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  • About
  • Blog 2014-2021

the fragile, the lovely and the absurd

3/24/2020

 
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Frankly, 
I haven't the foggiest idea 
​what to write about today.
Picture
Not for lack of ideas --
Oh no!  
I've been awash with those.
I mean, 
a paper gansey dress?
a suit of Somewhat Slanted armor?
There is much to talk about
​in the realm of my making existence.
Yet this is actually my third try
at trying to be coherent.
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Part of the problem
may have been
that "somehow"
all sorts of non-blog things
have arisen ​to take over my Tuesdays,
and, deciding to be efficient
the first two blogging attempts
were made yesterday.
Picture
What a disaster!
Not a single coherent sentence
​ could I write,
and most of the photos
turned out badly lit
or poorly framed-- 
poorly framed, that is,
unless your hearts desire 
is. to see a corner of my
Sarah-Dippity clad butt
and the bra/underwear pile
of my laundry-in-waiting?
Picture
Tuesdays, you see
are old lady (and gentleman) day at the Food Coop
(actually member over 55 gets a 10% discount),
and what with the layers of gloves
and careful spacing and all,
it seemed a good idea
to keep grocery-getting
and blog writing
​separate too.
Picture
Tuesdays are also 
my husband's new chemo day
(used to be Monday)
and since I usually try to  do a little tidying
while he's off getting infused,
 I figured if I wrote the blog on Monday
I could take my time
​with the scrubbing,
​the shopping
and the writing.
Picture
But Monday,
as I said,
refused to cooperate. 
After a bunch of confusion and angst
it became clear 
that while there are times
and places 
when thinking ahead
and being practical
(wearing  rubber gloves
out in the world etc etc)
is just the thing.
Picture
So Monday got to be
the thing it wanted to be,
full of tunes and pink coffee filters,
and I headed out to the Food Coop this morning
where,
be-gloved and bemused,
I had several magical moments of
distant socializing with dear friends--
our plastic coated hands waving madly
from one end of an aisle to another--
and also got to feel
​ a good solid sense of gratitude
for all the beautiful produce
and marvelous, helpful coop stuff
who are keeping us supplied
​for our once-a-week excursions.
Picture
And  the cleaning?
Well, I shook out a few rugs
but mostly skipped it entirely,
save for washing
and blocking
the coffee filter Gansey dress
because my imaginary elf self
wanted to wear it
and anyway
I can mop things tomorrow.

But that, the elf comment, reminds me
of what I really wanted to say today,
and why I was trying to take selfies yesterday--
Picture
which is that is that my friend Vicki
has designed the coolest hood
for the Somewhat Slanted sweater
and I finally get to tell you about it.
Somehow she managed to combine 
both the utterly practical
(cozy, easy, protective, snuggly),
and the utterly "im"--
(I get to be a wood elf
and a Monty Python Knight
​at the same time),
while making something that is
totally in the "make it as you go" spirit
of the sweater itself. 
Picture
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And now,
on these cool spring mornings

and uncertain days,
(and despite my previous conviction
that I am absolutely not a hoody person),
it is my favorite thing to wear.
Picture

Such a favorite, indeed, 
that I'm giving you a second opportunity
to critique my slovenly laundry ways,
my pink Sarah-Dippity butt,
and the polka-dotted apron I forgot I had on,
so you can see the whole thing,
backlit and all.
Picture
Remember, The Hood part of the pattern 
is Vicki's so is only available on her Ravelry page
and she's sharing it for free.
(are those underarm stripes glorious or what????),
so if you already have the Somewhat Slanted,
you can just hop over there
​and check out the instructions.
If you don't have it 
and suddenly need a suit of armor--

or a wood elf outfit,
or even a great big collar to hide behind.
 I'm having a Somewhat Slanted Sale
both on my Ravelry Page
and on this website:
from $11 down $7
(the next prime number
cuz -- all my prices are prime ;-)
Picture

Though the Somewhat Slanted
works at any gauge,
this Monty Python look
seems particularly effective with bulky yarn,
so  I'm already half way through
 another one for my husband Dan 
for whom a new suit of armor, 
and especially a super warm merino one
seems just the thing right now.
Picture
And speaking of Dan
(though he'd probably rather I didn't)
I do want to say
how VERY much I appreciate 
all your wondrous words and hopes and thoughts
in the comments in last week's post.
I was going to try to answer them all,
but it only made me cry,
and also feel so very grateful
that you are all there,
that we're all in this together
in many different
and many of the same ways, 
and that I get to write to you--
even going on and on
despite thinking I had nothing to say--
and that we can madly wave,
our carefully gloved hands
at one another
from across the world,
and the other side of town,
and feel connected
with our yarn
and our thoughts
and the joy
of the fragile,
​the lovely,
and the absurd.
So, ah,
​thanks.
​
And, onward we go.
Picture
Mary
3/24/2020 03:25:36 pm

Oh Sara. You have once again captured my own angst, my worries, my insecurities...wrapped them up in coffee filter yarn and sprinkled them with humor. And so I am waving, madly, at you from across the country, so very glad that I can read what you write, and then write my own note to you. And then write to my nearby neighbors. We are leaving each other notes in our UPS barrels at the ends of our driveways, and it is such a comfort. Now I get this note from you, and the comfort increases. Thank you.

Pam Hutley
3/24/2020 03:27:14 pm

Dear Sarah, such a wonderful blog, as usual!
You have a wonderful ability to treat this serious issue with humor , and give us a good laugh! Your amazing Guernsey dress is beautiful, and I agree that a hand spun Slightly Slanted sweater is the best!
Thanks to Vicky for her invention for further fun with this design.
Very best wishes to Dan and yourself.

