Stolen Moments

I've come to realize I am pretty terrible at taking care of myself. I am great at working hard and meeting deadlines - but I tend to pack my schedule so full I forget to factor in time for meals. I love my work, so I frequently forget that I should actually give myself time to do things that are not work-related. I am constantly working on a knitting project and have dye pots running almost all my waking hours. Last week, a couple of friends invited me to go out to lunch with them today. My stomach flipped a bit as I thought about my endless to-do lists, but I decided a break would probably be good. I packed the car with orders ready to go to the post office, so I could at least do that on the way back. After lunch, I dutifully went to the post office, driving past the bookstore. Few things tug on my heartstrings like bookstores, so I couldn't resist the temptation. After the post office, I ran back to the bookstore and allowed myself an hour.

As I browsed the shelves, I remembered how infrequently I do this, and how much I love it. I love going to bookstores with no shopping list, so I can wander the stacks and pick out things that catch my eye. I then find a quiet corner, sit with my pile of books, and spend some time with each book as I decide which ones I'll be bringing home. It's also one of the few places where I get to read (outside of my own home) where people don't take it as an invitation for a conversation. Not that I don't enjoy talking to people, but this introvert really loves her reading time.

By the time I left the bookstore with a bag of new goodies for my overflowing shelves, I caught myself smiling. My phone buzzed, with a list of "14 Two-Sentence Horror Stories Guaranteed to Terrify Introverts." Number 5 said, "She bought a strange book from an old bookstore. When she opened it up to read it strangers came up to her thinking it was a conversation starter." I chuckled to myself and hugged my books. Now back to those dye pots, the yarn isn't going to dye itself! As for those socks, finishing and publishing that pattern is definitely on the to-do list.

Textural

It is so much fun to have a new design almost ready. Before Rhinebeck, I finished the design for this shawl and then decided to make a matching hat. The shawl has been test knitted and the hat is next in line, which means I should have it ready for publishing soon! I am very pleased with this design and can't wait to share it.

There has also been some personal knitting going on. The socks are part of a holiday gift package, knit up in a first iteration of my Gallifrey at Dawn colorway. The hat, knit in some Malabrigo I had been saving for a special occasion, is for a very special friend. An old friend of mine was recently diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer and underwent radical surgery. This hat was knitted with much love and wishes for health and recovery, and I hope it can be a reminder to him of how much he is loved. I think it is wonderful how knitting can truly be a way of providing comfort to those we cherish.

Please help me find my stolen shawl

I hate to be writing this sort of post so close to Christmas, but sadly this is the state of affairs. I have had multiple handmade items stolen this month, and they all pain me. But the biggest loss is this shawl. This piece was stolen from a mannequin at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem, MA. It is one of a kind - the design is my original design, and the yarn has been discontinued. There are no others exactly like it, and I miss it very much.

Please keep an eye out. If you see someone wearing this, it is the original, because it cannot be duplicated. If you do spot it, I would appreciate it if you could take it from the thief and get it back to me.

On that note, let's please stop being so crappy to each other. To the thief: I bet you thought you were pretty clever, stealing such a unique piece. I bet you didn't even think of the person who spent days pouring time, hard work, and love into it. If you're the one who took it, please return it. I won't ask any questions.

A Gentle Rant About Knitting

A while ago, my friend Liz of Made in Lowell posted Paying for Handmade: A Gentle Rant. Her post has generated a wonderful discussion on the value of handmade. I wanted to take some time to discuss the value of a more specific niche of handmade: knitting.

Knitting is often looked down on as a craft. It's true. Whenever I participate in a craft show, it seems to be the craft that people look down on the most - it's the craft that everyone thinks they can do. In reality, anyone can do any craft - knitting, sewing, jewelry making, pottery, etc. It just takes knowledge and practice. But because knitting is a common pastime, there's this notion that knitted goods have no value.

I often get people coming up to my table and saying things like, "this is easy-peasy" and openly asking me how I made something so they can replicate it. At my last craft show, a woman approached me. "Excuse me, can you tell me what needle size you used for this?" I braced myself. "Actually, I'm sorry but I don't provide pattern information." She stared at me blankly for about a minute, expecting me to say something else. Then she finally said, "you really mean that?" "Yes. I worked hard to design all of these." She left without another word.

So I feel like I have to put this out there: Knitting is not easy. A lot of people knit. Fewer people knit well. Even fewer people have enough understanding about the structure and mathematics of knitting, and are able to make their own designs.

