Mar 8, 2015
When the view from my desk is greyscale, a splash of spring blossoms is just what I need.
This occurs every March since I’ve lived in New England. A few years ago, I took a hangar and shaped it into a green grid that could support a growing bouquet of knit and crochet blossoms. My goal was to create new flowers every year. At this point, it’s a somewhat desperate but well intentioned beginning. With all of my other knitting projects, new blossoms won’t appear this year. But I think I’ll put the wreath up anyway. I’m ready for a shot of yellow.
Interested in making your own knit or crochet blossoms? Here’s four resources I enjoy:
Hawaiian Lei in Crochet by Roberta Wong. Who couldn’t use a bit of Hawaiian paradise in New England after the winter we’ve had?
Nicky Epstein Knitted Flowers. If you have any of Nicky’s book, you’ll probably find a knitted flower pattern. This books keeps them all in one place!
Noni Bellows Noni Flowers: 40 Exquisite Knitted Flowers is the perfect book if you have tidbits of leftover wool. I bought this book two years ago as I love her knitted and embellished handbag patterns. Alas, I have yet to do anything other than fondly page this gorgeously styled pattern book.
Leslie Stanford’s 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet features slightly more crochet patterns than knit, but that’s not a big deterrent to me!
If you create any spring blossoms with me, show me your photos on Ravelry. I love virtual bouquets!
Feb 22, 2015
It’s cold. I’m cold. The Chinese New Year has begun. I’m ready for spring knitting, but here comes the season of fashion weeks for NEXT fall.
Anna Sui’s Fall Winter collection has a lot of fun pieces. Guess I like her Viking inspiration. Let’s see what Milan brings us for next winter. Calling Etro, Missioni….
Feb 18, 2015
The stars have entire armies of people dedicated to telling them how fabulous they are every day of their lives. You have a mirror. Get in front of it and be your own publicist, darling.
This fabulous quote from Tom Fitzgerald and Lorenzo Marquez’s giggle read, “Everyone wants to be me or do me” could be a motto for many.
As I sit on sides of the Lincoln Center Plaza, watching young stylists, models, photographers grasp a bit of that Fashion Week feeling, considering their quest for fame and fortune, it seems a bit preposterous. On the other hand, how many other people are their own worst enemy?
You are fabulous dahling. Go out and share that brilliance with the world!
Jan 27, 2015
That smorgasbord of fibery goodness for knitters, crocheters, sewists, spinners and all fascinated by the wonders of textiles is back! This pot luck weekend is so satisfying and yet no calories. Sign up now and save.
I’ll see you there!
Nov 30, 2014
Once upon a time, there was a mother who would knit anything for her daughter. The toddler loved hats and all kinds of animals. When the mother discovered The Knitted Farmyard by Hannelore Wernhard, she resolutely created its landscape rug and a variety of tiny animals that required hardly any knitting but plenty of fiddly finishing. The toddler loved playing with each of the knitted animals. She and her friends would take the animals all over the house, in the stroller and around town. Before the mother knew it, hours of laboriously fashioned little animals had completely disappeared, thereby extinguishing all desire to ever create anything three dimensional again.
Giraffe from Sarah Keen’s Knitted Wild Animals
With very little exception, 3D knitted toys did not pop into this mother’s knitting radar (or onto her needles) for a very long time. Last summer, as I watched a knitter create an ornament in the form of a box of Hobb’s popcorn, the kernel of knitting curiosity cracked that moldy resolution to avoid knitted toys. The flame sparked brightly when my sister requested not one but THREE knitted wild animals from Sarah Keen’s Knitted Wild Animals. Another toddler who may just love animals in my future? Can I refuse? No way! I don’t want to miss this chance.
So soon I shall knit another giraffe, an elephant and a panda. I’m warming up with other 3D knit projects this winter.
