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thinking ahead, back then

3/9/2021

 
Picture
So you know what's cool?
Picture
Well, lots of things are cool:
spinning
and weaving
and looms
and friends
and solitude
and vaccinations
and sunshine
and rain
and baby plants
and one syllable four letter nouns...
Picture
Today, though
the thing that delights me
more than I can say,
is noticing--
Picture
that I no longer notice--
Picture
that I wear a hand spun/knit wool shirt
every single day
summer and winter.
Picture
Well-- truth to tell--
in the summer I occasionally wear
those handwoven linen
and  linsey-woolsey shirts.
But still--
(and somewhat to my amazement),
I've made more than enough
next-to-the-skin-soft
wool shirts
 to see me through.
Picture
And though I wasn't thinking at the time
about  why it was possible,
one of my great daily pleases
these last months
has been dressing up for my loom every day.
And I think the loom appreciated my effort.

But I had  forgotten--
until tidying up a stack of
"magazines with articles I wrote"--
Picture
that once upon a time
having enough such garments
was a deliberate plan--
my mid-life self
committing
to the sartorial comfort, pleasure
and general well-being
of me,
now,
at 60.
Picture
Picture
So golly thanks, former Sarah
for the serendipitous Magic Medium--
for the blissfully approachable Somewhat Slanted
(of which I now have five)--
for The Cloisters (pictured above)--
for Kestrals Alight back in 1996--
for all the unnamed others
(many of which I've given away)--
Picture
Notes to Self; hand woven tapestry; 25" x24"; wool/ natural dyes ©Sarah C. Swett 2015
--for all the glorious fleeces
(and the sheep that grew them)--
and for uncountable days and weeks and years
of pleasure--
past, present and future.
Picture
And yes, also for my Sarah-Dippity Skirts
which though they are not shirts
and were completely unplanned,
I nonetheless wear so often
that I'm now having to patch them.
Picture
So you know what's cool?
That the midst of one of the weirdest
and most unsettled
and oddly fascinating times of my life so far--
that even as I am taking a break from knitting
to rest and reset--
it is yarn, once again,
that is seeing me through.
Masseyna olstynski
3/9/2021 03:32:24 pm

I'm just starting back with my knitting! I found your paper yarn! I'm combining it with Japanese gold leaf yarn for a Japanese styled shawl.. The paper is too cool! You are great inspiration! All the best

Sandy Trachsel link
3/9/2021 03:37:09 pm

Lovely post! We are the same age; I can relate...

Alex LeClaire link
3/10/2021 04:44:09 am

Me too, finishing up the same magic year! And yeah to Linsey-woolsey and the upcoming flax garden!

Barbara
3/9/2021 03:39:58 pm

YOU are too cool. Love this blog. xoxoxo

Joyce
3/9/2021 03:44:52 pm

Though not a one syllable, four letter noun, CONCERTINA is very cool!

Janine
3/9/2021 03:48:39 pm

An inspiration, always!

PS I once won a radio contest (remember those?!) by answering this question:
What is the longest one-syllable word with only one vowel? Answer: Strengths. (I think I won 8 free video rentals!) xoxo

Margaret Tyler
3/9/2021 03:49:22 pm

another dreamy post- and dearly loved illustrations. Reminded me of how much I have wanted to knit the Cloisters sweater and that I had not (until now) purchased the Magic Medium.
Bless you!!!

Jessica Jones Coggins
3/9/2021 03:50:04 pm

Lovely Sarah! Love your old neighbor whose son was born the same year yours was!

Sarah
3/10/2021 03:54:51 pm

Hey Jessica! I think of you every time I pass your old house. Amazing that our boys are now in their thirties, eh?
And thanks for reading

Velma Bolyard
3/9/2021 03:55:27 pm

I wish for lots of comfy shirts that I love and make myself. that won't probably happen. other things might, though. and there are always edges (edge) which are rich (rich) with abundance. so I'll settle with edge(s). and hope for more (more). hand love(s) text(ile).

