarn and the pattern and the end result of two sticks and some knots, and partly because like most mistakes... it can be hard to undo them.

And so I knit two together here and there to get back to where I should be, and ignore the place where the yarn should zig but really it's zagging. And it's all going to be just fine. Because what's life without those mistakes? How would you recognize and learn from them, except when you discover the holes you have made? Sure you can rip it all apart - and I have ripped projects, weeping and swearing and pouring a very full glass of wine.. but this sweater, it seems to represent more than that. I couldn't bear to just rip it up.

So instead, I will sigh and press on, determined and counting and recounting and increasing and decreasing until I find myself where I want to be. Happy with my work, and warm. Will it be a perfect sweater? No. But who wants a perfect sweater anyways? And, like many learned mistakes in life, it becomes a part of the pattern that makes up who you are.

In the famous words of Elizabeth Zimmerman, The Opinionated Knitter;

"Knit On, with confidence and hope, through all crises."

Studio Surge

 

Ahhh!! Finally some studio time. I feel like I haven't been down there since the "elfing season".

I was flipping through a book about reporposing materials at my aunt's this weekend and saw a similar project, so I improvised and made myself a new kitchen mat, reusing denim.

 

It took me two pairs of jeans (adult size) using both the front and back of the pants. I cut squares up till I reached the front pockets, used a little of the back pockets, and then cut those squares into triangles to create the well-loved chevron pattern.

 

I used a heavy-weight piece of twill for the bottom and made binding from the left over denim. I really appreciated this project because I've missed quilting this winter and reporpusing materials really gives me a sense of satisfaction.

 

I spent the few hours listening to Bob Dylan and The Tallest Man on Earth and dreaming up creative collectives of friends farming and making things, what my dream studio would look like, how my garden will look this spring, how badly I want to own a yarn shop. Sewing is a time of dreaming big for me, and I usually come up from downstairs inspired and ready to make more.

The now coveted new mat in the house has been a beach blanket, car parking lot, the ocean and exercise mat for the little ones in my house. I think I'll have to make more.

It was time to purge my jean collection anyways.

Canyon Dreams

 

We spent some time in the canyon this weekend, visiting family and visiting possibilities... we dream often of finding the next step nestled in a small town in the mountains... a property that we could weekend on, a place where we can breathe a little deeper and see a little clearer. Maybe build a house on and move to one day.

We stopped at one of my favorite thrift stores in the valley and I found two great mugs, one with a sugar shack etched on it and another equally cabin-y one spelling out "Home Sweet Home". I decided this could only be a sign that the land we were going to check out was probably the one.

 

The property we looked at wasn't the one.. not by a long shot. It was an illegally built A-frame on about two acres... to me it seemed like the perfect adventure, but it was in such a state of disrepair, it would've been easier to knock the whole thing down and start again. I think I'd rather start at the beginning than go backwards first. We had some chuckles, my dreams for "the one" dwindled, and still the search continues.

 

 

 

Books We Love.

 

Can you believe it's even possible that time again! The West Coast Seeds catalogue came in the mail and I'm in trouble.

 

And what's the seed catalogue without some of these garden companions! The Backyard Homestead is still one of my favorite reference books and back off the shelf.

 

Also, I'm waist-deep in the third book from "Game of Thrones." My friends have long-since passed me as the knitting gets in the way... I considered getting audio books but sinking into bed with this series is one of the best parts of some pretty long days.

 

I'm not the only one with my nose buried in a book. Both children of mine recieved some beautiful books to add to their library, books that I absolutely love to read to them, over and over.

 

I'm currently purusing Amazon for books on natural dyeing, both for fabric and yarn. Any suggestions I would appreciate!!

 

To Hibernate.

 

Waking up to a frost covered world is about as wintery as it can get in Vancouver. While I have big dreams for a cozy, snowy mountain town, for the meantime I will take what I can get.

 

The sun came pouring through our windows on this unusually cold day, but for the morning and a good part of the afternoon, we somewhat ignored it. We can be very much like bears. We're outdoor enthusiasts, yes... major nature lovers, and our favorite seasons for outdoor fun is the fall and winter. But I can hibernate with the best of them. I like a slow morning, with window staring and coffee steaming, the kids playing on the living room floor. Knitting a few rows and eating toast and jam. The kids like those days too. They pull out the art books and the art supplies and before breakfast is even made the table is covered in glitter and glue and paint.

 

I relish these days. I know they wont last... they are already dwindling. The rude awakening of the weekday alarm, the commute to school and classes and activities.. our family is getting busier in a different way then we used to. It's still good - but it used to be more about piling us all into the van and into the woods rather than into our routine. I think I need to get that back in someway...

 

Or maybe my nostalgia has blurred the memory of a different kind of yesterday. That feeling of never leaving the house and feeling trapped and un-showered and under-socialized. The mornings when there wasn't any coffee left and I dreaded packing up smaller, less-independent babies. Days when the floor was covered in glitter and glue and paint - and that wasn't entirely idyllic.

 

Or maybe my memory is a mix of the two, and really, I just had one of those extremely grateful days in which I could look out at the cold crisp day and choose happily not to go anywhere, coffee mug full and a feeling of enjoying this hibernation, if only just for today.

Renew.

It's feeling like a fresh new start over here... the New Year has been good to us so far, and there is a lot of new around the house. And a new look for the blog! With the holidays past us and the somewhat regular routine back I've been feeling refreshed and energized and ready for a fantastic year ahead.

My shop is now closed until Fall 2013. It is a little early for a close, but I am looking forward to next winter season's new designs and new materials. Thank you so much for all your support in buying handmade this season.

 

 

After cleaning out every basket and knitting bag around the house after the holidays, I have cast on about four or five..er, maybe even six new projects, including a few hats for the adults, a triangle scarf by Cait Ffrench and, though I have yet to cast on for this one yet, I am very excited to begin Jane Richmond's lovely cardigan "Grace" from her new book, Islands. I'm using Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock yarn... and this cardigan is all for me.

Looking forward to a year filled with creativity, love, and a whole new light.