Parlour Cat a free Rav pattern by Sarah Kellener
I finished one of two Parlour cat by Sarah Elizabeth Kellner, in memory of our dear gatto di lusso. No face yet, but it looks quite convincing when placed on the chair. Can’t wait to make the next one.
Celestine is a 12 pointed star designed by Norah Gaughan. Easy to knit in sport weight yarn, this pattern could be a traveling project… except for the double pointed needles. However, TV knitting is completely appropriate.
If If keep this up, a knit cornucopia with accompanying knit vegetables may be in my future. But will the 3D knit mojo last that long?
Nov 20, 2014
In a season known for gratitude, events this week permeated my heart with thankfulness. It all began last Wednesday, when the Museum of Fine Arts Textile and Costume Society friends met for an evening of contemporary art. Tomie Nagano and Marilyn Pappas shared works in progress and outlined their work flow.
Long an admirer of Tomie’s quilts, the peek behind the stitches was much anticipated. However, Marilyn’s embroidery and collage were new to me. I am now completely a fan. While their creative process varies tremendously, both artists devote copious time to each piece. Clearly both women savor the process despite the gradual, meticulous nature of their media.
Tomie collects used textiles from Japan (fortunately, she says, this started when few appreciated the gorgeous silk kimono and obi or the cost would have been prohibitive!). Seeking to create an emotion, she cuts narrow strips, creating traditional patchwork blocks. She decides the size of her work, places each strip and block, numbers it all. Next, Tomie organizes each block into layers laid out in boxes, separated by tissue paper. Hand stitching and hand quilting the entire work, she methodically moves through the process. Her current project is enormous! A silk quilt displayed for us on her bed simply shimmered. This was one of the many advantages of the evening being hosted at Tomie’s home. I do love viewing bed quilts on a bed. Not to knock displaying bed quilts on a wall, but it’s a different experience.
Marilyn’s approach is more free form and yet equally time consuming. Her early work included textiles, but for many years, collage was a favorite mode of expression. Inspired by classical sculpture, she draws a rough outline on linen and begins to paint with one or 2 strands of cotton embroidery floss. The shading, the vivid dimensionality, the sheer quantity of stitches is mind boggling. She brought several pieces from her History Lessons series. We are not talking about small works of art. The torsos are often life size.
Can I ever embroider again without thinking of her?
After feeding our souls with their creative energies, Tomie led us to a magnificent buffet that she had prepared for the group. From the sushi rolls, stuffed avocados to delicious salads, the table was a visual and gustatory delight. A quick camera phone photo could only capture half of the bounty! A thank you note felt so flimsy after Tomie and her husband offered such hospitality. I am truly grateful for the evening.
Italian ceramics provided a glorious setting for Giardini di Sole’s Meet and Eat this week. Giardini di Sole curates a collection of beautiful and useful Italian home dec and garden tableware, lighting and stone tables (simply beautiful things! And in all transparency, I assist with their marketing and events). Goddess of hospitality, Josephine Wennerholm prepared multiple examples of starters, salads, main dishes and desserts with Elatia Harris of Lucy’s Mom Cuisine. The lively crowd left satiated both spiritually and physically! Jo believes in the ties created by sharing a meal. I know that nothing can be more inspiring than happy people enjoying and a good time together.
Each of us has the creative spirit, expressed in all kinds of ways (providing that we take time to listen). In the knitting classes I lead, the creation process simmers, coming alive in stitches or in thoughts while knitting. This week, we celebrated many new finished objects. What joy when your first knit sweater looks great on your tot or you wrap your first scarf around your neck! How stunning to see the color combinations felted into tote bags. What a vision when a beautiful scarf catches my breath as a knitter walks into the room. How cozy winter evenings will be with that newly completed afghan. I’m delighted to see their accomplishments.
As Fred Wiseman noted in his question and answer session at Sunday’s MFA showing of National Gallery, his documentary was a study of comparative art forms. My week was a study of creative expression. From stitches to squash, ice crystals to philosophical notes, I’m grateful for the perspicacity in my life.
