Beauty as necessity, trying new things, mending old things
Beauty as necessity, trying new things, mending old things
In a world consumed by the relentless pursuit of progress and efficiency, it is all too easy to overlook the intrinsic value of beauty in our lives.
Yet beauty, in our outer worlds, as within our inner worlds, is necessary. Beauty is not just frivolous indulgence, it's well-being.
It is in the quiet moments when we pause to admire a leaf in a ray of sunlight or a magically painted sunset, that we slow down time.
This beauty is what sparks inspiration within us, filling us up and flowing through our inner world like a sweet sap of wonder and purpose.
Our inner worlds are often tumultuous and demanding places. There is chaos, yet there is room for beauty. Make space for it.
What I am making
Finished Lakes Pullover
I finished my Lakes pullover by Ozetta. It was the first time for me doing a saddle shoulder construction, and I thought that the way she designed it was so interesting. It was also the first time I did a folded collar, it looks so smart!
I was very curious to see what the fit wold be like, so I was motivated to finish it. I used Mota by Wooldreamers, a heavy DK yarn local to me. I knit the smallest size and used a bit under 4 skeins (230m or 251y/100g).
It's boxy and oversized and very warm. The sleeves are very voluminous for my taste, but they work with the overall fit of the sweater. It makes it very good for layering.
If I knit this again, I think I would make it in a light DK and get a smaller size.
And because I had a skein leftover, and I wanted to return it, I paid a visit to my LYS. I found these two skeins that felt joyful and interesting to me, the pink one on the left and the icy blue one on the right. I was thinking to make a cowl with one of them and start a shawl with the second. They are all locally produced or locally hand dyed, and that makes me feel even better about them.
It's the first time for me buying hand dyed yarn. I have dyed my own, but it's a different experience to enjoy someone else's creation.
When I got home, I started playing with skeins and decided to use them together in a project. And I cast on a Satellite shawl by Andrea Mowry. Yes, I do still have another shawl I just started. But these yarns just asked to be made into something.
Of course at home I already had a green I could use, so I didn't need to buy that skein, but it helped me decide on the colour. The grey is also from my stash, a rusting fingering wool produced by a small mill in Lithuania (Yarnhome on Etsy). It's interesting how I had just frogged a project in the very same yarn a few days before, but in this combination of textures and colours, it's so pleasing.
And I finally understood the structure of brioche. Hooray!
I'm enjoying every stitch of this shawl, and my photo doesn't do it any justice. It's mesmerizing!
Book of the week
Mend and Patch by Kerstin Neumüller
I admire Kertin's work, and I am so drawn by the wooden mini heddles she crafts (I recommend you check out her blog as well). In this beautifully photographed books, the author gives succinct and useful tips for mending all kinds of textiles (also leather!), by hand or by sewing machine.
The book includes beautiful illustrations that allow you to quickly understand the structure of the mend.
There's a mending for knits section in the book, and I found Swiss darning visible mending especially attractive.
I'm very drawn by mending, both visible and invisible, and it can be done in such artful and mindful ways, enriching our craft and prolonging the lives of objects we give meaning to.
This book makes me want to take my pile of mending items, make a cup of tea and sit on the sofa with a big smile on my face.
May your days be filled with mindful moments. Until next time, be present.
Sky