A Gift — For Me!
I’m “coming up for air” here, wishing that life didn’t keep getting in the way of important stuff!
I received a wonderful gift – all the way from PomPom in Australia!!! From PomPom, who is a brand-new Australian citizen! Applause, please. Ma’am, stand up and take a bow. Naturalized citizens go to great lengths to achieve citizenship in their chosen country, unlike the rest of us who receive our citizenship simply by surviving being born. A proper Thank You for such a thoughtful gift is on it’s way to you.
I have YARN!!!!! (Be quiet, Pop! I don’t mean more “yarn,” which is everywhere you look in this house, even some hidden in a corner in the bathroom. I mean YARN!) I have issue #9, and I’ve read it cover to cover, about 9 times. Well, actually, more than that. And all the advertisements, too.
Firstly, I just “Ooooh, Ooooh”-ed for awhile. Having never lived in or been to Australia, I was not familiar with this publication EXCEPT that David of Sticks and Strings (whose podcast I listen to all the time) has mentioned it several times. He mentioned difficulties the magazine was having to the extent that it might cease to be, and then was purchased by new folk who are excited about producing a quality product. It’s seems they are well on their way. Part of my Oooohing was simply over that “connection.” I was actually holding something that David R. had discussed and cared about. Wow. (Damn, I sound like a 15-year-old groupie)
When I opened the cover, I was captivated by the first picture I saw! Crocheted cactii, illustrating hyperbolic planes, a mathematical function. At the Institure for Figuring, they are also crocheting a coral reef! A work of art. I don’t need to understand “higher math” to appreciate the beautiful work! The articles on silk were an education for me, and I read with interest about efforts in Laos to save the “silk culture” of the people there. Such labor-intensive endeavors defy the “modern” trend of “quicker and cheaper is better.” One prays that these efforts will continue, and proper appreciation will be shown for the beauty of the work and the skills of the workers. Most informative article on silk fiber use, handling tips and care. Very interesting for me – I’ve knitted with fiber that has silk in it, but due to the cost, never with pure silk. (And oh, a pattern for a gorgeous, slinky, slithery tank style dressy top, knitted in fingering weight silk, beautiful color, modeled by a slim young thing that forces me to remember that I’m closer to 60 than Christmas, and will never again have the body to wear such a garment) The article notes differences when working with pure silk, that it initially appears not to be the proper dimensions or proportions expected, but washing and hanging make it all work. So glad to know that PRIOR to working on expensive fibers. I might have knitted it, looked at the odd shape, stuffed it in a bag and into the back of a closet, had a good cry, then gone on to cry over a whole lot of mistakes I’ve made, knitting and otherwise. Good article, beautiful garment.
An article on Nuno Felting – a technique that I was totally unfamiliar with. Fibers and fabrics applied onto silk and felted, very well illustrated for those who wish to try this process. Looks like it takes time, thought and SPACE to lay it all out. Hmmm, not for me at this time! I liked Jude’s Jacket, a light, open garment that reminded me of a generous, loose shrug. One picture shows it worn over a sleeveless dress, perfect for a wee bit of cover-up that doesn’t cover up a lovely gown or top. Great for outdoors on a summer evening, should a breeze pick up, or more likely, indoors to keep one from freezing to death in the air conditioning!!! And an attractive top is highlighted rather than obscured. Read the directions for this beauty, and it started with “Cast on 301 stitches and… join, being careful not to twist.” OH, shit, that’ll take me the rest of my natural life! I have enough trouble doing that for a damn sock! (If I ever do this pattern, I’ll get eagle-eyed daughter to do that part!!!)
A pair of “ped” style socks, low on the ankle, a ribbed pullover with a very different, attractive neckline detail, a crocheted scarf – perfect for using some of my handspun. Directions for a pair of shorts for babies 6 to 18 months. Cute, quick. A nice mix of patterns.
An article called “A Yarn Less Traveled” about the environmental impact of international shipping and purchasing. Australian wool, off the backs of Australian sheep, is ocean freighted to Italy for processing and spinning, then sent by ship again to Canada, then air-freighted back to Australia for sale!!!! (I didn’t know this, and it surprised me) Each skein of wool is more well-traveled than I ever hope to be, and the damage to the environment is the sticking point. I heard a statement the other day in regard to rising fuel prices here in the USA – “We are a nation of people who want strawberries in the winter.” And, presumably, the hell with the ecological impact. Some nations are getting wise with greater speed than others.
And the advertisements, from their yarn companies and local yarn stores. I expected to recognize nothing at all. Instead, I saw many brand names that were common, well-known here in the US, proving that the yarn is very “traveled.” Yarns that are available here in the USA and definitely not marketed as “grown, processed, made in Australia” yarns are sold there. As a non-native, I beg the entire country’s pardon for my silliness, but in a land known for SHEEP, SHEEP and more SHEEP, I really expected to see lots of brands of WOOL that were new to me, Australia’s own, with pictures of kangaroos on the labels. (I know. I’m such a jerk) From sheep to wool all within the country. Didn’t expect to be familiar with the shop ads. And then – there was Nundle Woollen Mill. Oh, yes, Nundle. I remember that from when David went for a visit!!
What a lovely magazine, such a thoughtful gift. Thank you, S.
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