I started a knitting project.
I think it has been at least 15 years since I have knit anything. I found a small yarn shop about a mile from our flat, splurged on Peruvian alpaca wool, and bought myself a bamboo circular needle, which I love. The pattern came from my mother, via my sister. It’s a vest that I’m making for me, unless it’s too small. Then a lucky petite person may get it for Christmas!
What do you think?
I love the rhythmic repetition of the stitches, the feel of the soft wool and the warm, smooth needles, the rich color with a hint of purple. So soothing and relaxing! It’s so satisfying to make something.
The Victoria and Albert Museum has a new exhibit called “The Power of Making.” The purpose of the exhibit is to “celebrate the role of making in our lives by presenting an eclectic selection of over 100 exquisitely crafted objects, ranging from a life-size crochet bear to a ceramic eye patch, a fine metal flute to dry stone walling.”
A couple of weeks ago, I visited the exhibit. It’s an interesting collection that includes traditional crafts, as well as the latest technological creations. There’s a super large Aran knitted rug on super-sized needles (by Christien Meindertsma), a very life-like crocheted bear (by Shauna Richardson), and a multi-dimensional knitted dress (by Sandra Backlund) in this unusual mix of objects. The creators of the exhibit wanted us visitors to contemplate the role of making in our own lives. Today, when we need something, we just think to go out and buy that something. We’ve lost the connection to how things are made and created. So I’m doing my part. Back to making my vest…