I am a knitting teacher, and people routinely sign up for classes that are too advanced for their skill level - "I figured knitting is knitting!" they say to me, as they realize they won't be able to execute the project. I have had several people with zero knowledge of knitting sign up for my intermediate level class on fingerless mittens - and be completely shocked when they spend a full hour just learning how to cast on stitches. They rarely make it past the ribbed cuff, being completely baffled by the alternating stitches. This is because: knitting is not easy. It's not something everybody does. It's not something you learn in five minutes. It's not something without value.

Knitwear makers work hard on their craft - they spend days designing pieces, making swatches and samples, and refining the design. They work very hard to find a good balance between complexity and time to produce to create affordable goods. Knitting is not a fast craft, even if you're a fast knitter. But people are shocked to not be paying $10 for something it takes us hours to make - because there is a widespread notion about the lack of value of knitting. But I'm sure very few people out there want to be paid $2 an hour.

And something else to think about - J. Crew charges more for most of their machine-made knitted goods than I do for my hand-knitted goods. Please don't expect Walmart prices from me.

Next time you examine an artisan's work, I urge you to think carefully about the skills and time that it took. Please don't undervalue and undermine handmade.

We are the lucky ones

Today was marathon Monday in Boston. These are the pictures I was planning on posting today, but not the words. I woke up to a beautiful sunny day, and wanted to share what I've been making, and the pleasure I've been finding in small, simple things. But today took the most horrible of turns in the early afternoon when explosives went off in downtown Boston. I found out as I was putting the finishing touches on a knit piece.

We are the lucky ones. My husband and I are safe, as are our friends. But our friends have friends who weren't safe, friends and family who are injured, whose lives are forever changed. All our lives are now changed, because a wound this deep affects all of us who live here. In the midst of this horror have been multiple reports of kindness and helpful strangers, of marathoners running to the hospitals to donate blood. I am relieved that kindness still exists, but the question I don't know how to answer is, how can we ever feel safe? Tomorrow we are supposed to go right back into your routines and schedules, as if something hadn't fundamentally changed, but it has. The truth is, I don't know how I will go about pretending tomorrow.

I feel like I've written about too much heartbreak and sadness on this blog already, so many sad things have happened. Hoping that you and your loved ones are safe.

Collecting Makers

I am tantalizingly close to finishing my cardigan. Both sleeves are done, and most of the body. I totally would have finished it during the snow storm if something else hadn't been eating away at my brain - a maddening desire to clean. I've been feeling a little Thoreau-esque these days, with "Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!" echo-ing in my head. Don't get me wrong, I am not about to run off all into-the-wild style, but I am finding myself craving simplicity and order. I am feeling cluttered, and I've resolved to only surround myself with things I truly enjoy.

Baby Yeti by Zooguu / Mobile by Salty and Sweet

The other day, I read some advice on re-organizing and purging. I can't remember where, but the author said something that now seems so obvious: when trying to decide if you should keep an object, ask yourself if you would buy it right now if you didn't own it. If the answer is no, don't keep it. Maybe it's a bit of an extreme approach, but I am finding it very liberating and effective to look at things this way. I know when I am done, I will be able to look at my home and know that everything in it really belongs there. I've been running around our house furiously bagging and boxing and purging, and leaving only the things I truly love.

Letterpress Art Print by Letter & Lark / Prints by Paper Taxi

This process has really solidified my love of handmade. As I pick what to keep and what to purge, I realize how much I appreciate the handmade objects in my home - for their creativity, their beauty, their craftsmanship, and their humanity. I am delighted to look around my home and see the work of so many makers. These photos are a little peek at some of my wonderful handmade goodies.

I've also realized how many projects still need to get done in this house, which is both daunting and exciting - I'll have lots of projects to share on here! What are you working on this spring?

On Knitting: Artwork and Stigma

I am always looking for more art to decorate the walls of my studio and today I thought to myself, "what about art that portrays knitting?" So I set off to find some. The results were interesting. As much as there is a craft renaissance of sorts right now and a lot of knitters out there, it seems like there is still a stigma about knitting among non-knitters.

With Grandma

It's that thing your grandma does, or something quaint but not actually of interest to people. The overwhelming majority of what I found was tagged as "art for nurseries" and a lot of it didn't seem to capture the delight and comfort those of us who knit find in fiber.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this - do you find there is still a knitting stigma out there? I often find myself getting looks of sheer horror from people my age when I knit on public transportation.

But, I did find a few pieces I loved and I hope you enjoy them too.

The Girl Who Knitted Love

Knitting Girl on 7 Train to Sunnyside

I will keep on knitting in public, hopefully changing this stigma and teaching people about knitting: people of all ages, and genders, are knitters. Also, knitting is a lot of work. Maybe by watching knitting in action, people will start to understand why hand-knit goods aren't priced at $5 a piece.

This one - this one is my alter ego.

Superhero Girl

Images borrowed from each artist's shop