Making Miscellany 2:5
Dispatch from Jetlaglandia
Hello, hello!
I’m writing to you from that haze of uncertainty that comes from being away for quite awhile and jet lag, a place where the familiar is suddenly quite strange (is this what my house really smells like?) but also where, simlutaneously, the sudden plunge back into mundanity makes you question if you ever left at all. I feel a bit like my toddler who has spent the morning wandering around the house reacquainting herself with her toys, books, and favourite pursuits, but pauses every so often to ask “Where Dada? Where Wiwa? Where Mimi?” (the answers to which are, respectively, at work, at school, and across an ocean). I always find it strange returning home after absence, and the strange-ness is amplified by time differences, lack of sleep, and the fact that both the place I’ve left and the place I’ve come back to are home.
So in this heady state, I come to you with May’s Making Miscellany, more dispatch than newsletter, with some postcards from my time away.
It has to be said that very little making happened while I traveled. I thought hard about what knitting to take, edited and revised down the list in the knowledge that time would probably be limited, and even still, most of the yarn and projects I brought never even made it out of the bag. In books and in knitting, I’m usually optimistic when packing—and if you have space to spare, I see no problem with this. Better to have options! But I knit much less than even my most conservative estimate. (And the three books I brought — well, they barely got a look in either).
But, exciting things pertaining to making did happen. Nearly a year after I finished this quilt for my then yet-to-be-born nephew, I’ve now added a label:
And while we’re on the subject of yellow gingham double gauze, Hazel had a first outing for this 11th hour dress I made her, out of a remnant from that quilt backing. (And when I say 11th hour, I mean it … I was working on it at 11 pm the night before we left.)
The pattern is the Hanoi blouse/dress/romper by Ikatee. In my haste to sew it, I made many, many silly mistakes … but in the end, it was just a pleasure to see Hazel tootling around in it by the water for some family photos! (And I look forward to making more versions of this pattern without quite so much time pressure.)
Willa also wore a new dress for the occasion, made out of a light dobby cotton she’d picked herself. I used the Geranium pattern by Made by Rae, with a collar from the expansion pack, and added a ruffle to the hem. I also added a lining to the skirt as the fabric was so sheer. It was really fun making a dress to Willa’s specifications (the jumping off point was an autumn/winter dress that she loves, but is outgrowing) and to have her so happy with the end result. Another pattern that I know I’ll be coming back to often!
And I wore my new linen Bobs … not tons to see in these pictures, except that they are easy to move in! But I am as delighted with them as I was with my two previous pairs. These were in Merchant and Mills linen in Knapsack. It was so nice to have some photos with my parents and siblings—we’re so rarely all together!—and it felt nice to have me-mades to wear for them (except for Nick — sorry, Nick!)
While I didn’t “officially” take part in Me Made May this year (as much as I love it, I knew I wouldn’t have the headspace while traveling), it felt really nice to pack for a trip and see that a large portion of what I packed I’d made myself. And if I had to bet, I’d say most days we were away, I was wearing at least one me-made thing.
And as for the knitting, well, the bits that I did were mostly on this sweet Wee Envelope. I knit the yoke once before deciding to start again with a larger needle, and now I’m onto the second sleeve. I’ve not knit this pattern since Willa was born, and it has felt nice to come back to it (because, in all honesty, I have no recollection of knitting the first one — those newborn days put any jetlag haze to shame!)
I suspect I’ll be some time getting my bearings, and figuring out just what I want to work on next. Sometimes I find, when I’ve been away, coming back feels almost like a fresh start. I’m looking forward to tidying the garden (my summer squash seedlings, which I thrust out before leaving, have not, as I feared, withered away, but seem to be thriving!), organizing my fabric and digital sewing patterns (a spreadsheet or two is required — it’s so easy to buy a digital pattern, then forget you have it!), finishing a few knits—which will probably take me the better part of June, if not longer!—and planning what’s next.
But for now, I’ve got my woolly socks back on (was I really wearing a shorts and t-shirt 24 hours ago?), a steady stream of tea, and between tidying and resting, I’m enjoying looking back through snaps from our trip, of precious time spent with family, and listening to this song on repeat.
As ever, I’d love to hear your making plans for June, either in the comments or in reply to this email. Somehow or another, June is the last month of the second quarter of Make Socks Mend Socks … here’s hoping I can finish at least one of the two neglected pairs on my needles!
Happy making!
Katherine
Beautiful pictures, longing for summer. I finished my ankle socks with a fern pattern.
Those little dresses (and the girls of course) are so sweet! I'm eager to hear your plans for those beautiful fabrics and yarns. And thanks for the song from Rhiannon Giddons and the Carolina Chocolate Drops!
I didn't finish any socks this month, for the first time in ages. Hats, though...