Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Vintage knits

Wow, I have not participated in Ginny's yarn along for such a long time. Somehow, this yarn along (and auntie Leila's {phfr}) keep me entertained and fascinated.  Glimpses into lives, sometimes filled with more order and wonder, and sometimes even a bit more chaotic than mine. 

But I feel quite proud of the latest outfit - a charming raglan  pullover, and tiny trousers, both from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies.




The lace detail on the sweater was just enough to make it special.  On the back panel I did it incorrectly - I did not slip both stitches together when the pattern stated sl2, but rather one by one (see below).  Turns out it does make a difference, but only if you know where to look.  I also forgot to make the third buttonhole, but the last one is luckily not that important anyway.




 This is just a little human interest story on the side.  He was carrying a battery for his dune racer when his brother ran into him from behind.  He fell forward, and you can see the line where his face hit the battery, the poor thing.  He screamed blue murder for about 5 minutes, and today he has a beautiful black eye.


I modified the trousers a little, by adding little eyelets and an i cord drawstring instead of sewing elastic tread into the ribbing.  I thought it would look nicer, and I had no idea how to sew in the elastic tread anyway.  I am quite happy with the result, all in all. Considering it took me only about a week to knit.  The outfit went home yesterday, to a friend whose baby is due in August.  (One day, I dream of having an etsy shop - don't we all? Except for those who have one already, I guess!)

I am reading "The Hidden Art of Homemaking", by Edith Schaeffer.
It is hard to describe, but I am learning as I read, agreeing with most of it, but not everything.  It helps that I know someone whose parents met while they were working for L'Abri in Switzerland, who then became missionaries in South Africa.  Visiting with them has always been a special treat, I have often felt they know something I do not, and I think I am starting to understand it a little better now that I am reading this book.

Here is one quote that struck home:

“Interior decoration is not just one's artistic efforts, but it is that which your home (even if it is just a room) is. If you are 'decorating' with clothes draped on every chair, with scratched and broken furniture- it is still your interior decoration! Your home expresses you to other people, and they cannot see or feel your daydreams of what you expect to make in that misty future, when all the circumstances are what you think they must be before you will find it worthwhile to start. You have started, whether you recognize that fact or not! We foolish mortals sometimes live through years not realizing how short life is, and that TODAY is your life.” 
― Edith SchaefferThe Hidden Art of Homemaking

Also this one:

“It seems to me that whether it is recognized or not, there is a terrific frustration which increases in intensity and harmfulness as time goes on, when people are always daydreaming of the kind of place in which they would like to live, yet never making the place where they do live into anything artistically satisfying to them. Always to dream of a cottage by a brook while never doing anything to the stuffy house in the city is to waste creativity in this very basic area, and to hinder future creativity by not allowing it to grow and develop through use." pg 66” 
― Edith SchaefferThe Hidden Art of Homemaking

I highly recommend this book, to be read in small dosages, as inspiration.  I cannot read to much of it at once; she inspires me to put the book down and go do something.

7 comments:

  1. Hello.
    Lovely knitting, I stared intently at the pictures but can't see your error!
    Your book sounds like very wise words indeed, so instead of going downstairs and picking up what everyone has left laying about, I'm going to stay right here and read some more yarn along posts.
    Have a good day.

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    1. That sounds like very good idea. It is at least just as inspiring as reading that book! Oh, and I cannot believe you cannot see the error, it just sits there staring at me. But thanks.

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  2. Beautiful knitting ~ you are so talented. I LOVE Edith Schaeffer. This is one of my favorite books and had a huge impact on my perspective. I've recommended it to many friends over the years.

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    1. It has been recommended to me several times, but when they started a read-along over at "Ordo Amoris" (a blog by Cindy Rollins), and Jami mentioned that she was reading it, I finally decided to get it. I did not participate in the read along, I just read it. It is one of those books that will change your life. Loved the part where she tells about the homeless coming to their house for meals, and how she served them proper meals on a tray, with flowers! My friend would do just that, and now I understand why. I know, reading the Bible I should have heard it too, but sometimes you need someone to shout it into your face before you get it.

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  3. Your knitting is beautiful. I too usually add an eyelet row and knit an icord, instead of using elastic.

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  4. Just beautiful knitting and that is one of my favorite books.

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