Christina
3/24/2020 03:41:00 pm

Sarah, I love reading your blog. So full of whimsey, light and peace, and really really cool ideas. I love the hooded slightly slanted sweater! I am inspired by you weekly. Best to you and Dan, and prayers for safety in this crazy time.

Janet Wolf Bowen
3/24/2020 03:53:27 pm

Thank you thank you thank you! Dippity behind and apron and elf dress and all. Waving an imaginary gloved hand at you and at Dan as well!

Ghislaine link
3/24/2020 04:01:05 pm

Sarah, j’écris en français car je ne saurai pas le dire en anglais. Prends soin de toi, et je comprends ta peur et ta solitude. Et je ne peux rien te dire d’autre que je comprends, et courage, et merci pour ton post chaque mardi.

claudia
3/24/2020 04:11:37 pm

Imaginary elf self... genius!

Terri Bryson
3/24/2020 04:12:00 pm

You are wonderful! Prayers that Dan's chemo goes well. Keep on doing the things you love and need right now. A little cleaning can always wait.

Linda
3/24/2020 04:25:08 pm

Sarah, we surround you, always, for the same reasons you surround us......joy, caring, warmth, learning, concern and so much more. I continue to be fascinated by the beautiful pieces you weave or knit and the unusual materials chosen. Sending love to you both.

Susan
3/24/2020 04:33:36 pm

Yes, moving forward!

Ida link
3/24/2020 04:42:29 pm

Thank you for the third try to write this blog post. :-)
You are describing what also happens on my side of the earth (minus the gloves when shopping - yet) I have been thinking about your previous blog post and what you and your husband are going through because of his illness. I feel for you both and hope that you will find strength to overcome the obstacles that may appear on the road to recovery. Not an easy path to walk. I have since the end of January experienced what it means when one's better half is suddenly moved to an intensive care unit and the one you leaned against for 40 years is completely down-and-out. It feels like falling over for there is nobody there to hold up he other side. We are almost through the ordeal and we are the lucky ones this time but it gives you a new perspective on how fast things can change. Even without corona. I have started a new 4-selvedge weaving for a tiny book and it gives me the chance to shift focus from illness and virus for a moment.
Your art is such an inspiration; so thank you for continuing with your amazing work. Take care
Ida

Vicki Aspenberg
3/24/2020 05:11:00 pm

Thank you for the lovely post, I so much enjoy your drawings and unique weaving. My best to you and your husband.

Noël Nicholls
3/24/2020 05:36:38 pm

Another inspiring post Sarah. I wave my silica gloved hands to you from Victoria, Australia. We seem to be living in a crazy, scary, challenging world at the moment. People like you, and Rebecca Mezoff help us to know we are not alone. Love your Monty Python helmet 😀 and Peace be with you. Noël

Marjorie McLaren
3/24/2020 06:23:20 pm

Prayers for Dan! Can't have too many of those:)
Would you please remind us again how to cut those coffee filters? I couldn't find it in your previous blog posts. Thanks and sunny safe days to you both!

Melanie Ware
3/24/2020 06:46:21 pm

I would love a time machine to take us all back to an evening of spinning in your living room. Me borrowing your Columbine, Vicki, Anne, Nancy, Rochelle, Kate, Martina, and more of the original Hog Heaven Handspinners, with Scarface begrudgingly tolerating us, and your beloved Dan and Henry peaking in.

Much love to you, friend.

Louise
3/24/2020 07:00:57 pm

Hey, Dan: Go! I beat this a couple of years ago. You can too! Thinking of your guys.

Donna Mattison-Earls
3/24/2020 07:06:03 pm

I have enjoyed reading your blog for many years and have finally decided to comment. I love getting your posts, so lyrical and full of whimsy. I am still a want-to-be weaver with dabblings of small tapestries. Finally got a Mirrix but have struggled to get used to it. I have more time now, perhaps I will get more confident. Stay well and my best to you and your husband and to all of us in this world crisis.

Patti Kirch
3/24/2020 10:41:11 pm

..... Sarah-Dippity Skirt, Sir Robin Knitted Tunic and a his and her's Somewhat Slanted Sweater with woodelf hoodie, just remarkable, just thank you for your creative view, love to you and Dan

Freyalynn
3/25/2020 03:04:48 am

They weren't kidding when 'May You Live In Interesting Times' became a curse. Your words and textiels are a light for us all. Thank you for contining to share.

Deb Thomas
3/25/2020 03:22:27 am

Sarah, first, positive thoughts for you and Dan in these extea-trying times, and secon, thank you so much for sharing you work and your love of all things fiber. I have knitted a Somewhat Slanted cardigan, and a pullover is in my queue. Probably, now, with a hood. I, too, am weaving four selvedge tiny tapestries as therapy. And a very big thank you for including your music on the Fringeless course -- I now have an English concertina of my own, a baritone because I love the lower range, for my own ephemeral relaxation. Bless you.

Cheryl Silverblatt
3/25/2020 10:32:29 am

A joy to wear wood elf slanted sweater is now on the horizon for me, and it was the wood elf hood that did it (and the bargain price didn't hurt). Thanks to both of you for bringing such a joyful feeling to my day. Warm thoughts always, cheryl

Alison Clark
3/26/2020 04:20:53 pm

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for being you; for elf selfs and somewhat slanted sweaters; for 4 selvedge tapestry and coffee filter yarn; for keeping going with grace and humour but, above all, for being Sarah x

DeAnn Jochen
3/30/2020 01:30:55 pm

Oh Sarah, only you can turn used coffee filters into objects of beauty. I understand your (what I call fuddlement), in recent days. A simple gnome pattern has had me on the ropes. Just know that both you and Dan are dearly loved, supported, and thought of very often. My husband beat cancer, and I just know that with amazing you supporting him, Dan will too!!


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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