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a new way to fly

10/3/2017

 
Picture
Three weeks ago,
in the midst of packing,
freaking out,
repacking,
​ and generally wallowing in pre-travel angst about the trip from which I have just returned,
Picture
I was seized with an unexpected and unstoppable urge
to stitch together a  random collection of backstrap experiments
​and leftovers from
 this project
into a blanket/ shawl/ scarf thing
​without which,

Picture
​or so it seemed,
I would be unable to set foot out the door.
Picture

Picture
Panic projects are not a new thing for me
(indeed, unpredictable as they are, I've come almost to take them for granted),
but rarely has my home-leaving-misery
been so thoroughly transformed  
into something as magically functional, as this.
Picture
Small enough to be shoved into a bag,
it yet unfolded (without a wrinkle)
to cover me from shoulder to knee.

It was a blanket on the red-eye from Seattle to Boston,
and a pillow while sleeping in a squeaky bunk bed at the YMCA camp where I  attended  the North East Squeeze in.
Picture
It served as a bathrobe at the myriad places I stayed
and 
 made my three items of clothing seem like six
 (traveling with a concertina in your bag means clothing gives way to the instrument).
​
It covered my back,
scrunched into a scarf,
​and
Picture
Picture
unfolded
Picture
​ featherlike,
Picture
into a pair of wings
Picture
that bore me safely home.
Picture
Not bad for some scraps of plain weave, eh?

​ps. photos by my wondrous sister Evelyn R. Swett

pps.   In case any of you are suddenly seized by a need to make some wings of your own, the  Etsy store is open once again, Backstrap Dialogues ready to fly to you .

Happy Fall!
Pam
10/10/2017 12:35:08 pm

Just lovely Sarah! More inspiration!

Jody Herriott
10/10/2017 02:07:21 pm

I love it!!!!

Cheryl Silverblatt
10/10/2017 03:15:24 pm

And all the beautiful fringe! It's very nearly perfect -- well yes, it is perfect. cheryl

Jan Austin
10/10/2017 03:19:21 pm

Transitional objects, very important for some of us when leaving home. I also travel with shawls, so useful and comforting and easy to pack!

Janet Kovach
10/10/2017 03:27:39 pm

OCT.10, 2017
What a happy, cheerful post.....we on the Atlantic Coast are diminished by your wings flight back to the Pacific Coast.....i have a solid memory of when I was 5 years old of hand sewing a bunch of fabric scraps together to make what I thought was a beautiful quilted purse....this post of your sew-together reminded me of that happiness.....
From Janet K in NJ

Janine Bajus
10/10/2017 03:43:56 pm

I am so in love with this! Spurring me on to carve my dowels.....

Velma Bolyard link
10/10/2017 03:48:24 pm

you were awfully close to new york's north country! i'm so glad your trip was magnificent, given your new wings and the squeezebox!

Mariëtte Groos
10/10/2017 03:52:01 pm

The colours together are beatyful!

Linda W
10/10/2017 03:55:52 pm

So glad you're back safely and glade your trip was what you needed it to be. I must say, though, I'm glad you're back. I missed you!

Jeanne
10/10/2017 04:44:10 pm

Lovely! I am in Illinois teaching 5 kids to spin and weave. Life is good.

Joanne
10/10/2017 07:33:55 pm

Just magical

Eileen
10/10/2017 07:42:14 pm

Sarah, that is beautiful and unique in a way I never thought woven fabric could be. Piecing the section together, stitching each stitch and for you to fly? Wow! That also must have given you a magic carpet ride as well (and protected you from the fear) to the right coast. Glad you are back closer to the Left coast. Weave on. Can't wait to see what you dream up this winter!

Rebecca link
10/10/2017 08:26:40 pm

It is breathtaking!!

Margaret Stone
10/10/2017 08:44:15 pm

Wonderful as ever!

Martina
10/11/2017 12:08:30 am

How delightful! It was refreshing to realise that I'm not the only one plagued with travel and leaving home angst.

Gerri
10/11/2017 04:54:52 am

That is beautiful! I love to fly away. My angst is at the return home to the responsibilities, commitments and undone work. An escape artist?

Bonnie Klatt
10/11/2017 07:07:01 am

Elegant. Graceful. Beautiful. Seeing you wrapped in a cocoon of love, flying so freely.

Jo
10/11/2017 02:33:42 pm

Just love this blog! It reminds us to be free and open to mixing and blending and finding joy in it!

Patti Kirch
10/11/2017 03:25:32 pm

You and your concertina, wovens and travel angsts hint of Linus and his piano, blanket and Lucy angsts.
I love reading about your adventures and the inspirational treasures you find and create. Dreamy!

Tracy link
10/13/2017 07:34:36 am

Clearly a necessary step, to make this. What an extraordinary, transformative garment! Like a magic carpet, it holds life, protection and adventure!

Barb Nelson
10/17/2017 08:25:30 pm

What was the shawl woven with? It's beautiful!


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    ​Sarah C Swett 
    tells stories
    with
    ​ and about

     hand spun yarn. 


    Picture
    Click for info on
    my four selvedge
    warping class
    with
    ​ Rebecca Mezoff  
    fringeless


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