Making Miscellany: 8
Labo(u)rs of Love
Hello, hello!
Are you someone who makes for other people? While I think there is nothing nicer than a thoughtful handmade gift, I unapologetically make mostly for myself. If you’ve ever knit in public, I’m sure you’ve been asked who you are making for (a question usually asked, I find, with the expectation you’ll say it’s a gift/for charity/for sale). My answer is usually a firm and friendly “for me,” with a joking explanation that “I know that I’ll appreciate it.” The flippant answer is easy, the real reason, harder to explain pithily. Making soothes and settles me, and often, I do it quite slowly. Introducing deadlines and worries if the intended recipient will like it turns something I do to care for myself into something else entirely.
I could write a lot about the often gendered expectations that cluster around making, giving and gifting, but today is not the day for it. Because, for all my insistence that my craft is for me, there are times when I do really, really enjoy making things for people I love—especially if I can do it in a way that feels sustainable. And, as it happens, I’ve been in a season of this sort of making, one that I’ve really enjoyed, and that seems set to continue for some time.
It began with a quilt …
When my sweet sister shared she was pregnant with her first baby, I knew I wanted to make them something special but also useful. I briefly considered a hap—having made one for each of my babies—but wasn’t sure I could knit one in time for my nephew’s arrival. We have a cheerful panel quilt, given to us when my first daughter was born, which has been a much loved play mat, tent, and all-around snuggly item, and I liked the idea of making something similar for my sister and her baby.
If you’ve been reading the Miscellany for awhile, you’ll know that my last attempt at piecing a quilt top ended before it had even gathered much steam, with sloppy (let’s find a less reproachful word)—inaccurate—seam allowances and meh feelings about the fabric I was using scuppering my attempts (and yes, I’m mixing my transit metaphors here). For my little nephew, I wanted to choose something achievable and eventually settled on a wholecloth quilt that would show off some adorable froggy fabric that a friend had pointed me to when I mentioned my sister loved frog and toad.
For the backing, I chose some sunny yellow double gauze — it’s reversible with a different scale check on each side, so I cut my piece in half, turned one side over, and sewed it back together for some extra visual interest for little eyes. With no piecing to do, my quilt sandwich of course came together quite quickly, and I decided I would just give a few lines of hand quilting a try to give it a bit of extra specialness.
I have to say, I fully anticipated getting a line or two in and finding the hand quilting too slow/dull/untidy to be able to face doing it for a whole piece. Instead, I loved it! I spent many an evening in June and July with the quilt spread over a low wooden bench, me sat on the floor in front of it, stitching away after my own babes were in bed, making the most of light summer nights. I finished the whole thing with a remnant of green gingham, and I think my favorite thing about the finished quilt (well, after all the pleasing hand stitches) is the play between the different scales and colors of gingham.
The quilt, along with little slippers made with remnants, have now safely made their way across the Atlantic in time for my sister’s baby shower (where the booties topped a delightful Frog-and-Toad-themed diaper cake!). I would have loved to be there to celebrate her, but sending something I had enjoyed making so much was the next best thing.
With the quilt for an impending new arrival done, it became impossible for me to ignore that my own wee babe was, somehow or another, about to be one. A practical joy of a second babe is she, on the whole, has most things she needs, handed down from her sister. But it’s nice to have a few things that are just for her, and funnily enough, we have a paucity of sweaters that fit a one year old in our house, so I settled on a kids Porty Cardigan [Ravelry link] to see her through autumn and winter.
It’s been a good knitting companion all through August, begun on our family beach holiday. I loved watching the colorwork yoke come together, and the body and sleeves have been easy to pick up and put down. At time of writing, I’m still not quite finished, and her birthday has come and gone. But, just as it was last year when she was born, we’re having a spell of glorious warm weather, far too warm for a woolly cardigan. So I’ll enjoy a last few snatched days of summer with my wee girl, and enjoy finishing the cardigan, no stress, no fuss (this is how I like my gift knitting).
And I did have one handmade pressie ready for her on the day … a wee baby, knit in bits of Gilliatt (one of my all time favorite yarns), with bloomers and a top knit in some of the J&S 2ply from her Porty Yoke, held double. The pattern [Ravelry link] is from Susan Anderson, and I definitely recommend it; it was a joy to make this little baby. My nearly 4 year old loved seeing it take shape, the most interest she’s shown in knitting. She helped me weave in ends, and insisted, at times, that I knit so she could watch it grow (instruction I happily complied with). I have a feeling I will be making another one of these for her birthday next month …
I’ve taken real delight in this gift-y making, but also in using materials that have been kindly gifted to me. The yarn for Hazel’s Porty Cardigan was repurposed from a lovely friend’s abandoned giant granny square. And—because not all my making has been for others—earlier this month, I made myself another bucket hat, wide brimmed and waterproof, using beautiful oil cloth and Liberty remnants shared with me by a friend. There’s been something that feels nice and circular in slowly making, gifting and receiving these past few months, an energy I would like to keep nurturing.
I’ll sign off soon, but before I do, a very few notes on labors of love in the kitchen. I made this cake (minus the bourbon in the filling) for Hazel’s birthday (though I went off piste and made a cream cheese icing) and can recommend it if you’re looking for an apple cake, a vegan cake, or, indeed, a recipe that unites both of those things! Earlier this month, Willa and I also enjoyed making a hedgerow pie with foraged blackberries and apples (I feel like baking with toddlers is a true labor of love—I can think of fewer activities that better encapsulate the both giddy highs [we’re stirring and measuring together, this is what memories are made of!] and the lows [watch that knife! no, for the last time, I’ll tell you when we can lick the batter!] of toddler life). As always, berry season has come and almost gone in a flash, but I thought I’d share two of our favorite berry-related books: the classic Blueberries for Sal, which Willa has loved since about the age two, and the breathtakingly beautiful Berry Song.
I’d love to hear what you’ve been working on, whether gifts for others or for yourself; feel free to share in the comments or hit reply to this email! I’m looking forward to starting work on this set (edited to add link!) — a nice, comfy treat for myself; I am loving the idea soft cozy underthings for the coming cold months. Wherever you are, I hope you have some nice projects to turn your hands to when you have a moment free.
Happy making!
Katherine x
PS The calendar conscious among you might notice that is not, in fact, the last Thursday of the August, but the first Monday of September. Birthday preparations and farflung visitors meant I couldn’t quite get this done for my “usual” time. Normal service will resume for the September Miscellany.
You always make the most beautiful things, Katherine! I can't believe your 2nd baby is one already! Time really does fly!
Beautiful makes, Katherine!