But "why"?

So I was on a bridge the other day when a woman complimented my girls on their frocks. My middle kid started telling the woman that her mum made them, and that I make most of their clothes*. And the woman ……well she said “why?”

Because you are reading the blog I’m going to assume that you understand why. But as I’m totally feeling the craft joy over the last few days I thought I would list a few just in case you want some easy answers if you are ever asked. I’d love to hear some more in the comments.

I've started two new projects in the last week and both of them are totally doing it for me in different ways. Project 1 is the Brooklyn Tweed Shale Baby Blanket and Project 2 is another version of Granny’s Favourite but with colourwork rather than the lace.

Without further ado here are my reasons “why”!

The pure happiness you have inside when lost in making

I talked about it a little bit in my last post – about the thrill of doing something you get lost in.  I saw this TED talk the other night which was talking about when we are truly happy. She said that it was often when we weren’t caught up in our ego and were totally lost in what we are doing. There are other places in my life where that happens but craft is the biggest.

The joy of starting something new

After finishing something big I often give myself permission to get my cast on (it would be my sew on too except that I am still far from home without a hoop or sewing machine). And humans seem to love a bit of new don’t they.  Pure excitement.

The sensual thrill of working with beautiful materials

I’m using Pear Tree Supersoft to make the yellow baby blanket in the pictures. This yarn is probably my all time favourite yarn but sadly the company is no more. However after extensive stalking of people’s Ravelry stash, due to the fact I love the yarn and due to the fact my SIL loves this colour (she is the one having the baby!), I finally turned up some of more of this yarn. I don’t even want to think about it’s transport miles, but the feeling of this yarn, the softness, the thick, the thin running through your hands is pure sensual joy! It truly is supersoft and yet it retains it’s sturdiness and has structure. It has a special place in my heart and so every time I am working with it I am aware of its qualities. It is all in the fingertips.

The meditative joy of making something for someone special

The baby blanket to me is also much more than the joy of working with the beautiful yarn. Attached to it is all the sentiment and love for the new person who will be born and receive it. Thoughts about that baby (and his/her lovely older sibiling) mean that knitting this blanket is a meditation of sorts on the love to come.

The absolute excitement of coming up with an idea that sings

We have been travelling for over four months now and one child has done that growing thing in spades. Her only cardy has sleeves that are almost at her elbows, so I thought I would whip her up something before I headed home for The Craft Sessions. I have been enjoying colourwork so much I wanted to do a little more, but when choosing from my box in the car I had super limited options. I used two yarns I wouldn’t normally have thought to pair and I made a little magic. By accident. I cannot put this thing down I am so excited. 

What have I missed?

Felicia x

*possibly not entirely true anymore as there are three of them and they seem to be growing quicker than I can keep up…

Women and Craft - A love story.

By the time I finished university at the age of 26, I was itching for some adventure. I worked for a scant few months to save some money, before jetting off with no plans and no idea how long I would be away for. I think I murmured something about being home in time for Christmas. Which I was – just six years later…

I arrived home pregnant and now in my early 30s, and the women I had left behind, my women, were thin on the ground. Many had moved overseas or interstate. Some were doing that corporate thing, rather than the kid thing. Others had just moved to the other side of Melbourne. It became clear to me over that first year back that coming home actually meant starting again.

I needed to find myself a whole new community, which to tell you the truth felt a little daunting.  As a new parent with a small fella who did a lot of screaming and not much sleeping, trying to bond with women at the local mothers group was often just excruciating. Their babies peacefully slept on their bunny rugs on the floor of the community centre, while mine was a. screaming and b. throwing up all over me. Did I mention that he was also a chucker?

After a long hiatus, and like many women before me, I started crafting around the time I had kids. And so I was making. And making. And making. Making mainly to feel the joy. To feel that little spark you feel when you are lost in whatever you are creating. And I was making to own a little part of my day. The tiny part that wasn’t owned by housework or small people.

A second kid was born not long after the first and things were good. I had made friends and it was friendly, but I hadn’t really met my people. Friendships were based around our kids and while they were nice people, there wasn’t that ease you have when you find your place. 

What I didn’t know then, that I do know now, is that things were going to get a whole lot better. A chance meeting on the street one day meant that I became friends with this woman. I liked her that first day. Then I ran into her again. She gave me her number – because she is like that – and after a few days I called her.

The beautiful hands of the wonderful woman who asked me out for a coffee.

I remember calling her. It felt like I was asking someone out. We had coffee and discovered that we both made things. Then there was another chance meeting with someone we both kind of knew – another crafter - and a date was made for a craft night. Something simple at someone’s house. That second woman invited someone else to that first night, and then we were four. By the end of the night we agreed to do it again in two weeks time. A month felt like too long to wait. 

