Winter Projects

I spent much of November avoiding knitting and delving into new needlework worlds. I took a lesson in smocking and another lesson in bobbin lace, built my own bobbin lace pillow and started practicing.

Sweet, smocked baby bonnet

Embryonic Bobbin lace pillow

Completed Bobbin lace pillow. Woo! Woo!

Bobbin lace paraphernalia 

Laura's first bobbin lace

I also tackled a 20-year-old cross stitch I had begun while I was pregnant with my first born. I think. I can't even remember. What I do remember is that I was drawn to the Delft-blue tones in this stitched Christmas plate. 

I did all the blue-toned trees, the man dragging the Christmas tree, and the little cottage in the woods. Only then, did I realize, I was supposed to cross-stitch all the white snow on the white Aida cloth. This is an older counted cross-stitch design, so I guess I should just be thankful there wasn't 20 different white colored threads in the snow.

Yuck. White on white.

In any case, I packed it up and stuck it in a closet. Later, I stuck it in a BOX in a closet. But, each Christmas I would spend seconds thinking about it and wondering if I should dig it out.

This year I did. And, I finished it in two or three weeks. And, I got tendonitis in my right thumb as a present from the effort.

Was it worth it? I don't know. Ask me after my Occupational Therapy appointment tomorrow.

Skolt Saami Socks

Here is a nice write-up about my current pattern in PieceWork magazine. Their January/February edition always features historical knitting.

https://www.interweave.com/article/needlework/skolt-saami-sock-knitting-traditions/

I'm always so pleased to research this beautiful area and people and be able to share their lovely knitting.

Seattle or bust

October 4, my friend Janet and I boarded an Alaskan Airlines plane bound for Seattle. Our purpose? The Nordic Knitting Conference, held at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard.

Of course, that is moisture on the sign! This is Seattle, folks.

I was honored to teach there for the three day conference and deliver the keynote address.

The ferry ride to Bainbridge island and the fantastic view of Seattle as we went.

Janet and I had a good time, traipsing around town. We took the ferry to Bainbridge island our first day, and, of course, did the Titanic thing on the way there (I shan't share those photos). We visited Blackbird Bakery and Churchmouse Tea and Yarn. It seems a bunch of us teachers wandered over there in the day!

That night, we had the teachers' dinner. It was delightful to see those I hadn't seen in a year and meet a few new experts.

The Nordic Heritage Museum always puts on a good show! The brainchild of Karin Lowe and Karen Clausen, as well as hard-working museum staff, the Nordic Knitting Conference has always been every other year in October. This is the first year they have attempted only one year interval, and this is such a busy year to have done it: The NHM is building a new  facility which will open May 2018.

Despite distracting daily urgencies involving a new facility, the conference was a joy. Wonderful, wonderful students and hand-knitting enthusiasts came together and took classes from Arne and Carlos, Beth Brown-Reinsel, Chris Bylsma, Carol Rhoades, Evelyn Clark, and myself covering from a very wide range of topics.

Saturday night, my dear friends Melinda and Karina Ricker joined us for the banquet, after which I spoke on Sámi knitting across the Northern Nordic lands. I highlighted how the knitting reflects many aspects of the gákti, as well as some of the crafts people in that land. Many thanks to Laila Durán who allowed me to use many of her gorgeous photographs.

Sunday night, I dragged some people to my high school friend's choir concert. It was outstanding. Seriously, if you are in the Seattle area and like good choral music, consider attending any of the Esoterics' concerts. We happen to be at the one that features the three winners of their international, national and youth modern a cappella song writing yearly contest. It was magical, and a great way to finish off the trip.

Any three days teaching can take it out of me. We flew home and I got to tackle the many items I had successfully put off for days. But, you know, once you've loitered with Beth Brown-Reinsel, everything else loses its flavor.

FO

As any good and bad knitter can tell you, FO means "finished object." And, the best way to jinx a good case of finish-itis is to blog about it. All of you suffering from that malady, please take note.

But, in my case, my run of finished items was halted for a good reason: my baby came home. Number One Son is a freshman at University of Nebraska. He somehow talked four Nebraskan friends into leaving after lectures on Friday and driving through the night to his humble home in Indiana.

Watch out, corn! There's a lot of hard work in these Cornhuskers.

Definitely a happy mom moment. So, although I didn't finish fiber things, I did cook a bunch, feed 14 and make three pies. 

He left at 9 on Sunday to drive all day and get back to the dorm. I was thankful for Daylight Savings, as he he gained an hour in all that craziness.

Looking forward to seeing him at Thanksgiving now!