Nancy Newman
3/9/2021 04:25:48 pm

Thanks to your Somewhat Slanted pattern, my Jenkins turkish delight spindle for singles, and my pocket wheel for plying, I have two Covid sweaters to wear for years to come.

claudia
3/9/2021 04:47:38 pm

Just wanted to say hi! Grateful to hear your (written) voice in my head again. You are an eternal inspiration to keep making for the sake of making!

Margaret Stone link
3/9/2021 05:00:37 pm

Inspirational as ever Sarah! Isn't it great wearing at least one item you have made everyday? I have yet to make your skirt but the Magic Medium has been knit twice for one of my girls and for my sister from my handspun and commercial yarn. I am hoping to make your tee shirt jumper (jumpers in Australia not sweaters!) from another spin off but can't find it in the index of Spin Off. It was a grey/green stripe long sleeve light weight jumper. Any ideas which one it was featured in? Or was it a variation of the Magic Medium? Anyway I will find it and make one for myself one day.

Christina
3/9/2021 05:50:10 pm

I love reading your blog, and seeing what you are creating. Today I started weaving to make a skirt. It probably won't be done until fall, but it is giving me such joy to see the subtle colors of heathery wool mix together.

Eileen Van Bronkhorst
3/9/2021 07:09:55 pm

Oh Sarah! Dressing for your loom! I have been doing that same thing. I really think the loom appreciates me not being in my sweats. I have to shower and dress before I go to my studio to work everyday. I am really glad to have created a schedule in this really bizarre world we are living in right now. It is the only consistent thing to do. ❤️

Tracy Hudson link
3/9/2021 08:28:15 pm

Ooh! Aah! Whether to comment in order, sensibly, or just to jump to the bounce-bounce-bounce part....
Well. I have happily found a uniform for myself this winter, with a handspun sweater over a shirt (sometimes made by me) and my long wool skirt, sewn with locally purchased fabric and hemmed with handspun yarn. It is a thrill and a daily gift to feel happy in my clothes. I feel that I'm on the right path to reach the wardrobe dream you are living.

And SARAH (bounce, bounce, bounce) I wrote for that SAME ISSUE of Spin Off! It's in my stack of magazines-I-have-articles-in, too. :) See the purple band at the top of the cover for my content. This makes me so happy, and guarantees I can go find your pattern and spin for a Cloisters sweater. ~~~~ twirling in a handmade skirt ~~~~

Sarah
3/10/2021 03:56:06 pm

What joy to turn the pages of that issue of Spin Off and find you in an article I read and adored back then. Oh, the lovely tiny world of textiles....
Thanks!

Tracy Hudson link
3/9/2021 08:29:50 pm

P.S. - I was always happy that the issue has such a beautiful cover.

laura
3/10/2021 05:00:33 am

I always enjoy your blog posts. So happy to see you are back again. 60 what a nice age I was 60 8 yrs ago and still remember the day I turned 60 I thought wow another decade I made it too. SO COOL!!! Enjoy all the things you love. Hugs to you.

Valerie
3/10/2021 06:41:07 am

Lovely post....off to dig out old Spin Off issues...

BTW yarn is a one syllable, 4 letter noun

David Moore
3/10/2021 09:36:43 am

Sarah, it is always such a lovely thing to see and read your latest blogposts. (Even those that discuss difficult subjects, and I know this past year has been challenging.) In keeping with my personal theme for 2021 — “Beauty First” — I’m always so happy to receive your Tuesday newsletter, letting me know that on Wednesday, before I even glimpse any “news” or start the day’s work, I get to spend a few minutes sipping my morning coffee and enjoying the kind, gentle, intelligent, informative and welcoming world you have created on your blog.

I’m also pleased to say that my knitting and spinning mojo has returned! I just finished a sweater and have been playing with my spindles. Goodness, my wheel might soon even see some sunlight! Of course, my passions and interests run in seasons, so I’m sure weaving, sewing, drawing, painting, etc., will be clamoring for their turns, in short order. What a wonderful world to explore, eh?! All the best to you and yours.

jess link
3/12/2021 06:55:20 am

I am SO glad to see you back. Noticing is still creating. Your tapestry amazes me every time I see it.


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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