We began talking that night and didn’t stop for the year and a half of fortnightly Tuesdays. Four women, a cake and a couple of bottles of wine and craft. Pure magic! Some nights I don’t think we were that productive craft-wise but the joy was there in spades. We talked and laughed and argued about ev-e-ry-thing, late into the night and none of us missed an evening. We knew nothing about one another when we began. It's now seven years later and I know I will grow old with them.

So here is the thing - the whole point of this post - I truly believe that craft was the key to bringing these friendships to me and making them hum. Not just because it gave us a reason to meet up in the first place – which it did. But also because to be a crafter, means that you must understand and value the energy and joy that goes into making with your hands. You must get it! And as crafting is such an important part of my life, I think sharing that value is a wonderful space in which to start a friendship.

Then the what you make, how you make, what you are scared of, how you approach things, tell you so much about a person; who they are or how they are feeling on a given day, that there really is a kind of magic to how you get to know someone. When you are making something, creating something, you have that little spark inside you that makes you feel a little bit more alive, and in my opinion from the outside you look a little bit shiny. You have the joy! And that is a great energy to bring to anyone’s kitchen table.

Crafting gives you a reason to work together, encourage one another, be generous with one another - it gives you the space and a framework to form a friendship. Making together means that you get to see that creative hum in someone else; and it is truly beautiful to watch.

Since that first group, I have been lucky enough to be part of quite a few other craft groups, big and small. I have watched the magic happen over and over again, and friendships form.  Some groups have fallen apart, some just fade away and others have morphed into something completely new. And I have been lucky enough to form and strengthen friendships through each and every one. I found my people!

Which then inspired me to start a craft retreat; mainly as a way to create a space to come together in Australia as a larger group to connect around our shared love. But it would not have happened without the encouragement and ideas of my craft group, and it would not exist without their help and support. 

Crafting has been the catalyst for connection with a whole range of beautiful, wise women that I now have in my life – and for that I am truly grateful!

I realise I said magic a lot this post and for that I apologise ;). I’d love to hear your craft group stories? Love them, hate them, never tried them….You don’t need to use the word magic. Promise.

Felicia x 

P. S. And now for the world’s best segue…. You too can participate in a big craft group called The Craft Sessions. Our event is held September 5-7 in the Yarra Valley, and we have so many lovely women coming. Women from nearly every state in Australia and even few from NZ. Top women and magic teachers!  And you can pick up your tickets by clicking on the link register at the top of the page. Registration closes tonight so this really is your last chance for this year!

Registration is closing this Friday!

So today's post is short. Just two pieces of info for you.

1. Registration is closing this week.

We are closing registration at the end of the day on Friday the 8th of August!. There are just a few spaces left and quite a few classes are fully booked. If you have any questions about class availability then please feel free to email me.

2. We have exciting sponsors on board!

I will be posting more details about them soon but have a look at the end of our home page for a full list. As our lovely participants from last year know, our sponsors were super generous leading to gorgeous gift bags last year. We feel very grateful to have them all on board this year.

See you at the end of the week!

Felicia x

The post about steeking!

So I finally found the time and space to cut the knitting. The delay was more about finding time when I had clean fingernails, and someone to take a photo for me, than an issue with the steek. Long term camping is not always very glamourous. Especially in the rain - and we have had a lot of rain in the last week. The dirt gets so stuck under your nails, and ingrained in your finger tips that only a good soaking will get it out. And there is nowhere to soak.

I digress. With the help of my middle child, I cut the steek! And I have to say that it is one of the most fun things you can do as a knitter. Even as I write this down I can hear that it sounds a bit nanna. But it's not. It feels devilish. Like smoking at the milk bar around the corner from your house when you were 16. Not that I would have done something like that ;).  

More digression.

This post is not a how-to. More a progress report. 

I have posted a short instagram video clip if you want to watch or have not yet seen a steek live. 

And if you were after a how-to I have two options for you.

1. In person. Sadly/happily our Steeking workshop, which is taught by Julia Billings at this year's retreat, is fully booked out. I'm thinking we should possibly repeat it next year as it was so popular! In the mean time you can experience Jules teaching steeking at Sunspun in Melbourne in October. Please contact them for the details.

2. Online. Have a look at the lovely Kate Davies site where she shows you how it is done. She also has a great post on different types of finishes here.

There is also a fantastic series on steeking by Eunny Jang in her defunct blog. This was how I first got my steeking confidence. It is a great read, as is much of the rest of her site.

The cardigan still isn't finished - which I like. I like that it has been my companion over these last four months as we have travelled about. And while I have knitted numerous other short-term projects over our time away, nothing that has the love that has gone into this work. This project has meaning to me. I learnt, I persisted and I'm hoping to love it. 

It still needs button bands and an extra motif added to each sleeve to make them a little longer. I'll let you know when I'm done. 

Have you ever steeked anything? Does the idea of steeking make you feel the joy? Or some fear….

Felicia x

PS. Only one week to go until registration closes! Feel free to email me if you have any questions about workshop availability.

Best Of Knitwear Designers #2 - Carrie Bostick Hoge

Seeing the picture below on Ravelry was the moment in which I fell in love with the patterns of Carrie Bostick Hoge of Madder*. And since that fateful day I have made so very many of her patterns. In fact it would be true to say that I have knitted more of her patterns than any other designer. 

Sibella by Carrie Bostick Hoge.

Why? I hear you ask. Let's start with the fact that...

Carrie has truly beautiful designs

Carrie has developed her own recognisable style based on simple shapes, beautiful stitch patterns and a gorgeous washed out colour palate. And her photos….well just look at the one below. Her photos inspire you to pick up the needles - yes? 

(Please note that today all photos are courtesy of Carrie Bostick Hoge unless I state otherwise.)

Sibella by Carrie Bostick Hoge.

Carrie launched an Anthology of her patterns in the last week, bringing two of my favourite patterns of all time together; the Immie and Sibella pattern lines are joined by two other pattern themes, Camilla and Beatrice.  As she explains at the start of the anthology she gets obsessed with a particular idea/stitch pattern and often designs multiple patterns around that theme.

My two favourites both use the Frost Flowers design from Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns. In Immie it is used as a panel up the front of the tee and with Sibella, Carrie has stripped out some of the elements and used them horizontally.

I love this stitch and I love what Carrie did with it. Knitting Immie a few times and loving the stitch, inspired me to use a version of Frost Flowers when freestyling the Christmas Dress below. My little girl adored this dress! I plan on making another when time permits…maybe as an a-line jumper?

Christmas Dress and photo by Felicia Semple.

Carrie writes beautifully clear patterns

As I mentioned the other day, I have two of her patterns on the needles at the moment. The lovely Maeve and the Imogen Cowl. And these, like many other patterns I have used of Carrie's are simple, to the point, clear and have good descriptions of the various techniques involved. They aren't too verbose and they aren't too pithy. I really admire this in a knitwear designer, as it is something many patterns (including the few I have written!) fail to achieve. It makes them a joy to knit. 

Maeve by Carrie Bostick Hoge.

Carrie's designs have an inbuilt simplicity

Her patterns have that balance between nice finishing without being fussy. I love Lila for this - and will be knitting another in grey when I get the time. Just the right amount of garter on the neckline and the bottom give the sweater a nice balance. It is one of my most worn knits. 

Lila - knitting and photo by Felicia Semple

Knitting and photo by Felicia Semple

Carrie's Uniform pattern is hopefully going to be knitted up by a good friend of mine - it will be her first grown up cardy and I think it is the perfect place to start. It is simple but with a great shape and in a good yarn weight for beginners. 

The pattern I am knitting at the moment, Maeve is another great example; it is so very very simple. It is a shrug and if you had told me a year ago I would be knitting a shrug I would have thought you were a little crazy. And then Carrie released this. Such a simple shape but so beautifully done. In my opinion, it is the width of the garter again that gives this pattern it's zing. 

Iphone photo by Felicia Semple of Maeve in Shilasdair DK. 

She makes beautiful kid patterns!

Carrie started writing small person patterns after having a little girl. And the ones I have knit are some of my favourite baby/kid knits of all time. They are also the ones that have been most commented on by other people in a "did you KNIT that?" kind of way. I think it is because of the beautiful but simple lacework.

Sibella Babe - photo and knitting by Felicia Semple

Immie Tee - kniting and photo by Felicia Semple

Baby Sibella as a cardy.- photo and knitting by Felicia Semple

Immie Tee - Knitting and photo by Felicia Semple

I have also been meaning to make this pattern for a long time. And how cute is this. 

To sum up - I think that is what is so good about what she does. It is the fact that I could go on and on and probably on about how lovely the patterns are. There is so much to love. Have a look at the shop page on her website Madder to see all she offers. 

Her Anthology ebook is available now and there is a print version available for preorder. I can't wait to get mine in the mail.

Have you knitted any of Carrie's patterns? Are you now inspired to do so?

Felicia x

*Which in retrospect amuses me on some level, as it is the one pattern of hers I started and haven't finished… it is sitting there in the basket at home as a fully knit body and two finished sleeves….